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World Music and historical in big-sized CD box sets by Bear Family Records
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History and World Music combined by Bear Family Records with much attention, respect and love for the detail as CD box sets in highest quality. History takes a huge part in Bear Family's products but this category contains some extra historical recordings which are important not only to history teachers. If you focus on the anti-fascism songs of the Spanish civil war or the 'Atomic Platters' of the cold war.
You'll find the rising of the Calypso craze from the late 1930s up to the early 1960s as well as the history of black musicians in Europe and much more! Every box set contains a deluxe book with a variety of informations, stories, historical advertisements and pictures, some were unreleased before. Check it out and start your journey deep into history and its stories of this world!
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4-CD deluxe boxed set with 160-page hardcover book, 121 tracks. Battleground Korea - Songs and Sounds of America's Forgotten War DeLuxe packaging, plus hardcover books Total no. of pages: 160, format 27 x 27 cms, in carton slipcase Total number of...
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11-CD/1-DVD (NTSC) boxed set (LP-size) with 516-page hardcover book, 256 tracks. Playing time approx. 829 mns. "BEAR FAMILY deserve the gratitude of jews all over the world. This is the most exhaustive collection of Jewish music from Nazi Berlin ever...
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Grammy Nominee 2015 BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM Black Europe: The Sounds And Images Of Black People In Europe Pre-1927 Jeffrey Green, Ranier E. Lotz & Howard Rye, compilation producers; Christian Zwarg, mastering engineer (Various Artists) Label: Bear Family...
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7-CD/1-DVD Box (LP-format) with 316-page hardbound book, 127 tracks. Total playing time approx. 326 mns. • 127 Spanish Civil War songs on 7 CDs. • 300-page hardbound book in three languages (English, Spanish, German)...
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6-CD / 1-DVD boxed set (LP-size) with 176-page hardcover book, 173 tracks. Total playing time approx. 484 mns. - DVD: 14 chapters, c. 86 minutes The set comprises six CDs, covering the following topics: • Before The Craze: Calypso Hits Of The...
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4-CD boxed set (LP-size) with 164-page hardcover book, 121 tracks. Playing time approx. 242 mns. ' Dorsey Dixon is the poet laureate of [America's] textile industry.' - Archie Green. The definitive collection of one of the quintessential Depression-era hillbilly...
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5-CD/1-DVD Box (LP-format) with 292-page hardcover book, 142 tracks, playing time approx. 6 hrs. 12 mns (audio); 9 clips (DVD, region: 0) Certain parallels between those days and the present obsession with Homeland Security can be pretty scary. 'Deja vu all over...
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10-CD box (LP-size) with 316-page hardcover book, 267 tracks. Playing time approx. 752 mns. The ultimate classic calypso anthology! Return with us to Port of Spain, Trinidad during Carnival in 1938, '39, and '40. In 1938 Decca Records in New York shipped recording...
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Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Day Sixteen: London Bound!
This was the last day of the pilgrimage! What a truly marvelous pilgrimage it was!
My treat to myself? London! I flew down on Virgin Atlantic, stayed in Brixton, and had a blast. First order of business? See a play, and it was Spamalot! Smashing way to end the sacred pilgrimage: with humor.
More reflections to come!
Buen camino!
Day Fifteen: Rosslyn Chapel
One of the favorite stories that will lead to another pilgrimage: Robert the Bruce was killed in a fight with the English. His body was buried in Dunfermline, but the desire was this: his heart to be buried in Jerusalem. But the "Moors" stopped the band getting to Jerusalem, but the "Moors" were so impressed with the people that they let them take his heart to Melrose Abbey. I heard this story where? Rosslyn Chapel.
Fantastic way to end this stretch of pilgrimage.
Buen camino!
Day Fourteen: Modern Art in Edinburgh
The Scottish National Museum of Modern Art (above is one of the exhibits) was amazing! Different! Engaging! Art-ful.
I woke at 5 to get two of the pilgrims--Sarah and Kelly--off to the airport. Then I got more pilgrims to trains and buses. Then I took off to the Scottish National Museum of Modern Art in the "burbs" of Edinburgh.
Later in the day I had a great coffee with Nicki Ewing, a former Assistant (and once director of l'Arche Edinburgh) of l'Arche Lambeth. We laughed, cried, and laughed some more, collecting memories and regaling each other with our lives since we left l'Arche Lambeth 25 years ago.
Buen camino!
Day Thirteen: L'Arche Edinburgh
There was a l'Arche house that hosted us in the complex, which was wonderful. L'Arche is the religious community with adults with intellectual challenges. There were four core members, and three Assistants. Our lunch was delicious and healthy. The pilgrims heard about the life and times of l'Arche. And one of the pilgrims is interested in coming back and being part of l'Arche in Edinburgh!
The craziest part of the day? We got 11 people in the Citroen minivan, taking them to the l'Arche community. But it was all community building.
What we've been doing at night has been meaningful: I've led them through Henri Nouwen's Journey of the Heart, a pilgrimage itself, in which students have played with solitude, silence and prayer for the last three nights. Powerful prayers and times of silence.
Tonight was our "last supper" together, which was sad. What I heard mentioned over and over again is the power of walking across England, and the "boost" to their confidence.
Buen Camino!
Day Twelve; Deep into Edinburgh!
The first place we stopped? The place that J.K. Rollings hung out while writing Harry Potter, The Elephant House.
Then to Holyrood, where the Queen stays when in the area. The history was amazing.
The bagpipers on the side of the street; the artists who did magic acts; St. Giles; the legislative hall of Scotland; John Knox house, Edinburgh castle...amazing!
And it was blue sky!
Buen Camino,
Day Eleven: Inverness!
Samantha, a.k.a., Sam, forgot some medicine which she needed. She left it in Inverness. It turned out to be cheaper if I drove the van to Inverness than any other form of transportation. So today was a trip to Inverness.
What I loved was going through the Highlands, with snow on the hill, the greenery...gorgeous.
Got the med, and on the way home by 6 p.m.
Buen camino!
Day Ten: Culross!
What a lovely day!
The group of pilgrims went on a pilgrimage to St. Andrews, both the golf course and the university. I went and joined Rick and Jill Edens--pastors at United Church of Chapel Hill--down the road in Culross. What a beautiful historic little town. Coffee, cake, conversation, a quaint Scottish village...incredible.
That evening we had worship, with Holy Communion. I enjoy this opportunity to have the students share the reflection of the pilgrimage we just finished. The next three nights: reflections on the work of Henri Nouwen.
Buen Camino!
Day Nine: To Dunfermline (from Mull to Oban to Glasgow to Dunfermline by minibus, ferry, train, and minivan again)
Again: Dave took us via car to an early ferry to Oban, where we waited to get on the train to Dunfermline through Glasgow, catch another train to Dunfermline.
Dunfermline was a "suburb" of Edinburgh. We got off the train (John and I) at the Edinburgh airport, and got our Citroen minivan for the day. Exquisite! I drove for the week, escorting people around, listening to conversations, and enjoying the day with all those who I drove.
The "castle" (above is the church where Robert the Bruce's body is buried, with his heart in Melrose Abbey), was grand. 30 rooms+ Each student had room to spread out. Dinner was delicious. We discovered that Asda is England's Wal Mart.
A beautiful, long day.
Buen camino!
Day Eight: Iona!
I could write a lot about this day: the bus showed up on time. The ferry ride over was uneventful, but the building up of memories, fantastic.
Memory one: getting breakfast, in which we all went different ways and got enough food for kings and queens...hungry?
Memory two: this was a moment, in the bay where Benedictine monks were killed, where we reaffirmed out baptismal covenant at the bayside. Memorable. Then we walked quietly to the other side of the island.
Memory three: picking up a stone of forgiveness and forgetfulness and throwing it into the ocean, at the place where St. Columba came on the isle from Ireland. But we kept another stone in our pocket to remember this time on Iona.
Lunch was on our own...and delicious. A beer, a fat sandwich, and a delightful dessert.
Exploring the Abbey, taking in all the crosses, the beauty of the cloisters, the museum with even more crosses, the small chapel in the cemetery, and the remains of the nunnery. Beautiful. Memorable.
We got enough food to make a banquet back in our cottages.
Beautiful day. Crystal blue sky day.
Buen camino!
Posted by Brett at 2:16 PM No comments:
Day Seven: Glasgow to the Isle of Mull
Glasgow through to Oban to the Isle of Mull...phew! Above is a "self catering" cottage that greeted us once we got to Mull.
How hard is it to get to Iona? Hard! This Presbyterian breeding ground amazes me. People have to fly into Glasgow, then catch a train to Oban, taking a ferry over to Mull, then a bus to your place (in this case, a cottage, above).
The conversation was gentle and the train ride intoxicating. The breakfast at the Best Western was more than continental: it was a full blown meal. And everyone loved not being in a tent. The train station was a pleasure palace for all of us who wanted to eat and buy any more medicine, clothes, etc.
Oban: a great little town with a distillery for Scotch. Fresh seafood fish sandwiches were amazing. By the time that we got to Mull, the buses were gone, so Dave--the editor of the only newspaper on Mull, with his wife who designed the layout for it--drove us all to the cottages.
Food at a pub, one long walk to the cottage, and we fell sound asleep.
Iona awaits!
Posted by Brett at 2:15 PM No comments:
Day Six: Chollerford to Wylam (outside of Newcastle)
We started off further down the path from Chollerford, by St. Oswald Church, standing alone in a field. We were totally dependent upon the symbol of Hadrian's Wall, the Wall itself becoming invisible. It more or less stopped existing, though once upon a time it stretched across the land. We were in awe of the grape seed fields, seen close and far away.
