Crews Gaining the Upper Hand on the Wallow Fire

The Wallow Fire has been making news recently as it grew out of control and forced the evacuation of thousands of Arizona residents. Thick smoke from the fire has created air quality problems across several states and has been reported as far north as Canada.

While the massive fire did grow in acreage overnight to become the largest fire ever in the state of Arizona, fire crews are finally starting to make some progress and slow the advance of the flames. As of Tuesday morning, azcentral.com was reporting the burn area had grown to 469,000 acres but containment was now up to 18% from just 5% a few days ago. Some growth in the size was actually attributed to firefighters setting back-burns to deprive the advancing blaze of fuels and management teams were generally optimistic that the danger to several residential areas had diminished significantly. In fact, some evacuation orders were expected to be lifted and many residents could start to return home as early as this afternoon. 

A break in the wind was credited for allowing fire crews to make progress over the past few days. The race is on now to bolster containment lines and hold key areas before the dry winds return. Forecasts were calling for another 48 hours of light winds before gusty conditions return on Thursday. Incident commanders are cautioning that while progress is being made and crews are optimistic that they may have turned the corner, the fire remains a threat. Local residents can get updated information including maps and evacuation updates through the Incident Information System.

Although the Wallow Fire has now surpassed the size of the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire, so far it has done far less property damage consuming approximately three dozen homes and buildings compared to nearly 500 destroyed in 2002. Experts are now starting to shift some attention towards the next emerging threat which is expected to be flooding. Within the next three to four weeks, a seasonal wind shift will begin to import copious amounts of moisture leading to the potential for heavy rains in areas recently charred by the fire. The plant life that normally helps to absorb runoff will be absent for quite some time. This is expected to heighten the risk of flash floods and mudslides in the burn area.

Residents are being warned that time is running out to purchase flood insurance in time for the arrival of the summer monsoon. Since most new policies take 30 days to go into effect, officials were urging those in and around the burn area to take action immediately.

The Fastest Growing Healthcare Careers

Do you have your eye on a fast growing healthcare career or are you chasing an opportunity of years gone by? Securing a stable job that offers good pay, benefits, and advancement opportunities isn't as easy as it used to be. Not long ago, the answer to putting yourself in position to have a successful career involved little more than getting good grades in high school and going on to complete a four year degree from a major state college or university. While this can still be a viable path for some, increasing tuition costs and the failure of some universities to keep up with rapidly evolving technology trends is forcing some students to look for other educational paths.

Today it is common for students graduating from a major college to emerge with tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in student debt only to find that potential employers are passing over their resumes in favor of candidates with hands-on experience. The current job market relies heavily on hiring individuals with a fresh education and a demonstrated ability to perform. In fact, some of the fastest growing careers today require as little as 6 to 24 months worth of specialized training. Here are a few healthcare careers that are poised to see significant growth in demand and wages over the next several years.

Healthcare is a hot topic in the news right now and with insurance coverage soon to become available for a larger pool of people, high growth career opportunities abound. One area already experiencing growth is nursing. A nursing career can start with a one to 2 year training program where students complete LPN courses to prepare for a job as a licensed practical nurse. LPNs work in hospitals and clinics to provide direct patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensed practical nurses can earn between $36,000 and $56,000 per year after completing a training program and passing the NCLEX-PN exam. After a few years, many LPNs enroll in LPN to RN bridge programs to become registered nurses. This can push annual earnings to $70,000 and above for certain specialties.

Another profession in the healthcare field growing at a rapid clip is medical assistants. A CMA or certified medical assistant handles much of the day to day operations of an office or clinic including administrative tasks and assisting patients. Certified medical assistant training programs can usually be completed in one to two years. While this entry level job opportunity doesn't come with lucrative pay right away, it presents a unique opportunity for advancement on both the clinical and administrative sides of the health care business.

Other areas of expected job growth include opportunities for physician assistants, clinical laboratory technologists, respiratory therapists, and cardiovascular technicians. For information on programs available in your area, you should contact your local community college or vocational school.

