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Are commercial law departments in law firms at a tipping point?
When talking recently with the out-house community, I've discussed the old chestnut of law firm billing (a chat with me is a guaranteed riot). I'll start at the end of the conversation. We discussed that the current law firm model is in rude health for corporate transactions, but has a challenging future for run-of-the-mill commercial work. The outlook is sunny for the corporate rainmakers but cloudy for those who don't know an SPA from a TSA.
Why so?
Well the out-house theory is thus: clients who five years ago had no in-house lawyers now have one or two. Clients who five years ago had one or two in-housers now have six or seven. Clients therefore keep most regular commercial work in-house and even when they do outsource it, clients want expert advice but don't want to pay much for it. They don't value it because they can do it themselves if they have to. Contrast this with corporate work which clients (generally) can't handle in-house and which they are happy to pay a handsome fee for.
This chimes with a point made to me recently by the MD of one of the newish "alternative" providers of legal services. When I asked him who his competitors were, he said "You".
Certainly the above theory is borne out in practice in my experience. When I joined my employer many light years ago, the bigger ticket more complex commercial work was outsourced regularly, if not as a matter of course. This was no-one's fault, it just reflected the size and specialisms of the team at the time. Fast forward ten years or so and outsourcing commercial work is the exception in our team rather than the rule. Without realising it we have as an in-house team been competing successfully for that work with the outside lawyers we would once-upon-a-time have sent it to.
The fees aspect to this subject is also important. It is correct that clients do not want to pay (much) when they send commercial work out the door, whatever the rights and wrongs of that. I have a rough idea of what a first draft of a contract should cost for what I'd define as a medium sized project with a few bells and whistles but which is not too complex. I price that at around £2-3k, give or take (preferably, take). Most firms, and I'm thinking non-Magic Circle, will do it for that price and as you would expect will do a very good job. Thing is though, as a partner or associate you need a lot of those £3k projects to meet your billable hours target. You need a whole lot more of them to get your billings anything close to the corporate lawyers upstairs who can rack up a six figure bill faster than you can say the words "share purchase agreement" (okay, slight exaggeration, but certainly faster than you can conclude negotiating one).
The tipping point from out-house to in-house for this kind of commercial work is only going to tip further towards more work going in-house (or to alternative providers) away from law firms. Whereas in my view, the corporate rainmakers can continue as is for quite some time yet.
Where then does this leave the leaders of commercial teams in City firms?
Needing to re-invent the service they provide I think. Rather than re-actively wait for decreasing levels of contract monkey drafting instructions to come in, how about pro-actively selling some new services. Here is a potential menu:
1. Access to firm precedents - £20k per annum.
2. Access to precedents plus 2 hours consultation on any first drafts produced in-house using firm precedent - £30k per annum.
3. Provision of first draft agreements for twenty unspecified agreements over the next 12 months - £30k per annum.
4. Quality assurance audit of 15 random contracts produced by in-house team - £5k per annum.
5. Intensive training over the year for an in-house team to obtain an accredited qualification in a specialist subject (e.g. copyright) - £10k per annum.
No doubt some law firms are offering aspects of this service already to their more valued clients. But I recommend they make it a ratecard product which is sold on a standard t&c basis by proper sales-people, not by lawyers who also have to do a bit of sales.
After previous blog posts looking at law firm models, a couple of people have commented that I should concentrate on looking at how in-housers function rather than concerning myself with how law firms operate. I disagree. I'm not writing this to try and help law firms. I'm writing it to try and make the point that what clients want is changing.
Firms who are serious about the long-term future of their commercial practices need to incentivise portions of their partnership to think innovatively in these changing times. Because if the entire partnership remains incentivised to keep on billing for this year's targets, then we have a turkeys' voting for Christmas scenario for any partner who goes out on a limb in the way I'm suggesting. Point is, law firms incentivise their staff for the here and now. Not for the there and future.
Due to the growth in numbers and excellence in the in-house side of the profession, without a sea change in product offerings the seesaw will continue to tip and commercial teams in law firms will continue to become the ever poorer cousins of the corporate powerhouse departments. They will be stuck at the top of the seesaw, unable to get off without jumping. The landing may not be soft if their corporate law colleagues do not feel like catching them.


