Foot Funk

Funk music (e.g. James Brown or Parliament-Funkadelic) can best be recognized by its syncopated rhythms, thick bass line, and razor-sharp rhythm guitars. Foot funk on the other hand can best be recognized by its pungent aroma, pinched noses, and comments like “Put your damn shoes back on!” We think you should enjoy a little good funk music from time to time, but by all means stay away from foot funk!

Why do feet stink?

The feet are densely covered with sweat glands (approx 250,000 each) that try to keep them cool. Sweat is essentially just water and salt, which does not smell bad on its own; however, your feet are also covered with natural bacteria. These bacteria live on dead skin cells and moisture. Therefore, when your feet sweat excessively the bacteria think it’s mealtime! As they consume, they in turn produce the waste material that causes the smell. Brevibacteria, are the leading cause of foot odor, which is the same bacteria that gives some cheeses such as Limburger and Muenster their characteristic pungency; thus, the term “cheesy feet”.

Prevention

The foot of an average male can exude half a pint of sweat a day! All that moisture is a breeding ground for bacteria, molds, toenail fungus, and viral infections, leading to smelly feet, rashes, or other more serious medical issues. Here are a few tips to keep you dogs funk-free:

• Wash your feet regularly

• Wear clean socks, preferably made of cotton or other absorbent materials that absorb a lot of the sweat so the bacteria can’t feed on it

• Wear well-ventilated shoes

• Don’t wear the same shoes everyday – give a pair of shoes 24 hours or more to air out before wearing them again

• If you sweat a lot or will be doing a lot of activity, apply an antiperspirant to your feet

• Sprinkle some talcum powder, cornstarch or potato starch onto the feet before putting on your socks or buy some absorbent Odor-Eater type shoe inserts

• There are also products available that will help safeguard by protecting the skin with a layer of glycerin

One nation under a foot-funk-free groove!

The Beatdown

While sunshine may lift your spirits, it can do serious harm to the skin. Exposure to the sun’s damaging UV rays is one of the leading causes of premature skin aging and also puts you at greater risk of developing skin cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that, regardless of skin type, a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 is essential for year-round use.

Why is the sun so bad?

The sun’s rays, which are called ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays (UVA and UVB rays) damage your skin. This leads to early wrinkles, skin cancer and other skin problems.

Being in the sun often over time, even if you don’t burn, can lead to skin cancer. A tan is the body’s desperate attempt to protect itself from the sun’s harmful rays.

Preventing skin damage

The key is to avoid being in the sun. If you’re going to be in the sun for any length of time, wear clothes made from tight-woven cloth so the sun’s rays can’t get through to your skin, and stay in the shade when you can. Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face, neck and ears. Always wear a sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15 when going outside.

Remember that clouds and water won’t protect you; 60% to 80% of the sun’s rays can get through clouds and can reach swimmers at least one foot below the surface of the water. The sun’s rays can also reflect off of water, snow and white sand.

You don’t need to hide away indoors to protect your skin. Just be smart about your sun exposure and take precautions to keep your skin healthy for years to come.

11 Undervalued Hollywood Hotties

There are definitely a lot of actors and actresses in Hollywood that are waaaayyyy overrated. They demand big bucks for so-so performances. We like to see a little more bang for our buck, so we tried to take a look at some of the under valued stocks in Hollywood that might save a couple million over a Demi Moore or a Julia Roberts.

These 11 young ladies have certainly proven they have what it takes for Hollywood. Just making it to Hollywood is an accomplishment in and of itself. But, by our standards they have not yet reached their full asking price. Yeah, you’ve probably seen them around here and there, but wouldn’t you like to see them around a little more!

Megan Fox

Where you’ve seen her: Playing around under the hood of a Camero in the 2007 Transformers blockbuster

Recent Performance: Just voted the sexiest woman in the world by FHM Magazine

Analyst Rating: Strong Buy

Bridget Moynahan

Where you’ve seen her: Saving the world from an android takeover in I, Robot

Recent Performance: Gave birth to Tom Brady’s love child

Analyst Rating: Hold

Kristen Bell

Where you’ve seen her: Walking around bikini clad in Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Recent Performance: Playing with electricity as Elle Bishop on Heroes

Analyst Rating: Buy

Thandie Newton

Where you’ve seen her: Performing thievery in Mission Impossible II

Recent Performance: Playing Condoleezza Rice in an upcoming movie about W.

