Tim Phillips Show, 8/31/26

The United States is home to 63 national parks and hundreds more sites in the National Park Service, including monuments, seashores and recreational areas. They stretch across the country from Acadia National Park in Maine to Yosemite in California, and welcome millions of visitors every year, but they are wild outdoor spaces that have real hazards.

To make sure you stay safe and don’t get into dangerous situations, avoid these mistakes park rangers have seen visitors make in national parks:

Not checking current conditions - They can change quickly, depending on the time of year. "Fall can bring rapidly changing weather, colder temperatures and shorter days," explains Mike Garel, chief ranger at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. "Conditions can also change significantly with elevation." He advises checking the website of the specific park you’re visiting to see the latest alerts, closures, weather and safety information.
Not planning ahead - Even if you’re not planning to stay overnight, experts recommend packing extra food and water and preparing for a stay, just in case. Just days ago, 11 people were stranded by flash flooding at Bryce Canyon National Park and had to be rescued, so you never know when you may need extra supplies.
Not telling anyone where you’re going - Before you depart, make sure you let someone know your plans, route and when you expect to be back so they can send help if you don’t return.
Relying on cell service - A lot of parks are remote and won’t have reliable cell service. Downloading maps and carrying backup navigation is recommended.
Underestimating activities - Consider the least experienced or capable person in your group when planning your visit, but park rangers encourage visitors to think about not just distance, but terrain, elevation, weather, fitness, experience and equipment. If conditions change or someone is uncomfortable, turning around may be the smartest move.
Dressing inappropriately - Bring layers for changing temperatures, wind, and precipitation, along with the 10 Essentials recommended by the National Park Service: navigation, sun protection, extra clothing, first aid, light, fire, repair tools, extra food, extra water and shelter.
Getting too close to wildlife - We know you want to see those animals up close, but they can be dangerous so it’s best to keep your distance. Visitors are required to stay at least 25 yards, or the length of two buses, from most wildlife, including bison, but you need to stay back 100 yards from predators like cougars, bears and wolves.
Going too far - If you’re not comfortable, don’t go in an area and if something starts to feel off, be prepared to change plans or turn around.
Source: USA Today

How much social media is too much? A new long-term study may have the answer. Researchers tracked people over 11 years and found that about 150 minutes of social media per day, roughly 2½ hours, appears to be the tipping point. Beyond that, users were more likely to report declines in mental well-being, while more moderate use wasn't linked to the same negative effects.

The findings add to growing evidence that it may not be social media itself that's the problem, but how much time we spend on it. Experts say excessive scrolling can contribute to anxiety, depression, information overload, and FOMO, especially when use becomes compulsive.

Bottom line: Social media isn't the problem by itself, but if a quick scroll turns into three hours of disappearing down a TikTok rabbit hole, it may be time to come up for air.

Monday Morning Mystery - LEADER OF THE LAUNDROMAT    THE DETERGENTS   #19 in 1964-65 

CUFF-LINKS    ARCHIES    SHANGRI-LAS

Novelty vocal trio from New York: Ron Dante (of The Archies and The Cuff Links ), Tommy Wynn and Danny Jordan.Novelty vocal trio from New York: Ron Dante (of The Archies and The Cuff Links ), Tommy Wynn and Danny Jordan.

Americans are running on empty as they try to push through packed schedules, new research suggests. Our calendars are full and with only so much time to get everything done, some people are skimping on the one thing they feel they can: themselves.

According to a new survey of 2-thousand adults, the average American hits their energy slump at 2:48 p.m., but one in five (21%) start to fade before noon.

The thing is, many are giving up on fueling themselves as a way to save time, with 71% reporting that they skip or delay meals because they’re too busy. And that happens an average of three times a week.
The research finds that people are feeling tired, but it goes beyond just needing more sleep. More than three-quarters (82%) of those polled admit they feel like they’re going through their life on “auto-pilot.”
Another seven in 10 feel they have to go above and beyond to do “the most” in every situation to keep up with their lives.
But when days get too busy, people don’t get to enjoy their hobbies (38%), take care of their mental health (34%), or exercise (31%).
Even their personal relationships take a hit, as about a quarter (27%) of respondents say being busy keeps them from spending time with loved ones, hanging out with friends (26%) or connecting with their partner (23%).
Even when they’re physically there, nearly half (44%) confess to frequently feeling like they’re not fully present during meaningful moments.
To help boost energy or make up for missed meals, people look for quick fixes like caffeinated drinks (29%) more than high-protein snacks (21%).
Those who reach for caffeine average nearly five beverages with it a day (4.6), but the caffeine crutch isn’t all that effective for long, as they report it wears off in a little over two hours.
Source: Talker

