Scuff marks? Colgate works wonders.

The same toothpaste you've counted on to keep your pearly whites sparkling for years can do the trick when scuff marks darken your white wood surfaces. A dab of Colgate toothpaste and a little scrubbing effort will erase the stubborn stain while leaving the surface smelling minty fresh.

Sweet & sour or hot & spicy?

A personal preference really, but when it comes to evaluating good creative, personal taste should be last on the list. Learn how testing can help you drive and refine creative by checking out my article on Movéo's mindshare page. Visit: www.moveo.com today

Form follows function

Using a combination of magnetic and chalkboard paints by Benjamin Moore, we maximzied the functional use of two walls, creating a useable and inviting atmosphere conducive to brainstorming. The furniture, with clean minimal lines, can accomodate a number of people but doesn't fight the work and writing on the walls. The lighting is dramatic and the use of low metal lockers is appropriate for housing a full library of creative resource materials. Movéo's Mindshare lounge serves as a nice example of a brand-inspired environment; clean, smart, sophisticated and forward-thinking.

Random flushing

To keep toilets fresh, flush often. The frequent movement of water will keep your shiny white (I would never suggest a colored bowl) toilet gleaming until your next cleaning. This same principal (random flushing) applies to concepting as well. Make a note of, but quickly flush, your first idea so you don't get stuck on it. When you circle back around later, you'll quickly know if it's worth pursuing.

Landscape lighting or flight path?

Lighting can certainly add drama to architecture and plants alike, but remember, a little goes a long way. Much like "supersize value meals", the lighting kits available through Home Depot and other home improvement stores are designed to make you feel as though you're getting more for your money, but you really shouldn't be eating all of those fries if you know what I mean. We've all seen the result--a lit border, usually formed in a very straight line, of too many plastic path lights--attracting planes, but not much else.

Landscape Design - A small request

If you've decided to add mulch to your garden beds, please use the very, very dark brown pine bark. The dyed red stuff just doesn't look good.

Cleaning Tip - Windows

A drop of Dawn dishsoap in a bucket of warm water will work wonders on your windows. For a steak-free shine, use a German squeege (makes a great birthday gift). If you don't have one yet, use newspaper.

Type A and proud of it

Type A personality is a term used to describe people who display the following behaviors:

1. Insatiable desire to achieve their goals
2. Strong willingness to compete in all situations
3. Strong desire for recognition and advancement
4. Desire to multitask under time constraints
5. Always in a rush to finish activities
6. Above average mental and physical alertness

It was first described as an important risk factor in coronary disease in the 1950s by cardiologists Meyer Friedman, R. H. Rosenham, and their co-workers. Friedman & Rosenham estimated that Type A behavior doubles the risk of coronary heart disease in otherwise healthy men and women. The long-range effect of this finding was the development of the field of health psychology, in which psychologists look at how a person's mental state affects his or her physical state.

In some cases, as first demonstrated by Dr. Redford Williams, a cardiologist at Duke University, Type A behavior may not to be a risk factor for coronary heart disease. According to Williams, the lethal part of Type A personality (the expression of hostility and anger) is the only significant risk-factor. Williams named the tendency to hostility and anger the Type H personality.

Furthermore, a systematic review of clinical evidence by Bunker et al recently concluded that there is no evidence for a causal association between Type A behaviour and coronary heart disease.

The most common instrument for diagnosing Type A personality is the Jenkins activity survey, first published in 1979 and based on research going back to the 1940's.