On this day in 1887, Chester Greenwood of Maine received a patent for earmuffs. Ever since, people have worn two hunks of something suspended on a band of something to protect ears from something. We wear some variation of Greenwood's invention to protect ourselves from freezing cold and, more recently, from noise that's everywhere around us everyday in ever-increasing decibels. While we can't do much about traffic, planes and building construction, we can take control of our own lives to protect our hearing from all the wonderful tools and conveniences making our world better and easier. Wear ear protectors for use with power tools, like chainsaws, drills, routers and lawn mowers. Buy a good pair with a noise-reduction rating (NRR) of at least 25. You'll still be able to hear when you wear them -- and for many years after you've taken them off. And that's the On The House tip for today.