The current state of negotiant wine

A "dust up" in the wine blogosphere this week brought the subject of negotiant wine back to the front of our consciousness. Negotiant has two meanings here and in Europe. In Europe, any wine produced from grapes not owned by the winery and winemaker is referred to as negotiant. In other words, it is any non-estate sourced wine grape stock. Here in the United States, we refer to any wine purchased in bulk when the wine is completely manufactured and simply bottled by some entity other than the manufacturer as negotiant.

HEADACHES… They're not all in your head

Over 45 million people suffer from headaches, and take numerous over the counter or prescriptive medications for temporary relief. Many of these headaches are not due to problems within the head, but rather involve issues with the cervical spine and the surrounding muscles.

Headache pain and medication solutions

Headache and migraine pain are common conditions with over 37 million sufferers in the United States alone. Some folks know when their pain started, such as an accident or sports injury. Others don’t.

Record Store Day Rescheduled Due to Coronavirus Concerns

Audiophiles will have to wait two more months to celebrate Record Store Day. Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus in the U.S. the day has been moved to Saturday, June 20, according to a press release from The Record Exchange.

Apply for moose, goat, sheep hunts by April 30

The application period for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat controlled hunts begins on April 1 and runs through April 30. Hunters can apply online, or by phone at (800) 554-8685.

We win again!

You have probably read by now, that the deadline to extend the tax credit was extended in the 11th hour to Sept. 30. This is not an extension that allows buyers to gain a credit by buying before then, instead it protects those who had accepted offers by April 30 from losing the credit because transaction complications delayed their closings. Those in a panic over losing their dreams of owning a home can heave a sigh of relief.

A rate hike in the future?

WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve cited an improving economy Wednesday as it ended its landmark bond-buying program and pointed to gains in the job market - a key condition for an eventual interest rate hike.

Is your agent competing with you?

Let's face it. Realtors are only human. No, really. In a market that is moving as fast as ours bargain priced opportunities do not remain on the market long. When opportunity knocks are you among the first to know? Or is your real estate agent also an investor?

Leonard Riggio, who forged a bookselling empire at Barnes & Noble, dead at 83

Leonard Riggio, a brash, self-styled underdog who transformed the publishing industry by building Barnes & Noble into the country’s most powerful bookseller before his company was overtaken by the rise of Amazon.com, has died at age 83.

High energy prices send Europe's businesses, homes reeling

Spiking energy prices are raising utility bills from Poland to the United Kingdom

Treating osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis sufferers have traditionally relied on "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs" (NSAIDs) to reduce joint pain and swelling. However, because continued use of such NSAIDs as aspirin and ibuprofen often leads to gastrointestinal problems, drug makers turned their attention to developing a form of NSAID known as a COX-2 selective inhibitor. This drug selectively targets COX-2, which is an enzyme directly responsible for inflammation and pain. While this type of NSAID has been found to produce less stomach upset than other NSAIDs, COX-2 selective inhibitors are associated with an increased risk of blood clots that can lead to heart attack and stroke. For this reason, celecoxib (Celebrex) should be taken in the smallest possible dose for the shortest possible period.

Treating sinus infections

Sinus infections are painful occurrences that often lead physicians to prescribe antibiotics, often upon the urging of uncomfortable patients. In fact, sinus infections (also known as "acute sinusitis"), which produce severe cold-like symptoms of runny nose and headache, are the fifth most common reason for prescribing antibiotics among U.S. adults. Yet, a recent study shows that antibiotics do not help fight most sinus infections. The fact is that doctors cannot tell if a sinus infection is caused by bacteria or by a virus, in which case antibiotics are useless.

Low dose to no dose is no good

Doctors may prescribe a low-dose aspirin regimen to patients who have experienced heart attacks or strokes. Not only can a daily "baby" aspirin help prevent a second heart attack or stroke, it may also reduce the chance of having a heart attack or stroke among patients with certain risk factors (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or smoking). However, about half of those on daily aspirin regimens discontinue use for various reasons (including stomach upset and simply forgetting). This unauthorized halt of a daily aspirin regimen can pose significant dangers (increased risk of heart attack and death from coronary heart disease) to those who have cardiovascular disease. Consultation with the prescribing doctor is imperative before discontinuing daily doses of aspirin.

Can aspirin stop cancer's spread?

If aspirin's health benefits were limited to reducing inflammation, alleviating pain, and promoting heart health, it would be quite enough. However, researchers are continuing to find new ways that this common drug improves health and combats disease. The latest findings provide an answer to how aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs are able to help inhibit the spread of cancer. New research shows that aspirin's cancer-inhibiting effect may be traced to its ability to shut down the chemical "highways" that feed cancer cells. It seems that aspirin is able to reduce the dilation of vessels that feed tumors throughout the body. Once these "supply lines" are restricted, cancer growth slows. Once more, aspirin proves itself to be a "miracle drug."

Arts and entertainment happenings

Nightlife and cultural events in and around Kootenai County

"The Baron's Daughter": 7 p.m., Christian Center School, 3639 W. Prairie Ave., Hayden. Adults/$5, $3/students and children 3 and older, available at the door.

Avista, KEC reach short-term power deal

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is approving a short-term power purchase agreement between Avista Utilities and a landfill gas generating facility south of Coeur d'Alene owned by Kootenai Electric Cooperative.

Park place

Cd'A considers buying 7 acres above area lakes

COEUR d'ALENE - The goal is to create another Tubbs Hill-type recreation area for the public.

Fall sales should be strong

There is a nip in the morning air. Kids are back in school and the leaves are beginning to turn colors. Do not let the dormancy of fall foliage set you into dormancy as well. Realtors are selling properties daily and for many, September is proving to be busier than August. Gone are the smoke filled skies and back are the beautifully clear and comfortably warm skies of fall.

On health care's cliff: More meds isn't necessarily good medicine

There’s a pill for every ill.

High-stakes soybeans fight reaches top court

Monsanto claims Indiana farmer violated patent laws

WASHINGTON - Vernon Hugh Bowman seems comfortable with the old way of doing things, right down to the rotary-dial telephone he said he was using in a conference call with reporters.