Pedestrian Tip of the Day

OK, memo to Kentucky drivers. Last time I checked, in our fracking commonwealth, pedestrians have the right of way. So try your best not to hit me when you attempt to beat me to the punch making a left turn onto a cross street. I, and runners/walkers of Kentucky really enjoy stopping dead in our tracks to avoid being mauled over while you pretend like you're entitled to do that. Just because you haven't exercised in several years doesn't mean the rest of us should be denied the privilege.

Not to quote Kentucky law or anything, but:

Drivers must yield to pedestrians under the following conditions:

• When pedestrians are at a marked or unmarked crosswalk and there is no traffic light
• When turning a corner and pedestrians are crossing with the light
• In any situation that could threaten the pedestrian’s safety

I think that pretty much covers my bases. That is all.

Save the World Tip of the Day

Solving world hunger is one thing to strive for, but enhancing America's vocabulary is another! A website, FreeRice.com is singlehandedly attempting to change the world! On the site, you''ll be asked vocabulary questions, and for each correct answer, they'll donate 10 grains of rice to a developing country! The result? Full bellies and full minds. It's pretty addictive, and you'll learn some great new words like "patois" and "hawser." It also keeps track of your vocab level. Mine's 37--I don't know if that's good or bad!

Alcon Tip of the Day

So the day has come when it is not just Used Car Salesmen you have to watch out for. Now you have to check your back at every turn…eyecare companies are trying to jip you.

See these two different but very similar in size bottles from Alcon? One is for Opti-One and the other for Opti-Free RepleniSH. The solution in the two bottles do the same thing, they clean soft contact lenses. Notice in the picture below that they bottles look like they hold the same amount of solution



The two bottles come in the same size boxboard packaging. But on the side of the Opti-Free RepleniSH bottle, I noticed this very interesting "Fill Line" on the side, kind of buried in all this other text you'll never read:



Ahha, they are up to something here. Closer inspection, identifies the problem!



Turns out that is why the prices on the shelf aren't that much different! They are selling you what looks like the same size product for what looks like about the same price.

After using Alcon products exclusively since I got my first contacts over 10 years ago, I guess it is time to switch brands.

Shrimp Tip of the Day

Don't eat three dozen shrimp before the invention of 21st century food safety and drink a quart of milk.

Thanks Jean

Meth Tip of the Day

If you happen to sudden smell unwavering cleaning-supply odors in your townhouse that began strangely near the time new neighbors moved in next door, don't jump to hasty conclusions by calling the Nicholasville Police on a potential meth-lab bust. Have someone sniff around the room with you first, in an attempt to uncover the source of the smell, which may happen to be some Windex-laden cleaning rags thrown out in your office trash can.

But, should you suspect there still is a meth-lab nextdoor, cross check that information with this site.

Cheap(er) Running Tip of the Day

Anyone who's spent any significant amount of time buying running shoes knows this basic tip: Shoes wear out and need replaced every 300-500 miles. Your shoes might still look okay, but they're not giving your feet, joints and knees the cushioning they need. For someone who wears her 2-week contacts for at least a month, sometimes three, I'm usually a fan of stretching things out to the bitter end. But even I have accepted this running shoe rule as gospel truth. Trust me, I've felt the difference and most certainly saved myself injury by switching things up when I'm supposed to.

So what's a frugal girl to do? Training for a marathon has sent my weekly mileage into the unprecedented 30s and the shoes I JUST got a few months ago are already worn out. Sigh. Time to hit the internet.

At MyRunningShoe.com they combine the inventories of running specialty stores from around the country into a searchable database. When a customer finds a shoe to purchase, they place a "hold" on it, and the member store is notified. Many of the listed shoes are on sale and the store just hasn't been able to move them locally, so they turned to this site. It's in-store sale shopping on a national level, all from the comfort of your couch.

Dick's Sporting Goods recommends this quick test to tell if your shoes are worn out:

The Press Test
When an EVA midsole is compressed, it creates visible lines or wrinkles in the midsole material that can be seen from the sidewall of the shoe. As the midsole is further compressed, the lines multiply and grow closer together. The first appearance of these lines indicates that the midsole is compressing normally. A simple pressure test will help you determine whether or not your midsole is compacted.