Tim's News You Can't Use 

If you’re planning to give a room in your home a fresh paint job, you can’t go wrong with green. Behr Paint has just announced its color of the year for 2027 …  "Grounded." The shade is a deep, earthy green that blends mossy and olive tones with brown undertones, giving it a natural, outdoors-inspired feel. Behr says the color changes throughout the day as lighting shifts, appearing fresher in the morning and warmer by evening. The company says the choice reflects growing interest in nature-inspired design, richer earth tones, and home interiors that feel comfortable, warm, and connected to the natural world.
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Country Living says a Manalapan, New Jersey farm has a Dolly Parton-themed corn maze opening on Sept. 19th. The maze honors Dolly, who passed away last Tuesday. Trinity Stockel says they decided on the theme back in February
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Dark Horizons says a film about the creation of the Hooters restaurant chain is in the works. “Hooters: The Movie” is being independently produced by the chain’s original founding partners. The story follows lifelong friends Ted and Lenny as they travel from a small Iowa town to Clearwater Beach, Florida. Their road trip leads to the accidental creation of a national restaurant empire. Casting is underway 
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Dexerto says a truck carrying Kraft Mac & Cheese recently overturned in Quebec. It coated a highway ramp in bright orange cheese powder and caused a major traffic jam. The crash happened after the driver crossed a bridge. The truck veered off the exit and rolled onto its side.  The driver was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
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Six armed men pulled off an unusual highway robbery near Cairo, stealing hundreds of pounds of frozen chicken from a moving truck. Video shows their pickup driving close behind a refrigerated truck while gang members climbed onto the hood, opened the truck’s rear doors, and tossed seven crates of chicken into their vehicle. The wildest part? The truck driver apparently had no idea it was happening, and the video went viral before the company even reported the theft. Police later tracked down the suspects, and authorities say the gang opened fire when officers arrived, leading to a shootout that left three suspects dead and three others under arrest.
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Police in Montclair, California are looking for a stolen truck and a whole lot of beer. The Pabst Blue Ribbon truck was loaded with an estimated 40-thousand pounds of beer. That's equal to about 50-thousand cans and is likely the biggest beer heist ever. Pabst has addressed the theft with humorous posts on social media but confirmed it is working with local authorities toward getting the truck back. The post said in part, “Pabst is officially starting the clock now you have exactly 18 days and 44 minutes to return our truckload of beer, no questions asked. Leading up to that time, we will be offering a reward to anyone who can help us solve this mystery. P.s. this is real and we are deadly serious.” The theft happened on August 17 and the company is still posting for the beer’s return.
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Guessing Headlights says a 22-foot Batmobile ended up stranded along Interstate 45 in Houston after getting a flat tire. The custom black car is modeled after the Batmobile from Michael Keaton’s 1989 “Batman.” Cameras showed the car sitting on the right shoulder before a tow truck arrived. The street-legal vehicle has a turbocharged V8, working headlights, turn signals and rearview cameras. Its owner  regularly drives it around Houston.
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Monrovia police officers finally caught a wanted man after he unexpectedly walked into the Panda Express where they were eating lunch. Officers had already tried twice to arrest the man for a parole violation, but police say he escaped both times by running onto a freeway. During Wednesday’s lunch break, the suspect happened to walk right up to the officers, who immediately jumped from their seats and tackled him. Police joked online that they were not sure whether the arrest was good police work or simply bad timing for the suspect. After making the arrest, the officers returned to their table and finished their chow mein. 
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Motor Biscuit says a Florida car thief recently ran onto jail grounds while trying to escape deputies.  Orange County Sheriff’s tracked the stolen silver Chevy Impala from the ground and by helicopter. The driver left the car in a large fleet parking lot and ran toward a chain-link fence.  A pursuing deputy then reported that the suspect was jumping the fence into the jail. The suspect continued toward a retention pond inside the secured property.  A deputy tackled him near the water. Several deputies took him into custody just yards from where he would be booked.