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Living on your own these days? Welcome to an ever-growing club. U.S. census statistics show that 27 percent of all American households are now made up of a single person. And those percentages get bigger the older you get. A third of all Americans over 65 live alone. And because women outlive men, the percentages of women living alone are even higher; 46 percent of American women over the age of 75 live alone. As makes sense, loneliness and depression are probably the biggest issues facing those who live alone. But living alone puts your physical health at risk, too; studies have linked living alone with an increased risk of heart disease and other serious illness and with earlier death.
But it doesn't have to be that way. Most of the health issues associated with living alone can be overcome with increased watchfulness, safety precautions, and a plan for what to do when an emergency arises.
Here are four of the most common dangers that arise from living alone, and how to protect yourself from them.
Risk #1: Falling
In the past few years, several studies have linked living alone with a substantial increase in the risk of falling. It's not surprising that you're more likely to take a bad fall if there's no one there to help you. (Spending a lot of time alone also increases your likelihood of engaging in activities that increase your risk of falling -- more on that below.) Why is falling something to be so worried about? First, because as you get older, falls tend to lead to more serious injuries. According to the National Council on the Aging, 25 to 30 percent of adults over 65 who fall suffer a severe injury such as a hip fracture or head injury. And those serious falls can have disastrous or even deadly consequences. Forty percent of those who fracture a hip will never recover their independence, and a fourth will die within one year.
Clearing out clutter, installing handrails, and taking other safety precautions is an important first step in preventing falls. Another is to deal with any underlying risk factors, such as a medication that makes you dizzy or light-headed. Finally, consider installing or wearing an alert system that will notify someone if you fall; these have been a lifesaver for many people.
Risk #2: Making Medication Mistakes
Anyone can make a medication mistake. The problem is, when you're alone, there's only you to recognize that something's wrong. And medication mistakes are worryingly common among older adults. According to 2014 Medicare records, every year there are more than half a million drug-related injuries among Medicare patients that occur at home (as opposed to in the hospital). Medication mistakes can include taking too much, taking the wrong thing, or mixing two or more medications. And it's not some kind of rare, specialized drug causing these problems; it's the ones older adults take every day. One study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that four of the most common kinds of medications -- warfarin, insulin, blood thinners, and diabetes drugs that treat hypoglycemia -- were responsible for 7 out of every 10 emergency hospitalizations among seniors. Not included in these numbers is another kind of medication mistake: forgetting to take prescribed medication altogether, leaving illness untreated and symptoms unmanaged.
To prevent these disasters from happening to you, make sure you understand exactly how to take any medication your doctor prescribes. Even though it's a hassle to stand in line for a pharmacy consult, make sure you get those thorough instructions -- and warnings about any potential side effects -- before you leave the counter. When you're discussing a new prescription with your doctor, make sure she knows about all the other medications you're on, and ask her about interactions. And no matter how embarrassing, alert your doctor if you're a heavy or even moderate drinker. Many medications have dangerous effects when mixed with alcohol. Finally, if, like most of us, you're forgetful from time to time, consider using a pill-counting container to keep track of medication dosages.
Risk #3: Dehydration
There are a lot of big changes as we get older -- but there are small changes, too, that pose risks we don't even know about. One of these is a tendency to become dehydrated more easily. Dehydration in older adults is so common that more than 6.5 percent of seniors admitted to the hospital are found to be suffering from dehydration, statistics show. And this number represents only those so seriously ill they are hospitalized. The reasons you become dehydrated more easily are twofold -- your body isn't as good at storing water, and your sense of thirst becomes less acute. Other conditions, such as diabetes, can compound the problem, and many medications are dehydrating as well. Unfortunately, dehydration can be deadly.
So we need to drink more fluids as we age, but studies show we drink less. Often the problem is that drinking tends to be a social activity -- it's easier to remember to have a glass of water or iced tea when there's someone around to do it with, or at least someone who reminds us or hands us a glass. To combat this problem, we all have to learn to make drinking water a regular habit, whether or not someone's there to remind us.
Risk #4: Alcohol and Medication Abuse
The Centers for Disease Control has called alcohol and drug abuse among older adults "a hidden epidemic" and one of the "fastest-growing problems in this country." And statistics show the problem is getting worse every year. There was a 121 percent increase in ER visits for prescription medication abuse among older adults in the four-year period between 2004 and 2008. Unfortunately, it's all too easy to become dependent on any narcotic painkiller prescribed post-surgery or to treat chronic pain. The result: 18 percent of older adults with chronic pain either abuse or are addicted to painkillers, statistics show.
When it comes to alcohol abuse, living alone can worsen this problem, or trigger its beginning. Older adults who never drank excessively before may begin overusing alcohol to combat loneliness or boredom, or simply to make themselves feel better. And if you already drink too much, not having someone there to notice, nag, or make you feel embarrassed is going to let you drink more. Several studies have found that those who live alone are much more likely to die from alcohol poisoning, liver disease, and other alcohol-related diseases.
The answer, of course, is to get help if you suspect you might be drinking too much or overusing any medication. Read up on the signs of abuse and addiction, and notice whether your drinking or drug use is having negative consequences in your life. If it is but you continue to do it anyway, that's a sign you need to take seriously.
It's important to remember that there's also a direct link between alcohol and drug use and risk of falling. And beware: This risk is not just for those actually abusing alcohol and drugs. Even just one or two drinks can interact with another medication, contributing to a fall. Whenever you start taking a new medication, read the disclosures to see whether it interacts with alcohol. But don't just rely on published information; use your own experience as a guide, since everyone's metabolism is different. If you notice you feel woozy, dizzy, or overly sleepy after a cocktail or a glass of wine or beer, it may be a medication interaction that's responsible, and you'll need to discuss this with your doctor.
It's easy to see how living alone can have a negative impact on any health condition you might have. Studies show people with diabetes don't manage their disease as well when they live alone, and those with heart disease are more likely to miss the signs of a heart attack. In fact, one study found that people who live alone double their risk of serious heart disease. If you suffer a stroke alone, you're less likely to act fast and get the anticlotting treatment that's urgently needed to prevent long-term consequences. All of these contribute to the serious health toll of living alone.


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10.08.2018The School of Russian and Asian Studies to Change Names, Launch Fully Updated Website
03.04.2018Summer Study Abroad: Update on Recent Diplomatic Events
28.02.2018SRAS Announces Special Moscow-St.Petersburg Summer RSL Program for 2018
08.02.2018Summer Study Abroad: Important Updates
06.02.2018The State of Study Abroad in Russia
03.02.2018Russian Studies Abroad (RSA) Splits Into Two Programs
29.01.2018Join SRAS at NAFSA and Forum
27.01.2018SRAS and SPBGIKIT Language Partnership: The Year in Review
26.01.2018SRAS Site Visit to Irkutsk
30.12.2017Summer Programs Abroad - 2018
04.12.2017Travel Alert for Russian Cities: May 25 - July 25, 2018
13.08.2017Scholarships Available!
07.04.2017Stetson University and SRAS Announce New Partnership
31.05.2016Call for Papers: Vestnik!
Each month the SRAS newsletter features lots of information about Russia, its language, politics, economy, and current events. Want the newsletter?
