Tim Phillips Show, 8/6/26
6:10
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.⠀
6:30
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
7:15
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