The group of pilgrims, well, they exist. We were not a group of pilgrims, but now we are pilgrims on the way to Wylam. Chesley, one of the pilgrims, had sprained her knee enough that she needed a ride to the train station for the last few miles. But if that were the only injury, we did well.
No more rain; sun above; spirit of pilgrims was grand.
Sadness was coming to the train station in Wylam (outside of Newcastle) and saying good bye to Gary and Tracey and loading everything on the train to Edinburgh in order to get to Glasgow for the night.
While it was the end of the physical pilgrimage, the pilgrimage itself of these young people goes forward.
The train ride was grand from Glasgow. We sat with a young woman who is into fashion in London, visiting her folks, though the whole family is from Iran originally. The students were sleeping and eating all the way to Glasgow.
The best part of Glasgow was showing up at the Best Western, which is high end in Glasgow (though 40 pounds!). I was sent to a pub, the Giffin, where I had a dram of a nice local single malt Scotch whiskey. John joined me there for a night cap as well.
Buen camino!
Posted by Brett at 2:09 PM No comments:
Day Five: Once Brewed to Chollerford
Feeling a little sad today as we come to the end of our pilgrimage. It rained last night--again--which didn't make any of us happy. But the weather was just that: a rain at night and the sun the rest of the day. We walked as two different groups. John's group took off first, and our group (Trina and Brett) left second after our usual breakfast of two buns and bangers and cereal and milk. Lunch packed (also the usual), and we were off.
Today we would walk by three more obelisks that tell us this is the apex of the walk. We saw the tree that was used in the Kevin Costner version of "Robin Hood," the movie. Everyone had to take a pic of the tree as well as celebrate the silliness of the tree because it was impossible to be in the movie, given the time sequence of the story:
Today, evidence of the wall would decrease more and more this day. We ran into a group of young people who had done "truancy" work, along with some Scout troops. The last few days there have been more people than usual on the pilgrimage, though not as many as there are to Santiago.
We ended up in Chollerford, near the home of Gary and Tracey. The pub we went to was Gary's favorite pub, and the meal was splendid. It was the last night on the pilgrimage trail.
Night pilgrims!
Posted by Brett at 2:08 PM No comments:
Day Four: Walton to Once Brewed
Let's see...I think it rained again last night. Again.
The manor house is still standing up (a.k.a., Homophobic manor). The women who slept in the "barracks" are all dry. The morning mist on the horizon outside of the tent is beautiful as it slowly lifts, revealing the beauty all around us.
Breakfast was the usual: buns and bangers, but it tasted great; same with lunch: same old, same old, but it tasted great. I love the sprouts, white cheese, tomatoes, lunch meat, bottled ginger soda, a Snickers bar, cookie, trail mix, apple/banana (or both).
Today's pilgrimage route was the longest! We walked 17 miles, primarily uphill most of the way, hitting the first marker/small obelisk that marks the highest point. Tomorrow we would hit three similar markers that dot the pilgrimage trail. Haltwhistle was a national heritage site, showing remains of a castle and parts of Hadrian's Wall, which are usually built on top of one another.
What was amazing today was that the climb upward actually helped our groups (two at this point) coalesce into a real group of pilgrims! The physical challenge provided the "glue" that helped us bind together. There was nothing like the exhilaration of walking down to Once Brewed village, home to the pub Twice Brewed. It was exciting!
Buen Camino!
Day Three: Monk's Hill to Walton (Outside)
When we hit Carlisle, there was a run of people to get last minute supplies of rain pants and ponchos just in case the weather turned bad again. We got most if not all of our stuff dry from the previous wet and soggy day of walking. Spirits were good. Today's walk would take us a little further along the trail. We met more people who were walking east to west while we were walking west to east (going with the wind upon our backs). Yesterday we walked into St. Michael's, a church that was built on top of Roman ruins. Today we saw Carlisle Cathedral from afar, along with the above pic of the castle-like buildings of justice.
The effects of pilgrimage--the physical--were starting to erupt as blisters and sore legs and ankles suddenly emerged. I also discovered that quite a few people liked to drink a pint or two, becoming aficianados of bitter ales. But the spiritual and historical sides were starting to emerge.
And we saw our first "bit" of Hadrian's wall itself. Within the next day, it would become a common spot. Gary explained the system of the wall, and the ditch and the earthen ramparts. It was all coming into view.
Tonight we ate at a lovely manor house, owned by a couple who had lived in the manor house for two or three generations. We camped on the front lawn, while some camped into the "barracks," which was a dry room with a fireplace. The owner was a bit homophobic, expressing his dismay of the Anglican church welcoming marriage equality. I just let him talk, and his ignorance showed his true colors.
Day Two: Port of Carlisle to Monk's Hill
It was a wet and stormy night. This is not metaphor but literally the truth. It rained all night and all morning. The fields were going to be soggy with cow and sheep shit also soggy. The Merrell boots were protected by Goretex...sort of. The gaiters helped....sort of. The rain pants helped...sort of. The lining on the day back was gone and all papers got wet inside the day pack. The rain coat (new) worked just fine. None of us were spared the wetness. And yet the students smiled and made the best of the day. Some held hands while walking in soggy fields, while others sang songs. It was the first day of the pilgrimage. 10 miles. But it was through fields in which puddles were everywhere. The good news was that about 12 noon the rain slackened to a drizzle, and then stopped.
The highlight today was a statue of Edward I, who was killed along the trail here along Hadrian's Wall. We would come face to face with British--or British Romano--history along the pilgrimage trail.
When we got to the RV park, there was a warm lodge house for us to take off our clothes, and so we did. We stripped, throwing everything on dryers, vents, and taking out hair dryers. We began (officially) the rituals today, with night prayers provoking us to think about the day. We ate at a pub that didn't offer food, so we had to dial the food in. Pizza hit the spot tonight. While it would be tempting to have slept in the warm lodge house, I went outside into the cold night and snuggled in my sleeping bag, getting a good night sleep for a long walk the next day.
Posted by Brett at 2:05 PM No comments:
Day One: Arriving at Bowness on Solway/Port Carlisle
London was a blur: Tim (one of the graduated seniors from UNC) and I waited for John and Trina Rogers to appear. Originally the plan was that they would meet us at the airport since their flight came first. Alas, their flight was delayed and delayed, and then lost. So Tim and I waited for them. Upon seeing them, John splurged and bought me a round trip ticket on the Heathrow Express between the airport and central London. 15 min rather than an hour! We arrived at Paddington, and then took the tube to Euston station where we met the other students waiting for us. Grabbing lunches quickly in the train station, we boarded the train for a 3 1/2 trip to Carlisle! We slept and talked all the way north.
Arriving at the train station, we found the rest of the students (save for Kevin who was already at the camp site). John and Trina bought some clothes to tide them over until their luggage arrived. Next was a local bus to the camp for the night. We were delighted when we saw the camp site! And there was Tracey and Gary with the site up, welcoming us. They own the Hadrian's Wall Expedition/Trail Trekkers. The sky was sunny with some clouds, not revealing how much it would rain that night and the next day. Dinner that night was pub grub at Hope and Anchor at Port Carlisle. Some of the students walked the extra mile to Bowness on Solway, the true jumping off point for Hadrian's Wall. The sky that night was red! Red sky at night, sailors delight! Or not!
Posted by Brett at 2:01 PM No comments:
PIlgrimage Along Hadrian's Wall
I'm posting some reflections from the latest pilgrimage of the School of the Pilgrim across Hadrian's Wall. To say the least, it was exceptional..short of extraordinary.
The pilgrimage was sponsored by the Presbyterian Campus Ministry of UNC-CH. I worked with John Rogers--their pastor--for around a year in order to get this pilgrimage together. John looked on line and found the group www.hadrianswall.ltd.uk, which is Tracy and Gary, a couple who do pilgrimages along the wall for the last few years. They set up the tents and strike them down, and fed us breakfast and lunch. AND they took all our "stuff" from one emcampment to the next. Fantastic!
Words to describe this pilgrimage? Awesome; wonderful; unexpected thrill; steady; wet; sunny; rigorous, easy; mind-numbing; expanding; mysterious; wondrous; daunting; drudgery; satisfying; a notch in my belt or shoes...
While I was on pilgrimage in the UK, my brothers and sisters were getting ready for their grueling walk to Chimayo in northern NM. I want to expand my opportunities of pilgrimage, not diminish them or make it isolated to one trek.
So I will chronicle the walk on this blog site, one day at a time...with pics!
Buen camino!
The pilgrimage was sponsored by the Presbyterian Campus Ministry of UNC-CH. I worked with John Rogers--their pastor--for around a year in order to get this pilgrimage together. John looked on line and found the group www.hadrianswall.ltd.uk, which is Tracy and Gary, a couple who do pilgrimages along the wall for the last few years. They set up the tents and strike them down, and fed us breakfast and lunch. AND they took all our "stuff" from one emcampment to the next. Fantastic!
Words to describe this pilgrimage? Awesome; wonderful; unexpected thrill; steady; wet; sunny; rigorous, easy; mind-numbing; expanding; mysterious; wondrous; daunting; drudgery; satisfying; a notch in my belt or shoes...
While I was on pilgrimage in the UK, my brothers and sisters were getting ready for their grueling walk to Chimayo in northern NM. I want to expand my opportunities of pilgrimage, not diminish them or make it isolated to one trek.
So I will chronicle the walk on this blog site, one day at a time...with pics!
Buen camino!
Posted by Brett at 1:40 PM No comments:
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- My sister graduated on Saturday and I am the proudest little sister ever!!!!! I was so happy I got to watch her walk down the aisle and across the stage in her hat and gown. She is amazing and puts myself and all my friends to shame. She had a child and was pregnant in her final year and she managed to graduate with first class hons, I feel honoured to call her my big sister (even if she does say Mum and Dad found me in a dustbin!!!)
