We sure have an awful lot to worry about these days. It seems if it isn’t a toy with lead then it’s something else going down on the list of “scary substances.” Radon, mold, free radicals, UV rays… scary world!
One of the latest hot topics in the world of “what man-made thing” to avoid is PVC or polyvinyl chloride, and being a highly popular plastic, it is tough to avoid. You can find PVC in pipes, siding, roofing and a number of other plastic products.
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How important is your hearing or that of your loved ones? Surprisingly (or perhaps not) more than 40% of music lovers (those that listen to iPods or attend concerts/venues frequently) do not feel they have the time or money to bother with hearing protection.
I’m a music lover (yes, I know I’ve mentioned this a time or two), and the way I view hearing protection is akin to the way I view protecting and appreciating any gift. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t hear my music or other important sounds such as my children laughing, singing or even telling one of those incessant knock-knock jokes. Continue reading
Are earplugs really that important? How can something so small, inexpensive earplugs make such a big impact on a persons life as to improve the quality? We worry about many areas of health, yet tend to neglect our hearing health. The fact is, hearing loss is very prevalent and common in aging as well as in younger adults who are exposed to loud music via music venues, iPods and handheld gaming devices.
Think about it this way, most factory workers exposed to noise on a regular basis protect their hearing through the use of work earplugs, but you might be exposed to similar noises in the course of a day and never protect your hearing. Turn up an iPod to full blast (as many teens do) and you have the equivalent of listening to heavy machinery. Many common noises are just as dangerous as industrial noises: mowing the lawn, listening to a concert, music in a club, childrens toys. Continue reading
The stores are loaded with holiday decorations and the sales event of the year has begun. Given the current economy, many large discount stores are offering great deals on toys, appliances, televisions and other common gift items. The idea, of course, is to entice holiday spending as if we arent really in economic trouble. Are these sales enough?
As with any sale, you have to consider whether its really going to save you money to buy something simply because its on sale. Its like using a coupon for a food product you just dont like. What will you do if your son asked for a specific Transformer but a similar one is on sale? Is it worth the savings to give a gift slightly less than the one he wanted? Tough choices.
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