bookofjoe

Map: Paid Maternal Leave Around the World

The U.S. is one of only eight countries, out of 188 with known policies, without paid leave.

[Map by the New York Times, via TwistedSifter and Joe Peach]

ParkAtMyHouse.com — "Airbnb without washing sheets"

So tweeted David Galbraith about this waycool idea.

Monetize yourself.

If you don't, others will.

Fair warning.

Helpful Hints from joeeze: Do your beans* lose their flavor in the microwave overnight?

Mine don't but then, I can't speak for you.

Here's the thing: about once a month or so I put something in the microwave in the evening, around 9 or 10 p.m., then get distracted or tired or whatevs and don't discover the contents until the next day — sometimes a couple days.

Depending on what it was I nuked, the contents go into the trash or — in the case of baked beans — I just nuke 'em again for a minute and chow.

That got me to thinking about how, many years ago, I solved the problem of leaving wet clothes in the washing machine overnight and sometimes for days by putting a fridge magnet on the kitchen counter where I couldn't miss it so as to serve as a reminder — like tying a string around your finger — to check the washer and move the clothes to the dryer.

So I thought to myself, "yo joe — how about putting that magnet on the counter whenever you put something in the microwave so you don't forget about it?

And lo and behold, it works.

Work smart not hard.

That's the way I like to live.

Bonus: Free, the way I like it.

*Bush's beans — any of the zillions of flavors and styles they now offer — are my default choice.

This just in: Bush's just named Official Baked Beans©™® of bookofjoe.

Grocery Bag Can

Finally, a trash can that uses those flimsy plastic bags you get these days everywhere you shop yet manages to camouflage them inside a sleek enclosure.

From websites:

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Plastic grocery bags slide into a resin insert that in turn is housed inside of a stainless steel stainless outer can.

The lid is then placed on top, hiding the unsightly edges of the grocery bag.

13"H x 11"D x 6"W.

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$29.99.

Catme 13/Glass Effect 88 — An early morning drive through my hood, as seen through Google Glass (video)

Since I was up I decided to take a spin around my subdivision.

Here's what it looks like at 6:30 in the morning.

Lipstick Defender — "Compact, concealable, and ready for any attack"

Can your lipstick do that?

Didn't think so.

From websites:

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Many women scoff at the thought of carrying pepper spray because of its appearance and clumsiness.

Cleverly disguised, Lipstick Defender is compact, inconspicuous, and ready for any attack — and it's one of the hottest pepper sprays on the market!

Simply remove the protective cap — powerful stream pattern decreases wind blow-back and 22-gram capacity ensures approximately 10 bursts, effective up to 10 feet away.

Attractive pink fits any purse or comfortably in a small hand when you're walking alone.

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$5.49.