- I am very excited about the possibility of going to Australia in September, I am keeping my fingers crossed that money allows!
- I am rather stressed and worried about an exam I have on Friday and the prospect of handing in my first 2000 words for dissertation. The usual has happened and the stress has caused my eczema to flare up which is oh so irritating!
So thats just the few things going around my head right now. I promise to blog again soon and do it properly this time. xxx


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Adventures of Zatoichi (1964)
Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.
Movie Info
Watch it now
as Zatoichi
Critic Reviews for Adventures of Zatoichi
All Critics (3) | Fresh (3) | Rotten (0) | DVD (2)
A fun piece of samurai pulp from a dependably entertaining series.
While this installment is a bit light on the body count, it has everything else that you watch a Zatoichi movie for - humor, dazzling swordplay, and pretty Japanese women
Audience Reviews for Adventures of Zatoichi
While not one of the best of the Zatoichi series, most consider it one of the lower points, it's still a good film and one that touches a little on Ichi's past a little bit as well. There are several famous Japanese comedians present in the film that add to the comedic vibe and give us some relief from the serious drama and add some amusing slapstick too. Adventures of Zatoichi isn't one of the best but is still another sounds Zatoichi film in the series with it's usual charms.
Super Reviewer
Adventures of Zatoichi once again sticks to the tried and tested formula, while adding characters and memorable moments. Unlike some of the other additions, it doesn't expand on the style. This results in the film fading amongst the others. The moments that really stand out are when Zatoichi interacts with the colourful locals. A comedy duo and a pair of acrobat kids allow Zatoichi to evolve, ever so slightly, as a a character. The sword play is some of the best, especially from Katsu, but after 9 films you'd expect that from the man. It does make more reference to Zatoichi as a gangster, or at least ex-gangster, which raises interesting questions for other installments. It also has a lot of themes revolving around family, with missing fathers and accused brothers. Another wonderful installment, but you must have a taste for the formula or it will fall flat.
Super Reviewer
Adventures of Zatoichi Quotes
There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.


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CWhatever I do,C7Mwhere-ever I go,the saAmme afterglow Is keGepin' me lFow,don't wanCna lose it, But dDmon't wanna stay here too Glong. They see you go by,I tell you no lie, You're up in the sky,make everyone cry, Don't wanna lose it,but don't wanna stay around here.Standard guitar tuning:EADGBENo capo
ChorusDmI'm on the run Gagain Dm : G But it's lEm7ike what they say when it hA7appens this way DmYou gotta Fdo it agCain and aGgain. I hear them talkin' and they go on and on,they think that Nothing is wrong,and so they just carry on about you, Don't wanna lose it,but I gotta move out of here. I see them waiting there for most of the day,I known You asked them to stay but they just won't go away. Don't wanna lose it,but I gotta do it again. Repeat Chorus I know it ain't real,but when you are near, You're saying the things that I wanna hear. Don't wanna lose it,but I gotta do it again. Repeat Chorus
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25 March 2007 04:15
Guitar Cords For Songs
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Founded in late 2003 and heartquartered in France, we are non-profit and independant.
We believe in the open web, think internet services should be sustainable, build for the long term.
While we are re-launching the service, we only accept new members through invitation.


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Digital Treasures
Alternative revenue streams are increasingly attractive to higher education leaders struggling to live in the new budgetary normal triggered by the recession. Monetizing assets such as audio, video, and images an institution already has or is continually generating through digital asset management (DAM) can be tantalizing to those managing a school's coffers. But in the academic environment, can officials look beyond the perception that for-profit endeavors cheapen a school's reputation?
While some schools have over the past decade charged for access to videos or webcasts of classes, and other digital assets, others consider the time and resources required to manage such an endeavor not worth their while. Still others have resisted monetizing their digital assets due to the public benefit of providing free videos on YouTube or Vimeo.
Universities are great at monetizing collective property, explains Sean Brown, VP of education for Sonic Foundry, maker of the digital asset management system Mediasite, currently used by about 750 to 800 colleges and universities in the United States.
Like books and other inventions, he points out, digital assets are intellectual property, too. A few companies, including Extensis and Sonic Foundry, have designed digital environments able to capture raw lectures and provide them to users who have registered and paid for access. Some of these users are matriculated students, while others can be professionals seeking certification and skill enhancement.
Brown says he sees a trend in schools evolving in their management of digital assets. In the beginning of the 2000s, institutions were enthusiastically posting videos on YouTube. Eventually, some schools began to foresee the possibility for selling access to content. But using a product like iTunes created an extra workflow. Providing access to videos (whether live or stored) via a product like Mediasite or Extensis' Portfolio system means not needing to re-tool the videos at all. The raw or edited videos can be viewed with a username and password provided upon registration.
"It's coming from the web to you; it's not residing on your computer or your phone," Brown explains. "If [schools] are going to use systems like ours, then they don't need digital rights management."
A decade ago, The Florida State University began offering professional development courses to those seeking financial planning certification and webmaster certification. FSU's Center for Professional Development Studies eventually extended its course offerings to attorneys, health professionals, construction professionals, and state employees. With its location in Florida's state capital, it now has a steady income stream just from providing required training to hundreds of state workers each year.
That alternate revenue source has in part allowed the university to build a 47,000-square-foot state-of-the-art conference center, including 10 smaller rooms, from which 10 different streams can be simultaneously webcast via Mediasite to paying non-matriculated students. Within the first 10 years of operation, the Center for Professional Studies generated $2 million, which enticed the state of Florida to fund the $14 million project.
After recording e-events, videos are stored for fee-based viewing by category, including the environment, diversity and harassment. Links to these pages are added to the center's social media accounts, thereby building an income stream, says Bill Lindner, FSU's
professional development director.
So, instead of paying to physically arrive at an event, people pay for a virtual one. Plus, they get access to videos of the sessions after viewing them live. "What we're doing is we're supersizing their meal," he says.
Lindner notes that the center has avoided using tools that appear to be "travel avoidant strategies" and merely allow students to remotely learn. "They don't drive revenue streams."
"We're moving our e-event business into our e-learning business and they're feeding each other," Lindner says. "What we're doing is building a different business model, which links events to learning."
But FSU appears to be in the minority on that front. Most schools take the stance that educational efforts should benefit the public and students, and help recruit new students. In addition, DAM may just be viewed as too time-consuming.
Revenue Is Secondary
Alan McCord, provost of Lawrence Technological University (Mich.), says using digital asset management systems actually ends up being too much work for busy academics. "Most faculty members don't manage digital assets in particularly complex ways. They may decide something is useful or not useful, but they're not going through the whole tagging of metadata. From that perspective, digital asset management systems are overkill for how faculty typically use media."
McCord says 15 percent of student credit hours at LTU are delivered online, but online lectures are really thought of as another way to engage students.
'We come down more on the open side than on the closed side. We'd rather have faculty in the cloud than have people buy something from us.' —Alan McCord, Lawrence Technological University
"At this point, there has not been an interest expressed by faculty or students to use the Lawrence brand to create a revenue stream," he says. "If we're going to make an investment on campus, we want that investment to benefit our students."
McCord says the revenue generated from online courses support the existing business model. One of the reasons for capturing lectures is to re-purpose the content into different products to be viewed on the school's DAM system, with the intent of improving programs. "The revenue generation supports our existing business model, which is to serve students. The second order is revenue; that takes a lot of work to get going. On digital content, we come down more on the open side than on the closed side. We'd rather have faculty in the cloud than have people buy something from us," McCord adds.
Reputation for Open Access
Many administrators believe providing open access to content enhances reputations and helps grow enrollment.
John Merlin Williams, executive producer of Digital Media Commons and director of the James and Anne Duderstadt Center at the University of Michigan, says faculty in the university's School of Music, Theatre & Dance have noted that a significant number of students say YouTube videos posted by the school influenced their decision to apply.
He says besides an online bachelor of oral hygiene program, the university—serving 45,000 students—doesn't focus on online courses.
"The resources to produce those are very high and we have not made that a priority," he notes. "Our priority is our residential, campus-based students."
Williams says the university will provide open access to course content if a faculty member believes it will help teach current students or as a form of recruitment.
For the past few years, UMichigan has experimented with pilot programs on a homegrown digital asset management system it created almost a decade ago. It is used for delivery of videos in classrooms, PR and marketing purposes, and public safety videos that get posted on the university's website.
Legal compliance is as important a driver for having a secure digital asset management system as generating revenue, Williams adds.
Students can also learn new medical procedures through videos featuring patients, students, and faculty. It is vital to ensure all parties have signed off on appearing in these educational videos and that other parties—depending on their status at the university—have the correct amount of access. "What we've seen is, in each of these areas, there has been a large increase in the requirements in how videos can be shown, stored, and secured, and that they are made accessible only to an appropriate audience," Williams explains.
"Sometimes, it's the legal issues arising that are as compelling as creating revenue," he says.
McCord believes large-scale systems are not necessary for colleges and universities.
"I would argue most campuses don't capture lectures and re-purpose them. One department may use it more than another department. To have a centralized solution of it at this point doesn't really align with the way departments do their work."
FSU's Lindner says the center generates between $500,000 and $750,000 per year, adding that the cost of running the center is minimal now that it's built and the offerings have been designed. He says the center is percolating new ways to draw more income, including e-learning opportunities that help make state agencies more efficient by educating professionals who use those agencies.
That certainly matters in a tough economic climate. As a public institution, FSU has experienced dwindling state funding. But Lindner remains optimistic, noting, "There's money to be made in the webcasting space, there's money to made in the e-learning space and there's money to be made by putting them together."
Julie Varughese is a freelance journalist and former University Business editor.


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We'll help you get your workout in!
