These days, it seems pretty much anything can be done over the Internet. With the ongoing advancements in home electronics and the ever-increasing volume of online content, there are growing numbers of households and SMBs (Server Message Blocks) adopting an “Internet Only” telecom model. We now use our Internet connection for everything from home entertainment and gaming to paying bills and even starting our cars! The rapid development of lifestyle changing applications now available through … [Read more...] about The Renaissance of Communications
Columnists
CREC Beginning New Chapter
In July 2010, as the Schultz Fire ripped across the eastern face of the San Francisco Peaks and Hotshot fire crews from around the country descended on the mountain, members of the Coconino Rural Environment Corps (CREC) prepared to go straight to work. When monsoonal downpours quenched what was left of the flames, floodwaters rushed down the mountainside and devastated multiple homes and lives. One of the first organizations to rise and aid dazed residents with sandbags, straw waddles and a … [Read more...] about CREC Beginning New Chapter
Keeping Call Centers in U.S.
It is easy to identify bad telephone branding and what not to do when branding the telecommunication channel by simply assessing the many irritating situations encountered daily while using the phone. These unpleasant occurrences include the phone ringing with no answer, calls delivered into “voicemail jail” with no way out, lines ringing busy resulting in repeated call attempts, phones answered by hurried, agitated or rude receptionists, an abrupt placement on hold for what seems like an … [Read more...] about Keeping Call Centers in U.S.
The Man Who Has Everything
More than just “the everything store,” Amazon.com is also the everywhere store. Founder Jeff Bezos is equally ubiquitous, showing up as a frequent news item in The Washington Post (which he now owns), The New York Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Business Week and – now – Flagstaff Business News. Your intrepid FBN book reviewer has finally caught on. Full disclosure: you’re more likely to find me in an analog Barnes & Noble or Bookman’s than shopping for literature … [Read more...] about The Man Who Has Everything
The Trinity of Hearing
This is part two of a three-part series on hearing loss and the relationship of the three primary elements, or the Trinity of players, involved in facilitating hearing as efficiently as possible. This Trinity includes the family, the hearing-impaired person and the hearing health-care provider. Part 2, The Hearing Impaired Person “My family complains that I hear what I want to.” This comment does not occur with normal hearing individuals. With hearing loss, some of the words come … [Read more...] about The Trinity of Hearing
Holiday Safety Tips
The holiday season is a special time filled with celebrations, family and traditions. But without the proper precautions, those special traditions introduce special dangers. These tips will help keep your holidays happy and safe. Christmas Tree Safety Christmas trees are a great tradition, but they can also become a major fire hazard. Always keep the tree well watered. A dried-out Christmas tree is a big fire risk. Dried pine needles are great kindling and a single spark … [Read more...] about Holiday Safety Tips
Understanding Breast Density
The issue of breast density has gained increasing attention in the past several years, and to date, 12 states have enacted density-reporting laws. While the issue can be confusing and a bit scary for women, being informed about breast density, its potential impact on breast cancer and options for additional screening can help women better understand what it really means. Breast density is important because it can make breast cancer more difficult to detect. Although Arizona does not yet have … [Read more...] about Understanding Breast Density
Striving For Efficient Building Processes
Council has made some progress toward quicker issuance of building permits. I have been pushing for these changes for over a year and we are seeing some results. Architect’s Certification Some building plans have to be prepared by an architect (multi-family or commercial). After the plans are submitted for a building permit, the city plans examiner can take weeks to review the plans. Now, there is a process in place where the architect can certify that the plans meet all city … [Read more...] about Striving For Efficient Building Processes
Antibiotic Resistance-the Future
Headlines regarding antibiotic-resistant infections have become commonplace. Five years ago, my grandfather had a well-performed, routine surgery. He was healing well when a fever and other signs of infection struck. He had a bladder infection. This ordinarily easy to treat infection persisted for several months. Despite many doses of oral and IV antibiotics, his body succumbed to the infection. Medicine is rapidly approaching a time in which infections are no longer treatable with the … [Read more...] about Antibiotic Resistance-the Future
Home Values Are Supply and Demand Driven
The historical protocol that real estate agents use to determine the price of your home is a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) and is still used today. The inherent problem with a CMA is that it only takes into consideration the sale of a small sampling of homes in your competitive range, without considering the reason why those homes may or may not have sold at a specific price, e.g., condition, loss of job, underpriced, dated interior, a divorce situation, low curb appeal, vacant home, … [Read more...] about Home Values Are Supply and Demand Driven