First, all hardwood is not created equal. What are the types of wood construction, species and styles? There are three basic construction types: solid, engineered and hybrid. Solid hardwood is what most of us know. It’s ¾” thick and milled with a tongue and groove for easy installation. Often, it is unfinished and will be sanded and stained on site (in your home). Solid hardwood is a great investment and will last for generations. Because most solid hardwoods have a ¼” or greater top layer of … [Read more...] about Hardwood: What, Where, How?
Columnists
Positive Effects of Stress Reduction
April is National Stress Awareness Month and while many of us may be experiencing varied levels of stress in our everyday lives, we may not fully understand how to identify the different types of stress we encounter. Learning how to detect certain stress responses, what triggers them and what effect it has on us are the first steps to stress reduction. Massage Envy Spa Phoenix, a co-op of 32 massage clinics and part of the nation’s largest therapeutic massage provider and spa chain, offers … [Read more...] about Positive Effects of Stress Reduction
How Much Body Fat is Too Much?
If you've been thinking about your current weight, it may be because you've noticed a change in how your clothes fit. Or maybe you've been told by a healthcare professional that you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol and that excessive weight could be a contributing factor. The first step is to assess whether or not your current weight is healthy. How Can I Tell Whether I'm at a Healthy Weight? Body Mass Index: One way to begin to determine whether you are at a healthy … [Read more...] about How Much Body Fat is Too Much?
Exploring Extended Wear Hearing Aids
Have you seen the ads about the extended wear hearing aids? One of my patients asked me to discuss them in my next column, so here we go! The name of the extended wear hearing aid is Lyric3. The company that initially invented the product was recently purchased by the company Phonak. Now, Phonak is investing in the development of this hearing aid that can be worn full-time without the need to take it out, even when you sleep! What Does Extended Wear Mean? An extended wear hearing … [Read more...] about Exploring Extended Wear Hearing Aids
Preparing for a Long Haul Flight
You’re going on vacation. You're excited and can't wait for the adventure to begin – but, oh, that long flight ahead! Here are a few tips that might help make it more enjoyable. Carry-ons Your carry-on should be small and light. On long haul flights, your big suitcase gets checked for free, so why bother with a big carry on? You only need a few essentials with you: Earplugs, headphones, eye mask, good book, granola bars, heavy socks, neck pillow. All of these items fit into … [Read more...] about Preparing for a Long Haul Flight
Every Business Needs a Recovery Plan
A couple weeks ago, the Northern Arizona area suffered a cable outage that affected businesses in the area in different forms. Stepping into one of the local big box stores underscored what backup plans provide as they switched to alternative data systems and continued on with commerce without missing a beat. Conversely, a visit to a local restaurant found them only able to take cash transactions and no over-the-phone orders. The restaurant barely had anyone in the establishment. Fortunately, … [Read more...] about Every Business Needs a Recovery Plan
Dental Reconstruction Institute Opens in Prescott
The Advanced Prosthetics Institute (API), a tertiary care dental group providing a comprehensive and seamless interdisciplinary approach to dental rehabilitation, has opened its doors in the Prescott area. The announcement was made by the Institute’s Founder and Director, Jason C. Campbell, D.D.S. API becomes the first practice of its kind in the Prescott area, designed to fill a service void in the Quad Cities area. Its focus is on collaborative complex partial or full-mouth rehabilitation … [Read more...] about Dental Reconstruction Institute Opens in Prescott
Retiree Tax Preparation and Savings
Even though retirees are not working full-time, their tax situation can still be complicated, because they may receive investment income, interest or dividend income and or capital gains distributions in a year. Whether they take those monies out or reinvest them, they may not be in as low of a tax bracket as they had hoped. We often receive questions such as, “How can I save on my taxes?” When it comes to saving on taxes, most Americans have options. The two most popular options when it … [Read more...] about Retiree Tax Preparation and Savings
Four Steps to Ensure IT Security in the Cloud
For companies of all sizes – and increasingly, governments – adopting cloud computing for IT services makes business sense. The cost savings, efficiency and flexibility are just too impressive to ignore. But, despite the benefits and rising cloud prevalence, some security professionals still have concerns, particularly regarding identity, data and visibility. And whether it’s a public, private or hybrid cloud, it all starts with the people you bring on to support your organization. The … [Read more...] about Four Steps to Ensure IT Security in the Cloud
A Short History of Beer in America and What Led to ‘Craft’ Beer
You have undoubtedly become aware of the term “craft beer.” But do you know about the evolution of craft beer? Beer has been a part of mankind’s culture for thousands of years, and is one of the world’s top three most popular beverages, the other two being water and tea. In “olden times,” beer was considered woman’s work, and the women were known as “ale wives.” They made the bread and they made the beer – from the basic ingredients of each….grains of various types…wheat, corn, sorghum, … [Read more...] about A Short History of Beer in America and What Led to ‘Craft’ Beer