The J is pleased to offer baby/child-sitting services at both locations – and if you have a Family Membership, KidZone Babysitting is FREE! Enjoy your workout, a relaxing massage, or play a sport, and we'll watch the kids. Your children will love having their own time to create, play, laugh and make friends in KidZone! Reservations are required. Two-hour maximum.
6 weeks – 12 years old
Staenberg Family Complex/Creve Coeur
Monday – Thursday – 4 – 8pm
Saturday – Sunday – 8am – 12:30pm
Marilyn Fox Building/Chesterfield
Saturday – Sunday, 8am-12:30pm
Family Membership: Free
Non-Family Membership: $8/visit
Guest of Member: $8/visit
Chesterfield/Marilyn Fox Building
Michelle Horton
Creve Coeur/Staenberg Family Complex
Michelle Horton
So that we are staffed appropriately, reservations are required (24 hours in advance):
Creve Coeur/Staenberg Family Complex: 314-442-3168
Chesterfield/Marilyn Fox Building: 314-442-3419
Check-in/Check-out Procedures
- Parent will be required to check-in at the front desk for receipt/confirmation. Non- Family Membership Category participants must pay in advance for babysitting.
- 24-hour reservations have a priority to admittance. Waiting list reservations have next priority to admittance. Drop-ins will only be allowed if space is available. No exceptions. For drop-ins, the front desk staff will call the KidZone and verify available space.
- Parent will be required to show a picture ID to pick up their child. The same parent that drops off the child MUST be the parent that picks up the child.
- Parents must remain in the building while the child is in babysitting.
- Parent must pick up the child before the hours of operation close.
Now located next to the Family Locker Room at SFC.
When you're working out and the kids need to cut loose, it's time for the J GameZone. Stocked with interactive Wii® games, X Box Kinect, Dance Dance Revolution and more, your kids (in a supervised environment) will get to work up a sweat with these full-body sports and dance movement games and activities. Two-hour maximum.
5 – 12 years
Monday – Thursday – 4-8pm*
Saturday – Sunday – 8am-12:30pm*
*Hours subject to change.
Family Membership: Free
Non-Family Membership: $8/visit
Guest of Member: $8/visit
Chesterfield/Marilyn Fox Building
Michelle Horton
Creve Coeur/Staenberg Family Complex
Melissa Steinberg


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Balance transfer cards are for moving your existing debt from one credit card to another, without paying any interest for a set period of time.
You'll normally have to pay a fee to transfer your balance. This varies, but is usually about 3% of the amount you're transferring.
You can't usually transfer a balance from one card to another if they are both issued by the same provider, or even part of the same banking group.
The 0% term gives you time to pay off your debt without paying any interest.
But when the interest free period comes to an end, the card provider will start to charge you interest.
So you'll want to get a card that gives you enough time to pay off your debt before the 0% period ends.
If you miss your monthly repayment, or your payment is late, your credit card provider could end the interest free offer and bump you to a higher rate of interest.
So it might be worth considering setting up a direct debit so you never miss a monthly payment.
If you're paying interest on a credit card balance, moving it to a 0% balance transfer card could be an option to help you save money.
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Patent Box: relevant IP profits: relevant IP income: mixed sources of income
The mixed sources of income section deals with the following situations:
- items which would give rise to relevant IP income are sold together with other items as part of a single unit and/or for a single price; or
- a single agreement is made which covers the sale of items or the grant of rights some of which would give rise to relevant IP income and some of which would give rise to other income.
Income arising in these circumstances is designated as either mixed income or income paid under a mixed agreement. Such income should be apportioned between qualifying and non qualifying elements on a just and reasonable basis.
Where any non-qualifying elements of such income comprise only a trivial proportion of it, then the whole of the income is to be regarded as relevant IP income, so no apportionment will be necessary. Although trivial is not defined, figures in excess of 5% are unlikely to be trivial and figures below 5% will in most circumstances be likely to be trivial.
Example 1
A company manufactures and sells a home entertainment system. The system comes with a stand, a TV, blu-ray player and surround sound system. The company holds a number of qualifying patents with respect to the TV but the other items are not protected by qualifying IP rights. The sales proceeds should be apportioned between relevant IP income and non-qualifying income on a just and reasonable basis.
Example 2
A UK manufacturer sells a bundled package to its customers incorporating the sale of qualifying patented products and after care servicing. The element of the income that derives from the sale of the patented products is relevant IP income but the after care servicing does not. A just and reasonable apportionment is required.
Example 3
A company sells flat pack DIY conservatories for installation as a single unit and for a single price. The sales price does not differentiate between the conservatory price and the installation. The packages contain a door hinge for which the company has a valid IPO patent.
The conservatory is a single item that incorporates a qualifying item and so qualifies under S357CC(1)(a). The installation service does not produce qualifying income. Under the mixed income rules it would be necessary to make a just and reasonable apportionment of the total sales price between the qualifying elements and the non-qualifying installation service.


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Hobos by wheatpenny ()
Bryce People posted on Mar 21, 2016
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Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
Hobos relaxing after a hard day's traveling.


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Database Hack Exposes Police Financial Data
Reevesnamepins.com, a company that manufacturers the plastic and metal name tags that police officers around the country wear on their uniforms, had its customer database hacked recently, exposing credit card and other personal data for a number of police departments.
A woman who answered the phone at ReevesNamepins confirmed that the company had recently experienced a security breach, but declined to provide further details and referred inquiries to the company's CEO, who could not be immediately reached for comment. Security Fix - Brian Krebs on Computer and Internet Security - (washingtonpost.com)
Back to: PC Security, privacy news


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Mortgage lenders, consumers, Realtors and legal professionals have called upon The Midkiff Appraisal Group for years to provide high-quality valuations on a wide variety of property in Charleston County. By continuously keeping up with local real estate trends in Charleston County and staying current on valuation techniques through accredited courses, we've been consistently able to deliver reliable home valuations for people just like you.
Matthew Midkiff
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We were awakened by the ringing phone last Saturday. We lied still and listened. Oh yeah, our phone had been installed already only the day before! The phone stopped ringing, then belted forth anew. I got up and answered.
It was Debbie. She apologized for calling so early but she got my number from Doc Annie and we were not able to talk much at the bus the day before but we might want to go to Porirua with them that morning? They were supposed to leave by 8, and will drop by our place to pick us up. I glanced at my watch. It was already 7:30. After confirming that we'd love to go with them, we rushed with changing clothes and breakfast.
My wife Tina then recalled that we indeed met her at the bus with two of her kids; I was confused because we met one other Filipino couple, also in the bus, prior to her. They were on their way to the Botanic Gardens, while we were visiting Te Papa Museum.
Wow. We managed a quick conversation of only a few minutes but she was able to locate us. It really is a small, close-knit Filipino community we have here in Wellington!
Soon enough, we were on our way to Porirua with Debbie and husband Bill, Doc Annie with son RA. The weekend market starts at around 8 and ends at 10. It's for just a short period of time. They lent us recyclable bags and off to the market we strolled. It was a fun atmosphere as we saw a couple of street performers giving a rather festive atmosphere. Lots of people were up and about. Most of the merchants, I noticed, were Chinese. And the items on sale? Lots! Vegetables, baskets, fresh fish, flowers (tulips!), sauces in bottles. We didn't actually have plans of buying anything but we ended up with a heavy load just the same. :-) Because the prices are hard to beat!
After the open market, we took a stroll around the mall as Debbie and Bill pointed out some interesting shops.
And then it was off to Titahi Bay.
It's true about what they say in New Zealand being near nature / recreation areas because we were at the mall area one minute, and in 15 minutes or so, we were already at the beach! Titahi Bay is a cove where some people go for the summer. It's a small stretch of sand but it hardly gets filled by people, considering the sparse population. Along the way we also saw large expanses of greens and parks for kids.
We were once more blessed with friends here in New Zealand. Debbie and Bill said that they have received lots of blessings in this country and were helped as well by the local community when they were new here. So they are simply paying it forward. What's so amazing here is that our fellow Pinoys are eager to reach out and help, and though they pointed out that there are also some Pinoys here who like to keep to themselves, there is still a strong bond amongst many Filipinos here.


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Good Questions: New Floor Lamp for this Space?
Hi Apartment Therapy, These chairs were handed down to me from my grandmother and I'm in love with them. I'm trying to use them to create a small sitting area in our bedroom, but I am dying to find a new lamp to replace this IKEA one. I would just do away with a lamp entirely, but I like having more light in this area of the room. So would anyone happen to have suggestions for a (not too pricey) floor lamp that would go well with these chairs? The paper lamp is driving me nuts! Thanks so much! Adrienne
Adrienne, we agree with you and think that a new floor lamp can totally transform and upgrade this space. Who has floor lamp suggestions for Adrienne?


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You know how in life, things happen that maybe we weren't expecting or don't want?
Well, things happened.
This is what moving back to New Zealand looks like.
Except I can't take my cat. Or my partner. So I guess it actually looks pretty lonely.
Regular crafty stuff will resume once my life has stabilised.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get rid of a LOT of stuff.


text: I have been told that this is a major free way to get it. However, I haven't had the balls to do it myself... on the way to my local freeway onramp there are quiet a few signs up, ranging from "executive income- don't believe don't call" to "brazilian jujitsu" to "business cards" to "bridal show convention" and all kinds of misc stuff... I want to randomly call one and ask 2 separate things: Did you think you could just put a sign up with out the city code enforcement calling you? and How much traffic / results did you get from your sign? There seems to be 2 kinds of signs which work best: The lawn sign, which goes on grassy areas in between the curb and sidewalk, facing oncoming traffic. And the Telephone Pole Garage Sale type sign. Turns out certain color combos work best, with black on yellow being best, with neon coming in 2nd 3rd and 4th..... discuss.


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Blogs written by and for ACA Members.