Using the broad part of your thumb, push on the outsole upward into the midsole. It should be easy to see the midsole compress into these lines.

As the shoe breaks down, the midsole will compress less with the same amount of pressure.

When the midsole shows heavy lines and the press test yields a minimal degree of compression, the midsole has been compacted to a point where little or no cushioning remains.

Flatulence Tip of the Day II

If you read our dog flatulence tip from yesterday, you probably were thinking, "what about me? What if I suffer from flatulence?" Well, turns out our friends at Flat-D have a few products for you. Introducing the Reusable Flatulence Deodorizer. Tape this thing on your panties just over your buttocks and let it work its magic!

This is a case where truth is stranger than fiction:

"When intestinal gas is expelled through the flatulence filter pad, it absorbs the gas odor normally associated with the malodorous gassy discharge or flatus. Those with digestive disorders...will regain confidence, end embarrassment, live life again, and enjoy freedom with this inconspicuous pad. No more smelly episodes, horrible flatulance odors, with these pads that are placed in your undergarment."

London Tip of the Day Part 8

Booking things in advance...
Generally, booking things in advance is a good idea. You typically get better prices, better seating, etc...But, when you book a tour in advance, you pay the same price and you run the risk of losing that money if you have to cancel. Usually, in the states, if someone gets sick, you can get a refund if you are reasonable about it and cancel before hand. Unfortunately, customer service is a little lacking here. We called to cancel a tour, first of all they asked why they didn't get more notice. Their line was busy all morning. They also didn't get more notice because I'd just gotten sick. They told us the best they could do was 50% back, but as soon as we let them know that wasn't good enough, they sent us to expedia, who we booked through. Of course the best they could do was a $25 gift certificate! No go on that. So, lesson learned, if it's not a hotel room, a play, or a movie, I'm not booking in advance! Besides, since I've gotten here, I've discovered other tours that I'd like to do just as well, such as the "Jack the Ripper" tour!

Imitation Tip of the Day

Be wary buying imitation products from people because you truly get what you pay for.

Cashew Tip of the Day

London Tip of the Day Part 4

I know sometimes we are concerned with insurance when traveling overseas. What if I get sick? What if something happens and I need to see a doctor? Well, in London they have better health care than we do in the states. You can pay cash for a doctor. An emergency room visit will cost you about £50. Your other option is to have a doctor make a house call! That's right, the hotel will order a doctor right to your room for you for £160! Now that's what I call room service!

Chigger Myth of the Day

If you're a displaced Yankee who moved to the South after adulthood, you may be confused by a few things 'round here such as 1. Confederate flags (even though they LOST the Civil War), 2. people who sit in lawn furniture in their garage (who DOES that?) and 3. CHIGGERS. What the eff are chiggers?

When I first heard as a freshman in college that those tiny itchy bumps around my sock line were flesh-penetrating, egg-laying parasites, I did EXACTLY what the "more experienced Southerners" told me to: put bright red nail polish on each bump to suffocate those heinous vermin.

But what I found out was that Southerners are ignorant not only of what side won the war, they're also ignorant of what chiggers really are, and how they work. My skepticism of chiggers piqued when an anonymous friend "nail-polished" their entire, er... sanitary area, after getting chiggered, because who wants parasites that close to the moneymaker?

Well, according to a very informative article in Wikipedia, chiggers are known as "Harvest Mites" and do not, in fact, burrow deep within the skin. While this may come as a relief, they still have a rather disgusting practice which involves crawling onto your skin, injecting it with enzymes and chewing up tiny bits of skin. Ew! This leaves the characteristic red, itchy bump. But, contrary to popular belief, they do NOT burrow, and after chewing up your skin, they're gone. PTL!

So, thought I, the whole "nail polish" gimmick was just to make an idiot out of innocent believers. But, the nail polish DOES serve a purpose. Because it prevents air contact with the skin, the nail polish enables the chigger mini-infection to be less irritated and probably heal up quicker. Who knew!?