CES 2011 News

Every year, the CES consumer electronics technology tradeshow gives us a sneak preview of what kind of gadgets and gizmos will be in demand over the course of the year. This year's show is officially in the books so now would be a pretty good time to take a look at some of the hot new products and surprises we can look forward to in the coming months. As you might expect, tablet computers started gaining quite a bit of traction as electronics manufacturers across the globe raced to deliver something that could compete with the Apple iPad which has quickly become a consumer favorite. As expected the debate ranged on as to whether the iPad or laptop computer was better for students. While there was no clear winner in this category, the one that raised the most eyebrows was the new Vizio tablet. Just the idea of having a tablet that runs on the popular Android platform was enough to generate some serious excitement. It's no secret that an Android tablet would eventually come to market but there aren't too many experts who believed it would arrive so soon.

Another popular category was 3D TV and gaming as the big brands angled to present themselves as having the best 3D TV on the market. The competition is really heating up with heavy hitters such as Sony and Panasonic attempting to corner the market for active shutter displays. Meanwhile, Vizio and LG are betting on passive polarized technology for their newest models. Active shutter is considered by many to be a superior option because it provides a full HD image but the drawback has been the expensive viewing glasses needed to watch programming. Either way, the consumers stands to benefit as the enhanced competition will likely drive prices into a more affordable range for the average consumer. For those of you who are wondering if 3D TV is really here to stay, it should be noted that one in eight sets sold in 2010 were 3D ready models. While that may not seem like a lot, it is a pretty impressive number when you consider that they really didn't begin to appear on store shelves in large numbers until later in the year. One final item worthy of mention on the topic of TV is the introduction by Toshiba of the first 3D TV without glasses. I'm not quite ready to declare this one a must-have yet; the technology still appears to be in the very early stages of development.

Last but not least, electronic reading devices like the Kindle and iPad are still sprouting up left and right. The wildly popular Kindle continued to be a hot seller during the busy holiday shopping season and nobody wants to be left behind when a hot trend in underway. I'm sure there will be more to discuss in the weeks to come but this should give you a good sneak preview of what's on the horizon.

Dealing with Winter Aches and Pains

We all know that the dry air and bitter cold of winter can lead to an abundance of stiffness and joint pain. Many people make the mistake of thinking that joint pain is actually caused by changes in temperature or barometric pressure. In reality, these conditions are simply made more noticeable by the unpleasant weather. Winter aches and joint pain can be caused by a variety of factors. Some of the most common culprits include arthritis, an old lingering injury, age related joint deterioration, and just plain inactivity. Regardless of what causes the discomfort, there are quite a few things you can do to minimize the pain so it doesn't keep you from being active and enjoying life.

Even though it can be difficult to get outside during the colder winter months, it is extremely important to stay active. One way to do this is to take advantage of some of the interactive video games for the Wii or Xbox 360. Before you stop reading and dismiss this idea as child's play, give it some serious consideration. There are several game titles that involve exercise such as bowling, golf, stretching, and light aerobics. Each of these can provide a quick and easy way to get a good low impact workout in from the comfort of home. The idea is to get your heart rate up a little and stimulate your circulatory system. This can really help to keep your joints loose and free from stiffness.

For joint pain relief, you may want to try a topical pain relief cream to soothe away aches. A new product called Joint Mud has recently been making headlines after it was featured in the Daily Express newspaper. It's an organic joint pain relief treatment made up of natural plant oils and extracts that can be applied topically and doesn't come along with the bad smell you get from some of the drug store products. Using a topical cream can provide fast relief and get you through some of the annoying symptoms.

If you experience any prolonged joint problems, take the time to discuss the issue with your family doctor. He or she can make personal recommendations that will put you on a path towards better health. You may even want to consult a nutritionist as diet can play an important role in joint health. In the mean time, adding a good daily joint supplement and making smart nutritional choices can be a good idea. Before you know it, the days will begin to warm and spring will arrive making it easier to be more active. Until then, making a little extra effort to control your pain and encourage your body to stay fit will surely pay big dividends.

