UBCNews

Key Takeaways: Major booking platforms like Vrbo add traveler service fees, typically ranging from 6% to 15% on top of the advertised nightly rate. While Airbnb is transitioning to a host-only fee model where guests generally see a single price, the overall cost to the traveler can still be higher due to the platform's commission structure. These platform fees disappear when booking directly with an owner. On a typical $2,500 weekly Gulf Coast rental, skipping the middleman could save anywhere from $250 to $500 in platform fees alone. Owner-direct bookings often come with more flexible pricing, transparent totals, and perks that OTAs simply don't offer - details worth understanding before the next trip is booked. Planning a Gulf Coast vacation is exciting - until checkout rolls around on Airbnb or Vrbo and the total jumps by hundreds of dollars in fees. It happens to nearly every traveler at some point, and it's not a glitch. It's by design. Understanding how platform ...

Key Takeaways Expanding contrast coverage into evenings, weekends, and holidays can grow revenue by opening appointment slots that traditional daytime-only schedules miss Daytime coverage typically runs 7 or 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., while after-hours models generally extend from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays Weekend and holiday staffing works best when matched to facility size, with small centers using on-call coverage and larger ones running continuous rotations Limiting radiologists to one weekend shift every 2-3 weeks is a scheduling practice that helps prevent burnout without sacrificing coverage A CMS rule permanently authorizing virtual direct supervision for Level 2 diagnostic tests took effect in January 2026, changing what compliant after-hours staffing can look like Imaging centers that only offer contrast-enhanced exams during the standard workday are leaving appointment slots, and revenue, on the table. Patients with 9-to-5 jobs, caregivers, and families juggling school schedules ...

Key Takeaways Asking about licensing, insurance, and pricing structure upfront helps Oakland residents avoid surprise fees and unreliable moving crews California household goods movers must carry a CPUC permit for in-state moves, while interstate household goods movers need a valid USDOT number through the FMCSA A binding estimate locks in the final price, while a non-binding estimate can shift based on actual hours or weight Oakland's parking rules, permit zones, and older buildings create extra hurdles that experienced local movers know how to handle Checking a mover's claims process and insurance coverage before signing anything protects against costly surprises Moving day in Oakland comes with its own personality - steep hills in the Fruitvale and Rockridge neighborhoods, narrow streets near Lake Merritt, and historic buildings with strict rules about who can park where. Picking the wrong moving company can turn a busy day into a costly headache... but asking the right que...

Homeowners often question whether an annual furnace tune-up is a necessary expense or an optional add-on. The answer depends largely on how a furnace is used, its age, and how much a homeowner values predictability over reactive repairs. While a tune-up does carry a cost, understanding what it includes and what it prevents can clarify whether the investment makes sense. What a Tune-Up Actually Involves A furnace tune-up typically includes a set of inspections and adjustments designed to confirm the system is operating as intended. Technicians check components such as the blower motor, heat exchanger, ignition system, and gas pressure, along with cleaning burners and inspecting electrical connections. Filters are checked, and combustion byproducts, including carbon monoxide, are tested to confirm they fall within safe levels. Experts from Darnold & Lyons, Cabell County, explain that each of these checks addresses a different failure point, and together they give a reasonably comple...

Key Takeaways A free two-minute check-in rates seven everyday areas of life to spot which one might need attention, for adults over 60 seeking clearer self-awareness Life at Sixty's Seven Pillars Check-In turns that reflection into a simple, repeatable habit rather than another complicated wellness program Self-reflection is associated with better function in brain regions affected by dementia and with a more adaptive stress response, including improved cardiovascular health, in older adults A single free check-in provides a snapshot. The broader Life at Sixty system is designed to build saved history over time, allowing patterns and relationships to become clearer. Sleep changes and muscle decline both tend to shift quietly with age, making early self-check-ins worth building into a routine Turning 60 does not come with an instruction manual. Energy shifts, sleep patterns change, and priorities that once felt fixed start moving around. Making sense of all that change is easier wit...

Key Takeaways Putter lie angle is the angle between the shaft and the sole, and getting it wrong causes consistent left or right misses no matter how good the stroke feels A putter that is too upright lifts the toe at address and tends to pull putts left for right-handed golfers, while a too-flat lie angle raises the heel and pushes putts right Height alone does not determine the right lie angle; arm length, torso length, and natural posture at address matter just as much Face-balanced putters generally suit straight-back, straight-through strokes, while toe-hang putters complement golfers with a natural arc Fairway Tips and News notes that most traditional putters can be bent to a new lie angle by a qualified fitter in a matter of minutes Sinking more putts often has less to do with reading greens and more to do with a spec most golfers never think about: lie angle. A putter that looks fine leaning against the bag can quietly be working against every stroke taken with it, sending putt...