Summer Tip of the Day

If you are a teacher/student and choose not to work in the summer, here are some productive things you can do to occupy your time:

• Clean the Microwave
• Scrape paint off the front door
• Exercise
• Knit a dish rag
• Paint your bathroom

And here are some fun things you can do:

• Meet friends for lunch
• Read a book
  
• Shopping
• Watch a movie
• Take a trip
  

Caffeine Tip of the Day

We found a great article to you quit consuming caffeine, or at least save you a few star-bucks.

Free ROOT BEER FLOAT Tip of the Day

Editors' note: We wanted to get this tip up early so you can take advantage of this great tip!

Summertime is the perfect time to play Pinky and the Fonz.

Grab your baby, load your Ipod with 50's tunes, and head on over to Sonic for a cheap date at the drive-in.

Thursday, June 7 Sonic is giving away free root beer floats from 8pm-midnight.

Just be careful about making out in your car, it is a family-oriented restaurant!
Perhaps you should head out to Lookout-Point, or behind the Cunningham's house.

For more details and restaurant locations check out their site.

McRunning Tip of the Day

Don't eat McDonald's and then try to run your longest run of the year. Even if its for an early lunch and you're not planning on running for another six hours. Just don't do it™.

TP Tip of the Day

According to Rosie, you can't use just one...sheet of toilet paper as Sheryl Crowe believes.

Submarine Tip of the Day IV

If you're on a nuclear sub, even though they say you're not exposed to THAT much radiation, we'd still recommend wearing a pair of patented lead underwear. BTW, I'm glad this lead underwear vendor clearly states "no returns." You never can be too safe.™ I'd rather be mocked by my fellow seamen than have radiated...eh...you get the pun.

Miss America Tip of the Day

Don't mess with Miss America. Especially if she's 82 and from Kentucky. I personally like how she was the first redhead to have a color photograph taken. This from World Net Daily:

Tough isn't a word necessarily associated with Miss America, but three thieves arrested after their truck tires were shot out by 82-year-old Venus Ramey might beg to differ.

Ramey, who won the elite beauty crown in 1944, confronted one of the three robbers on her farm in Waynesburg, Ky., about 140 miles south of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

"He was probably wetting his pants," said Ramey, who balanced on her walking stick as she pulled out a snub-nosed .38-caliber handgun.

Ramey said thieves for some time have been breaking into a building on her property where she stores century-old steel-shaping machines and other equipment to sell for scrap, according to the Enquirer.

On April 13, while feeding horses, she followed her dog when it ran over to the building, where a truck was parked in front.

She confronted a man who told her he was "scrapping" and would not leave.

"I said, 'Oh, no you won't,' and I shot their tires so they couldn't leave," Ramey told the Cincinnati paper.

She didn't think twice about shooting.

"I just went and did it. If they'd even dared come close to me, they'd be 6 feet under by now," she said.

Ramey flagged down a driver who called 911, and three people eventually were arrested, including one at the scene.

"They've been stealing from me for years. Those good-for-nothing slobs," she told the Enquirer.

Ramey began as a showgirl at the Beverly Hills Supper Club then ended up in Washington, D.C., working for the war effort, where she won a beauty contest. In 1944 she became Miss America, representing the District of Columbia.

She was the first redheaded Miss America and the first to be photographed in color, according to her bio on the beauty contest's website.

Ramey performed in vaudeville, and her picture adorned a B-17 bomber that flew 68 missions over Germany in World War II.

According to the Miss America website, Ramey was sought out for a major Hollywood film by legendary producer Milton Sperling of Warner Brothers Studio. But she was disgusted with show business and returned home to her Kentucky tobacco farm, married and began raising her two sons.

In Cincinnati in the 1970s, she helped lead a civic renewal project and made an unsuccessful bid for City Council.

Ramey returned to farm life in 1990 but hasn't found it entirely tranquil.

"I'm trying to live a quiet, peaceful life and stay out of trouble, and all it is, is one thing after another," she said.

Fingernail Tip of the Day

When I clip my fingernails, I have a problem with the clippings flying everywhere. Even if I am close to the trashcan, there's a good chance it won't catch them all. But if you get your hands soaking wet first, the clipping want to stick to stuff, like your fingers or the clippers, make for a much more consolidated cleanup.