The School of Russian and Asian Studies (SRAS) is a unique and innovative organization promoting study abroad and internships in one geographic region. We concentrate our efforts in Eurasia – and specifically Russia, Central Asia, Poland, and Ukraine, where we have developed a range of programs targeted to students of nearly every discipline, and with a flexible view to Russian language ability.
For this reason, a SRAS Affiliate or Partner may be a department within a university, or it may be the university as a whole as represented by a study abroad/international office (or similar). A formal affiliation/partnership with SRAS does not limit in any way your ability to work with other third party providers or to develop your own programs.
Table of Contents:
For questions, comments, or to inquire about becoming a SRAS Affiliate or Partner, contact us.Affiliation with SRAS Return to TopAffiliating with SRAS is perfect for institutions that would like to give their students a more diverse set of study abroad options from a flexible, knowledgeable third-party provider with extensive, 24-hour in-country support. An Education Fund is established for each SRAS affiliate based on the number of students from the affiliate who enroll in any SRAS program each period (semester or summer). Your institution then has the opportunity to decide how to use the fund – offer scholarships to deserving students for participation in any SRAS program or fund program evaluation visits by a faculty member from your institution.Official affiliation with SRAS allows your institution to save time and money, as well as to gain access to the substantial resources and knowledge of a group of dedicated individuals who have been involved in study abroad to Russia and Eurasia for over 15 years. In addition, students from affiliate institutions are given top priority for admission to programs with limited space, for internship selection, and for SRAS scholarships.As a SRAS Affiliate, we anticipate that you would assist in distributing information (electronic, print, or simply verbal) about SRAS programs to your students, list SRAS on your institution's study abroad pages, encourage your students to sign up for our extensive free publications via email and/or Facebook, facilitate transfer of credit and financial aid, invite us to visit your campus to meet with students, and generally communicate with us frequently so that we have a better understanding of your students' needs and your institutions' policies and procedures as concerns study abroad.Partnerships with SRAS Return to TopWe have outlined below the general parameters of the most common partnerships with SRAS. We recognize that each institution is unique and so we consider this outline to be the basis for further discussion.
1. Program Outsourcing Return to Top
Russian language/studies programs are often unable to maintain study abroad programs due to low/inconsistent enrollment or other logistical issues. SRAS offers its partners a new way to pool their resources with ours and those of other SRAS partners to make educational, exciting study abroad experiences a part of all programs. As a SRAS partner, your institution may either a) choose one of our base programs, potentially with some customization, and promote it as your own; or b) offer your students the opportunity to select from any of the SRAS programs as listed on our site. We recommend the latter option to meet the interests and/or credit needs of a greater number of your students. In the first option (your own program), pricing is established specific to your program parameters and level of customization. In the latter, more popular, option, we offer your institution a discounted rate (based in part on the number of students coming from your institution). In both cases we bill your institution directly while we handle all other program details directly with the student.
2. Faculty-led Programs Return to Top
Faculty-led Programs can be the perfect solution if students don't have access to study abroad due to time, monetary, or institutional constraints. Students in certain disciplines, such as engineering, those on financial aid, and even those studying on trimester systems often find it a challenge to include study abroad in their education. Faculty-led Programs also have advantages for professors. Many report that faculty-led programs allow them to stay in touch with the language and culture of the subject they teach – and the experience often sparks intense interest in students, who then enroll in more Russian classes at home after the trip. See more about what faculty say about us and our faculty-led programs here. What better way to stay in touch with what is happening than to be there to experience it?
SRAS can assist with all aspects of planning faculty-led programs, including:• Helping you develop a concept and budget;• Finding avenues for promoting the trip;• Providing 24-7 "on the ground" support in Russia;• Coordinating visas, accommodations, domestic travel, and guided tours;• Organizing custom seminars and group classes.Contact us for more information. For a more detailed look at faculty-led travel and related SRAS services, click here.
3. Co-Branded Programs & Custom Arrangements Return to Top
Creating study abroad programs for specific fields, with specific parameters, can be time consuming, frustrating, and expensive. Most study abroad offices and service providers rarely want to tackle the task. However, SRAS already has more than a decade of experience in creatively building cost-effective custom solutions in a broad range of fields, from language and history to math and science. With this type of affiliation, SRAS helps you develop a program, including the program type, location, curriculum, application requirements, and admissions criteria. SRAS organizes the academic facilities and qualified faculty at the host university to teach the courses and supervise internships, and also provides medical and travel insurance, onsite housing, excursions, orientation, and other logistics. We realize that every institution has a unique set of needs, and SRAS welcomes the chance to discuss with you how we might be able to help meet your institution's study abroad needs to Russian-speaking countries. Contact us and let us know a convenient time to call you for an initial, informal discussion.
Find Out More!
More Educator ResourcesSRAS Travel ServicesHealth and Safety in Russia Individual Programs AbroadSRAS Testing ServicesThe SRAS NewsletterJournal for StudentsMore Free Resources!
Questions or comments? Contact the editor.
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Receive instant notification of new episodes: Register Now to receive notification of new episodes of The HDTV Podcast via email as soon as they are published.
Today's Show:
Predictions for 2014
Time for the HT Guys to look into our crystal ball and try and predict the HDTV and Home Theater landscape for 2014. Our crystal ball is never as clears as a good HDTV but we give it a shot nonetheless.
Ara's Predictions:
Netflix will have at least 50 4K titles for streaming - Its not really going out on a limb predicting that Netflix will have 4K titles. They've said as much. Its the number that I think is the real prediction. If you have a high speed connection and a 4K TV you will have some content display. Look for Youtube to have 4K content as well.
OLED TV market share will remain insignificant - We have seen OLED TVs that have blown us away but when compared side by side with plasma or even the Elite LCDs they are not worth the huge price differential. Sure they can be extremely thin but is a ½ in too thick? Who cares if an OLED is half that size. Its a catch 22, until quantities go up price won't go down. And since the quality differential isn't worth the price I see no reason for quantities to go up.
Cable and Satellite providers will offer cloud based DVR services - Imagine a world where you can have unlimited storage for your DVR recording. We see cloud storage all over the place so why not with your DVR. With better compression and a downspeed of about 4 Mbps you could watch most of your programs with little quality difference. Translate, anything the wife and kids want to record goes to the cloud. All of your programming goes to the hard drive at full quality!
Aereo to win in the Supreme Court - This case has been going on for a while. The broadcasters would love to see Aereo shut down. I think this is the year that Aereo expands to new cities without the burden of lawsuits hanging around their necks.
Illegal downloads to exceed traditional broadcast viewership for top three pirated shows - Game of Thrones is already illegally downloaded more than its watched on television. Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead are still viewed more on TV than downloaded illegally.
Braden's Predictions:
The year of 4K - Manufacturers will push 4K as the new upgrade cycle for 2014. We'll see many, many more models and prices will come down quickly. Driven down primarily by Chinese manufacturers. 3D didn't do it; OLED is still too far off. Queue the endless debates and hand wringing over 1080p vs 4K, just like the 720p vs 1080p of yesteryear. I may have just described a few of our shows for 2014…
Netflix will win at least one Content Award - Netflix is pushing into the original content space with a vengeance, trying to become the next online HBO. The industry will take them seriously this year and you'll even see a Netflix show or Actor/Actress win an award. It may not be an Emmy, but maybe a People's Choice or something else, but we'll see Netflix get a trophy.
