John Tesh’s KJOY Blog

Did you know that chalk can help prevent ants from invading your home this summer? Just grab a stick and draw a thick line around points where ants might enter your home – like the base of the front door and kitchen windows. Ants are repelled by the calcium carbonate in chalk, and probably won’t cross the line.

Think Monday’s pretty rough?  Might be, because it’s the most stressful day of the week, right? First day back to work after the weekend, and all… WRONG! According to a new study, Tuesday is actually the most stressful day of the week, and to get really specific, your stress level will peak at 11:45 on Tuesday morning.

A study was done by a UK company ; when they surveyed 3,000 workers, they found that mid-morning on the second day of the week is when workers feel the most pressure. Of course conventional wisdom, and popular music, would say that Monday is the most “manic” day. However, according to the survey, a lot of employees coast through Monday, just sort of getting their brain back in gear and catching up with weekend gossip. A startling 53 percent of people polled admitted they don’t get much work done on Monday, and 10 percent of those folks admitted it’s because they’re spending a lot of time on Facebook and Twitter. Then on Tuesday, reality sets in. People suddenly realize how much work needs to get done by Friday and they get stressed out. It stands to reason, if you coast through Monday it makes Tuesday even worse, because your workload is bigger and your stress is greater.

Since everything comes to a head Tuesday right before lunch, the survey found that employees are more likely to work through their lunch break on Tuesday than on any other day. They’re also more likely to leave the office late on Tuesday. So what’s causing all the stress? 25 percent of workers say it’s the heavy workload, 12 percent blame their boss, and 9 percent say their colleagues are what stresses them out. If this sounds familiar to you, try getting a little more work done on Monday, so Tuesday doesn’t hit you like a ton of bricks

Got a kitty (or 2?) in your household?  Bet you’ve got a listener (or 2!) who will love this feline-fine intel, here to debunk some myths about your own little Garfield:

Yes, it is true that cats are a lot more independent than dogs. Just HOW self-sufficient are they? Not as much as you might think! Here are the facts, courtesy of Oprah.com’s animal behavior expert, Lisa Ward.

• Myth #1: Cats are low-maintenance pets. Not so. Cats are social animals who need interaction with their humans every day. Also, since they can’t verbally communicate with you, it’s your responsibility to constantly monitor your cat’s behavior, and be aware of anything unusual. Anyone who believes a cat can “take care of itself” will miss subtle signs of serious illness or injury. In terms of financial commitment, plan to spend between $800 and $1,000 per year, per cat, on the basics — food, litter and regular vet care. That’s in addition to budgeting for pet-sitting and medical emergencies.
• Cat myth #2: Cats will take care of themselves if left alone for a few days. NOPE! If you’re going to be gone for more than 12 to 14 hours, someone should check on them. Cats who are left alone for long periods of time can get into trouble, become depressed and get sick. For example, a cat who develops a urinary tract infection can become critically ill in less than 24 hours. So, if you’re planning even a short weekend away, have someone who knows your cat stop by for at least one hour a day so they can make sure he’s behaving normally. Give your friend the phone number of the nearest emergency veterinary clinic and copies of your cat’s medical records – just in case.
• One last myth about cats: It doesn’t matter what you feed them. Again – not true. Cats are carnivores, so there’s little nutritional value for them in plant-based foods. In fact, it’s hard for their systems to effectively break down and utilize the nutrients in plant-based ingredients. In a perfect world, they should have no grains at all in their food. This means that canned food is better than kibbles. Make sure you read labels carefully. You should avoid foods that list the first ingredient as a “byproduct” of anything, or grains like wheat, corn or rice. A quality meat protein source should be the first ingredient listed, indicating that it’s the product’s primary ingredient.

The clothes and shoes you wear,and the accessories you carry, that might be “oh so, the rage”could be hurting your health! Here are the facts, courtesy of ABC News.

