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Contractors are people, too. What does that mean? Well, even though they may have licenses and many years of experience in their profession, they are fallible. There are good ones and bad ones. Some are ethical and honest, while others seem to be missing a conscience. Just as you would be careful about choosing a nanny, a personal accountant, or a used car salesman, so should you use caution in selecting a contractor before you begin that home building project, renovation, or repair. Here are some good tips to avoid getting taken for a ride:
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Sometimes, what appears to be an impenetrably solid roof above your head actually has little openings through which the rain can leak. The same is true of some car insurance and homeowner's insurance policies; they can appear to provide sufficient coverage, but, in the event of an accident of some sort, you may find yourself drowning in debt. To avoid getting soaked by surprising expenses, use an umbrella; umbrella insurance, that is.
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Thanks to a certain well-known and widely-loved MGM musical featuring a scarecrow, a tin man, and a cowardly lion, many of us, especially those who dwell on the East or West Coast, have thought of tornadoes as little more catalysts for traveling "over the rainbow" to a colorful world populated by munchkins and flying monkeys. But those who have experienced actual tornados know they are more the stuff of nightmares than the stuff of Technicolor fantasy. And on May 20th of this year, the entire nation saw just how devastating a tornado can be when we witnessed the tragedies in Moore, Oklahoma.
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It's summer. The weather's warm, the watermelon's on the picnic table, and the water in the swimming pool is just right. You want to be carefree, lighthearted, and let your guard down. But there's one area in which having your guard up can potentially save your life: sun protection.
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Like it or not, the vast majority of us in Ohio have become dependent on our cell phones. We rely on them not just as tools of oral communication (in fact, actually talking on the phone seems to be increasingly rare), but as tools for sending texts and emails, as both still photography and video cameras, as notepads, as gaming systems, as maps, and as music players. Indeed, today's cell phone is a far cry from the behemoth model of yesteryear, complete with its adjustable wire antenna; a cutting-edge contemporary does virtually everything!
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With summer comes an intoxicating sense of freedom and fun-one to which grownups are not immune. Even those of us in the Ohio who will continue with our usual 9-5 routines can't help but feel somewhat swept up in the magic of summer and all that it entails: the hot days, the shorts and sandals, the ample sunlight, and the barbecues. But summer also ushers in a new set of safety hazards that aren't as significant during the cooler seasons. With warm weather and even slight lifestyle changes come new threats to your personal safety. Be aware of the following summer safety hazards, and make sure you have a health insurance plan in place that will help to keep you healthy and financially secure in the event of an unexpected summer mishap.
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No one revels in the delights of summer like a kid. Ohio schools are out, the sun is high and hot, and the long days are filled with light and the prospect of innumerable adventures. In fact, because there is so much potential for adventure-much of it unsupervised-many parents opt to enroll their kids in one or more summer camps in hopes that having a set schedule and a series of planned activities in which to participate will keep the youngsters out of trouble and, most importantly, out of harm's way. But summer seems to invite as many childhood accidents as it does moments of bliss, and no matter how structured a kid's summer is, a certain amount of mishaps are inevitable. The warm weather inspires a whole new slew of activities, many of which require an increased attention to safety on the part of both kids and parents. Use the following three tips to keep kids safer this summer:
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Summer can benefit Ohio small business owners in a multitude of ways: businesses located in popular vacation destinations typically see a significant increase in revenues; warm weather and longer days improve moods, making people a bit more free and easy with their money, which means sales tend to be healthy in the summer months; and, because kids are out of school and life seems to slow down from its usually hectic pace, many consumers make purchases in the summer that they put off during the rest of the year. Another reason summer can benefit small business owners is the increased availability of cheap or free labor in the form of interns! High-school and college students on break from classes are eager to gain experience in the workforce, particularly in positions that connect to their chosen career paths. It's smart to take advantage of their willingness to learn and help. Ideally, internships are mutually beneficial. Here's some tips to help you have positive experiences with summer interns:
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Spring in Ohio separates people into two categories: those who greet the arrival of fresh, new grasses and flowers with joy and enthusiasm, and those who dread the inconvenient and at times downright incapacitating allergies that can be brought on by springtime's blooming. Spring is a time for renewal, but for allergy sufferers, it's a time for perpetually sneezing, rubbing itchy eyes, swallowing to relieve the sore feeling in your throat, or feeling constantly on the verge of the flu. What causes spring allergies? And can they be conquered?
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In February, a meteor-now known as the Chelyabinsk projectile-exploded over the Russian city of Chelyabinsk and the surrounding Ural region as it zoomed toward Earth. More than a thousand people were hurt by flying, broken glass. The meteor shattered countless windows, set off car alarms, and blew off doors. The energy of the blast was 40 times as powerful as the Hiroshima bomb! Though the whole thing happened in seconds-climaxing with a flash of blindingly bright light at the moment of impact-the effects of the incident were widespread. Footage of this event is readily visible online; check out the breathtaking-and terrifying-clips in this You Tube film:
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