Daily Dose of Common Sense

It never fails: A subway car is packed to the gills and some knucklehead still has a giant backpack on. If you commute by anything other than a car, or if you’re frequently around tourist attractions, you have likely had the same unhappy experience at some point.

A lot of backpack wearers never take the pack off. Ever. So, even in a crowd, the big ‘ol backpack is whacking people in the face, back, or chest. The owner usually seems oblivious and continues to barrel on through the crowd.

What is it with you backpackers? Have some consideration for the rest of us!

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Myth or fact: Wearing a bra causes breast cancer? Answer: MYTH.

Apparently, there’s an Internet rumor going around (and we all believe those, don’t we?) that women who wear bras have a higher rate of breast cancer than those who don’t. Here is what Dr. Ted Gansler, director of medical content for the American Cancer Society, told The New York Times:

There is no scientifically credible evidence of this, he said, and the proposed mechanism–that bras prevent elimination of toxins by blocking lymph flow–is not in line with scientific concepts of how breast cancer develops.

He goes on to say that the idea that bras might cause breast cancer is so ludicrous that it’s doubtful scientists will ever waste research dollars on it. So, don’t burn your bras yet, ladies, and don’t believe everything you hear on the InterWebs.

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Unveiled at Fashion Week 2010 was the “sweater-kini.” Yes, that’s a sweater bikini. Just perfect for summer, ladies! Besides uncomfortable and impractical, they aren’t very attractive.

I love the Daily News’ description:

Firstly, the pool water would surely shrink this onerous one-piece around your body. And HELLO, ever hand-washed a cardigan? You need a forklift just to hang the thing to dry.

Plus, anyone who’s ever gotten doused by a rainstorm while wearing a sweater knows that no amount of Chanel No. 5 can cover that wet dog smell.

Seems obvious that the designer, Victoria Bartlett, did this only for publicity and not for sale. (Which is the same with most all high fashion and couture designs.) But, this is so beyond a high ruffle or too-short dress. I wonder if the models on the runway experienced any chafing?

[Via PatsPapers]

If you’re a fan of wearing your PJs in public, be glad you don’t live in Shanghai or in Cardiff, Wales.

With the World Expo 2010 looming, officials in Shanghai have launched a campaign encouraging citizens to leave their pajamas at home. If you look at the photos, it’s hard to see what the fuss is about. The pajamas look quite respectable: They match, they’re bright and colorful, and we don’t see any obvious stains or signs of wear. I mean, most people don’t have PJs this nice.

A grocery store in Wales is now refusing service to anyone shopping while wearing PJs. I understand that a few folks might be uncomfortable at the thought of someone, fresh from bed, frolicking amongst the cantaloupe in his or her night clothes. However, there isn’t much difference between pajamas and most of the casual “workout” clothes you see people wearing all the time. In fact, athletic clothes are usually tight, and some of the folks wearing said outfits should be in much, much looser clothing.

It can be a hard call, too. Some pajamas don’t look like pajamas, and some regular clothes might be confused for PJs. How can you really be sure?

I would much, MUCH rather see people in loose-fighting, tasteful pajamas than some of the outfits I’ve seen while shopping in Target and Walmart. Not to pick on those two fine retail establishments, but…well, there’s a web site you can check for verification. We made fun of the “pajama/jean” concept here, but perhaps this is a just a bigger trend to get us all in pajamas 24/7. (Sure would come in handy after a big meal!) So, lighten up on the PJs, folks. It could be worse.

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Do you want to sleep in jeans? Me neither. That’s why this product really makes me wonder.

Called Pajama Jeans, they are PJs that are also jeans. The site claims they are really comfortable, but also says the pants include:

High contrast stitching, brass rivets and an unbeatable fit.

Do you want to roll over onto a rivet in the middle of the night? Nope, didn’t think so. Also, I don’t need an unbeatable fit in my PJs. I need baggy, comfortable, and soft. Rivets and a tight fit doesn’t really do it for me.

But, maybe I’m just wrong. At the very least, these folks need to change their marketing copy. In full disclosure, I haven’t tried them, so if you have $39.95 to throw away, feel free to send some my way.

[Thanks to Leeanne for the link!]

Are you more worried about looking good behind the wheel, or being able to see the road?

Most of us don’t think about how our sunglasses will affect our driving performance. But, we should. Scott Marshall is Director of Training for Young Drivers of Canada and has a blog all about driving safely. Recently, he discussed driving and the trend of large eyewear. Why would big, chunky, expensive sunglasses pose a problem?

The current problem is the framing of many of the glasses is thick enough that it blocks part of their vision. The driver has a difficult time seeing off to their side in their peripheral vision. Other drivers can sneak up beside them without the driver knowing. It also stops the driver from seeing clearly at intersections for pedestrians or cyclists. These stylish sunglasses narrow the driver’s view too much and make driving more difficult.

Makes sense, right? But, you don’t want to skip sunglasses altogether. They reduce glare and brightness, which can be a potential hazard to drivers.

According to insurance statistics there are 18,000 car accidents in this country every day with as many as 6,000 of those accidents directly attributable to over- brightness and glare. Drivers are particularly vulnerable to the hazard of blinding glare.

Polarized sunglasses are best for reducing glare and brightness; so, in addition to the correct frames, also make sure you buy the right kind of glass.

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When will the trend of having words printed on your butt just go away? I keep thinking it will disappear, like leg warmers and shoulder pads. But, the clothes keep coming and people keep wearing them. I hate to point out the obvious, but is this really an area you want people to be reading on? Not many people can say, “Wow, my butt is awesome! I’d like to call attention to it with special wording.”

I would like to title these images “When nice people make bad fashion decisions”. Or, with regards to this argument, Exhibit A.

Photos courtesy of Malingering

One of the current fashion trends is skinny jeans. Yeah, that’s what we need right now–tighter clothing. As the country gets fatter, the fashion industry makes the clothing smaller and harder to get in to. This doesn’t make a lot of sense. Even still, you may be considering a purchase, or you may wear skinny jeans incessantly. If so, please consider the health risks that may accompany tight pants.

Yes, health risks. The Consumer Reports Medical Adviser discusses the dangers of too-tight pants. Not only can they potentially cause nerve damage, there are risks of yeast infections and blood clots, not to mention potential fertility issues for men.

This is one fad we’re anxious to see go away. Besides being unhealthy, there are very few people who can actually pull off tight pants. Yes, you have the right to wear whatever you want, regardless of your size. But, if your skinny jeans overfloweth, then perhaps you should buy a pair of pants that actually fit. Just because you can squeeze them on doesn’t mean you should.