• Skinny jeans can cause nerve damage. Dr. Orly Avitzur, a neurologist at Yale University, says that super-tight jeans compress a nerve in the groin area, and can cause irritation, tingling, burning, and pain, the same damage caused by old-fashioned girdles, and too-tight pants on pregnant or obese people. The fix: Skip the skinny jeans. It’s as simple as that.
• High heels. Wearing high heels constantly can cause your Achilles tendon to get shorter, which leads to serious walking problems, especially if you’re barefoot or wearing flat shoes. High heels can also cause back pain. Richard Jensen is president of the American Podiatric Medical Association, and says high heels make you lean forward on the balls of your feet, leading to balance issues, and increasing your risk for serous back pain. The fix: Wear your highest heels every other day, max, and wear different heel heights on alternating days.
• Heavy handbags, backpacks, computer bags, or doggie purses with a 10-pound pooch inside can cause back pain. Most people always carry heavy items on the same side. Which means the muscles on the other side of your body have to strain to keep you upright. The fix: Carry your bag on different sides on alternating days, exercise to strengthen your back muscles, or get a bag with a long handle you can drape around your neck and chest, and wear bandolier style.
• Finally, beware of flip-Flops and Ugg-style boots. They don’t have proper heels or support for arches or ankles, which can lead to plantar fasciitis, severe heel pain that may require anti-inflammatory shots, or even surgery. Shoes with no support can also cause tendinitis, because the tendons in your ankles stretch uncomfortably to help you stay balanced. Flip-flops and Ugg-style boots also provide no protection from sharp or falling objects. So, never wear them while doing yard work, or do-it-yourself projects.

Can you name a board game that’s more than 1,400 years old, and is suddenly making a comeback in 2009? According to USA Today, the classic skill game of chess is currently taking North American schools by storm. In the past six years alone, a scholastic chess organization called First Move has gone from 1,500 student members to more than 50,000! When the game’s top players gathered in St. Louis recently - for America’s so-called “Super Bowl” of chess – four of the Top 24 players were under the age of 21.

So why now?  Well, for starters, teachers have rediscovered the incredible academic benefits of playing chess.  One of the first thing learned is chess’ coordinate system.  That coordinate system is the basis for algebra, and more complex math skills. Students also learn to take notes during a chess match, and to study the moves of other players printed in books.  Chess teaches the mind how to think!

Next, there are also social benefits to playing chess. For starters, it’s a game that kids can practice at home with their parents or with friends, and that promotes social bonding in a way that no videogame ever could. That’s one reason why the game of chess has remained popular for so long. Jerry Nash is the scholastic director for the U.S. Chess Federation. He says chess survives because it’s “an equalizer.” Your success has nothing to do with your size, age, or what language you speak. All you have to do is out-think your opponent. Plus, Nash says chess is a very inexpensive game to play, and in this economy, that may be one of the best benefits of all!

Did you know that when it comes to speaking a Foreign Language, you don’t need to complete a six-month course?  Instead, get a little pocket language book and learn a few key words and phrases.

Don George, global-travel editor for Lonely Planet, says the following words are the most useful:  Hello, good-bye, yes, no, please, thank you and sorry. Key phrases include “Do you speak English?”, “I don’t understand,” and “How much?”

Of course, “Where’s the bathroom?” is always a good one to know.

Getting from point A to point B is one thing, but isn’t it better to get there faster, and easier?  Here’s a tip that might bring a tear to your eye, from Real Simple magazine.

• To dry your eyes after cutting onions: Stick your head in the freezer for a couple of seconds. According to ophthalmologist Marguerite B. McDonald, a professor at the Tulane University School of Medicine, cold air stops the tears and reduces redness and puffiness by constricting blood vessels.

You’ve seen them broadcast on the evening news: Frantic 911 phone calls from parents trying to save a child’s life or from ordinary citizens witnessing a crime. The calls are often dramatic and emotional, and a growing number of people want them banned, especially from the media!

According to CNN, 24 states already restrict public access to 911 recordings. However, Ohio State Senator Thomas Patton recently introduced a bill that would make it illegal to broadcast them anywhere – including TV, the radio, or over the Internet. Senator Patton says he got the idea for the law from emergency workers, who think 911 broadcasts scare people away from using the service to report crimes. People fear someone might recognize their voice, and come looking for revenge. There’s also a privacy issue. Just as the FAA rarely releases cockpit recordings of airline pilots after a crash, most crime victims don’t want to be identified in public. So this law would allow broadcasters to read transcripts of 911 calls, but forbid playing any identifying audio. Still, there are just as many people who think a 911 ban would be a very bad idea.

Ever since the 911 system was set up in 1968, there have been hundreds of cases where a recording exposed critical errors in the way operators handle emergency calls – like an operator who makes rude or dismissive comments to a caller or gives bad information that could potentially cost a life. Journalists argue that the threat of having a 911 recording made public helps keep operators on their toes. It makes them less negligent, and helps the system save more lives. Also, since 911 call centers are funded by public taxes and fees, many argue that those calls should be public information. In other words: There’s a clear trade-off on this issue – between an individual’s right to privacy, and the public’s right to know whether the 911 system is working properly.