Analyst Rating: Hold

Kate Bosworth

Where you’ve seen her: Hangin’ with Supey as Lois Lane in Superman Returns

Recent Performance: Gambling her nights away in 21

Analyst Rating: Strong Buy

Paz Vega

Where you’ve seen her: Cleaning up Adam Sandler’s messes in Spanglish

Recent Performance: Filming with Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson on the upcoming Spirit movie

Analyst Rating: Buy


Kate Beckensale

Where you’ve seen her: Strutting around in her Pocahontas outfit for Adam Sandler in Click

Recent Performance: Surviving a shooting at an LA diner in the upcoming movie Winged Creatures

Analyst Rating: Hold


Blake Lively

Where you’ve seen her: Attending a faux university in Accepted

Recent Performance: Talking it up with co-lister Kristen Bell on the hit CW show Gossip Girl

Analyst Rating: Strong Buy


Anna Faris

Where you’ve seen her: As a brunette with blonde intelligence, Cindy Campbell, in the Scary Movie films

Recent Performance: Playing herself (not with) on the wildly popular HBO series Entourage

Analyst Rating: Hold


Brooke Burns

Where you’ve seen her: Bouncing around the Baywatch beaches and putting contestants through the ringer on Dog Eat Dog

Recent Performance: Working on the Ashton Kutcher produced series Miss Guided

Analyst Rating: Hold


Michelle Monaghan

Where you’ve seen her: Yuckin’ it up with Ben Stiller in The Heartbreak Kid

Recent Performance: Starring in the romantic comedy (aka chick flick) Made of Honor

Analyst Rating: Strong Buy

The Manival #2

Head on over to A Good Husband to catch the second installment of the manliest blog carnival around with tons of good info for all types of guys like:

• Is it More Important to be a Good Dad or a Good Husband?
• 8 Things That Will Not Score You A First Date
• Man Up: The Art of Marital Conversation
• Being Self-Sufficient
• and last but not least How to Achieve The Perfect Wet Shave by yours truly

The Manival is an ongoing blog carnival updated every Tuesday. Past posts and future hosts can be found at the blog carnival index page.

Pick The RIGHT Scent… Not Just ANY Scent

You have to use some common sense when it comes to scents! Nobody wants you to leave a telltale trail as you walk down the hallway, telling everyone where you’ve been and where you are headed. They also do not want the entire boardroom to smell like you, no matter how good you smell. A scent is something personal that only you and those in your immediate vicinity should be aware of, like using that “inside voice” your mom always used to remind you about. It is a subtle salute and finishing touch to the rest of you good grooming habits.

Eau de huh?

What’s with the funny name? It’s actually not just some fancy label placed on the product. Most fragrances are diluted with ethanol, which evaporates rapidly and allows the smell to emanate from your skin. The name of the scent refers to the amount of fragrance oil it contains:

• Perfume extract: 20%-40% aromatic compounds

• Eau de parfum: 10-30% aromatic compounds

• Eau de toilette: 5-20% aromatic compounds

• Eau de cologne: 2-3% aromatic compounds As the percentage of aromatic compounds decreases, generally the intensity and longevity of the scent decreases.

Selecting a scent

Since scents dissipate over time, they do not smell the same from start to finish. They can be broken up into three separate smells, typically referred to as “notes”. You will need to experience them all to know exactly what you’re buying. Follow these steps:

1. Smell the scent on a blotter card. This is the “top note”.

2. Wait 10 – 15 minutes and smell the card again. This is the “middle note”.

3. After another 45 minutes to an hour, smell it one more time. This is the “base note”, the longest-lasting scent.

Matching skin type

You know what the notes smell like, but picking a scent is also a very personal thing. The way a fragrance smells will change from guy to guy because of the difference in the chemical reaction that takes place due to varying skin properties. Both pH and skin type play a role in how you will smell.

Oily Skin – Skin high in natural oil can interact to create longer-lasting, more powerful scents. To counteract this effect, wear less cologne and opt for lighter fragrances. Go for the ones developed for summertime wear that have more citrus and floral tones.

Dry Skin – Without the right amount of natural oil, the scent will dissipate faster, so it must be applied more frequently to keep the aroma flowing. However, the dissipating effects can dry out your skin. What to do? Opposite of those with oily skin, try the winter scents. Typically they are stronger and are formulated to last longer in drier conditions.

Sensitive Skin – Follow the same rules listed under Dry Skin, but look for products that list all-natural ingredients. They will be free of synthetic fragrances that may irritate your skin.

Switch it up

Different times of year and different occasions may be better suited to certain scents, so there’s no need to pick one as your “signature”. Try out several that you like (or that simply seem to “drive them wild”) and keep a well-stocked grooming cabinet, so you are ready for any occasion!