Columns

Money IQ: True Stories – A Credit Card Dispute Lost and Won

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Money IQ

True Stories: A Credit Card Dispute Lost and Won
By Fidel Gutierrez

Note: This column is a real-life example of a credit card dispute commonly referred to as a “dispute of quality.” This is a dispute about the quality of goods and services received. The other type of dispute is a billing error dispute. Billing error disputes are fairly straight forward and are regulated by the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA.) The FCBA rules and rights do not apply if you are disputing the quality of goods and services. Over the years, I have spoken with people that have a false sense of security when using their Read More

The Pain Free Athlete: Reduce Lower Back Pain by Increasing Hip Mobility

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Jessica Kisiel

The Pain Free Athlete
Column by JESSICA KISIEL
Reduce Lower Back Pain by Increasing Hip Mobility

Many of my posture alignment clients suffer from painful lower back conditions – sciatica, bulging or herniated discs, SI joint dysfunction, stenosis, etc.

Upon examination I find that their hips have restricted movement. The hips and lower back are connected though the pelvis. Your hip muscles attach to the pelvis from below and the lower back muscles attach to the pelvis from above. Tight hips can lead to compensations in the back that can cause pain and injury.

The Stability-Mobility

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How the Hen House Turns: Peeper, Hatching in a Dry Climate

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How the Hen House Turns
Column by Carolyn A. (Cary) Neeper, Ph. D.
 
Peeper, Hatching in a Dry Climate

Ms. Ritz, the miniature Mallard, has been sitting on her eggs since June 21, so it’s time to talk about our first egg-hatching adventure.
For four weeks in 1975, Peeky, a mixed-breed hen, sat in the Hen House on 12 eggs, resting on straw in a 12 by 12 by 1 inch frame.

Over her objections, we made sure she got up each day to eat and poop, and we used the time to turn and spray her eggs. Shell membranes can go dry and tough in a climate with single-digit humidity.

On the 22nd morning, a faint peeping sounded Read More

Food on the Hill: Baked Swiss Eggs

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This Week’s Recipe:
Baked Swiss Eggs
 
Photo by Sue York/ladailypost.com

Ingredients:

For each person:

  • 1 tablespoon cream
  • 1 oz.-1 1/2 oz. Swiss cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • Salt and pepper
  • Non-stick vegetable spray

Directions:

For each person, one small ramekin, or they can be made in muffin tins (sprayed very well with non-stick spray.) If you use a muffin tin, after they are cooked run a knife around the edge of each egg and lift them out with a spoon.

Photo by Sue York/ladailypost.com

Spray each ramekin with non-stick spray. Put in cream, egg and cheese in that order. Add Read More

Column: Proper Posture Through Back Strengthening

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Fitness Column
By KENT PEGG

Proper Posture Through Back Strengthening

Proper posture is a necessary component of a person’s overall healthy lifestyle.

But an increasing number of people are experiencing posture problems. Improper posture is most often exhibited by a person having a forward lean at the waist and a forward rounding of the shoulders.

Postural problems occur and increase gradually over time. As the forward lean and rounding increase, a person’s center of gravity is moved forward as well. This changed center of gravity then pulls a person forward even more, increasing the postural

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Yang: A Summer Fantasy – This One Involves Goats and Bureaucracy

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A Summer Fantasy: This One Involves Goats and Bureaucracy 
By ELENA YANG

Author’s note: Since this is a fantasy, let’s pretend that you don’t know where I live and what organization I refer to in this piece.

A nearby community college recently purchased two goats, mother and kid, to handle the landscape maintenance on their 60+ acre campus. The groundskeeper could not keep up with the invasive trees, shrubs, and weeds. He didn’t want to use herbicides for fear of contaminating the running water. While the president of the college was unaccustomed to farm animals – he’s from a major city – he Read More

Solo Traveler: Free Lodging, Part II

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Solo Traveler: Free Lodging Part II
Column by SHERRY HARDAGE

In the previous column, I talked about people swapping their homes for free lodging on trips.

But for those who don’t yet own a home, and/or are still energetic and adventurous, there are more interesting alternatives: WWOOF, WorkAway, and volunteer programs.

WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms and WorkAway gives you a chance to work away from your comfort zone.

On both websites people who need some help with a farm, business, or home, advertise room and board in exchange for about twenty hours of work per week. Read More

5-Steps To A Clutter Free House

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5-Steps To A Clutter Free House (that’s easier to sell)
By James Chrobocinski

Decluttering is one of the first things to do before you list your home, but the process of decluttering can be frustrating for many.

Follow these five clutter-tackling steps to increase the value of your home (and enjoy your space.)

  • Start with a small area.

Closet, shelves and cupboards are good starting points. By marking of a small and well-defined area you make it possible to finish the job in less than a half-hour and gain the satisfaction of seeing your results.

If you get frustrated with, put off dealing with or simply Read More

How the Hen House Turns: Lucy Arrives at the Hen House

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How the Hen House Turns: Lucy Arrives at the Hen House

Column by Carolyn A. (Cary) Neeper, Ph. D.

Lucy goose was raised by 4-H girls in Wyoming. When fully grown, she and two nestlings were adopted by my neighbor’s grandmother. During the first night in their new home, a Wyoming fox killed Lucy’s two companions. The next day Lucy found herself in a car with Grandma and my neighbor’s aunt, heading for New Mexico.

Since she was imprinted with human female company, Lucy greeted female humans with calm indifference. However, as we soon learned, she didn’t care for male humans. They deserved a stretched Read More

Nutrition and Weight Management

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Fitness Column
By KENT PEGG
 
Nutrition and Weight Management

With the summer season in full swing, now might be a good time to think about your nutrition plan and the role it plays in your life.

Daily, I address this issue with people who are looking to change the way they eat and who want to develop a nutrition plan that helps them achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

Proper nutrition, combined with an exercise program consisting of muscle strengthening, cardiovascular endurance training, and increased flexibility, will help you reach your goals and enjoy a better life.

For the most part, Read More