9 Channel Surround goes Mainstream - Most home theater receivers on the market are 7.1. The low cost, entry models are 5.1, some of the higher end units support 9.1. In 2014 we'll see 9.1 receivers replace 7.1 as the standard and only the low cost, entry models will remain 7.1. The 5.1 receiver will be a relic. Dolby and DTS will both have native, discrete 9.1 support but it'll take a while for it to show up in any content.
Intel and Wal-mart Shock the World - If there are any companies big enough to pull off a major disruptive change in the home theater business, its Walmart and Intel. They're already working together with Vudu and UltraViolet, so 2014 will see them take the next step to do something really unique. It could be first run TV shows available for streaming the same time they air, or an all-you-can-eat, a la carte TV subscription, or the ability to watch first run movies at home via…
Virtual Movie Going Experience - The major studios will work in partnership with local movie theaters, to allow you to buy tickets but watch the movie in the comfort of your own home. The theater will sell the tickets, hopefully at a discount, so they share in the revenue, and everybody wins. This sets the stage to remove the theater as the middle man altogether.
Posted by The HT Guys, January 2, 2014 9:53 PM
More from The HT Guys
More in Category: Cable HDTV
About The HT GuysThe HT Guys, Ara Derderian and Braden Russell, are Engineers who formerly worked for the Advanced Digital Systems Group (ADSG) of Sony Pictures Entertainment. ADSG was the R&D unit of the sound department producing products for movie theaters and movie studios.
Two of the products they worked on include the DCP-1000 and DADR-5000. The DCP is a digital cinema processor used in movie theaters around the world. The DADR-5000 is a disk-based audio dubber used on Hollywood sound stages.
ADSG was awarded a Technical Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2000 for the development of the DADR-5000. Ara holds three patents for his development work in Digital Cinema and Digital Audio Recording.
Every week they put together a podcast about High Definition TV and Home Theater. Each episode brings news from the A/V world, helpful product reviews and insights and help in demystifying and simplifying HDTV and home theater.
Other Recent Discussion


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DDM Relief Team To Provide Humanitarian Assistance To Cyclone Victims in Burma
Cyclone Nargis hit Burma on 3 May, 2008. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives and hundreds of thousands are now left homeless. It is the worst natural disaster to hit the country since the 2004 tsunami. International humanitarian relief organizations are ready to head to Burma to provide basic living necessities to those affected by this devastating cyclone.
The Sichuan Buddhist Association and the Office of Religious Affairs in the Sichuan Province has presented Dharma Drum Mountain with a plaque of appreciation for providing humanitarian aid to victims affected by the recent earthquake. Rescuers from Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation are still working in the devastated areas in the Sichuan province, China.
DDM signs up projects for the reconstruction of Xiushui Township in Sichuan
On the morning of 21 August 2008, chief leader of Dharma Drum Mountain relief team, Venerable Guo Pin and Deputy Abbot President of DDM signed contracts with officials of Xiushui Township of Sichuan Province in China. The contracts will see to the reconstruction of First Xiushui Elementary School and the Xiushui Health Center expected to be completed within one and half years.
DDM's continued relief efforts in Sichuan and appeals for public concern over victims
The 5/12 earthquake in Sichuan shocked the world. Over the past few months, international relief teams have put great efforts into the delivery of medical care and material supplies into the quake-stricken areas.
DDM's Relief Team Returns Home after Successful Mission in Burma
On the afternoon of 19 May 2008, the Dharma Drum Mountain relief team returned home safely after eight days of humanitarian work in Burma.
DDM's Second Medical Relief Team Departs for Earthquake-struck Sichuan on 24 May
The Dharma Drum Mountain relief team stationed at Sichuan was praised by the Sichuan government and its local residents for the work that they have carried out. The local people were deeply touched by the compassion of DDM relief team in their commitment to help, and formed a strong bond with the members of the relief team.
DDM's Water Purifiers Ready at the Service of Villages along the Irrawady Delta in Myanmar
As reported by overseas Chinese businessman in Myanmar of thirteen years and a passionate, longtime DDM volunteer Mr. Feng Tsai TSAI, a set of water purifiers donated by Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare & Charity Foundation in Myanmar (DDMSWCFM) was successfully installed for service on 13 June 2008, providing clean water for the cyclone victims.
DDMSWCF Offers Typhoon Victims Spiritual and Material Support
Typhoon Kalmaegi struck Taiwan on 18 July 2008, flooding the central and southern regions and blocking road access to aboriginal villages in some mountain areas. According to an official report, the loss was over NT$10 million. Several people were killed.
Journal of DDM's relief effort in the cyclone-hit Burma
3 May (Sat)
* Burma ravaged by cyclone
On 3 May (Sat), Burma was hit by the tropical cyclone Nargis, with the Irrawaddy Delta being the most hard-hit area.
Journal of DDM's relief effort in the earthquake-struck Sichuan Province
13 May (Tue)
※ DDM quickly assembled a relief team following the earthquake.
In the afternoon of 12 May 2008 a devastating earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Sichuan Province in China, leaving tens of thousands dead. It is estimated that the death toll will keep escalating.
Your are here :
Social Welfare & Charity Fundation
DDM headquarter
Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education
Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts
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The Nung Chan Monastery
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Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association
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Sheng Yen Education Foundation
Chan Meditation
Dharma Drum Retreat Center in New York
Chan Meditation Center in New York
International Meditation Group (IMG)
Chan Practice Center (Chinese)
Chan Magazine
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Eight Form Moving Meditation
Master Sheng Yen
The Founder
The Pure Land on Earth Movement
The Fivefold Spiritual Renaissance Campaign
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108 Adages of Wisdom 1
108 Adages of Wisdom 2
108 Adages of Wisdom 3
108 Adages of Wisdom 4
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Current topics, a room filled with expert speakers, participants with many questions … a success for the world of community studies.
Beatrice Maccario and Ronan Rigaud would like to thank Agathe Danjou from Danone, Pascale Zobec from JDF and Xavier Marc from EDF as well as the hundreds of participants who contributed to the success of this conference.
To see the video of the conference, ask questions or have a personalized demonstration contact us: email@example.com


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Rakeshan, a 6 month-old baby suffering from Ventricular Septal Defect – VSD, had corrective surgery at Gleneagles Hospital on January 17th, 2015.
Donation from The Marché De Noël : RM40,000
At the Gleneagles Hospital press conference on January 29th 2015, the Marché de Noël team met Rakeshan, his parents and the Gleneagles representatives in a very emotional moment :
Rakeshan's medical team were delighted to report he is on the way to a full recovery following the surgery. All medical follow-ups are being covered by the hospital.
The conference was an opportunity for the French ladies team to hand over the cheque to A-Heart for A-Heart charity programme :
To all, thank you again for your support in helping sick and underprivileged Malaysian children and their families.