text: Blogs & Articles 2013 April 20 Fascinating Facts About Divorce Previous Post | Next Post 20 Fascinating Facts About Divorce Posted By Attorney Jim Cairns || 6-Apr-2013 There are many strange and fascinating facts about divorce. Some make us laugh, others make us glad we live in a different era or culture. A few of these facts may give you pause as pause as you reflect on your own uncontested divorce. Couples in Republican dominated states tend to have a higher divorce rate than Democratic states. Not until 1997 was divorce permitted in Ireland. During the eighteenth century, cheating husbands had to wear horse blinders in order not to notice women, which was reported to be effective. When couples face economic hardship, they are more likely to try to work out their marital problems. In the ancient country of Chaldea, now known as Southern Iraq, a male could divorce his wife by simply writing a letter to his father-in-law. Yet if a woman said she no longer wanted her husband, she would be drowned. The Burgundians, an East Germanic Tribe, men could only divorce women in the case of adultery, violating a tomb or witchcraft. Women were not allowed to divorce and if they should abandon their home they would be drowned in a swamp. Divorce is illegal in Malta, The Philippines and the Vatican. The Philippines will not recognize a divorce from another country. Twenty years after divorce, many men have reported still not knowing what they wanted out of life (a good reason for a divorce coach). The divorce rate for second marriages hovers around sixty percent. On the average, someone gets divorced every twelve seconds. Thirty-three percent of males and fifty percent of women stay angry ten years after their divorce. An affair which ends up in marriage is twice as more likely to end up in divorce. After divorce ,females have more difficulty in starting a relationship then do males. Marriages are less likely to end in divorce with couples who earn more money, have higher levels of formal education and are older. The possibility of divorce increases by seventeen percent when a couple has twins. The probability of divorce increases if a husband or wife gains twenty percent additional body weight. Males are twice as likely to suffer from depression and a heart attack after divorce. During medieval times, couples who couldn't get along were locked in a tower until they worked out their problems. The Catholic Church has used St. Judith to perform marriage exorcism with couples who were not suited for each other. Women over the age of thirty are forty percent less likely to marry. Some surprising, and not so surprising divorce facts. Categories: Cheap Divorce/Inexpensive Divorce, Divorce, Family Law, Uncontested Divorce Share Post

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm writing to express my concern about how much our city traffic department might be paying for the installation, maintenance and monitoring of all the cameras installed on our streets.
I would like to know how many cameras have been installed, and how many more installations are planned. How much does each camera cost the taxpayers and where are those funds coming from?
What have we paid, and how much more will we pay, for installation and monitoring of all the cameras? Did we convert street maintenance positions into camera watchers? Who has access to the video? Are all of the viewers paying for the privilege?
Don't get me wrong. I am sure the traffic through our community is flowing better as a result of technology. I'm sure law enforcement has benefited from the cameras. But, are we taking funds needed to maintain our streets and using it to fund the cameras? If so, are these trade offs that we really want to make?
I would love to read an in-depth report that could answer all my questions, and any that I've overlooked. I think the newspaper's other readers also would be interested in the answers.