Find our member blogs by member name here!
Meet The V&B Staff: what follows is a lengthy description of some fictitious Vine and Branch Staff members. I wrote these descriptions while in Afghanistan and have chosen to include them in a post today. It's easy to use this material for today's post, because I've already written everything. My goal is for the reader to get a feel for what an integrated staff will look like while I work on writing Day 3 stuff. Sometimes my writing style makes it appear that the V&B is reality already, but it's just the way I think.
As all of you can appreciate, sometimes you must take break in studies, writing, hobbies, etc.. due to life. Times where you must put personal endeavors on hold may cause stress if you do not take these times for what they are, life. I'm behind in writing about the Vine and Branch because for the past week our family was house hunting in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. We found a home that Jen and I both instantly fell in love with and are now in the process of planning the move, garage sales etc… We are first time homebuyers, so you can imagine all of the ups and downs faced over the last week.
Right now, Jen and our three girls are out of the house for the next couple of hours, so I have some time to compose my thoughts. All I can hear while writing at my desk is the sound of the washing machine and some classical music in the background.
With that said, what follows is a description of some fictitious Vine and Branch Staff members. I wrote these descriptions while in Afghanistan and have chosen to include them in a post today. It's easy to use this material for today's post, because I've already written it. My goal is for the reader to get a feel for what an integrated staff will look like while I work on writing Day 3 stuff. Sometimes my writing style makes it appear that the V&B is reality already, but it's just the way I think. Clinical Psychologist: Dr. Robinson is the V&B Staff lead. Everyone calls him "Dr. Rob" though and the shortened name fits his easygoing personality. Doctor Robinson grew up in the Midwest and loves the outdoor lifestyle. His wife and 4 kids ranging in age from eight to fifteen also enjoy the outdoors. Dr. Robinson received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Northern Ohio (UNO) in 1994. He continued in his education, earning a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from UNO in 1997, receiving his Ph. D in Clinical Psychology from North Eastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in 1999. Dr. Rob is also a Registered Nurse (RN). He is also familiar with the Veterans Administration (VA) system because he worked for the VA upon graduation from Eastern Ohio University. Having practiced in a variety of counseling settings, Dr. Rob has a passion for Veterans, Veteran's families, community psychology, multiculturalism; strength based psychological models, community outreach and training, leadership development and supervision. He has proven skills at conducting intake clinical interviews, conducting and interpreting psychological assessments, treatment plan formulation, and recommendations. Dr. Robinson also has a strong ability to identify, define, innovate, implement, and evaluate programs and to plan and develop strategies and solutions in a complex organization like the V&B.
Psychiatrist. Dr. Fred Guilee grew up in the South East and spent 4 years in the Marine Corps as an enlisted Marine prior to attending college. Dr. Guilee has two grown children, a wife, and a passion for horses and gardening. He provides medication prescriptions as needed to V&B Clients. When prescribing medications to our guests, his goal is to reach therapeutic levels that allow for growth and further progress as guests interact and learn from other V&B Staff Members. Dr. Guilee received his Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med from Florida Southern College in 1975 and his Medical Degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX 1979. Fred has worked in a wide variety of settings and began his career with the Veteran's Administration. Dr. Guilee holds a valid Psychiatry Board Certification with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Guilee has also contributed to and published several articles and books.
Counselors: Kamiah Simms: Kamiah grew up in Jamaica and moved to the Miami, Florida with the rest of her family when she was 15 years old. Upon moving to Miami, her parents started several small businesses that rapidly became very profitable. While helping and watching her parents succeed, Kamiah developed a passion for career counseling after learning about the concept during a summer course. Kamiah is married and has one son. She has passions for both career and marriage counseling. She is Baptist. Kamiah Simms, LMFT, LPC, has a Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of Miami and a Master's Degree in Counseling from Florida State University. Kamiah is a member of the American Counseling (ACA) and of the International Association of Career Management Professionals (IACMP). Many of our V&B Staff Members have the time to conduct research and write. Kamiah is no different; she is co-authoring a article that will describe the cultural affects of military family transitions from the active duty service to civilian life. Seth Berghauer: The last place that Seth refers to as his home is Bryan College Station Texas, where he received his BA in Sociology. Prior to receiving his Masters of Arts in Counseling and eventual LPC, Seth traveled the world as part of a military family. He is Catholic and comes from a very large family. Seth has considerable experience helping people suffering from the affects of domestic violence, substance abuse, and PTSD. He has no military training, but he does have a passion for children. Seth is working towards a Registration in Play Therapy (RPT). He holds memberships with both the ACA and the Association of Play Therapy (APT). Lisa Jennings: Lisa grew up in a small neighborhood just outside of Portland, Oregon. She left home at the age of 18 and immediately enlisted in the Army. Lisa's parents are both diseased, and she has no other family members in her life. Lisa has a ten year old daughter who lives with her now. During Lisa's eighth year of service, including two deployments to Afghanistan, Lisa's husband who was also in the Army divorced her. At the time of the divorce, both Lisa and her husband were suffering from PTSD. Facing a third deployment and unable to find care for her son, Lisa left the Army for a logistical job with a national trucking firm. Because of her military experience and two year degree in business they hired her. Having never fully dealt emotionally with the divorce, PTSD, and under the constant pressure of being a single mother, Lisa found herself and her son homeless in Portland. Homelessness is a growing trend among female Veterans. Lisa began her involvement with the V&B as a guest 6 years ago. One of our Best Practice Volunteers was associated with the homeless shelter Lisa and her son were currently in and referred her to V&B's network. V&B needed a logistics Manager, and Lisa was hired for the position pretty much right away. Through daily interactions with our Staff as a regular part of her logistics job, Lisa began to develop a passion for counseling, so V&B paid for her education. Note: We know talent when we see it, and V&B consistently encourages and resources its entire staff in furthering education, training, and publishing endeavors. Lisa holds a BS in Business from the University of Texas and an MA in Counseling from the University of Texas. She is currently completing her hours and will fulfill LPC requirements within the next three months. Due to her background, Lisa is passionate about the homeless Veteran population. Robert Stark: Robert married his college girlfriend while attending the University of Auburn. Addison was a member of U of A's Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) when the two met. Upon graduation, the two were married, and Addison received her commission as a Second Lieutenant (2LT). They were married two years and stationed at Fort Benning, GA when Addison deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). While the two were in Fort Benning, Robert worked for the U.S. Fish and Game Commission because his undergraduate degree was in biology. The Starks were planning to start a family upon Addison's return, but she was instantly killed by a sniper one week prior to her return from Afghanistan. After a year, Robert was still working for the Commission, and his Supervisor realized that he needed some help. Robert's supervisor was familiar with the V&B and made reservations for him. Like Lisa, Robert was a Guest first. He completed his three week vacation at the Ranch and returned to work. The visit to Vine and Branch really made an impact on his life, and for a year Robert wrestled with the thought or "calling" as he will describe it to return. There was a job opening at the Ranch for a position requiring agricultural and land management skills, so he applied and was accepted. Much like Lisa, Robert developed a passion for counseling, especially for people suffering from grief. Robert really enjoys working with the "Gardening Group" whenever possible. Robert earned a BS from the University of Auburn and an MA from the same university. He holds his LPC and is a member of both the ACA and the American Horticulture Therapy Association (AHTA). Mike Card: Mike is one of three Counselors on the ranch who is also a Vietnam Veteran. Mike grew up in Oklahoma City and was drafted in 1968 at the age of 18. He served for two tours and left the military in 1972. For the next thirty years, Mike served on the Oklahoma City Police Department and retired from law enforcement. While serving in law enforcement, Mike was dismayed at the number of Veterans getting into trouble. Feeling compassion for them, he worked on establishing Oklahoma City's first Veteran's Court. (Fictitious for Oklahoma City as of this writing, but the concept is out there.) It was through this Veteran's Court Program (VCP) that Mike Card first learned about the Vine and Branch. Intrigued by V&B's web site, success stories, and mission statement, Mike volunteered to participate in the Ranch's three week Best Practices Group. "I simply wanted to learn something about counseling so that I could pass along what I learn to these younger guys in the Department." "Heck, the place was so great that I ended up wanting to do counseling full time at the Ranch when I retired."Mike went on to retire two years later. While working full time, it took Mike eight years to earn his BS in Criminology from Oklahoma State University (OSU). Once retired, it only took Mike 3 years to complete the requirements for his MA in Counseling from OSU. V&B provided the atmosphere, supervision, and hours required to fulfill his LPC requirements. A sizeable grant from a well known Veteran's Service Organization (VSO), is being used to fund Mike's salary for the next 10 years. He was hired because we are currently and actively looking for Vietnam era Veterans to assist with an aging retired Veteran population and their unique needs. Mike is married and has two grown children who are serving in the military. Note: As part of our philosophical approach to counseling, V&B believes that service is to country significantly impacts the entire life cycle for some people, including the years following retirement or separation. Leisure Focused Counselors (LFC's) These Counselors are trained and certified just like the traditional Counselors above, but they focus on leading groups and or programs that are conducted outdoors. Areas of interaction on the Ranch for LFC's are the following: Gardening, Livestock Management, Hunting, Fishing, Cooking, Massage Therapy (specific license), and Games. LFC's provide crucial continuity between what happens during the vacation and what happens during standard / more traditional individual and group counseling sessions. V&B Counselors are encouraged to rotate between these two areas of concentration to avoid the inevitable burn out. Isabelle Smith: Isabelle's fiery personality matches her red hair. Growing up in France on the outskirts of Paris, Isabelle was always getting into trouble. The third in a Catholic family of six girls, Izzie was always getting into trouble, and she seemed to have a natural talent in the kitchen. Recognizing her talents and desiring direction for their daughter's crazy life, her parents enrolled her in the On Rue Tatin School in Louviers, France where she studied under Susan Herrmann Loomis. The school specializes in preparing top French chefs and U.S. visitors in the latest and more traditional culinary techniques. Izzie's original goals were to find work in Paris that is until she met her current husband Dave. Dave is also one of our LFC's. The two met while Dave was visiting