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ThirdLove is seeking a talented senior designer with a background in bras. We're looking for a design visionary that dreams big but has one foot planted firmly on the ground. You'll have experience in all aspects of design from development to production and will conceptualize and launch new seasonal collections. You'll lead and inspire a team, ensuring that every collection meets the brand aesthetic and supports the projected company growth.
ThirdLove is a fast-growing intimates brand designing bras with real women in mind. Instead of using standard industry measurements, we developed proprietary half-cup sizes based on thousands of real women's measurements. For us, it's not just about the bra — it's about how you feel in it.
We're a growing team of designers, operations experts, mobile and web engineers, and marketers in San Francisco's Design District. Through our combined expertise and passion, we strive every day to deliver elegant design and brilliant solutions to difficult-to-solve problems.
Our culture is entrepreneurial and dynamic, with a passionate dedication to creating beautiful products and great user experiences. We are funded by a long list of tier 1 VCs, celebrity angels, and strategic investors. Just a few ThirdLove perks include lunches, fun team outings, a fully stocked organic kitchen, health care, equity and, to top it all off, in-office chiropractic!
Please note before submitting an application: as a company, we take hiring very seriously. Interviewing with ThirdLove may include video and phone interviews, written projects, and/or on-site interviews. Although we are unable to follow-up with each and every applicant, we do our best to run a thorough process for candidates with whom we identify a potential fit.
ThirdLove is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetics, marital status, veteran status, or disability status


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Frankfurt (D) – March 01, 2010
Crytek GmbH ("Crytek") is proud to announce the presentation of CryENGINE"®3 in stereoscopic 3D (S-3D) at this year's GDC expo in San Francisco (11–13 March). For the very first time, developers can experience the highly topical S-3D trend built with Crytek's latest development solution. One of the key features of the third-generation CryENGINE"® is the "LiveCreate™" feature, which will also be showcased at GDC. CryENGINE"®3 LiveCreate™ allows designers to work with a single editor, but see and play the results in real-time on the PC, PlayStation"® 3 and Xbox 360™.
With CryENGINE"®3, scalability across multiple platforms is a revolutionary development to enable the creation of truly great-looking games – regardless of the target platform. "After the successful introduction of CryENGINE"®3 at last year's GDC, we are really excited to show the latest version of our all-in-one game development solution this year in stereoscopic 3D. Over the past few years, S-3D technology has emerged as one of the key trends both in movies and games. With CryENGINE"®3, developers will have the ability to create their content in 3D on all platforms.
There are basically no longer any limits to a designer's creativity. CryENGINE"®3 features many innovations to accelerate development, cut production costs and ensure teams are able to maximize their own creativity without delays," says Carl Jones, Director of Global Business Development CryENGINE. CryENGINE"®3 is the fastest and most robust high-end renderer in the world, with new features specifically designed for console platforms. Benchmark-setting graphical performance, near-photorealism rendering of indoor and wide-open outdoor environments as well as extraordinary real-time special effects are just some of the hallmarks of CryENGINE"® technology.
It was the underlying technology for Crytek's critically acclaimed games Crysis"® and Crysis"® Warhead, and is used today not only throughout the video game industry and but also for many serious applications in fields from architecture, training and simulation to learning and development. Crytek's Engine Business Team will be available during GDC for meetings and to discuss licensing details with prospective clients. In addition, Crytek will be hosting a series of public presentations at their booth, #1414. Crytek's recruiters will also be at the show to answer questions about the company and accept resumes of interested applicants. Their booth is located at South Hall #2320 (Career Pavilion).


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Adara Hotels Apartments
The team behind Adara Hotels Apartments has been in the accommodation business for over 12 years. We began our new era on 31 March 2014 when we established our own unique brand. We currently have four diverse properties in our portfolio: Adara Richmond, located on the fringe of the Melbourne CBD; Adara East Melbourne resides in the leafy inner city suburb of East Melbourne, one of the city's historic areas, offering a unique oasis to the Melbourne experience; Adara Collins, nestled in the bustling Paris end of Melbourne's Collins St; and Adara Camperdown, only 10 minutes drive from the Sydney CBD.
Adara is founded on the values of community, service and style. We welcome you to experience the ultimate in convenience and comfort in our contemporary serviced apartments.
Select Your Destination


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Faux Lead Chelsea Cylinder Planter
Fibreclay faux lead Chelsea cylinder garden planters .Fibreclay is a frost reistant clay that is reinforced with a fibre glass mesh during manufacture to create a strong robust garden pot that has a gloss lead effect finish.
Lead effect Chelsea cylinder planters are available in five garden pot size variations (65, 55cm,45cm,38cm,31cm & 25cm). Each cylinder pot can be stacked inside the larger size.
Fibreclay's unique manufacturing process for garden planters produces a frost resistant and UV stabilised garden planter that looks like an authentic faux lead lite Chelsea cylinder that would do an path, patio, porch, gates, driveway, decking or garden proud. Fibreclay garden planters are heavier than Fibreglass alternatives, but lighter than stone or lead pots. Being reinforced, Fibreclay faux lead Chelsea cylinder garden pots are strong, robust, easy to handle and frost reistant.
Suregreen's range of Chelsea lead leffect cylinders planters have a decorative pattern on the cylinders side faces. The garden planters rim is also very decorative. faux lead garden pots are designed to look realistic and the gloss lead like finish ensures a really high quality finish to the pot.
Features and benefits
- Faux lead effect Chelsea cylinders are manufactured from fibreclay
- Available in 65cm, 55cm,45cm,38cm,31cm and 25cm diameters
- Fibreclay is clay with reinforced fibre mesh
- Garden planters have drainage holes on the base
- Faux lead effect Chelsea troughs and Chelsea cylinder garden planters also available
- Robust, hard wearing and lighter than stone or lead pots making then portable
- Fibreclay is frost resistant
Suregreen's lead lite Chelsea cylinder garden planters have thick walls and bases and are heavier weight than inferior products on the market.
MaintenanceFibreclay is extremely resilient to the effects of weathering, meaning that these fibreclay faux lead cylinder planters can be used internally or externally. The salts contained naturally in the clay in the fibreclay will be released gently ensuring an attractive aging process that may see only a slight dulling of colour.
PlantingChelsea cylinders like all our garden planters and garden pots contain drainage holes - there is no requirement to use shngle on the base above the compost / soil
chelsea faux lead cylinder Sizes
- Giant 65cm dia. x 60cm high
- Ex. Large 55cm dia. x 51cm high
- Large 45cm dia. x 40cm high
- Medium 38cm dia. x 35cm high
- Midi 32cm dia. x 30cm high
- Small 27cm dia. x 25cm high


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The Children's Academy – Daycare & Preschool in Mansfield TX!
Welcome to The Children's Academy! We look forward to developing a strong and positive relationship with you. We believe that communication between parents and our staff is essential to fully meeting your child's needs. The Children's Academy is proud to provide a nurturing, Christian Environment filled with warmth and encouragement. Our developmentally appropriate programs support imagination and a natural love of learning. Our programs combined with our skilled, trained staff allow your child's physical, social, emotional, and mental development to progress smoothly and naturally.