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Life is too short not to step out of the comfort box occasionally. So, while we like the colors that we can achieve with both simple oil rubbed bronze finishes and with colored hot patinas, occasionally a client will have a specific location or project that warrants a different finish. The most common request I receive is for a client who wants some of our bronze pieces but would like them cast in steel. If the design is relatively smooth with few hollows and undercuts then we simply cast the piece in stainless steel. However if the piece is, for example, a bamboo or orchid pull then we cannot readily cast and finish this in steel. Steel is a harder metal and one that is not easily polished so trying to polish inside hollow or recessed areas is all but impossible. By contrast bronze is a softer metal and one that we can polish very well, even inside grooves and dips.
So, when faced with this request we turn to our friends at Boyles Snyder who have a wealth of experience in plating in both nickel and silver. When I asked James at Boyles Snyder what exactly is plating or, more accurately electroplating, he put it this way " It is the art of bonding metal, utilizing chemistry with electrical energy."
As with steel so to with nickel. Some clients prefer a very highly polished finish while others prefer a more muted brushed luster. The desired luster is achieved by preparing the bronze before it is plated. For example, if you want a highly polished nickel frog pull as recently requested by a client you first polish the bronze and, likewise, if you want a brushed bamboo or orchid pull you brush the bronze before plating.
This all brings me to Biagio Forino Interiors, a wonderful and inventive design group in Milan Italy. They chose this interesting finish for their client's home and will be receiving quite a few pieces in a shipment due to arrive this Friday including both the bamboo and orchid pull in the satiny brushed nickel finish.
These door and cabinet hardware pieces represent true customization and show how any one of our pieces of architectural hardware can be customized to meet your client's exact specifications.
Contact us to discuss your special project or view our entire collection of bespoke hardware at www.martinpierce.com.


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DeJuan Blair Talks San Antonio Spurs Consistency, Pittsburgh in the ACC and More with Derrel "Jazz" Johnson
- Updated: January 8, 2013
Derrel "Jazz" Johnson talks to DeJuan Blair about the San Antonio Spurs and their continual success under head coach Gregg Popovich, the numerous changes in the Big East for his alma mater Pittsburgh, his historic game against Duke at Madison Square Garden, Pittsburgh's 2013 move to the ACC, the possible end to the Big East Conference and more. Check out the video below.
← Previous Story Knicks Continue to Struggle by Derrel "Jazz" Johnson


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There have been, perhaps, one too many ephemeral and/or badly constructed Cornish blogs but Cornovia https://cornovia.wordpress.com seems to have bucked the trend so far. Well written and attractive - it's a site worth visiting and inviting others to do so.
I've been considering hanging up my Cornish blogging hat for a while now - lack of inspiration or desire, either which way the An Omsav and Breton Connection blogs have fallen almost silent - and seeing that our blogosphere is in such good hands I can feel a little less guilty perhaps.


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i've been writing furiously on Diva Diet the past few days (thank goodness for long weekends!) out in the living room on my 'unplugged' laptop.
things come up, though, and in order to not tip into the slippery pit that is the interwebz, i've been using my trusty phone for research and brainstorming.
bless you, wikipedia and dictionary.com, for making android apps!
so here are a few things i've learned while writing this book so far:
1. toronto has more neighborhoods and sub-neighborhoods than i'd ever dreamed.
2. Tucker Max really IS an asshole. 'nuff said.
3. people collect really strange things. like cat whiskers. and barf bags.
4. i wish there was a bistro slash martini bar here
5. monkeys and dragons have a lot of fun together
6. i'd forgotten how much i love reading my horoscope daily
7. the less dry vermouth in a martini, the drier the drink. and 'dirty' means mixing in olive juice.
8. alliteration is addictive.
9. understanding gay men is HARD
10. speed dating and wine aren't the best mix when it's all said and done
Sunday, July 3, 2011
things i've learned...
Posted by JulieDestry at 7:42 PM
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|Close up showing detail
The photo on the right is a close-up image of a portrait being woven on the loom. This close encounter with the weaving as you progress is quite intense and engrossing. When sitting up close to the work as you weave, your sense of perspective is constantly being altered and challenged. It is only when you take a step back from the loom that you appreciate the image as a whole.
Because of this altered perspective, it is important to have a smaller image of the portrait design handy to remind you of the bigger picture you are creating.


