Thursday, March 28

Month: August 2014

Landscaping Goats Lend a Hoof to Homeowners Association
Local

Landscaping Goats Lend a Hoof to Homeowners Association

Have you ever come across a landscaping job that seemed to be beyond human ability? Well, maybe you should have hired a goat. Orinda-based company Goats R Us doesn't bother with landscaping equipment. They just supply goats: hungry heards of goats who munch all day on brush, poison oak, weeds and grass. 600 of their goats were recently hired by the Homeowners Association of Deer Flats to get rid of an unwanted greenbelt of foliage. They've been munching on vegetation in the greenbelt for a week now and expect to be there for a couple more. According to the Homeowners Association, they get better results from the goats than from the humans they've hired in the past. While the human gardeners wouldn't go more than five feet past the fence line, the goats are happy to keep on eating ...
Cystic Fibrosis Patients Found to Have Aspergillus Fungus Disease
Lifestyle

Cystic Fibrosis Patients Found to Have Aspergillus Fungus Disease

Nearly 50 percent of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients have been found to be affected by the Aspergilus fungus -- a common mold -- a recent study by a medical student from Manchester University in the United Kingdom reported. The student's research seeks to highlight the dangers of mold, especially the symptoms, and offers doctors ways to improve their diagnosis of mold exposure and treatments for patients with CF. Mold can enter a home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning units and generally grows in places with plenty of moisture, such as basements, leaking roofs, pipes, or windows. These tiny fungi thrive at normal indoor living temperatures which can range anywhere from around 40 degrees F to 100 degrees F. Researchers Jo Armstead analyzed the d...
Lyme Disease: Veterinarians Give Better Treatment than Physicians
Business

Lyme Disease: Veterinarians Give Better Treatment than Physicians

In August 2013, it was suggested that just one out of 10 cases of Lyme disease were reported nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's 30,000 reported cases out of 300,000 actual cases, based on surveys, medical claims, and laboratory test results. A year later, Lyme disease, like so many other diseases that do not immediately reveal their symptoms, continues to go under-reported by people, but the focus has also centered around dogs and how they are also easily susceptible to the disease. Researchers understand that for some people, Lyme disease symptoms may not be apparent until 20 years after they've been bitten by the Western black-legged tick (which transmits Lyme disease) -- though this is not the case for our lovable canine companions. ...
Rural Mississippi Emergency Room Prepares to Close
Local

Rural Mississippi Emergency Room Prepares to Close

A Houston, Mississippi hospital is being forced to close its emergency room due to a lack of funds available to run the 24-hour medical center. The hospital, which serves the rural region of Chicksaaw county and its surrounding areas, will instead open a new medical clinic to fill the gap in available medical services. However, local residents have reported that they are concerned about the limitations of the new clinic's hours, as well as the increased distance to an emergency room. Trace Regional Hospital will close its ER on September 8, 2014 and open a medical clinic with shorter hours to save on operational costs. This new clinic will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, but residents have complained that this leaves the community with no immediate access to medical ca...
Skin Care Retailers Woo the Men’s Grooming Market
Lifestyle

Skin Care Retailers Woo the Men’s Grooming Market

For years, men have preferred (at least in public) to keep their personal grooming habits simple, but new industry figures show that that might finally be changing. Is skin care for men the next big thing? Market stats say yes. In 2012, sales for men's grooming products reached $3 billion, and that number is expected to grow to $6.1 billion in 2017. 2013 actually marked the first time in recorded history when men spent more on male-specific personal care items than on shaving products, and the change isn't lost on retailers. Executives at Evonik US believe that the market is finally ready for products aimed at men's grooming, and they conducted a large consumer survey to back up that claim. The survey revealed that men are starting to understand the advantages of seeking out differen...
Deadly Hail Storm Hits Russia, Harming People and Property
World

Deadly Hail Storm Hits Russia, Harming People and Property

An unexpected hail storm hit the large city of Novosibirsk, located in Siberia, Russia, earlier this month, devastating the city's people and property.According to a July 14 Huffington Post article, temperatures neared 100 degrees Fahrenheit before the hail storm began. Video footage captured beachgoers fleeing from the sudden hail, which ended up killing two children. In addition to the human cost of the hail storm, the hail stones, which were the size of eggs, according to USA Today, likely took a toll on household windows. "In a large storm we're faced with 'supply and demand' issues from both the supplier and labor chain," says Tony, Roofing Manager at Husker Siding, Windows and Roofing. "As a contractor, we must possess the ability to listen to our customers needs, patch leaking...
Refrigerant Chemical R-22 Skyrockets in Price, Inspires Dangerous Knockoffs
Local

Refrigerant Chemical R-22 Skyrockets in Price, Inspires Dangerous Knockoffs

Is black market refrigerant a thing? It is now, thanks to demand for a refrigeration chemical which has not been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. The U.S. is currently in the process of phasing out a chemical known as R-22, which was used across the country as a refrigerant for refrigerators and air conditioners for many years. It was only recently that research determined that R-22 destroys the earth's ozone layer, and for this reason it was banned for use by an international treaty. The phaseout, not surprisingly, caused the price of any remaining R-22 to skyrocket, making it expensive to fix the older air conditioners that still require it. Consequently, many unapproved replacements have started to enter the market. These products, given names like "Super Freeze 22...
Millennials More Likely to Save than Invest
Business

Millennials More Likely to Save than Invest

According to a recent Bankrate.com survey released this past Monday, millennials -- the youngest American generation to make up a percentage of the workforce -- are more likely to save their money rather than invest it. About 40% of American adults between the ages of 18 and 29 favor cash investments, choosing to place their money in savings accounts or certificates of deposit. By contrast, about 25% of adults over the age of 29 favor cash investments, while 23% choose to invest in real estate, and another 19% invest in stocks. Although hesitation regarding investments is understandable, as Greg McBride, the chief financial analyst for Bankrate.com explains, "The preference for cash and aversion to the stock market among young adults is very troubling considering this age group has t...
Prominent Dermatologist Arrested In Alleged Oxycodone Scam
Local

Prominent Dermatologist Arrested In Alleged Oxycodone Scam

Dr. Cheryl Karcher, a dermatologist at the Sadick Dermatology office on the Upper East Side of New York City, was arrested Wednesday, July 9th for an alleged oxycodone scam. Karcher is a well-known medical professional who has appeared in a number of newspapers, magazines, and television talk shows to discuss skin care. Her attorney, Chuck Clayman, has announced that his client plans to vigorously prepare for her defense. Investigators stated that Karcher allegedly wrote and filled hundreds of oxycodone prescriptions, using patients' names without their knowledge or permission. She also used the names of former patients and acquaintances. She apparently executed the scam by lying to pharmacists, telling them she was performing a service for her patients. As a result, Karcher is n...
Airbnb Receives Mixed Feedback on New Logo and Updated Website Design
Business

Airbnb Receives Mixed Feedback on New Logo and Updated Website Design

Since its inception in 2007, Airbnb has represented itself with a lowercase "a" logo. Over the past several years, the site has experienced major growth and has transformed itself into a top option for alternative lodging, with over 500,000 listings available for interested travelers worldwide. This month, it unveiled a new logo and website design to its users, and received mixed feedback. Replacing the iconic little "a" is a shape that is similar to an A, but with a loop in the middle that resembles the "map location" pin symbol most internet sites use. It is being called the "Belo" by the company. In a Youtube video, they said it was a "symbol of belonging" that stands for people, places, love, and Airbnb. The new logo is intended to be more modern and identifiable, and hearken to the...