The Children's Academy was started in 1983. We are one of the oldest privately owned childcare, daycare, preschool centers in Southern Tarrant County. We offer private schooling, as well as pre-school / childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years of age. We have a location in Mansfield, TX and coming soon South Central Arlington, TX.
Preschool & Daycare in Mansfield, TX
Our Teaching Curriculum:
We use the Christian based Pinnacle Curriculum with Montessori Principles. This approach offers the children a child orientated environment, positive discipline techniques, and stress free learning. The program teaches the children independence, self-control, confidence,basic Christian Principles, values, and morals. Foreign language, music, art, and Bible are taught in all regular classes. The school does not promote any specific church doctrine.
TCA: Your child's next preschool/daycare!
Our Program:
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text:
Bulletin 94-7
September 30, 1994
Fees for Missed Medical-Legal Appointments
Following the adoption of the medical legal fee schedule last January, there has been continuing controversy over whether or not a medical-legal evaluator may charge a fee for missed appointments, for the expense which results when a claimant fails to appear for a scheduled medical-legal evaluation.
Although a draft of the medical-legal fee schedule that went to public hearing last November included a provision stating that providers may not be reimbursed for missed appointments, this was taken out of the final adopted schedule. The primary reason this provision was taken out of the final version was the testimony that indicated fees for missed appointments had in the past been reasonably adjusted between evaluators and claims administrators without the need for regulation.
Another reason the missed appointment provision was not included in the final schedule concerns a purely legal issue. That is, absent more specific judicial or statutory guidance, it is unclear whether fees for missed appointments have any place in the medical-legal fee schedule. Section 5307.6 of the Labor Code requires that the administrative director adopt a fee schedule for medical legal expenses "as defined by Section 4620 [of the Labor Code]". Section 4620 (a) of the code defines such expense as being for "X-Rays, ... diagnostic tests, medical reports, medical records, medical testimony, and, as needed, interpreter's fees for the purpose of proving or disproving a contested claim". Nowhere in this section or elsewhere in the Labor Code is there any mention of fees for missed appointments. The Legislature or the courts may ultimately have to resolve the issue of whether or not the expense which results from a missed appointment is a medical-legal expense.
The current medical-legal fee schedule is silent on fees for missed appointments. This has been misinterpreted by some to mean that a physician cannot charge,
nor be reimbursed, for missed appointments. Section 5307.6 of the Labor Code precludes a provider from requesting or accepting compensation for medical-legal expenses "if such compensation is in addition to the fees authorized by this section." However, this same section also provides that the preclusion against additional compensation "does not apply to medical-legal expenses for which the administrative director has not adopted a fee schedule."
If missed appointment fees are ultimately found not to be a medical-legal expense, then compensation for this type of expense would be outside the reach of Section 5307.6, and providers would not be precluded from charging for them. Likewise, if missed appointment fees are ultimately determined to be a bona fide medical-legal expense, since the administrative director has not included such expense in the fee schedule, compensation for them would not be prohibited.
In sum, regardless of whether or not the expenses associated with missed appointments are properly construed to be medical-legal expenses, evaluators are not precluded from requesting or accepting compensation from an insurer, self-insured employer or third party administrator for this type of expense, despite the fact that the current medical-legal fee schedule does not address the issue.


text:
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text:
Published: 2008/07/22
by David Steinberg
Fire Raging in the Woodlands: A Tale Of Danger and Music and Loss and More Music
Part 1: In Which a Decision is Made
There are certain events that everyone needs to go to once in their life if at all possible. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest is one. You want to try Jam Cruise before peak oil destroys the cruise industry. Bonnaroo must be experienced. While I had been to all of those, there still was an event that should not be missed that had escaped me. Despite being tempted many times, I had yet to venture to High Sierra Music Festival. There always has been a reason why I havent attended. For most of this year it was the better lineup that Rothbury was offering.
Rothbury really was the shiny new toy of the 2008 festival scene. The grounds seemed interesting, the price reasonable, and for a jamband fan, the lineup was hard to argue with. We were going back and forth over attending it. Two things prevented us from pulling the trigger – a growing dislike of the size of the crowds at the larger festivals and the logistical issues of traveling in our current environment. Between airlines busily destroying what little pleasure remains in flying in order to salvage their industry and the practical time and resource questions that would come from driving all the way to Michigan – even my Prius uses some gas – it became hard to rationalize attending a festival three time zones away, even one with a very good lineup. In the 21st century, that kind of travel needs either Phish or an interesting destination that can be enjoyed on its own behalf.
While we were wasting a month arguing back and forth over Rothbury, the dark horse made a surprise move. Two of the bands that most intrigued us from Rothbury were added to High Sierra. With Mike Gordon (and the Emmit Nershi Band and yes we are cheesy hippies, but thanks for making sure we knew) on the lineup and the discovery that HSMF was about 100 miles closer to us than I thought it was, it was time to make the plunge. As I parenthetically alluded to above, we are a bunch of hippies. Maybe it's time to visit the festival that caters to our type.
Part 2: In Which a Natural Disaster Reminds Us That We're Not in Oklahoma
So there we are, getting ready for a freak out. We bought a new air mattress [1] and some late night tickets. Plans were made (and remade and remade. Organizing hippies is not always the easiest thing to do after all.) and routes calculated. And then with a week to go, disaster struck – literally. Massive wildfires decided to burn down half the state of California. There was confusion in the week leading up to the event as roads closed and the air quality in Quincy decreased, the possibilities of moving or canceling the event were floated. A change in wind direction and a heroic firefighting effort saved the day, but the fires added an element of surrealism to the event. It was like having a festival in Houston during Hurricane Katrina; you'd be safe there but the rain from the outer bands of the storm would be a constant reminder of what was happening elsewhere.
The smoke was a constant presence on our drive down. It started looming as far north as Grants Pass, OR. As we drove across CA 89 past Mt. Shasta, it was getting downright scary. The road climbed past 5000 feet turning what was a minor annoyance into a major hazard. Not only did visibility drop, but the smoke exasperated the problem of the thin mountain air. As far east as Susanville it was very difficult to breathe. Ignoring the advice that Oklahoma constantly gives on their highways, we continued to drive into the smoke and eventually made it through the other side to Reno.
The Reno stop was for a reason. Two of our friends were getting a stealth marriage. The friends – who I will refer to as George and Elayne since they were the last wedding I attended before this one – figured that it would be a fun thing to do while they were in the area. The ceremony was just as classy as you would expect a Reno wedding to be. Vivaldi's Four Seasons played in the background as the officiant gave a bizarre speech comparing their love to the civil rights movement. It might not be remembered as the most formal wedding I ever have attended – the chapel was scenically located next to the Donner Inn motel – but they were so happy that the trappings didn't matter. For that matter they caught a break. They only had two people attend their wedding but Melissa used to be a wedding photographer. After the ceremony was over, she spent a half hour posing them and taking great shots with her SLR. It might be a secret for now, but at least they'd have some photos to remember the event by.
Part 3: In Which the First Line of 'Uncle John's Band' is Enacted.