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Our shop is located in the city center and is easy to find. Follow the signs for Historic Hayesville to the Historic Court House Square.
We are on the north side of the Square, our building is green with a yellow entrance and red doors.
Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm; Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm.
Location: Phillips & Lloyd Book Shop ~ 66 Church Street ~ Hayesville, NC 28904
Phone & Fax: 828-389-1492


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Popular Dubai real estate property developer formally launched the posh luxury apartments worth AED 300 million ($81.6 million). The project is known as Glitz and is an affordable luxury development.
Every apartment is planned and contrasted by incorporating convenience and comfort along with spacious spaces for family, all units have ample outdoor living space and each aspect at the Glitz is urban lifestyle oriented with lush green surrounding.
Glitz is the second novel development by this property developer within the six months of their first property launch known as Dreamz worth AED 500Million and this development was sold out on the first day of its launch.
The next new development which will be constructed in Dubai Studio City and will comprise of 300 apartment units, this will have studios, one, two and three bedroom apartments.
The capacious apartment will vary in the space from 470 to 1645 square feet in every apartment will be in block of eight levels.
The development will comprise of rood top golf course, swimming pool, kids play area along with party hall, barbeque station with leisure deck and a health club.
Buying/ Selling Property
Riveria Global Real Estate assists you to achieve the right commercial and residential options for rent in Dubai. Our efficient team of employees will assure that you get the best out of the investment you have made you in addition our priority will be your convenience and purchasing capacity which will be always be kept in regard.
Whether you are purchasing or selling, we realize the procedure can often be challenging and complicated. We focus on taking the pressure off you, so you can make sound and concise decision during the process. Ultimately, a 'successful sale' is our chief aim and we employ our skill to make that happen for you.
Our clients are offered the highest care and precise information in regard to the properties. Our extensive agent databases and client database, we make certain that we find the right property of your choice. We've taken the traditional role of real estate agents and turned it around.


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Are you a blogger? Do you want to collaborate with one of the most innovative digital educational brands out there?
If you fit any of the criteria below, please drop us a message for a chance to work with us!
• Have an audience readership aged between 15-18
• Have an audience readership of parents / families
• Blog about education
• Blog about parenting / families
• Are aged between 15-18
Audiopi provides audio tutorials for GCSE and A Level students. Written by experts from experienced teachers, exam board examiners and university students, they are designed to inspire learning.
Their tutorials follow the curriculum to ensure that every second of audio is relevant to help you pass your exams. Furthermore, we use audio, a format proven to aid in learning, so that students and teachers alike can learn both inside and outside the classroom.
To find out how you'll benefit from this exciting collaboration please email email@example.com.


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Developed in partnership with teaching schools, NCTL, DfE and the Education Endowment Foundation, the Spring 2018 Guide to Pupil Premium Reviews updates the document first published by the Teaching Schools Council in November 2014.
The guide has been developed for school and system leaders and provides a rigorous and tested framework which reviewers and supported schools can use to make the most of a pupil premium review. The guide sets out a simple, four step process for a review, including self-evaluation by the supported school and the creation of an action plan for the school.
You may also be interested in reading Making the most of the Pupil Premium: Sir John Dunford on the value of system leader-led reviews
Visit GOV.UK for more information on commissioning a pupil premium review and how system leaders can get involved in providing reviews.


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PELHAM, Alabama -- Pelham City Council President Rick Hayes said three businesses have approached the municipality with interest in the vacant Moore-Handley property, but no deal is in sight -- even on the horizon.
"If we find an opportunity that is a good fit for everybody, we'll jump all over it," Hayes told the group attending the city's first Pelham Business Council meeting today. "At this point, we can't report there is an answer or a sale of property that will happen quickly."
City council members and Mayor Gary Waters last month during a work session briefly discussed plans to enter into a memorandum of understanding with outdoor-furniture retailer Summer Classics for the property.
Without specifically naming the entity involved, Hayes said today, "There is not currently any progress on the one you guys have heard about."
The property became a topic of discussion during the Pelham Business Council meeting that covered various issues pertaining to the economic climate fostered by the city.
An audience member asked about the availability of state or federal funds to clean up the Highway 31 property, where overgrown weeds utilize the space that had been used by cars and trucks.
"We had that conversation," Hayes said, noting the challenges with cleaning up the property. "The current owners are out of state."
Pelham is looking at different options with the property from an economic development standpoint, he said.
After someone in the audience suggested breaking the property into small pieces for development, Hayes said, "All options are on the table."
Echoing comments made by Waters at previous discussions, Hayes said the city wants an investor with millions of dollars for the property. "We are looking at different options," he said.
The city is not going to rush a deal on the property, Hayes said.
"We have to develop in a way that is going to encourage more development," he said. "We don't want a blight. ... We don't want to do it in a way that is a quick fix."
For more stories about Pelham, click here.


