| Center Treatment Helps Relieve Acid Reflux
Ervin Monroe's heartburn was so bad at times that he thought he might be having a heart attack. Every day, acid from his stomach seeped up into his esophagus and even into his mouth. "My acid reflux got so bad that I couldn't drink sodas, because they would burn my tongue, and I could hardly even drink water," says Monroe, who lives in Lillington. Monroe is a longtime member of the Mighty Sons of Faith gospel group, but his voice wasn't sounding so mighty because of the acid that irritated his throat.
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Organic food: health or hype?
The scientific community remains unable to answer the abundance of questions that challenge the organic food market. It is also unable to prove many of the assertions organic defenders encourage.
A common misconception about organic foods is they have an innate healthiness that superceeds the nutritional values of conventionally grown food. However, organic foods are considered healthier not because of qualities they have, but because of qualities they lack -- specifically pesticides, artificial ingredients and trans fats, according to the National Organic Program.
Proponents of an organic diet, such as Valentina Daly, a senior in criminology, assert that organics are healthier, more environmentally friendly and have a greater sustainability than conventional crops.
Comcast to raise cable TV rates
The Atlanta area's biggest cable provider is raising rates on its most popular TV services by 4.7 percent, marking the fourth straight year of increases. Comcast's standard cable service will cost an additional $2.24 per month starting in March, for a new total of $49.99. The company won't change rates for high-speed Internet or Comcast Digital Voice phone services. Comcast hasn't raised Internet prices during the last four years, while voice services are relatively new. Cable and satellite companies often cite the rising costs of programming to explain price boosts. Those are a factor this time, but Comcast said the increases also are related to the cost of improved services. Gene Shatlock, the company's regional senior vice president, noted that Comcast is hiring an additional 550 people to work in the area, whether in call centers or in the field.
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