Well over 90 percent of problems at festivals occur between leaving home and being set up in the campground. Sure there aren't going to be Coventry-esque traffic jams at High Sierra, but you can get lost or pulled over [2]. You then have to find an acceptable space for the weekend. While we got in smoothly enough, the second task proved more problematic. We had a spot saved for us in Shady Grove but there was no way we were going to camp there. The entire field was an endless sea of overlapping tents. Camping at a festival is different than going to the woods, but there has to be some room between you and your neighbors. Our inquiries as to where that could be found kept producing the same answer – Hillside.
The Hillside Campground comes by its name honestly. It can be a rough walk up and down the hill carrying a tent as you look for the perfect spot. More than once I was tempted to just give up but Melissa came through. She found a flat area between two trees that was the only tent worthy spot in the entire area. We were able to set up a lower 'base camp' with our cooler and camping chairs and had our tent higher up. Camp finally organized, we sat down to crack a natural soda and only then discovered the coolest part about what we had done.
Quite accidentally, we were camped right in front of the speakers of the main stage. The sound naturally moved its way up the hill towards base camp. We could sit there with our cooler and hear just as well as we could at the field. We had plenty of trees for shade and the music would come to us. This is how you do a festival.
Part 4: In Which We Have Three Nearly Perfect Days
High Sierra's reputation is a strong one. People buy tickets before a single artist even gets announced. Over the course of the next three days I would discover why. Between the general laissez faire attitude of security [3], the friendly people who only wanted to freak freely and encourage other to do the same, and the beautiful surroundings, it was one of the most comfortable environments to see a concert. Management did a great job of anticipating people's needs and proactively dealing with them. Since the festival was at a fairground, there were plenty of actual flush toilets for those who hate dealing with portapotties. They even made sure to stock the bathrooms with organic soap. There also were showers, which were also stocked with organic shampoo and conditioner. When one of your biggest complaints about the festival is that it's hard to get hot water in the shower, then you know it's being run well.
It's great that we had three days in a peaceful camping environment, but this is a music festival, not just a place to hang out. High Sierra is one of those magical places like The Gorge or Red Rocks or the pool stage on Jam Cruise where everyone sounds just a little bit better. It only took one band for me to realize this. The Bourgeois Gypsies sounded interesting in the program but I wasn't expecting to enjoy their set nearly as much as I did. Maybe it was the bliss of having the stress of setup gone, but the folk styled music sounded incredible at base camp.
As the sun started to duck behind the hills, it was time to go down to the main field and actually watch the music for a while. First up was The Duo. Maybe it was just how long it had been since we had seen them, but they put on a remarkably strong show. Their set was so powerful that we ended up at their night show on Friday [4].
The Duo was followed by Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet [5]. Sure, when they started up people wondered if we needed yet another bluegrass band that specialized in Chinese folk songs, but somehow they manage to avoid the clichinherent in the genre. Washburn obviously loves Chinese history and culture as she gives brief lectures about the history of the Chinese material and the regions they traveled through. Remember teachers – they're not just another band; they're educational. This is the perfect excuse to arrange a field trip to any September festivals they play. You can spend the bus ride home coming up with a rationalization as to why you returned at 4 AM that doesn't include the words, 'Disco Biscuits late night set.'
The late night selection for the first night was Phix. Yes, they're a cover band. However it was this night where I understood how cover bands can work. Phix was playing 'The Divided Sky,' and I found myself instinctively jumping during the part where the band – Phish that is; Phix only recreates the music, not the dances – jumps. After twenty years of seeing the song, it's just a Pavlovian reaction. That's the same reaction that caused me to enjoy the set so much. Play 'The Divided Sky' and I'll jump after 'Mary Had a Little Lamb.' Play the peak of a 'Harry Hood' and my pleasure centers go tilt. You can tell me that it's just a simulation of the real thing, but that doesn't cause the reaction to stop.
Friday started out with a walk across the field to see the Gypsies other set. I didn't make it all the way there without a detour. There was a bluegrass band playing in the parking lot. Bucky Walters – not named after the Cincinnati pitcher of that name – were jamming out. You might think that it's difficult to go too far out on acoustic instruments with no amplification, but it can be done. Kudos to them for opening my eyes. I watched for about 20 minutes before finally making it to the Shady Grove stage.
The Bourgeois Gypsies understood the dynamics of the stage. How do you get people camped in party central to show up at your 12:15 set? Bribe them with free mimosas of course. A little early morning alcohol will make the set go that much smoother for the crowd. Their set didn't quite reach the heights of the Radio Stage one the day before, but it did have the highlights of a wonderful cover of 'Sixteen Tons,' and an original that incorporated, 'My Country Tis of Thee' for that July 4th feel. Without changing the words or using any bizarre inflection, they managed to imply sarcasm when singing it. That takes some skill.
Hurricane Katrina has had many secondary effects on New Orleans. One of the ones you might not have heard too much about is the effect they had on Dumpstaphunk. The trauma of the event has slowly transformed the band into an instrument of righteous fury. I can't say that I've become a fan of the idea of political music, but Katrina was so devastating – and unlike 9/11 it dropped out of the public consciousness with surprising rapidity – that you can't blame the band for still wanting to remind people what happened and who they think is to blame, especially when they still make everyone dance while they're doing it.
With The Green Sparrow still a few weeks away from shipping, no one knew quite what to expect from Mike Gordon's solo set. I'm a huge fan of Inside In so my expectations were high, perhaps a little too high. The set started out strong with 'Traveled Too Far' bringing a lot of energy, but then it bogged down for a bit. Part of the problem was the unfamiliarity of the material. Energy was spent trying to digest the songs. Is that the bridge? Could you figure out the lyric there? It made the music interesting but it took away from the pure pleasure of enjoying the set. Sometimes it's easier to enjoy a band you like less.
The one thing that surprised me about Mike's set was the lack of material from his back catalog. Yes, he played 'Meat' from the Phish era, but what happened to his other solo material? Even if you throw out the GRAB era 'Suskind Hotel' and 'Hap-Nappy,' he has three albums of material to play with [6]. I'm surprised all that material was dropped. Unlike Page he's not starting from scratch; 'The Beltless Buckler,' 'Invisible,' 'Clone,' 'Over the Dam,' 'The Collins Missile, 'The Grid,' 'Soul Food Man,' 'Take Me Out,' 'The Teacher, and 'Exit Wound' would make great additions to the August tour.
After a surprisingly good Gov't Mule show enjoyed from the tent, it was time for the Critters Buggin'/Duo late night. While it was the Duo that inspired the purchase, Skerik stole the show. Ever since the show at the late, lamented OK Hotel where Critters Buggin' managed to clear out of room because the crowd was terrified [7], I've always been impressed with the band's ability to wreak havoc. Their set did not disappoint.
We walked into the show already in progress. Somehow Skerik managed to take the simple concept of sparkly festival clothes and made them evil. He was wearing an outfit that was the exact opposite of easy on the eyes. It just seemed off in some way that disturbed you even though you couldn't ever say what was so wrong. Between that and the dark music they were playing, they knew they were not feeding the unsuspecting part of the crowd – as opposed to those of us who knew what the band was like – what they were expecting. Skerik remarked on the fact between songs, 'Your tepid applause is the 4th of July equivalent of, 'Fuck You!'' and, 'I'm sorry. Are we getting in the way of some band you'd rather see?' while playing my favorite set of the entire weekend. Critters Buggin' never seems to translate to tape, but at the time it was amazing.
