Heather Boerner
 

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Title: Professional Services
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Roundups:
Freelance writer Heather Boerner writes roundups of current trends on subjects ranging from technology to travel to health for print, magazines and the web.

“Creative Vacations: Don’t let the downturn tie you down”
LIME.com/Common Ground, 05.09
Doesn’t it just seem sometimes like the time you most need a vacation is when you can least afford to take one?
If you’re one of the thousands of Americans curtailing travel plans to save some extra money, the travelers you’ll read about here have one question for you: What if you could cut costs and do something good for the planet and your community?
It turns out that it’s not only possible but a great way to avoid the tourist traps and really get your hands dirty doing something good for others. And because few of these trips involve staying in environmentally wasteful hotels, the carbon footprint of many trips is next to nil.
Check out these new ways to travel and ways to get involved.
Read the full article here.
Download a PDF of this article here.

“By the Numbers: Does it really make green sense to move close to work?”
Cyberhomes.com, 07.16.08
When B.L. Lindstrom bought his Phoenix-area home in 2004, his goal was simple. He wanted to walk to work and eliminate interminable and frustrating hours on the road. That meant a $400,000 price tag in Chandler instead of $200,000 to buy 30 miles away.
Now, with gas prices at all-time highs and house values plummeting in some Phoenix suburbs, it may be one of the smartest financial decisions Lindstrom has ever made.
“The increase in the price of gas and traffic, and the ability of my home to hold its value when the outlying areas are seeing their home values drop — all of it makes me look like a genius,” he said. “Today, living near work makes extreme green sense in both the economic and environment interpretations.”
If you’re feeling the pinch as gas prices approach $5 a gallon in some regions and a lengthy commute has grown old, you may be wondering if such a move might work for you.
Download a PDF of this article here.

“The New Power Jobs”
Yahoo! Hot Jobs, 06.08
White-hot jobs are opening up in the power sector.
"These aren't just hot jobs, they're sizzling jobs," said Christine Real de Azua, spokeswoman for the American Wind Energy Association. Wind energy grew by 45 percent last year. "We need every type of job candidate."
Indeed, with oil topping $100 per barrel, expect power industry jobs to explode in the next 10 years -- and not just in petroleum or the electric company. Want to repair wind turbines, manage a nuclear reactor or install solar panels? The jobs await.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and energy leaders reveal what fields are expected to grow, and they are listed below with projected growth levels through 2016, salary data, and what you need to get a related job.
Read the full article here.
Download a PDF of this article here.

“On the Issues: Presidential hopefuls propose healthcare reform with varying degrees”
BlackEnterprise.com, 05.08
The healthcare issues of the 2008 presidential election are as notable for what they highlight as for what they neglect. Abortion may not be the hot-button topic of past elections, but it is still an issue that is on the table. Of the three top candidates, Republican candidate Sen. John McCain is the only pro-life candidate in the bunch--but quietly so.
Instead, when it comes to medical matters, the primary focus for this year's vote is reforming the entire medical system. And for good reason. Nearly 47 million Americans were uninsured in 2006, the last date for which statistics are available. Almost one in five are African American. How McCain, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton propose to fix the nation's healthcare situation varies widely.
Will these proposed plans improve your health and bottom line? To find out, we sifted through election-year rhetoric. Here's how the candidate's proposed healthcare plans affect you as a patient and as a businessperson.
Read the full article here.
Download a PDF of this article here.

“The Best and Worst Things about Being a Mom Today”
BabyCenter.com, 03.08
What a wonderful time to be a mom: We have vaccines to protect our kids against terrible diseases. Disposable diapers. Dozens of jogging strollers to choose from. Work we love — outside the home or not. An entire shelf of parenting books. Partners who cook, clean, and watch the kids. And mom friends who are just a text message, e-mail, or phone call away.
But flip that coin, and life doesn't look so rosy. There's controversy about vaccines. Guilt over all the disposable diapers we send to landfills. Way too many choices in what to buy and how to parent. The need to work more hours than we'd like. And all the time, the world's moving faster, the media messages are getting louder, and the pressure is increasing.
To get a better sense of whether it's the best of times for moms or the worst, we asked the experts — more than 2,400 of you — what modern motherhood is really like. Read on for an intimate look at what's real and relevant for moms now. You can also check out the detailed results of our exclusive survey and share your take on being a mom today.
Read the full article here.
Download a PDF of this article here.

“War’s Wounded Spark Innovations”
NewsMax Magazine, 03.08
Army Sgt. Josh Olson was patrolling in northern Iraq in 2003 when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his truck. Olson and his fellow 101st Airborne soldiers scrambled from the vehicle to return fire. That's when a second RPG exploded, damaging Olson's right leg so badly that doctors had to amputate it at the hip.
Olson's biggest fear was that he might never run again.
"ln the infantry you run every day," he explains. "I'd like to do it again. I will do it again," says the Spokane, Wash., native.
In prior eras, Olson's hope might have been a pipe dream. But as doctors work to save and heal the lives of brave soldiers like Olson, that's no longer the case.
Olson's case is a good example of how the urgent circumstances created by war are ushering in medical breakthroughs like never before. Consider the examples below.
Article available upon request.

“Love, Hawaiian Style: Celebrating your love in paradise”
Exquisite Weddings Magazine, Spring.08
The word “aloha” means far more than the commonly known “hello” and “goodbye.” In the Hawaiian culture it’s a symbol of a people who value unity, patience, kindness, humility and, above all, love.
With such a powerful message, it’s no wonder Hawaii draws so many couples in search of the perfect destination wedding. And after exploring the natural wonders and breathtaking vistas of this archipelago’s eight islands, it’s even easier to see why: From the live volcano, arid deserts and rainforests of the Big Island of Hawaii to Maui’s nightlife, Hawaii offers something for every couple and their wedding guests.
Here’s the best the islands have to offer.
Download a PDF of this article here.

“BabyCenter’s Big Baby Name Survey”
BabyCenter.com, 01.01.08
For many parents, choosing a name for their child is one of the first major challenges they face as a parent.
They want the right name — one that conveys their child's unique identity. And that's no small task, said the 6,000 BabyCenter readers, both pregnant and parenting, who answered our 2007 Baby Names Survey.
Read on to find out what BabyCenter parents and parents-to-be shared with us about the tricky task of baby naming, from how they settled family disagreements to whether to bring in professional baby-naming help.
Read the full article here.
Download a PDF of this article here.

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