Deer Tip of the Day

If you're a deer and things are getting a little too crazy on your local college campus , try and make a run for it...but don't make a run for it over a wall.

If you do happen to have made an unfortunate beeline towards a wall, expect to break your leg, go into shock and run into a park full of milling humans who are enjoying a spring day.

Once in the park, run full speed towards two humans with cameras, maybe they will take a picture of you and alert people to the dangers of deer on campuses. Or maybe they will just stand there in shock and ask 'what is that, what is that, what is that?' over and over.

you think, 'use your words human. i'm a deer.'

but before you can say that you will labor into the neighboring forest where you hope the local authorities will find you.

Special thanks to Jara and Daphne

Hot Lunch Tip of the Day

Are you trying to watch calories, but the thought of cold carrot sticks for lunch makes you want to fold like a house of cards and call up the pizza place down the street?

If you like soup, let me suggest a nice steaming bowl full of Lipton noodle soup - that's right the kind that comes in a box. I'm not saying it's the healthiest thing you could eat for lunch (those worried about their sodium intake, be careful), but you can eat an entire envelope's worth (3 cups!) of the Extra Noodle variety for a grand total of 270 calories. It's hot, filling, comfort food which will remind you the lunches your mom used to fix for you on snow days. And I'm not talking filling like crappy diet-speak filling where they call three celery sticks and half a turkey sandwich "filling" when it soooo isn't. I mean, actually filling. Why else do you think the construction workers love to bring soup in their thermoses?

Besides taking a long time to eat (for those of you who are just as much "mouth hungry" as actually hungry), it will surely curb those hunger pangs you've been having since your 10 AM meeting, and it won't consume your daily allotment calories in one sitting (like that pizza almost surely will).

Warning: If you are drinking water whilst consuming these vast amounts of soup (as you well should because the water is good for you), you will have to pee approximately 23 times throughout the course of the afternoon. I'm just saying.

If Lipton would like to send me any free samples, please email me.

Pee Tip of the Day

If you followed the advice in the last tip, you're probably a little happy with me, but also a little mad because you're peeing constantly. You may feel like you have a bladder control issue, what with those "sudden, frequent urges" and all. Well, I'm sorry. But at least you're on your way to feeling better. Still, should you have to travel after following my advice, heed this advice as well. If you happen to find yourself on a plane at 4:30am, after drinking approximately 3/4 of a gallon of water, several glasses of OJ, and enough water to dissolve 2 "Airborne" tablets, you're going to have to pee--very soon. So, definitely pee prior to planing. But in the event of an unexpected plane de-icing prior to take-off, don't think to yourself, "hmm, we'll be in the air soon...I can hold it..." because you can't. De-icing will take approximately the rest of your life. And you may or may not know that you can't use airplane lavatories until you reach cruising altitude. Which also takes approximately the rest of your life. You may have to do what I did, and bolt to the back of the plane BEFORE you're allowed to, which results in the flight attendant yelling at you, and giving you dirty looks for the rest of the flight.

Sick Tip of the Day

If you feel the first signs of getting sick, especially those nasty viral bugs like the cold, flu, etc., follow these steps to insure that your illness will be as short-lived as possible.

• First, begin by drinking as much water as you can stomach. And maybe even a little more. If you are not peeing constantly, you're not drinking enough! Oh, and if there's even a LITTLE color, you're not drinking enough!
• Second, drink a tall glass of orange juice at every meal. The vitamin C and acidity will help.
• Third, take 4 echinacea tablets per day.
• Fourth, take 3 "Airborne" dissolving tablets per day. (Each tablet contains, among other things, 1,600% of your RDA of vitamin C!)
• Fifth, take a hot bath.
• Finally, enjoy whatever foods you are craving. Since your body is fighting something, it needs what it's craving. And I swear that sugary foods help give your cells the energy they need!

Hope you'll be feeling better soon!