Home Improvement Projects for Summer

While the crash of the housing market may have left you in a position where your house is worth more than you owe on it, there are still plenty of things you can do to make your living space more attractive. Whether you are trying to lure potential buyers or just want to modernize your home to make it more comfortable and inviting, a summer time home improvement project can really help to elevate the look of your home. With warmer weather right around the corner, you can start with simple an inexpensive projects such as yeard work and spring cleaning. Next, move on to cosmetic work like new paint, window coverings, possibly some new carpet if you have the money. If you are planning to sell your home, studies have shown that the greatest return on investment comes from home improvement projects that focus on the kitchen and bathrooms. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Install New Kitchen Cabinets - Updating the look of your cabinets will quickly make your house feel newer no matter how old your house is.

2. Go Stainless - Upgrade to stainless steel appliances and possibly even a new undermount stainless steel kitchen sink to give your kitchen a refined and polished look. This article can help you get started:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Upgrading-to-a-Stainless-Steel-Undermount-Kitchen-Sink

3. Add Hardwood Floors - Do it yourself hardwood floor kits are available at wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam's Club and can be a great way to help restore your kitchen. If you'd prefer to have someone else install it, home improvement centers like Lowe's or Home Depot can provide reasonably priced installation services through a network of approved contractors.

You don't have to spend a fortune to upgrade your house! Even small home improvement projects can enhance your lifestyle if you plan to keep your home or make your house stand out from the competition if you are trying to sell. A carefully chosen project this summer could not only give you something to get excited about, it could also give you a much needed advantage over other homes in your area when it comes time to sell your house.

Will Health Care Reform Really Help You?

I don't know about you but when I try to come up with my own personal list of well run government entities that do an excellent job of controlling costs and providing quality service, my list is fairly short. In fact, come to think about it; it's empty! The closest thing I could personally come up with is the post office. Now before you start laughing at me and making strange faces, think about it for a minute or two. It is one of the few government run entities that does still function (at least most of the time) and the last time I checked, I was still getting mail. Based solely on the criteria of being able to function and complete the basic task at hand which in this case is delivering mail; mission accomplished. Maybe the government having a heavy hand in the health care system wouldn't be so bad?

Are you ready to let a similar organization take control of the health care system for you and your loved ones?

Neither am I! Let's take a closer look at it for a moment. The stated goal behind health care reform is to provide quality health care to everyone, including the disadvantaged and to cut costs and improve efficiency. Moving back to our post office example for a moment, If I recall correctly they recently proposed suspending Saturday mail delivery due to an extremely inefficient system that allowed them to lose billions of dollars last year alone. Cutting health care costs and improving efficiency, I believe that would be strike one. Thinking back to the last time I forced myself to actually set foot inside a post office, I recall standing in line for what seemed like a small prison sentence only to be greeted with a rude demeanor from an individual who clearly did not want to be there and was hoping beyond hope that I wouldn't be there either. If you are counting along at home, that would be strike two! Now, what about providing health insurance and medical care to everyone in the country whether they are here legally or not? The last time I visited an emergency room, not only were those folks very much receiving health care but they were receiving it for free and getting it while I sat in the waiting room. Strike three! I'll take a pass on this one in favor of maintaining my current freedom to choose where, when, and how to get my health care. After all, I am still paying my health insurance premiums every month!

Go Green With Your Calcium Supplement

While some of us may be sick of being told to go green, when it comes to your health it may actually be valuable advice. Calcium is one of the most heavily used supplements on the market today as the benefits it provides in promoting bone health are well known.

Now, here's something you probably did not know; the calcium supplements you are most familiar with such as calcium carbonate, calcium lactate, and calcium citrate are made up primarily of limestone! I don't know about the rest of you but personally, I gave up eating rocks when I was about two years old. So before you march through the checkout line at Costco with your 3lb jar of calcium tablets, you may be interested in knowing about a new alternative calcium supplements that derives calcium from plants instead of limestone.

The product is called Green Calcium and it is produced by a company called Greek Island Labs. The supplement is made up of 100% raw plant sourced calcium and also contains valuable vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin D3, Vitamin K1, Vitamin K2, and Magnesium. The tablets are quite a bit smaller than those big chunky calcium pills you might be used to and are quite a bit easier to swallow. Each serving contains 76% of your recommended daily allowance of calcium from sources such as organic broccoli, kale, and algae.

This is a great natural supplement for those of you who want calcium but prefer something more natural and gentle on the stomach. Thinking about doing something green today? You may want to skip the light bulb for now and start with what you are putting in your body.