UBCNews

Have you ever walked into a beautifully furnished living room that somehow still felt... empty? The sofa is stylish, the lighting is perfect, and every colour works together, yet the space has no personality. That's a challenge many Canadian homeowners face, and it's one that furniture alone can't solve. Increasingly, designers are finding that the artwork on your walls is what gives a room its character and emotional impact. Start With the Feeling, Not the Furniture Many people begin decorating by shopping for a sofa or choosing a paint colour. While these decisions matter, they shouldn't be the starting point. Before selecting furniture or accessories, think about the atmosphere you want to create. Do you want your living room to feel calm and relaxing? Bright and energetic? Cosy enough for long conversations with friends? Once you've identified the mood, choosing emotional art becomes much more intuitive because every piece supports the feeling you want the room...

Key Takeaways TRT may worsen existing sleep apnoea or trigger new cases by reducing upper airway muscle tone and blunting the body's breathing responses during sleep. The combination of TRT and sleep apnoea significantly raises the risk of polycythaemia - a dangerous blood-thickening condition that can lead to stroke, heart attack, or clotting events. Major endocrinology bodies strongly advise against initiating TRT in men with untreated severe sleep apnoea, though some guidelines frame this as a serious precaution rather than an absolute contraindication, reflecting evolving evidence. Not every man on TRT will develop sleep apnoea - risk is strongly shaped by obesity, age, dosage, and pre-existing airway issues, which is why individual screening matters. Regular haematocrit monitoring is essential for men on TRT, especially those with any sleep-disordered breathing history. TRT and Sleep Apnoea: A Dangerous Overlap Testosterone Replacement Therapy has helped many men reclaim their...

Key Takeaways Exercise equipment is not automatically HSA/FSA eligible - the IRS classifies it as a "dual-purpose" expense, meaning a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) is required to unlock pre-tax purchasing. Conditions like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and chronic back pain are among those that commonly support a qualifying LMN. Some equipment retailers are partnered with Truemed to streamline HSA/FSA checkout, with LMNs typically issued within 24-48 hours at no cost to the buyer. 2026 HSA contribution limits are $4,400 (individual) and $8,750 (family) ; FSA funds cap at $3,400 and expire December 31 - timing your purchase matters. Paying with pre-tax dollars can save roughly 30% on eligible cardio equipment - details on which models qualify and which do not are covered below. Cardio equipment sits at an awkward intersection: clearly health-related, but not automatically treated that way by the IRS. For people managing a diagnosed condition, that gap represe...

Key Takeaways: Birthstone traditions stretch back thousands of years, rooted in biblical texts and ancient astrological beliefs, giving each stone a layer of meaning that modern wearers still connect with. Natural birthstones are genuinely different from synthetic alternatives - their organic imperfections and color variation are part of what makes them meaningful and valuable. The Mohs hardness scale is the most overlooked factor when buying birthstone jewelry. Choosing the right metal setting is crucial for protecting the stone and ensuring the overall longevity and wearability of the jewelry. There are specific care rules depending on stone hardness; using the wrong cleaning method on a soft stone like opal or pearl can cause permanent damage. A birthstone carries centuries of symbolism, cultural belief, and personal meaning that most people barely scratch the surface of when they pick one out. Understanding where this tradition comes from - and what actually makes a piece worth kee...

Key Takeaways Responding to a lead within five minutes makes a business 21 times more likely to qualify it - waiting even 30 minutes drops those odds dramatically. AI-powered scheduling and route optimization can reduce fuel costs by 15-20% while helping technicians complete significantly more jobs each day. Predictive maintenance with IoT sensors can eliminate unexpected equipment downtime by 30-50% and extend asset lifespans by up to 40%. Automated invoicing gets plumbing companies paid 10-14 days faster than those running manual billing processes. AI is no longer something plumbing companies can afford to put off. Adoption rates are climbing fast across the home services industry, and the gap between early movers and everyone else is widening. Below is a breakdown of the five AI processes making the biggest measurable difference right now. Respond in 5 Minutes - Qualify 21x More Leads Speed is everything in the trades. When a pipe bursts or an AC unit dies in a Texas summer, hom...

Andy Sehremelis is a Southern California real estate developer and the founder and president of Parkcrest Construction, Inc. and Parkcrest Real Estate, Management & Development. His work has centered on commercial real estate, retail projects, automotive and fueling properties, restaurant development, and property management. Sehremelis founded Parkcrest Real Estate, Management & Development in 1987, building the company around the full development process: site analysis, acquisitions, land entitlement, development, finance, construction coordination, and property management. In 2006, he founded Parkcrest Construction, Inc. to bring general contracting and construction management closer to the development side of the business. That structure allows Parkcrest to manage projects from early feasibility through construction and long-term operation. Education and Business Background Sehremelis earned a Bachelor of Science in Management and Finance from Pepperdine University's Gr...