Water is essential to life, but when it comes in the form of a flood, it can inflict severe financial damage and even render a home unlivable. You can alleviate that risk with flood insurance, but it is important to understand its terms and conditions. You might think you are at greater risk from fire than flooding. But did you know that 90 percent of all natural disasters in the United States. involve flooding? Floods and flash floods happen in all 50 states. Some overlooked causes of … [Read more...] about Don’t Ignore Risk of Flooding
Columnists
Gluten–Why All the Hype ??
Most Americans realize by now that a steady diet of cheeseburgers and soda will lead to heart disease and diabetes. What they don't know is there is another offender in the typical American diet that most people would never suspect to be causing them a problem. That silent villain is gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, kamut, spelt, and oats. Gluten is a major component of most breads, pastas, flour tortillas, and the majority of processed foods like crackers and cookies. Gluten is … [Read more...] about Gluten–Why All the Hype ??
#5 Steps to Building an Energy Star Home
In this current series of articles we are chronicling the steps to build an energy efficient home based on a current project here in Flagstaff. We are building a house for a professor just north of NAU who is prioritizing energy efficiency. The first articles covered the basics of getting out of the ground. The next few topics dive deeper into the details. Now that we are sealed up tight we need to address getting the house heated and ventilated correctly. Building tight houses requires … [Read more...] about #5 Steps to Building an Energy Star Home
What Can You Do? What Can You Be?
In the 1990s in grad school, a friend of mine was working on a project to develop a non-monetary based measure for a nation’s well being. Many had long questioned GDP as an adequate measure of economic progress or quality of life. I lost touch with my friend, but retained my interest in hers and similar projects. There have been a number of efforts by government bodies, researchers, and nations to find a better way. In a previous book review in this column, I discussed the idea of Gross National … [Read more...] about What Can You Do? What Can You Be?
Pets –- More Than Just Man’s Best Friend
Owning a pet can be fun and rewarding for people of all ages. Who does not appreciate the joyous greeting your dog displays when you return home for the day, tail wagging furiously – that sparkle in his eyes just for you? Or how about snuggling with your soft, sweet cat while her gentle purr tickles your ears? Their antics are sure to bring a smile to your face no matter what is going on around you, and the love they have for you is certain to lift your heart on even your worst day. Aside … [Read more...] about Pets –- More Than Just Man’s Best Friend
The Important Pre-Construction Process
In previous articles, we’ve discussed the importance of choosing a licensed contractor with good references and compared the negotiated bid versus the competitive bid. After the general contractor (GC) has been selected, there are several pre-construction processes that need to happen: The Contract: This document will govern every step of the construction project, so it’s very important that it is completely accurate and all details fully understood and agreed to by all parties. Key … [Read more...] about The Important Pre-Construction Process
Weighing the Need for a Long-Term Care Policy
Every individual faces the risk of paying for some type of long-term care expense. The older we get, the more likely we will become a statistic in need of long-term care. Thus, it would be wise to establish a plan to pay for such expenses. This does not mean you necessarily need a policy, but you do need a plan because if not properly planned for, it could cost you dearly. When people face a specific risk, they analyze the cost of internalizing it or transferring that risk to a … [Read more...] about Weighing the Need for a Long-Term Care Policy
Benefits of Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
You have probably heard of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy or Regenerative Injection Therapy in the news. Many professional athletic teams are using this treatment to get their players back in the game sooner. This treatment is not only for professional athletes. Everyone wants to get back to what they do for play or for work as soon as possible. PRP Therapy utilizes the body’s own bioactive proteins, also know as growth factors, to replace, repair and regenerate tissue. PRP has been used … [Read more...] about Benefits of Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
Understanding and Incorporating QR Codes
As I look around at the many advertisements that surround us, I have noticed more and more crazy little barcodes as part of the advertisement. These barcode images resemble a square-like maze. What are these codes? These are called EZcodes or QR (Quick Response) codes. They are a two-dimensional barcode created and designed to be scanned horizontally or vertically by smartphone cameras. When you scan these images, a video will play, a webpage will load, a mobile app will download or a map and … [Read more...] about Understanding and Incorporating QR Codes
Volunteers Helping Community With Finances
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program is a volunteer-driven effort managed by United Way of Northern Arizona. IRS certified volunteers provide free tax services to community members making less than $49,000. Each of these clients has his or her own personal story and situation, making VITA a vital program. The reason it is so important is the people it helps every year, and the impact it has on those people can extend even to the next generation. Community members like you … [Read more...] about Volunteers Helping Community With Finances