SXSW Tip of the Day

So among our normal readership, there is perhaps no one who can benefit from this tip, but its the weekend and no one reads Tip O Da Day on the weekend anyway. At South By Southwest, where this particular tipper is on this particular weekend, a lot of time is spent inside of the Austin Convention Center. Acc, as I think I may begin to call it, leaves a lot to be desired, such as water fountains on the third floor. Well those attending SXSW Interactive got a little red card that gives them one free drink a day across the street. Not being one much for beer, I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that bottled water is on the very short menu. That'll help kick dehydration in the acc.

Snack Tip of the Day

Serving sizes are so unpredictable. It may just be two pieces when you're talking about Double Stuf Oreos, or it could be 55 when you're talking about Goldfish. And since 55 Goldfish only have 1g of saturated fat, snack away! Compare that to Samoas, which has 2.5g of saturated fat per cookie, and you might just be telling those Girls Scouts to take a hike this year.

-Thanks Brittney

Scuba Tip of the Day II

When you're clearing your mask for the first time underwater, it's a good idea to be in the shallow end. Then, when you freak out because you breathed in about a half gallon of water through your nose, you can just stand up.

Wrinkly Butt Tip of the Day

If you have a wrinkly butt and are ashamed of it, and afraid many will have to see said butt, whatever you do, don't do what these women did. Vanity is NOT worth it! From CNN.com

SALINAS, California (AP) -- A former beautician who injected cooking oil into a woman's buttocks as an anti-aging treatment, killing the client, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Martha Mata Vasquez, 39, who pleaded no contest in October to involuntary manslaughter, practicing medicine without a license and fraud, apologized during Wednesday's sentencing hearing.
"I'm very sorry to my family, and I'm sorry to them (the victims and their families)," the married mother of two said.
Vasquez had charged clients up to $1,400 for each injection of Mazola corn oil, claiming the "French polymer" treatment would reduce wrinkles, prosecutors said.
Maria Olivia Castillo, 46, of Castroville died in November 2005 of multiple organ failure caused by a fat blockage brought about by a cooking oil injection, prosecutors said. Similar injections caused medical complications for others and put one patient into a coma, prosecutors said.
Defense attorneys said Vasquez didn't know of the dangers of the injections.
"That couldn't be farther from the truth," said Deputy District Attorney Steve Somers, noting Vasquez continued to perform the procedure after clients became ill.

Bad Breath Tip of the Day

Normally when a significant other says "you have bad breath" that means you should go and brush your teeth, gargle, etc...what it could also mean is that you have strep throat. If the bad breath is persisting for days and seems to persevere through constant brushing sessions, then perhaps you have bacteria in your tonsils and you should seek a Doctor.

~Phil

Fumes Tip of the Day

Many of you know I have been putting in long hours at the house recently and have felt the side effects in terms of tiredness. I will take this opportunity to apologize to everyone who has had to deal with me the last month. Well, this fatigue, lack of energy and muscle weakness have not subsided, even with 14 hours of sleep on Tuesday. I was getting quite concerned with this lingering problem, when Peter made a brilliant connection…paint fumes and me sleeping at my house. I moved in and painted three rooms (large ones at that) over the same weekend and have been inhaling the aroma ever since Saturday night. Well, I come to find out that side effects of inhalants are…fatigue, lack of energy and muscle weakness along with other things that I am lucky enough not to experience. So I do feel there is a connection here and my tip for all those out there is don’t hang out in a newly painted house and definitely don’t sleep there until well aired out. It will get to you – trust me!

-Jen

Foot Tip of the Day

While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with you right hand. Your foot will change direction - - and there's nothing you can do about it.

Thanks to Chad for today's tip.

Antibacterial Tip of the Day

You know how it is...you're in a bathroom stall, you hear someone else flush, leave their stall, and head straight out the door without washing their hands (ugh!). Here's a good way to avoid scary bacteria when you're using the office bathroom. The technique is easily picked up as a habit. When you wash your hands, leave the water running after you've sudsed up and rinsed, and grab the paper towel from the gizmo on the wall. After you dry your hands, use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and to open the door. Then hold the door with your foot, throw the towel in the trash, and head back to the safety of your work area without touching anything else in the communal area of the office.