Tim Phillips Show, 8/6/26

It’s easy to take our hearing for granted, but it turns out, our ears are incredibly sensitive. There are some things we do all the time that could actually be damaging our hearing without us even knowing. The American Academy of Audiology estimates that 40-million U.S. adults live with hearing loss as a result of noise exposure, and it can happen to people of any age and background.

Rachel Artsma, a senior audiologist at Hear.com, points out that a lot of people don’t realize that “hearing damage tends to be cumulative.”

Muffled sounds, ringing in the ears, needing to turn the volume up, and being bothered by background noise are warning signs to watch for, and avoiding loud environments can help prevent hearing loss, but you may also want to rethink these everyday habits that could cause long-term damage.

Using earbuds at high volume - Artsma warns that listening to loud music through earbuds is “one of the most common health concerns” she sees in patients. She explains that it’s “not necessarily the earbuds, it’s that they’re often used at volumes that are too high for too long.”

How loud is too loud? If you’re listening at a volume where you can’t hear people around you, it’s probably too loud. This expert recommends following the 60/60 rule - Keep volume at no more than 60% of its maximum, and only listen for about 60 minutes at a time.

Driving with the windows down - It’s the wind that can be a problem here, as it can be really loud, especially on highways, and that constant noise can reach harmful levels. "For someone who spends a lot of time driving, repeated exposure over months and years may contribute to hearing stress," Artsma explains. "The longer the commute, the greater the potential impact.”

Using a hair dryer every day - The “total noise load” we’re exposed to is the concern, not just one specific activity or environment, and little things add up to that overall noise exposure, including the hair dryer. It’s worse for hair stylists and salon pros who use them all day, but using a hair dryer isn’t risk-free for anyone’s hearing.

To protect your hearing, take listening breaks, turn the volume down, and try embracing everyday sounds you'd normally tune out. And if you notice warning signs of hearing loss, don’t ignore them.⠀

Throwback Thursday - Who Says   -  Selena Gomez & The Scene, 2011

Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot along with twelve others
An underwater tsunami and earthquake triggered a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Burma's Move Towards Democratization
Osama Bin Laden was found and killed by US Navy Seals in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Arab Spring Protests
Average Cost of new house $262,260.00
Average Income per year $39,423.00
Average Cost for house rent $675.00
Cost of a gallon of gas $3.52
US Postage Stamp 44 cents
Gallon of Milk $3.39
Move Ticket $8.20
The Royal Wedding between Kate Middleton and Prince William takes place in the United Kingdom on April 29th.
Apple releases the iPhone 4S on October 14th, only nine days after the death of co-founder Steve Jobs.

Top Movies: 
1    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2    $381,011,219    4,375    $381,011,219    Jul 15    Warner Bros.
2    Transformers: Dark of the Moon    $352,390,543    4,088    $352,390,543    Jun 29    DreamWorks
3    The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1    $274,841,954    4,066    $281,287,133    Nov 18    Summit Entertainment
4    The Hangover Part II    $254,464,305    3,675    $254,464,305    May 26    Warner Bros.
5    Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides    $241,071,802    4,164    $241,071,802    May 20    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
6    Fast Five    $209,837,675    3,793    $209,837,675    Apr 29    Universal Pictures
7    Cars 2    $191,452,396    4,115    $191,452,396    Jun 24    Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
8    Thor    $181,030,624    3,963    $181,030,624    May 6    Paramount Pictures
9    Rise of the Planet of the Apes    $176,760,185    3,691    $176,760,185    Aug 5    Twentieth Century Fox
10    Captain America: The First Avenger

For some folks, summer vacations are all about relaxing, while others prefer keeping busy with sightseeing tours or visiting museums. But a new report finds the top priority for Americans hitting the road this summer is something simple - dining out.

The National Restaurant Association surveyed 1,003 adults and found that 98% of those planning an overnight trip in the U.S. plan to visit a restaurant during their travels.

That makes dining out more popular than activities like shopping, which 85% plan to do, sightseeing, which 83% say their trip will include, and even going to the beach, which 76% say they’ll do on their trip.

But not all travelers will be sitting down for dinner. While 93% expect they’ll eat inside a restaurant, 90% also plan to order food through takeout, delivery, or a drive-thru.

Another 84% say they’ll stop at coffee shops or stop for snacks and treats like ice cream.
More than three-quarters (78%) say they’ll be looking for foods and drinks related to their destination, like beignets in New Orleans or crab cakes in Baltimore.