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[Listen] Rammstein - "Mein Land" (Mogwai Remix)
I remember the days when me and friends would be in German lessons singing Rammstein at the top of our lungs to then be given detention for inadvertently shouting obscenities at our teachers. That was some 10 years ago and although I now don't go around shouting abuse in German, Rammstein are still around. They've now also been given the remix treatment from Scottish rockers Mogwai. The original version of this new track will feature on Rammstein's upcoming release titled Made in Germany 1995-2011 which is set for release on December 6th via Vagrant Records. Hat tip to CoS for the heads up.


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JAPANESE electronics giant Sharp is to unveil the world's first commercial use of 3D technology on a computer screen – a development that could bode well for Britain. Sharp plans to launch a notebook computer later this month with a screen that can use conventional 2D technology and a new system showing 3D images.
It will cost 350,000 yen (£1875). The system is based on a technology that tricks the eyes by broadcasting an image to one eye that the other cannot see – creating an optical illusion that presents the user with a three-dimensional image.
A Sharp spokeswoman said the company sees potential for the screens in TV, the games market and in design and medical imaging.
Exploiting 3D is high on the agendas of Japanese companies. Sharp recently formed a consortium with rivals Sony, Sanyo, Itochu and NTT to develop the technology.
In Britain, where much of the Sharp research has taken place, scientists have long complained that they have pioneered many of the breakthroughs but have not had the financial support.
Published London Evening Standard


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Day #3: The Contrast of the Two
The people we helped move were parents of the sound technician at Trinity Church, Liam. When we pulled up to the house, I was a little surprised at how nice the neighborhood was and little damage it appeared to have.
Mandeville, Louisiana had not been flooded. The winds had come to knock over trees and take out some roofs, but in comparison there was minor damage. Kathleen, whose house it was we helped pack up, was a kind woman, who, although, she didn't admit it at first, was not ready to leave. She couldn't decide where the boxes she had packed should go; to her everything she had was fragile. At first her indecisions was ok. About an hour into the process she was driving me crazy, and then two hours into it, I realized how much she was hurting. It was a sea of emotion she was trying to swim through. 55 years in New Orleans, this all she knew.
One thing she said to us which I thought through quite a bit later was "I feel so bad with all my stuff, when people here have lost everything, and I haven't lost any…but then again, I have to move. We've lost our jobs. How sad to leave and to leave these people in need." Kathleen was definitely learning to let go, and for here it wasn't the material possessions she owned. It was the more important things—the people she knew the family she loved and the house, which represented the life she knew.
At lunch time (her husband bought us Quiznos subs) we asked the man of the house about the specifics of Katrina's damage to New Orleans and the history of the city.
It was incredible to hear all the history and terrible to see what happened from the hurricane. As we finished lunch, one of the neighbors, Miss Sarah, brought us ice cream. As we sat and talked with her, the "Red Hat" ladies appeared. Liam's great aunt, who was 91 years old and her sister, Ursula or 83 years, stopped by to say "hey y'all". Miss Ursula had lost her house in Mississippi. She told us about how it was completely destroyed—all of her antique furniture, her husband's possessions (who had passed away 5 years before) gone. Her reaction to it all caught me the most. "It's all material right. Only material." And I could see as I watched her how tough it had been to come to that point. The only thing she knew for certain at this point was that she was visiting her sister. The two together were quite the pair: they had set up a game of bunko for later in the evening, and they were regular members of the "Red Hat" Society.
At the end of this day, I was more emotionally exhausted than I had been physically exhausted the night before. Meeting these people and learning their stories was worth more than anything else. In a way, it was far greater service than cleaning out a moldy house.
2 notes:
- Anonymous said...
- Jerry Gene said...
Your blog is so excellent that I like it very much, you must be good at writing.
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Daily Summary
Octopuses Make Food for Weird Critters
In addition to humans, the octopus makes a meal for a wide range of animals. Some of its predators include sharks, eels, fish, and orcas. But it also provides nourishment for several parasites and "hangers-on". And that's only when it's alive. Even when dead the octopus still provides food for many scavengers, big and small. Check out this cool article to learn more about the important role that the octopus plays in the marine food web.
Pakistan Hosts 'First' Dolphin And Whale Show
A maritime museum in Karachi, Pakistan is hosting its first marine mammal show this week. A beluga whale, a dolphin and a sea lion will perform for the public three times a day. The show was made possible by Russia's growing role in the international trade of marine mammals — the beluga came from Moscow and the dolphin is on loan from Russia. The show has, of course, ignited yet another debate about keeping marine mammals in captivity.
Price of bluefin tuna falls at Tokyo auction
The celebratory first auction of the year at Tokyo's Tsukiji market was held on Sunday. Sushi restaurateur Kiyoshi Kimura paid 7.36m yen (more than US $70,000) for a 230kg (507lb) bluefin tuna. This might sound like a lot of money for a single tuna, but it's only five percent of what he paid at the auction last year (155m yen / US $1.7m). Kimura also set the record for highest bid in 2012. However, the high prices don't always reflect high quality. Stocks of the Pacific, Southern and Atlantic bluefin tuna have fallen dramatically over the last 15 years, but demand continues to grow.
Copyright © 2014 by Marine Science Today, a publication of Marine Science Today LLC.


