Alva Review-Courier -

Fortune magazine devoted a 28-page section to “The Shrinking Middle Class.” While most Americans consider themselves to be middle class, it is an elusive formula that decides. If you’ve ever...

On the cover of Time magazine we see the picture of the first baby born in the U.S. to a mother with a transplanted uterus. Reading further, I discovered that one in 1,450 women worldwide are born san...

Counter checks had only the name of the bank. That meant your signature was used to identify the account. Each signature was identifiable but it was a very poor system. Then came personalized checks,...

“You never know when you need to look like you have a little bit of sense and a little bit of money.” Those were the words of Charles Johnson IV as he accompanied his wife to the hospital as she...

A human’s life on earth is ruled by natural rhythms established in each individual’s cells. Many of us rebel against daylight savings time, cloudy days and schedule changes brought about by jobs...

Thousands of Americans reach retirement age each year. Many of them plan to “age in place.” If that brings up connotations of grab bars, toilet seat risers and access ramps, you’re not alone....

Ann Hodgman, in Smithsonian Magazine, says, “This season, 65 percent of Americans will send Christmas cards or letters.” It’s a tradition for many and the bane of others. The custom of sending...

Flooding in Houston, storm surge on the East Coast, fires in California team-up to raise insurance rates all across the country. The purpose of insurance is to spread the risk among the...

“Is it live, or is it Memorex?” – a slogan from the days of recording tape. Is it a real diamond, or is it paste? Paste diamonds, also known as diamond simulants, have some of the same character...

Bill Crowder in Our Daily Bread says, “Compassion fatigue can be one of the results of living in a badly broken world.” Following the news for an emotional uplift proves to be a daunting challenge...

From an article in the Talequah Daily Press comes this statement: “But today, outright lies have become the weapon of choice and the weaker-minded would rather believe the office-holders they...

“Ebola (virus) reminds us again that a health crisis anywhere is a health crisis everywhere.” – Sue Desmond, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The war on worldwide poverty and famine...

I like cars and deer, but they don’t mix. In many years of driving, I’ve only hit one deer but during mating season and hunting season, they are on the move, putting them and you in harm’s way...

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” -- Arthur C. Clark. Just as batteries have grown in capacity and longevity, computers from novelty to necessity, and diaries...

Losing your ability to drive, whether self-imposed or dictated, is one of the biggest blows to independence that a senior citizen can suffer. As more people outlive the ability to drive, many states...

I got a call from Jamaica, mon! Since I don’t know anyone from the island, I didn’t answer. Mentioning the call to a friend, they had answered and were offered a chance to have $25,000 deposited...

Gas prices have escalated to $2.84.9 in Alva, a $.60 increase this year. My dad said gas prices always increase at Labor Day and during wheat harvest. We know that crude oil prices have risen from $45...

Nicki and I have both taken advantage of early Social Security payments and I am enjoying Medicare while she pays for coverage with her teacher retirement benefits. Medicare is an advantage to being...

I’m a car collector. To save on insurance, I checked on seasonal coverage. Seasonal coverage policies may be written to restrict use during the months when the roads are salted, temperatures...

Vietnam veterans affected by Agent Orange continue their remaining lives with multiple health problems related to their exposure. The burning oil wells in Operation Desert Storm exposed many soldiers...

Tunnels have always held a fascination for me. It began with a boyhood plan to tunnel under the alley at 719 First St. connecting my back yard with Bill Sperry’s on the other side. I knew of a...

“I would rather be debt free than have a perfect credit score.” — Holly Johnson Managing credit is something from which we can all profit, and that is not just a play on words. Before the days...

The WHAM-O Toy Company is credited with creating the Hula-Hoop but if not for Joan Anderson, who was visiting her family in Sydney, Australia, in 1957, the craze may never have begun. Offered to the...

My neighbor, K.P., says his son is planning on a career in truck driving. I’ve written on the progress of self-driving truck technology, but recent setbacks due to autonomous vehicle accidents...