Louviers on a site seeing tour. Little did they know that Dave's four day pass would change both of their lives forever. They dated for six months and were married and have been in the United States for over 10 years now. Isabelle has a passion and skill for interweaving her counseling skills with her cooking skills. Her group is one of the most popular with V&B guests. Isabelle has her BS in Culinary Arts Management from the Art Institute of Washington and her MA in Counseling from Michigan State. She has her LPC and is currently co-authoring an article titled "Counseling in the Kitchen" for the American Counseling Association. Isabelle is also expecting her first child in March. Dave Sanderson: Dave was raised as a Methodist and an only child. His parents were very wealthy, and Dave grew up attending all the best schools. Academically talented, Dave easily received an appointment to West Point, graduating in the top 10th percent of his class thirteen years ago. Upon graduating from West Point with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, Dave was commissioned as a 2LT in the Army as an Armor Officer. Like most Veterans, Dave is a natural born Leader, always prepared to meet any challenge or mission placed before him. 2LT Smith's first duty assignment after graduating the Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, KY was Friedberg, Germany. Barely out of college, Dave received an assignment as a Platoon Leader, responsible for the lives of 15 other men in one of the bloodiest battles of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Recently married to a beautiful woman, Dave was living his dream, until in an instant of torn flesh, stench smells, and curdling screams, he lost two men and both of his legs on his third and final patrol. Dave has a passion for fishing, hunting, humor, living life to the fullest and loving people. He holds a Masters in Social Work (MSW) from Michigan State and is Licensed Marriage & Family (LMFT) certified. Eric Johnson: Eric is an avid hiker and self described "dare devil." He came from a military family. His father served as a Special Forces Operator in the Jungles of Vietnam, and Eric followed in his father's footsteps by enlisting in the Army, eventually being selected and trained as a Special Forces Operator too. He spent a little over nine years in the Army but realized that the lifestyle, deployments, and lack of romantic relationships simply weren't for him. "I just wanted something different really." At the age of 28, Eric left the Army Special Forces community to attend college at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. As luck would have it, Eric met his now wife Rose while they earned their BA's in Psychology. Married during their sophomore year, the two never looked back. It took them 5 years to finish their degrees and in the process had a son. Desiring to further their educations, the Johnsons enrolled in the Lindenwood Institute in New York. Eric earned his MA in Counseling Psychology while Rose earned her MA in Industrial Psychology. He is quiet, focused, and intense, yet retains a unique quality for being patient and understanding. Eric is a certified Marriage Family and Child Counselor (MFCC).Alex Perez: Alex served in Vietnam from 1970-1971 as an Army helicopter pilot. Leaving the Army immediately after his first tour and taking advantage of his GI Bill benefits, Alex began attending classes at San Jose State. He will say that "making the transition was tough" but always adds with a smile that "grace got me through the bullshit." As the oldest of six brothers, he would often send most of his paycheck home to support his family in Mexico. The epitome of responsibility and duty to family, Alex continued to work odd jobs to send money back home to his family, even while earning his BS in Aeronautical Engineering. Alex began his professional career flying for Delta Airlines. He easily excelled on the Boeing 707 as an Engineer, making the jump to pilot of the 707 in two years. Feeling the challenge for something different, Alex accepted an Engineer job on a 747 and four years later became a 747 pilot. During his transition to the 747, Alex met a woman at Church named June. They were married one year later and things were going well. June worked as a School Teacher in Houston where the couple lived. They were starting to plan a family, and life was progressing quite well for Alex and June until a Saturday morning flight from Houston to Seattle changed everything. Alex had his MA in Counseling from Texas Tech and finds great satisfaction in working with Veterans suffering from PTSD and holds numerous PTSD related certifications. Rose Johnson: Rose has a passion for female Veterans and Servicewomen suffering from PTSD, specifically women that have served in combat, either in Iraq or Afghanistan. After enlisting in the Air Force Reserves at the age of 19, her primary job being a Logistical Support Specialist, Airmen First Class (A1C) Johnson found herself serving with a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Southern Afghanistan. On a hot summer day in July, Rose was on a convoy to a "female engagement strategy meeting." During these meetings, Rose would meet with local women and assist the PRT's medical team with providing care and basic medical advice. She looked forward to these kinds of missions because she was able to engage with a completely different culture, making many new friends along the way. July 3rd's particular convoy was supposed to be ordinary and turned out to be far from it. Twenty minutes into the convoy, A1C Johnson's HUMMV struck an improved explosive device (IED). Rose was sitting in the back right seat of the HUMMV and lost part of her left leg in the attack. The other four crew members were killed instantly. As Rose fought to control the bleeding with a tourniquet, the battle raged around her because the convoy was in the midst of a complex attack / ambush from both sides. For thirty minutes, the battle continued around her, so fiercely that Rose actually hoped she would succumb to her wounds. The smells of diesel and burning flesh were everywhere, coupled with the concussions of RPG and mortar rounds could be felt and hopefully forgotten. Her fiancé of two months was also killed in the attack. He was the HUMMV's driver. She spent over a year recovering from her physical injuries and is very open with V&B's Clients about her struggles. Her favorite possession is her cat that she named "Vandengo." Vandengo changed her life, and she'll tell the story if asked. Rose has a BS from Oregon State in Nursing and her MS in Clinical Counseling. She is currently 20 hours from earning her LPC. Cheryl Wilson: At the age of 30, Cheryl is the youngest V&B Staff Member. Growing up in Starkville, MS as the middle of three sisters, Cheryl grew up a Mississippi State "Bulldog." Like many other freshmen in college, Cheryl had trouble figuring out what major she would choose. She likes people and decided on a BS in Industrial Psychology. Finishing in four years, Cheryl's first job directly after graduating from MSU was working for a major road construction firm where she had interned the year prior to graduation.Working for the firm of Holtz & Smith was great for about the first six months, and then like a lot of us do when first starting out lives, Cheryl realized that she didn't like being an Industrial Psychologist at all. Assessments, numbers, studying patterns, and making recommendations were not exciting to her. She saw the value in what she was doing, just not enjoying it. Cheryl did notice that she seemed to have a fondness for working with Veterans, a population that her company actively recruits and retains. In fact, the retention of Veteran is a top priority for her company. When interviewing Veterans for potential employment or while conducting interviews with employees leaving the company, Cheryl felt a connection to the Veteran experience. "I was called to work with these guys" she'll tell you. Holtz & Smith Construction has a partnership with the V&B. Cheryl heard about this partnership and asked to volunteer as part of V&B's three week Best Practice Group. Holtz & Smith agreed to send Cheryl to the Ranch and the rest is history. Cheryl has a passion for outdoor living, loves horses, and is completing a Master's in Social Work (MSW) this fall at Texas A&M. Adam Spafford: If you ask Adam how he describes himself, he will say that "I'm pretty much classic 'LT Dan' from Forrest Gump, 'ya know, the guy with no legs.' It's a pretty good icebreaker for Adam. He doesn't say much about his Vietnam experience, preferring to spend more time talking about what his life was like after. After spending 1969 in a VA hospital and rehabilitation center, Adam ended up bouncing between halfway houses, homeless shelters, and his parent's home in Lancing, Michigan for about three years. "I was angry at the world and couldn't figure out why my life turned out the way it did. I drank way too much and hurt too many people, especially my family. I had this out of control sense of entitlement, like someone always owed me something." "The turning point came for me on a rainy night in November. You see, my parents had four other kids in the house to raise, so I know what I did must have been tough for mom and dad. Well, one night over dinner, I was intoxicated as usual and acted like a total ass to mom. I can't remember what I said exactly, but I remember what happened next; it only took a second. Dad, a former linebacker for Michigan State and retired Army Colonel, jerked my ass up so fast from the dinner table that I didn't have time to swallow mom's stuffing. Dad used to laugh about the scene calling it 'tough love,' and it was.""Like he was throwing a sack of potatoes, dad tossed me into the front yard, my clothes and one of my legs quickly following. My temporary residence was now the family shed: awake, cold, wet, and alone with my thoughts that evening, I finally came to the realization that I'd really been an ass and was wasting my life in bitterness. For the first time in years, I felt a deep sense of remorse for everyone I had hurt since coming home. Dad throwing me out that night was life changing; it straightened me out."Adam is retired from the ranching business and is independently wealthy. He uses his success story as he challenges V&B's Guests to excelAdam has a BS in Agricultural Business and an MA in Counseling from the University of Texas. He received his MA and required LPC hours after being hired to manage V&B's cattle and poultry operations. Social Workers / Follow-on Care Planners: These Staff Members focus on securing follow-on care after V&B Clients complete their vacations. V&B's Follow on Care Planners will work with local counseling agencies and Churches to provide / facilitate resources back at home. Working tirelessly to secure services back at home for our Guests, they all have experience and a passion for vocational rehabilitation. These people truly do not take "no" for an answer. Our Follow on Care Planners will also serve as recruiting / screening agents for our Best Practice Members described below. Frank Maynard: After receiving a BA in Social Work from Texas A&M University, Frank's initial job was with the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services. As a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, Frank developed a passion for helping people who suffered from life altering injuries or illnesses, and he thrived on coordinating and providing life changing interventions for people. Frank particularly enjoyed working with disabled Veterans by coordinating for treatment services. He also liked helping disabled Veterans find meaningful employment. He will tell you that "there are generally two types of Veterans that I work with. The first, feels sorry for himself and the second doesn't take 'no' for an answer." Frank enjoyed watching Veterans transform themselves from the first type into the second. "They just need to be empowered and see beyond the injuries. All of them joined the Military with specific goals in mind, and at V&B I get to put them in touch with the resources to achieve goals. Working with Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Veterans, and their families is totally infectious. They make me want to work harder for them."Frank recently completed his MSW from the University of Texas and has almost completed his licensure requirements for the State of Texas. Linda Daly: After receiving a BA in Social Work from Texas A&M University, Linda's initial job was with the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services. As you may have guessed, Frank and Linda met at A&M. The two are getting married in three months after dating for five years. Linda has a passion for rehabilitation involving children and developed her passion for working with children at an early age. One of Linda's sisters was born with Down's Syndrome. And while growing up, Linda