Many are traveling on tighter budgets this summer, so they may not be splurging on a tasting menu or booking reservations months ahead to ensure they sample the local flavor. Affordability is the key, as 70% say they’ll be looking for dining options that include specials, discounts and promotions to save them money.

Still, most vacationers are willing to try something new, with 88% reporting they plan to visit a restaurant for the first time on their upcoming trip. When it comes to recommendations, those from friends and family are trusted most (87%), followed by online review platforms (80%), hotel concierges and local staff (73%) and social media (67%).

“Restaurants are more than a place to eat; they’re a gateway to local culture,” explains Dr. Chad Moutray, chief economist at the National Restaurant Association. “Whether it’s a coastal seafood shack or a neighborhood taqueria, dining is how travelers connect with the places they visit and make memories that last long after the trip ends. That’s why when consumers travel in the summer, restaurants rank as their top vacation activity.”⠀

Source: Food & Wine

Tim's News You Can't Use

The Daily Mail says some restaurants and shops are now posting "No Influencers" signs. This has drawn strong backlash from influencers. Some shop owners are now backing down and saying their signs were meant as a joke and not to offend. Other establishments are leaving the signs up because they don't want photography and video disturbing their customers 

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NBC says the Portillo's restaurant chain is going viral because they are offering a one-of-a-kind milkshake.  Their Dr Pepper Shake blends Portillo's vanilla ice cream with all 23 Dr Pepper flavors and a slice of chocolate cake. The shakes are available at all Portillo's locations except the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport through September. Portillo's says, "If you've ever wished you could drink your Dr Pepper and eat your Portillo's Shake at the same time, we've teamed up with Dr Pepper to bring you the Dr Pepper Shake, a thick, creamy shake blended with real Dr Pepper flavor in every sip for a one-of-a-kind flavor!"
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If you've always wanted a tattoo but couldn't handle the pain or have a fear of needles, a new invention from a British startup may change that. The company, called Cipher X, says it has developed the world's first painless permanent tattoo system. The procedure uses a patch covered with microscopic needles that deliver tattoo pigment into the upper layers of the skin, rather than the traditional tattoo gun. Users wear the patch for about 15 minutes, and the design becomes fully visible within one to two days. While the tattoos are permanent and require laser removal, there are some limitations: the designs are currently very small, fit within a 15-millimeter circle, and are only available in black ink. For now, the technology is being offered only at the company's London location.
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WMTW says Astronaut Neil Armstrong's childhood home in Wapakoneta, Ohio was recently listed for sale. Armstrong's old bedroom sits at the top of a creaky stairway. A basement wind tunnel and model planes show how he tested his ideas. A retired history teacher owns the house and wants to keep its past alive.  The asking price is $430,000. "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
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The annual Florida Python Challenge has wrapped up and crowned a winner. Professional python hunter Tom Rahill is the winner after removing 96 of the invasive snakes from South Florida. Rahill earned the contest's $10-thousand grand prize as part of a 10-day effort to reduce the spread of Burmese pythons in the Everglades. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says 907 participants from 30 states and two other countries removed a total of 280 pythons during the competition.
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WTAE says a Bellevue, Pennsylvania man recently crashed into a police car at a McDonald's. McDonald's employees called 911 for a man who came through the drive-thru three times and kept passing out. Caidyn Smith smelled like marijuana and refused to answer questions when the police arrived. Smith put his car in reverse and hit the police cruiser before taking off. He led officers on a chase. There is currently a warrant out for his arrest.
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The Daily Dot says a North Carolina woman recently tracked her boyfriend’s location to a movie theater and found him with another woman.  A video shows her walking through dark theaters with a flashlight on her phone.  She confronts her man and his mistress and throws their food on them. It landed on nearby moviegoers.   
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Cleveland.com says a Beachwood, Ohio  man was recently arrested for indecent exposure. He stripped naked while doing his laundry in his apartment complex laundry room. The man told police he had drunk a four-pack of Moscato wine before going to the laundry room. He was arrested  
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Guessing Headlights says a Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin woman was recently found naked behind the wheel of a stolen ambulance. The incident began with odd radio calls, including "I’m hungry" and "Do you guys have any food in there?" Emily Annmarie Fair was found in the driver’s seat with her dress in the back of the ambulance.  Officers took her into custody