Late on Friday the wind had begun to shift and by Saturday the smoke and haze had completely returned. If I knew then what would happen that night, I would have called it an omen, but at the time I just was worried about the health factor.
The big discovery of the day – even more than the high-energy bluegrass that was Cornmeal – was Akron/Family. They're one of those bands that actively refuse to be categorized. Whenever you get a grip on their genre, they slip sideways into a different one just to keep you on your toes. They're a lot of fun. If you catch a show, hope that you get the inane (but somehow brilliant due to the inanity) 'Circle Triangle Square.' 'Circle Triangle Square/Yeah yeah yeah yeah' is sung over and over again while the crowd is encouraged to do a stylized dance about the shapes. This is the kind of music that carries an important message that can influence a generation.
The triangle part of the 'Circle Triangle Square' dance
It had been a remarkable three days. The crowd was so nice that even when Mel lost her straw hat that she had decorated, it found her way back to her. When I accidentally ended up with two copies of the second Bourgeois Gypsies CD, the band took some time to swap out the duplicate with their first album, and then told me to keep the extra after all. It was an incredibly friendly environment, one that encourages you to let down your guard and go with the flow of the afternoon. That's the only explanation for what came next.
Part 5: In Which We Learn About the Underbelly
It's all Ratdog's fault. We were hanging out at Base Camp, trying hard to enjoy his set and failing miserably as he couldn't even live up to the already low expectations we had for him. Normally it's just when he tries to sing Jerry ballads that I get frustrated, this time he was even sucking the enjoyment out of his own material. Everything was slowed down to the point of tedium; even 'Jack Straw' was given an extra reggae break in order to prevent any actual energy breaking through. We made it through 'Blackbird' but we had finally reached our limit. Trombone Shorty was playing across the fairground so we hurried to get away from the set we hated.
Trombone Shorty was a definite improvement. New Orleans energy is always appreciated. We sat in the back of the tent and watched the uber-freak show that is Saturday night at High Sierra. It felt so good to be one of the most boring people in the crowd for a change. We sat outside Surprise Me Mr. Davis, waiting for the WMDS to start, watching the crowd and the fire dancing, utterly content. Mel went to go get a drink at Base Camp while I crashed out on the grass and took a nap.
My awakening was to be rude.
The speed we took in leaving Ratdog meant that we didn't secure our camp the way we usually do. One slip is all that it takes apparently in the happy, friendly world of High Sierra. In the brief period of time we were gone, Mel's camera was stolen. Remember all of those photos from the stealth wedding? That memory card was also in the camera at the time. Our tent had been violated and for the first time ever I was robbed at a festival.
I spent the next few hours dealing with security. If you ever want to learn what really happens on the blowout night at a festival, get robbed. You'll spend some time waiting as a very apologetic and helpful staff is forced to deal with an increasing series of bizarre incidents. I saw some things happen that night that shouldn't be written in this space. Find me at a show sometime if you want to hear about the most incompetent gate crasher ever. I had never really had the chance to see what goes on in that end and that was admittedly fascinating.
Security did everything they could in that moment – I especially appreciate them dealing with me in my exhaustion; I'm at my worst when I'm a little sleep deprived – but there was really only so much they could do. Apparently there's a history of locals hopping the fence and raiding camps. This year was especially bad; we were far from the only people who lost stuff. Around 4 AM I finally dealt with the report and went back to camp.
There's a school of thought that says that the proper way of dealing with this sort of incident is to refuse to have the enjoyment of the first three days stolen. They'll jump up and scream, 'Festival!!!' all the louder for their loss. I understand and respect that attitude, but that's not who I am. I grabbed a quick nap in the tent and then we struck our camp. We loaded up the car, dealt with a very nice policeman who took down our information, and headed back across the mountains and down the valley to Seattle. It was an exhausting drive, but it seemed like the right call. Our sense of security was destroyed and it couldn't be restored through force of will.
If the 'think good thoughts and all will be good' strain of hippiedom has a flaw (well other than annoying even those of us who buy into it every now and then), it's that they refuse to warn people about real danger. The robberies have been happening for years now. Regulars even know who some of the thieves are [8]. Despite that, the only warnings given are a generic protect your valuables message. Between not wanting to risk ruining people's feelings of happiness and security and a fear of the police coming back into the scene, there's a natural tendency to hide the problems. Robert Pirsig wrote about this in Lila: people spend so much time worried about police violations of civil liberties that they forget that cops exist for a reason. There's a difference between positive rebels who want to live their life despite some misguided laws and those who want to prey on people. We can't worry so much about the former that we gloss over the problems created by the latter. As much as it seems to be, festival land is not actually a utopia and pretending that it is doesn't make it so. It just makes High Sierra look like a clique where the cool people get told about the actual danger while the rest of us don't need to worry our little heads about it. Hey if we get robbed, it's our fault for not attending enough years to know the real situation.
That might work for a while, but eventually it falls apart. The ironic thing is that High Sierra is so intelligently run that they have an incredible skill in dealing with problem once they're out in the open. I fully expect this problem to be dealt with in the next few years in the same way that they dealt with the overbearing police issue. Some problems can't be fixed until they're actually aired out.
Part 6: In Which We Recover and Get Back on the Horse
The memory card with irreplaceable photos might be gone. Our sense of safety in Quincy was probably destroyed forever. However, ultimately stuff is just stuff. Being a programmer, I saw the robbery as an excuse to upgrade Mel's camera. Digital technology progresses quickly after all. She's much happier with what she has now but still, we couldn't get over what was really stolen from us. We lost a day of music, including two shots to see the WMDS. That's why I quickly agreed when Mel suggested a last second hit and run trip to Horning's Hideout for Northwest String Summit.
As much as I loved our peaceful hangout on Hillside, Horning's is the festival location that feels like home. We know where to camp (and we have friends who will hold us spots if we're only spending Saturday night). The sound of peacocks makes us smile.
Any questions I had about going to another festival so quickly after the disaster were answered as we walked to find our group. About five feet from the camp we found a bluegrass group. One of the best parts about High Sierra was to be reprised as we were camped right next to Bucky Walters.
The music at the String Summit didn't hit the peaks of High Sierra but the one thing that struck me about the festival was the calmness. Other than a little screaming on Saturday night, everyone was just chilling perhaps due to the child friendly nature of the event. Bluegrass festivals seem a logical progression as we age and the insanity of a Bonnaroo becomes less appealing, and it's not like there wasn't still a Saturday blowout with glow toys and costumes. I even got the continuation of a Horning's Hideout tradition as the Emmitt-Nershi Band played 'Black Clouds.'
We left the String Summit at the set break of Yonder's really good Sunday show and felt truly content. We walked down the hill, past the playground and the paddleboats with the water cannons and knew that this venue will work for us. High Sierra might have the lineup and the cool hill, but Horning's is where we belong. It took us a few years to make it to the String Summit but I think we have a new summer plan. [9] Thank you Bob Horning.
