Good news! I’ve found a hands-free bug-repellent product that works: Herbal Clear is worth searching out. I’m not sure why the company chose to double this as a deodorant (bugs rarely get me in the pits). But I suppose if you really love that citronella smell, wearing this stuff as a deodorant isn’t a bad option. Leave it for the trail, though. You don’t want to repel your office mates, now do you?

My hometown is gearing up for the biggest event of the next four years: the Democratic National Convention, to be held in Denver, August 25-28. Notably, Denver has made a big push toward greening the convention by providing local, organic food, for example, and urging states to make their visit “carbon neutral.” But while you, me, and the rest of the state might not be able to get in to see “The Speech” or participate in the convention itself, the city is holding a number of open-to-the-public events around town, including Green Frontier Fest on August 24. more

Obesity has been linked to a seemingly endless array of negative health consequences (heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, and the like) but you might want to think twice before you judge a person’s health by their weight, says another new study reported on the NYTimes Well blog this week. more