MANLY HEALTH AND HYGIENE


When it comes to offspring, I have unquestionably hit the jackpot. I am the father of four truly great kids, all of whom are now young adults ranging in age from eighteen to twenty-four. My sons are now eighteen and twenty. I have always tried to give them good practical male guidance, but there never seems to be enough time to tell them everything that I want to. Frankly, I do not recall whether I have told them these specific things or not. Allow me, then, to share with them--and with you, if you're interested--these manly tidbits of wisdom that I have amassed over my years on the planet.

Push-Ups: Push-ups are, without question, the best exercise for maintaining a masculine physique. Bench pressing accomplishes basically the same thing. I encourage weight training in all its forms, but if you can only do one exercise, push-ups are the best to give you strength and to maintain shape for your arms, chest and shoulders. I recommend doing at least five sets of your maximum reps every other day.

Nail Care: Proper male hygiene includes nail care. Many guys overlook this. I believe in keeping my nails clipped and clean. In addition to clipping, I use a cuticle oil with Vitamin E every day to keep my nails healthy and presentable. This is particularly important for the feet if you like to wear sandals, as I do. There is no excuse for having crusty-looking, unsightly nails.

Skin Moisturizer: When I was a young man, I suffered horrible itching on my back and arms every winter when my skin got dry. Fortunately, I eventually discovered the benefits of skin lotion. It completely solved the problem. These days, every time I finish showering I liberally apply skin moisturizer all over my body. I have found that Jergens Original Scent is the best, particularly in winter. In summertime, I sometimes use Suave Cocoa Butter with Shea.

Noxzema Shave: I have always had rather sensitive skin. Most shave creams and lotions will cause me to break out in short order. As a result, I have experimented with many brands. I have found that nothing compares with Medicated Noxema Shave for Sensitive Skin. Although it costs at least twice as much as regular shave creams, it is well worth it. It provides the most comfortable shave possible, and I wouldn't think of using anything else on my face.

Clean Mouth: I love to use mouthwash, and believe that it is essential for maintaining proper oral and dental hygiene. It should be swished around vigorously. I use an antiseptic mouthwash morning and night. I think that this routine helps to maintain a clean, healthy mouth. It's a great feeling!

With this posting, I realize that I have developed a very eclectic blog. I may give you updates on Indiana law. I may share my profound emotions. I may tell you about my political views, my opinions on sports, my favorite novels, or my tips on personal hygiene. I suppose that's the way my mind works, jumping from one subject to the next. I hope that you don't mind. I suppose that you don't, if you're still reading at this point.

I also hope that you find these tips to be of interest. I don't claim to be the most GQ guy around, but I strongly believe that these things have been helpful to me.

SPORTS TAKES

U  of L Baseball:  How about those Cards!  Louisville defeated Connecticut 11-3 yesterday to take the Big East tourney title in baseball, to add to their regular season championship.  New Albany's Drew Haynes had a spectacular diving catch in center field for the Cards in the third inning to keep the momentum going.  Louisville will now host an NCAA baseball regional beginning next Friday at Jim Patterson Stadium. 

Orlando Magic:  I find myself pulling for Orlando and L.A. in the NBA finals.  I know that Kobe versus LeBron would be a compelling matchup in the championship series, but I've really come to admire Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Courtney Lee and the rest of the Magic.  And Stan Van Gundy?  How can you not be for a coach who looks so much like Ron Jeremy?  

Cincinnati Reds:  It is wonderful that the Reds are playing well and still very much in contention in the NL Central.  It has been a long time coming.  Dusty Baker is doing a splendid job of managing this young team.  It's great that the Reds are looking so good on Memorial Day;  I just hope that they are still there and gaining steam on the Fourth of July. 

Danica Patrick:  I was hoping that Danica Patrick would win the Indy 500 yesterday.  I really admire her mental toughness and her personality.  I also think that she is very attractive, but that she could look better with a different hair style. But then again, she may not care much for my hair style either. 

Mine That Bird:  I am pulling strongly for Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes on June 6th.  He is a phenomenal undersized horse who was given virtually no chance for success at the start of the current racing season.  I don't think he's been appreciated enough for his win in the Kentucky Derby and his second place finish at the Preakness.  

Jeremy Jarmon:  Although I am a Louisville alumnus and fan, I was saddened to see outstanding Kentucky defensive lineman Jeremy Jarmon suspended for the entire upcoming football season by the NCAA.  He was suspended after he tested positive for a banned substance during a random drug test.  It appears that he made a terrible mistake in trying to lose weight by taking a dietary supplement that was not approved.  By all accounts, Jarmon is a delightful young man who has never been in any sort of trouble before.  I can relate to him because he's a political science major who also loves the theater.  It's a shame for his collegiate career to end this way.  I hope that he has great personal success in the future. 

WATCH OUT FOR THAT MAILBOX!

     Mailboxes seem to come in all shapes and sizes these days.  Some are decorative and festive, while others are functional and utilitarian.  When it comes to mailboxes, we generally have a wide variety of styles and types from which to choose.  Did you ever think, though, that your choice of a mailbox could subject you to liability for an accident that occurs on the street in front of your house?  According to a recent decision issued by the Indiana Court of Appeals, that may be a very real possibility.  

     James and Erica Sparks lived on a rural, two-lane road outside of Pekin.  They erected a brick mailbox on their property, placing it three feet from the roadway.  The road in front of their house is straight, with no obstruction of sight lines, and the Sparkses had no knowledge of any accident ever having occurred there.  

     On August 22, 2005, Barbara White was driving on the roadway in front of the Sparkses' house.  For unexplained reasons, she lost control of  her vehicle and left her lane of travel, crossed the other lane, drove off the road, and then smashed into the brick mailbox support on the Sparkses' property.  She was injured in the accident.  Subsequently, she filed a lawsuit against James and Erica Sparks in the Washington County Superior Court. 

     In her suit, White alleged that the property owners "were negligent in maintaining an unreasonably dangerous mailbox on their property," and that she suffered injuries as a result.  She contended that the property owners owed her a legal duty not to erect or construct objects in close proximity to the highway that could impose an unreasonable risk of harm to the traveling public.  

     The Sparkses moved for summary judgment, asking that the case be dismissed.   Their motion was denied by the Judge of the Washington Superior Court, and the Indiana Court of Appeals recently affirmed the denial.  

     The Court of Appeals held that the Sparkses may, in fact, be held liable for their allegedly dangerous mailbox, and that there is sufficient evidence to allow a jury to conclude that they should have foreseen the possibility that a passing motorist would crash into it.  The court noted that the plaintiff had designated evidence tending to show that the mailbox was bigger and stronger than it needed to be.  The judges held that there is a factual issue as to whether the mailbox presented an unreasonable risk of harm to the traveling public.  

     This case is a bit of a head-scratcher to me, but it is no surprise that our courts seem to be always willing to expand recovery possibilities for plaintiffs. There's no word yet on whether the case will be appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court, or whether it will be tried to a jury.  I'll let you know if I find out anything further.  

     For now, I would advise you to keep a close lookout for those dangerous mailboxes.