Part 7: In Which the Highs and Lows of the Music at the Festivals Are Summarized
Oh yeah. Music. That's what this is about right? Here are my favorite and least favorite sets at each festival in no particular order.
High Sierra
Critters Buggin' Late night. See above for details. This was the kind of set that makes me want them to change their name to The Happy Baby Bunny Band just so they'd draw the kind of crowds that would like to see a band by that name and then they'd really be able to terrify them.
Duo on the mainstage. I don't have anything more to say about it but it was good.
Railroad Earth on the mainstage. I have a theory about Railroad Earth. I think that they're the ultimate festival band for me. I never like their normal shows that much because they delve into their back catalog and play all of the songs that the diehards like. Me? I want to hear 'Seven Story Mountain' and 'Long Way to Go' and 'Bird in a House' and, yes, the hippie dippieism of 'Peace on Earth.' You know that guy who went to the Dead and wanted to see 'Truckin',' 'Casey Jones,' and 'Touch of Grey,' or the person who went to Phish to see 'Heavy Things?' When it comes to Railroad Earth, that's me.
One thing I really have been enjoying about RRE lately (as in the two shows I saw this past month) is how they've been playing 'Seven Story Mountain.' They've been ripping into a jam along the lines of the break between 'China Cat Sunflower' and 'I Know You Rider' and then slamming into the concluding section [10].
Akron/Family Big Meadow Stage. This is one of those bands that you can see and spend the entire show afterwards talking about what happened on stage. There were these two guys in the back holding up this flag that was a variant on the US Flag and at one point they handed out percussion instruments to the crowd and they had a little kid on stage banging away on a cowbell and they did this 'Circle Triangle Square' song that had a dance and and only after you recount all of that do you really catch on that it was a really good set of music on top of that.
Aphrodesia/Chicago Afrobeat Project Mainstage sets. One thing I didn't know before High Sierra was that I really like Afrobeat a lot more than I thought I did. Maybe I only like it that much when I'm sitting in a lawn chair in the woods listening to the band below but it worked for me that weekend.
Least Favorites:
You'll notice there are a lot fewer of these than favorites. Thats the power of seeing music with nice people and beautiful surroundings. It's the good music that makes the impressions.
Bassnectar Mainstage. I think this is one of these cases where I'm just too old. Music wasn't poorly played or anything but drums and bass electronica isn't my style. This is why festivals have multiple stages, so people who like this style of music can enjoy it and we can go to Emmitt-Nershi.
Ratdog Mainstage. Anyone else think that if you ask Bobby for advice about anything at all, his answer will just be, 'Do it slower?' I guess it's supposed to be some sort of jazz type of arrangement on everything but it just makes everything into some kind of generic mush.
Northwest String Summit
Head for the Hills. Nothing particularly fancy here but it was fun high energy bluegrass. They inspired me to purchase their CD after their set ended. 'Hornets Nest' is a great instrumental so I'm glad I did.
Greensky Bluegrass. I saw them open for Railroad Earth in Seattle and they were good then. This set was better. However, all I could think about was an imaginary conversation between them and their manager:
Manager: You guys are really good. If only you could come up with a hook, I bet you could play much larger venues.
GB: How about we take a Pink Floyd song and rearrange it so it's our own song. I bet we could be very inventive with it and it'll sound cool.
M: Great! That's a wonderful idea. So what are you thinking? 'Another Brick in the Wall Part II?' 'Comfortably Numb?' 'Money?' 'Wish You Were Here?'
GB: Not quite.
M: Let me guess. 'Shine on You Crazy Diamond?' 'Echoes?' 'Time?'
GB: No, we're thinking of 'One Slip.'
M: 'One Slip?'
GB: You know, from Momentary Lapse of Reason, the album after Roger left the band.
M: Excuse me, I have to take a call from one of my bands who actually wants to make money. [11]
WMDS. You know what I love about Keller. He always projects confidence to me. Here he is. He's going to play his goofy songs about dreaming about being on the Price is Right and he'll throw in a Dead cover or two and some people – ok many, many people – will find him to be one of the worst performers ever. He just doesn't care.
As for the WMDS, the most amusing member was Gibb Droll. There was Keller playing his happy little tunes and then Droll would suddenly take a hair metal solo complete with head bang action. It never ceased to amuse.
Least Favorite
The Yonder Mountain Merging into LoS set Saturday night. This was many people's favorite set of the weekend but I absolutely hated it. I spent most of the drive home trying to figure out why Keller's confidence and silliness works for me but Leftover's drives me crazy. I think it's because Keller always seems to work with the source material. When you change a verse of 'Fixin' to Die' to one about consuming fried chicken, you're not really respecting the song anymore as much as turning yourself into Weird Al. It's great that people love it but it's not my cup of tea.
[1] This – along with the addition of earplugs to our camping supplies – would turn out to be the MVP of the summer. If you find yourself becoming less able to sleep in a tent, spend the $30 on a cheap air mattress. It's somewhat alien to wake up in the morning and not be sore, but it took away a major objection to attending these events. Best purchase ever.
[2] The towns near Quincy are notorious for pulling over festival goers but I didn't see one person on the side of the road either coming in or going out.
[3] My favorite security story happened on Friday morning. There were a few people stationed to check wristbands but they were mainly concerned with the 'band' they were forming. They had a good percussion section by twanging the belt clips of their walkie talkies, but they really could have used a horn or two to round out the sound.
[4] One of the few frustrating things about attending HSMF is that the late night shows cost extra money. At first it feels like a money grab, but there is a benefit to this. This keeps the late night stages inside buildings which lets those inclined to see more music continue to rage while the families and morning people can get to bed at a sane hour. It's not fun spending the additional money but it actually makes sense.
[5] OK, actually they were really followed by Sneakin' Out on the Radio Stage. High Sierra came up with a great way of dealing with stage changes. While they're setting up the main stage, they have another stage to the left that has smaller bands playing. The Sneakin' Out set was memorable largely for their bluegrass/zydeco arrangement of the Rolling Stones classic 'Paint it Black.'
[6] Four if you count the 'Joey Arkenstat' album.
[7] The band was all dressed in shiny spaceman outfits and was playing dark music in front of a screen that was showing an endless loop of a wax mannequin melting while someone preached from a book that was most definitely not The Bible.
[8] Well if people on Phantasy SCI are accurate. They seem to think they know who is doing a lot of it at least.
[9] Assuming Phish don't come back of course. Then all bets are off.
[10] The bluegrass coda of 'Seven Story Mountain' probably has a name. You know that guy who calls 'Touch of Grey', 'I Will Survive?' Like I said, that's me with Railroad Earth.
[11] Don't get me wrong, 'One Slip' is a pretty good song and their cover is well done. It's just very low on the list of Pink Floyd songs you would ever expect to hear.
David Steinberg got his Masters Degree in mathematics from New Mexico State University in 1994. He first discovered the power of live music at the Capitol Centre in 1988 and never has been the same. His Phish stats website is at http://www.ihoz.com/PhishStats.html
He is the stats section editor
for The Phish Companion and is on the board of directors for the Netspace Foundation. You can read more of his thoughts at http://www.livejournal.com/users/thezzyzx.