watched the difficulties her parents went through to get her older sister the care and support she needed. She felt love and compassion for her sister and parents, resolving to help others in similar situations. Linda caught Frank's passion for Veterans, especially when noticing that Veteran families are often strained because of constant moves. Even worse, she noticed that families of Veterans often had a difficult time wading through the endless paperwork involved with getting children of Veterans timely and quality early intervention care. Like Frank, Linda has her MSW from Texas A&M and is completing licensure requirements for the State of Texas. Lucinda Sanders: Lucinda was initially introduced to the V&B while staying in a homeless shelter for women Veterans. She enlisted as a Transportation Specialist in the Army at the age of 18 for a three year term in order to pay for college. During her first year in the Army, Lucinda met a fellow Army Private and the two married when they realized that Lucinda was pregnant, and a year later they were divorced. After Lucinda's first year in the Army, she was transferred from Korea to Fort Benning, GA where she was immediately deployed to Iraq, having to leave her six month old son in the care of her mother back in Idaho. Her deployment was scheduled to last a year but ended after seven months un-expectedly because Lucinda was the victim of sexual assault by one of her supervisors. Her view of the Army and of herself was shattered in the aftermath. Unlike many women, Lucinda chose to report the assault. Noticing that she was severely traumatized and suffering from severe PTSD, Lucinda was sent back to Fort Benning, GA. Instead of recovering, even after receiving the best psychological and medical care the Army could provide, Lucinda asked for and was granted a release from her active duty commitment. She desperately tried to put the past and the unfairness of it behind her, numbing her feelings with alcohol and drugs. Lucinda's mother, realizing that her daughter was suffering and yet refusing help, retained custody of Lucinda's son. "My life continued to spiral out of control until a local church picked me up off of the street. First Presbyterian saved my life and got me enrolled in Covenant House. It's a house for homeless women Veterans like I was. I needed more than just job skills, resume skills, and a place to live. I needed some serious counseling and people around who loved me for me. When Covenant sent me too V&B, I couldn't believe what happened!" Lucinda has a BS in Social work from the University of Idaho and her MA in Counseling from Covenant Theological in St. Louis, MO. She has her LPC and specializes in PTSD related to sexual trauma. She has a passion for helping both women military members and Veterans. Erica Huckleberry: Erica began her involvement with Veterans by starting her career working with the VA. As part of her internship for her BA in Psychology from Mississippi State University (MSU), Erica worked under the supervision of VA Staff at the Jackson VA Hospital. She continued on to earn her MS in Clinical Psychotherapy and was eventually hired on to work at the Jackson hospital. Erica is currently pursuing her PhD in Clinical Psychotherapy from the University of Mississippi, and V&B is assisting her during the process. Erica shows exceptional leadership potential and V&B is considering hiring her to lead the next V&B site treatment team. She is working with the Social Worker Staff in order to become familiar with V&B's week three transitional / termination focus and methods. Erica loves the outdoors and really enjoys making people comfortable. Faiccos Cox: One of the funniest guys you will ever meet is Faiccos "the butcher." Faiccos grew up in Brooklyn, NY and owned one of the most well known Italian Pork Stores in Brooklyn. His father Faiccos and his grandfather, also with the same name, owned this store just off of East Second Street. Twelve years ago, Faiccos' first son Faiccos the IV enlisted in the Air Force as a Combat Forward Air Control Specialist, breaking tradition of the first born son owning and managing the butcher shop. "I wasn't happy with my son's decision but as his father I knew that he always had a fascination with the military and with planes. I understood that if I had tried to intervene, I would have pushed my boy away, so I supported his decision. Besides, I had plenty of other kids who wanted to run the business."Three months into his son's enlistment, Faiccos' son was critically injured in a non-combat related helicopter crash while on a training mission in Arizona. After a stay at Walter Reed, his son was sent to the Stratton, VA Medical Center in New York, a three hour drive from the butcher shop. Faiccos' son's injuries were so extensive that the prognosis for living was not very high. "I was glad that they could send my boy to the Stratton Center because the family could see him more easily." So for a month, Faiccos stayed at the Stratton Fisher House, directly across from the VA Medical Center. "The people at the Fisher House were great, and the place was so nice. There were volunteers to help and take care of us, really good people. I got into the habit of bringing meat from the shop almost every day to the people staying at Fisher House. Seeing people smile when I brought food or cooked in the house's kitchen for them was the best part of my day. When I found out that my little Faiccos wasn't going to make it because of an infection, I had some really nice people to talk to. There were parents and wives at the Fisher House going through similar things, and I felt like I was a part of another family.""As luck would have it, Fisher House had a volunteer working there who knew about V&B because she served for 3 weeks on our Best Practice Team. She could see that my wife Dianna and I were having a tough time with the loss of Faiccos and recommend that we check out V&B, so we did." The transition from butcher shop owner to social work was interesting for Faiccos, but he loves sharing the story over a cup of coffee or out on the farm. His favorite saying is that "I'm having the best retirement ever." Faiccos has his BA in Social Work from Baylor University and is completing requirements for his MSW from Baylor as well. Trip Planners / Facilitators (TPF's): V&B Trip Planners / Facilitators partner with designated counselors to provide continuity of care throughout a guest's experience. These individuals are basically guides for our guests and ensure that they have a truly wonderful vacation. While also ensuring our guests have a great time, they also assist our Counselors and Social Workers with providing valuable feedback about a client's progress. We call it "counseling in the gap." Guests are aware and agree to these behind the scenes interactions with their Counselors. Our Trip Planners / Facilitators are generally not trained Counselors or Social Workers. Instead, they are likely exploring careers in Counseling, Social Work, or Psychology. All have a passion for Veterans or are Veterans themselves. The TPF Program is highly competitive among individuals interested in working with the Veteran and Family population. There are many reasons for this. First, the Staff and Board of Directors have a passion for developing our TPF's. Secondly, V&B ensures TPF's are well paid and educated in the specific treatment fields that they are best suited for. Third and most importantly, TPF's are drawn to V&B's nurturing atmosphere, an experience that makes them feel like they are a respected and cared for member of the team / family. The ranch and vacation lifestyle are also great fringe benefits as well. Mel Sanders: Mel is originally from Orlando, Florida where he grew up working in the tourism industry at an early age. He started off in the restaurant industry at the age of 15 working as a dishwasher. Instead of playing sports, Mel was helping support himself, his mother, and his three younger sisters. Mel's father died when he was 10 years old due to complications from alcoholism. His father was a Vietnam Veteran that never received the help he needed.As the oldest sibling in the family, Mel naturally assumed the role of father to his younger sisters. Throughout the years, managers noticed that Mel was very smart and responsible, so he steadily increased in knowledge, taking managerial classes after high school at Valencia Community College. At the age of 22, Mel was the Assistant Store Manager for a well known seafood restaurant chain. By the age of 25, he was promoted to Restaurant Manager with the same company. By the age of 30, Mel was promoted to Regional Manager and had earned his BS in Business Management. At 35 the company Mel worked for asked him to become their management talent scout and portfolio manager. Always looking "outside the box" for new talent and improvement of his own skills, Mel accepted an invitation to work with V&B's Best Practice Group for three weeks. His company sends Veteran employees all of the time and is a well established partner with V&B. In fact, Mel is the third individual from his company to work as a member of V&B's Best Practice Group, and the company's Veteran retention numbers have skyrocketed over the past four years. About six months ago, Mel returned to the V&B in order to participate in V&B's year long TPF Program. His company is planning a move into the hotel market in the near future and would like broaden Mel's portfolio. Mel will tell you that "I'm really enjoying my time. I learn so much. Not just about the business side of things, but I'm learning a lot about my past and my dad. I never want the next six months to end, but I know that I will look at Veterans differently from now on."Brian Smith and Irene Smith: Until six months ago, Brian and his wife worked for the City of Ardian, Minnesota. Brian worked as a school Guidance Counselor and his wife Irene was a school teacher. Both are Veterans and took advantage of GI educational benefits and the military's Troops to Teachers Program after leaving the military. For three years, the Smiths worked for the Adrian County School System. The work was rewarding but like many of us, the Smiths wanted more from their careers and became restless. Simply quitting work to totally change career paths was out of the question, considering their first child is not even one years oldIt just so happened that one day last fall, Irene heard about V&B's TPF Program from a friend of hers. So, with her interest perked, Irene decided to check out V&B's web site link to the TPF Program. On a whim, the Smiths filled out the applications to become part of the program for a year. The salary was good, housing was free, they would live in the country, and there was a great benefit package. "What excited me the most about V&B are the people" says Irene. "Everyone at the Ranch treats us like family, and the atmosphere here is so indescribably wonderful." Greg Allen: Greg is an Architect from Bangor, Maine. He is highly educated, receiving his BS in Architectural Engineering from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., and his MA in Engineering Design from Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Widowed eight years ago because his wife died from cancer, Greg poured his efforts and talents into his work to escape grief. Instead of giving up on work, he became a self admitted "workaholic." Designing some very large projects made him independently wealthy, yet Greg will tell you that "I still felt like I was missing something. I was at the top of my career field but wanted more. My Counselor at the time helped me see that I needed go "let go" of some things and to experience my pain and brokenness for what it was."Greg believes that God has given him talents so "I decided to use them for something differently." "I had enough money to live three times over and maybe even a fourth if that were possible. I found out from Janette, my counselor, about how V&B was actively looking for an architect to design the next V&B Ranch. I didn't know much about Veterans and had never really met very many of them, and yet I was intrigued by the thought. I had no counseling experience at all, but I'm learning through the TPF Program that working with Veterans is interesting stuff. I've never been a 'touchy feely' sort of guy, but the experience working as a TPF this year will help me design a better ranch in the next two years."Jennifer McGown: Up until three months ago, Jen was working for Military Community Youth Ministries, a non for profit organization that reaches out to military teenagers. Receiving her BA in Sociology from Texas A&M University, Jen was a natural Community Leader and friend to the military teenagers she had a passion for. She enjoyed putting on programs and the relational ministry with both military kids and their families. She was heavily tied into the community of Wurzburg, Germany and immersed herself into military culture for over 3 years.
