All right. You’re pretty smart dudes. After all, you are reading this and if that’s not an indication of abnormally high intelligence (or being dropped on the head as a child. We’re not sure which.), I don’t know what is.

Where was I? Oh, yeah. Right. Smart dudes.

Basically I just wanted to take a bit of [...]]]>

by Richard

All right. You’re pretty smart dudes. After all, you are reading this and if that’s not an indication of abnormally high intelligence (or being dropped on the head as a child. We’re not sure which.), I don’t know what is.

Where was I? Oh, yeah. Right. Smart dudes.

Basically I just wanted to take a bit of time to remind all of you that this is summer, which means it is hot. Very, very hot. Here in Charlotte, we’re in the middle of a(nother) heat wave, with temperatures expected to reach or exceed 100 for a while. While I’m from Florida and used to hot days, that doesn’t mean I think this is fun. I mean, there’s a reason we moved north.

As smart dudes, I’m sure you know all about the admonition to drink water during the day and especially when it’s hot out. Well, most of us will substitute something else for the water, say a Coke of some flavor or a beer. Under the impression that liquid is liquid and it all works to keep us hydrated the way we want to be.

Wrong. Very, very wrong.

A lot of today’s drinks are loaded with sweets and calories, both of which actually increase our bodies’ need for water. Your body needs that pure water to do the good stuff you like. For instance, live.

You should also make sure not to rely on being thirsty as a measure of when you should go ahead and get something to drink. Odds are, by the time your body says you need to start drinking, you’re already on your way to being dehydrated.

When you’re working outside, or playing outside or just plain, you know, outside, make it a habit to stop every once in a while for a nice glass of cold water.

Related posts

• Insert Witty Title Here (0)
• Trade Off (0)
• These Are Not The Droids You’re Looking For (1)
• Summer Safety 1 (3)
• Re-Jected! (0)

And we’re back. Back with more summer safety tips. Don’t spend them all in one place. Don’t take any wooden nickels. Don’t bet the number five horse in the third race at the Aqueduct.

Wait. Sorry. Not those kind of tips. More like the ones below.

Myth: You won’t get sunburned on a cloudy day.

Adam: Wise up, [...]]]> by Richard

And we’re back. Back with more summer safety tips. Don’t spend them all in one place. Don’t take any wooden nickels. Don’t bet the number five horse in the third race at the Aqueduct.

Wait. Sorry. Not those kind of tips. More like the ones below.

Myth: You won’t get sunburned on a cloudy day.

Adam: Wise up, folks. You certainly can get a severe sunburn on a cloudy day. I know this from experience. And from scientific study. But it’s the painful experience that really stuck with me. Overcast weather cuts down on the light, but not on the ultraviolet rays that cause sunburn.

Fact: Pediatricians recommend wearing UV-blocking clothing or, if you’re going to wear a swimsuit or such, wear sunblock that takes care of UV-A and UV-B rays. Sunscreen should be put on at least 30 minutes before you go out into the sun to allow it time to be absorbed into the skin. Where it will, you know, block out the sun’s UV rays.

Myth: Arm floaties will make a little dude or dudette perfectly safe in the water.

Jamie: Ah, no. Not at all. In fact, it even says that on every pack of floaties. They’re for fun. They’re not rescue or floatation devices. They just look cute.

Fact: If you’re unsure of your little one’s swimming ability, get them an actual life vest. Many public pools have them for use and these devices really are designed to prevent drowning. You should also stay very close to the little dude or dudette and stay in the shallow end. All good safety precautions.

Myth: You can safely leave the little ones alone in the pool for just a quick second while you answer the door or get a drink.

Grant: Again, no. Not at all. It’s just like having a baby in the bath. You don’t ever leave them alone in the bath, you shouldn’t leave little kids alone in the pool. Same principle, only with a lot more water and a lot more danger.

Fact: Stay with the kids. You’ve got caller ID and call waiting. You can always call back to talk about how satisfied you are with your long-distance service at another time.

Myth: Summer is a great time to play with your kids.

Well, actually, that last one isn’t really a myth at all. The longer hours of daylight give us all a bit more time to roll around in the grass, toss the baseball or go slay some dragons on the PS3. Whatever. You’ve got an opportunity to have some safe fun with your little dudes. Don’t pass it up.

Related posts

• Summer Safety 1 (3)
• Dog Training (0)
• The Guide: That Ounce Of Prevention (1)
• The Sun Conundrum (0)
• The Guide: Get Smart, Get Safe (0)

I think I might have mentioned it before, but comic books are what helped to form a very large portion of my ethical outlook. Spider-Man taught me that those who are strong have the responsibility to help those who aren’t. Batman taught me to work with what you have (even though most people aren’t going [...]]]>

by Richard

I think I might have mentioned it before, but comic books are what helped to form a very large portion of my ethical outlook. Spider-Man taught me that those who are strong have the responsibility to help those who aren’t. Batman taught me to work with what you have (even though most people aren’t going to be billionaire obsessives with a full support team.)

I thought I’d done all the learning I needed to do from comic books. Turns out I was wrong. The Incredible Hercules still had a few things to teach us all.

Amadeus Cho is the seventh-smartest person in the world. He’s been hanging with Hercules, righting wrongs and helping to make the world a better place. Unfortunately, Hercules’ mom, Hera, is also trying to make the world a better place and, in her mind, that means wiping out humanity and starting over again.

Seems like a pretty clear-cut philosophical difference that could be easily settled through the traditional methods of beating each other on the head until one being gives in. Unfortunately for humanity, Hera is backed by a number of the other gods in her pantheon, as well as the terrifying Titan Typhon. Hercules has a smart kid and a few of his pals in the Avengers.

What Herc doesn’t know is that his sister, Pallas Athena, has been training Amadeus Cho to replace Hercules as the new prince of power, the protector of humanity. Sounds great. It’s just too bad there can only be one Prince of Power at a time. Which means for Amadeus to take over, Hercules has to be dead.

All of which means it’s time for Herc to make a head-on assault on Hera’s headquarters, New Olympus. Amadeus spends most of the assault trying to protect his friend, which irritates Hercules no end. And here’s the teachable moment. Amadeus confronts Hercules with his worry and Herc tells him, basically, chill out, dude.

“Everybody dies,” Hercules said. “But not everybody lives. Stop worrying all the time.”

Worrying won’t change things. Live life. Enjoy life. Fight for life. When it ends, it ends. Now, I’m not endorsing a fatalistic outlook, but rather one that embraces change and ending, while showing off the best you can get out of life.

All of which makes for a great comic book.

The fight scenes are amazing. As is the entire last half of the book. Full of humor and pathos and betrayal.

If you’ve been following these reviews, you’ll know how much I’m enjoying them. This book doesn’t disappoint.

Go out and pick this up. Five dudes out of five. Again.

Related posts

• Dude Review: The Incredible Hercules: The Mighty Thorcules (0)
• A Different Definition (0)
• Hidden Talents: The Stinkening (2)
• Freaky Friday: Verbal Sight (0)
• Freaky Friday: Online Ostracism (1)