Jen heard about V&B from a Chaplain she knew and decided to apply to V&B's TPF Program. She has a passion for Veterans and their families and is also seriously considering pursuing a career in the Counseling profession. "I'm hoping my year here at V&B will help me figure out if Counseling is something I really want to do. I like working for V&B because the job is fantastic, and I have the opportunity to see so many different aspects of Veteran and family care. The Staff treat me as an equal, and I'm learning so much from them."
Best Practice Members. Best Practice Members provide a number functions during their 3 week stay on the ranch. First, they bring a continuous fresh perspective to guests and staff during their visits. Because our Best Practice Group Members are leaders in V&B's "key partnership areas" of the Church, Healthcare, and Civilian Industry, these men and women will gain valuable insights into Veteran and Family care. They will professionally develop themselves in various ways, bringing wide ranging benefits to the functional areas they represent and to Veterans and Family members they interact with outside of the V&B Ranch. Most importantly, they will be familiar and better equipped to interact with another culture. Like every V&B Staff Member, Best Practice Members have submitted to a previous background check and adhere to required confidentiality agreements mandated by local and State laws, and relevant accrediting agencies.
Chris Allen is a counselor and an Army Officer just returning from Afghanistan. He is passionate about developing counseling practices that best address Veterans and their families. Blog comments are not representative of the Army or Department of Defense.
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We have signed up, tested, and reviewed more than 60 web hosts.
It's no secret that not all web hosting companies run their business with honesty and dignity.
Shoppers should be aware that some research works are necessary before buying a web host. Forums and blogs can be good places to ask for advice but nothing's better than understanding the hosting industry yourself and making own purchase decision.
By revealing the nine most common pitfalls in web hosting industry, I hope it clears your doubts and helps you to make better decision.
Do not be surprise to see hosting companies that offer no trial period at all. Be sure to check on a web host's return policy for its trial period. Any hosting companies with less than 30 days trial period are simply unacceptable. I suggest you to avoid them at all cost.
No kidding – there are still hosting companies that limits their users using PHP 4, WordPress 2.2 (Fantastico installation), and Joomla 1.2(Fantastico installation). Outdated software are weak against hacking. So in case you are stuck with a web host that's reluctant to upgrade their software (or in Fantastico), simply snub them.
The most common catch-22 behind cheap hosting deals is hidden charges (extra cost for scripts usage and stats reporting) and enormous cancellation fees.
Unfortunately, it's impossible for you to determine such pitfall yourself. All you can do to avoid this is to read around the Internet and look for recent testimonials for a certain web host.
(This is why independent hosting reviews are important.)
Ask presell questions, check with related forums, ask around on your social network friends – these are some of the methods to determine whether the hosting companies are responsive in term of customer support.
As an experienced webmaster, you might not need much supports from the hosting providers; but how well the company performs in customer supports reveals their service quality.
Assume someone gives you a spaceship – just the hardware. Can you go to the moon?
What you need is human technical expertise, NOT just good technology.
— Al Poullis, COMMbits Toronto Web Design
Assume someone gives you a spaceship – just the hardware. Can you go to the moon?
What you need is human technical expertise, NOT just good technology.
— Al Poullis, COMMbits Toronto Web Design
No web host can sustains its server uptime perfectly in long run. There are too many factors (power, networks, human errors, software errors, equipment failure) that decide a server's stability and it's just impossible for any hosting company to assure they will have 100% uptime in long term (yes, not even Google!).
Thus, hosting companies that promised 100% uptime are actually lying – avoid them at all cost.
It's common nowadays to see an unlimited hosting offers. You should understand that such unlimited hosting is only 'unlimited' because the hosting providers are managing their servers usage closely and avoid any significant shortage of hosting capacity. These unlimited offers, after all, are offered based on combination of limited resources.
As most hosting companies (good and bad) are using unlimited hosting as their marketing gimmicks, I can't tell you to pass on all of them. However, as a smart consumer, you should take time to learn about the issue and avoid over-trusting your web host.
More readings: Is unlimited disk storage and bandwidth for real?
Nowadays 'Go Green' is a heated phrase in marketing. Beware of irresponsible web hosts that use 'Green Hosting' as marketing gimmicks and make sure the web host is certified by related authorities.
How cheap is cheap?
Apollo Hosting is telling everyone that they are offering cheap hosting but their hosting plan is extremely high when compare to others.
Don't get fooled by hosting companies' marketing gimmicks and always look with your own eyes.
Check the hosting price with other companies and review their hosting plans thoroughly. How much disk storage are you getting; how many MySQL databases are allowed; how many FTP accounts are allowed; how many addon domains are allowed; what is the inodes limitation – these are the questions to be asked before handing out your credit card information.
I'm fine with well-managed overselling web host (read my InMotion Hosting, SiteGround, and A2 Hosting review); but not with un-managed overselling.
The differences? A well managed overselling web host allows you to enjoy low cost and reliable hosting service; on the other hand, an un-managed (or terribly managed) overselling web host is a nightmare – you'll get hosted on a server that's unreliable and slow.
To learn if it's well managed, pay attention to its server load, memory usage, and disk storage capacity. Such figures reveal how well is the hosting company managing their servers when you first subscribe to a new hosting service. Stay away from web hosts with irrational figures and ask for a refund if you already subscribed to their service (this is why a long trial period is important in the first place).
More readings: Understanding the numbers in server status report.
Well, that's 9 items to be added in your shopping check list.
Do keep in mind that hosting companies are in the business of making money.
As a smart consumer, reading reviews and comparison guides are a must. Considering that I have been creating and hosting websites for more than 12 years and testing web host services for more than a year – I believe reading my hosting review is a good place to start. These reviews are written based on my true hosting experience and I offer nothing but the truth.
Geek dad, SEO data junkie, investor, and founder of Web Hosting Secret Revealed. Jerry has been building Internet assets and making money online since 2004. He loves mindless doodling and trying new food.
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Product Description
A leather bed is an item of sheer luxury, for those who really have class and style. The Erba is a leather bed that's not only stylish but affordable too. The Erba has been constructed with a contemporary low design and a powerful looking high headboard. It has quality stitching on the frame giving the bed an attractive square panel design. With its sumptuous high grade black leather finish complementing the modern shape, this bed is the epitome of cool. Please note that the mattress is not included with this bed. For mattress suggestions please see related items.\r\n\r\nCategory:-Furniture


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PrettyQuick Got a Makeover!
We Are Now
We are so fortunate to be able to bring you a new and improved beauty booking experience. PrettyQuick is officially now Groupon BeautyNow®. You are able to experience all the great aspects of PrettyQuick with a few more perks (Hello, tip adjustments!) as well as many new features and benefits in the coming months. BeautyNow® can be accessed through the Groupon iOS app.


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Since its inception, Apollo Hospitals has seen three decades and each has brought with it, its own share of cherished memories.
2000 to 2005
Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi became the first hospital in India to receive accreditation from JCI, USA. Subsequently six of our hospitals got the JCI accreditation.
Apollo continued to grow as a healthcare powerhouse. It added hospitals in Ahmedabad, Bilaspur, Mysore, Kolkata and Kakinada among others.
Apollo Aragonda, inaugurated in 2000 was the first telemedicine facility in the country. It was inaugurated by the then President of USA, Bill Clinton.
2001 - Apollo Specialty Hospital, Chennai completes 100 Bone Marrow Transplants.
In 2002, Apollo started its FirstMed hospital network in Chennai.
Apollo also launched its nationwide single emergency number 1066.
In 2002, SACHi - The Saving A Child's Heart initiative was launched. SACHi is a community service initiative aimed at providing quality pediatric cardiac care to children from underprivileged sections of society.
In 2002, Dr. Prathap C Reddy received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. This was followed by the Asia-Pacific Bio-Business Leadership Award in 2005.
2002 - The first Apollo Clinic inaugurated in Delhi.
Apollo Hospitals was recognized as a 'Superbrand of India' in the healthcare sector for 2003 and 2004.
Apollo Hospitals, Chennai was rated 'Best Private Sector Hospital' in India by The Week magazine for 2003 and again in 2004.
Saving A Child's Heart (SACHi) - was a runner-up in the 'Corporate Governance' category at Hospital Management Asia 2004, a major hospital expo in Bangkok, Thailand.
Apollo Clinics were awarded Franchisor of the Year for 2003 and 2004.
2004 - Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad - First in the world to use satellite technology for telemedicine.
2004 - First Drug eluting stent used at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.
2005 - First CRADLE launched in Gurgaon, Kakinada.
2005 - First 16-slice PET CT Imaging System in South East Asia launched at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad.
2005 - First 64-Slice CT Angio System launched at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.
2005 - First 3 Tesla MRI in India in New Delhi.