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oh hello ,everyone! sorry i can't update my blog as soon as possible cause i'm too busy :(
grade 9th too hard to have a free time for do my fun activity. Anyway, on this week i have a pratical tests and tomorrow are..... Computer and Biology hem, such a great combination, right :))?*sigh*
Above all, i spend my little time for post some outfit and then i go back study again.....
okay, i don't want to think about my practical tests a while and go back to my outfit i wore.
i tried to combine the pastels one with florals pattern and finally i post it tonight :)
between of us, i listening a song called 'The A Team' by Ed Sheeran.
He's very talented and i love him so much <33
So, because i really love it,i played it since last week and probably
it's song of the week ,lol :)). btw, how about your fav song on this week?
mabye i should know or you can share it on the comment page :))?
- vintage hat
- Top : Petite Cupcakes
- Trousers : Pull & Bear
- Shoes : Shop Alamanda
- Roses bracelet : bl!nk
this is from me
see ya on the next post<3


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I saw these tall grass during one of my regular outings..... far north in Kedah. It may just stay as nice grassland for a while longer, before someone pour in millions of dollars to do some development!! ... more houses...
I do a little bit of search in Blotanical;
and I found these:
- Tallgrass Prairie Revealed of green thought
- Lifescapes: Tallgrass prairie


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As one of Sweden's most successful suppliers of air handling units, it is important to always be at the forefront of product development and to have a design department that works in a way that is as standardised and efficient as possible. The investment in improved methods and automation of recurring tasks has resulted in significant time savings for IV Produkt's designers. With a goal of 1 billion SEK in turnover in 2020, the company needs to make its processes more efficient. One step on the way was to review the working methods of all the designers to achieve common rules and ways of workings so that everyone can work in the same way and understand each other's models more easily.
"The product configurator has speeded up our design process enormously and freed up valuable time for product development. We are happy with our close cooperation with Symetri and see it as a great asset to have a partner that we can bounce ideas off and that can coach us to continually"
Björn Hedin, CAD Manager at IV Produkt


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Florida Tire Manufacturer Wins Trade Secrets Case
Florida's Herald Tribune is reporting that Alpha Mining Systems, a manufacturer of industrial mining tires, has won a $19.7 million verdict against former employee Sam Vance. You can find the story here.
According to the story, "in early 2005, Vance began working for China-based competitor Guizhou Tire Co. while still employed with Alpha. He would take Guizhou tire orders on his wife's cell phone and through his personal e-mail account to avoid detection."
He also handed over pricing and profit margin information and customer lists to Guizhou, which paid him a commission on every tire sold, records show."
Beginning in August 2005, Vance went to work for Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based Al Dobowi Group, an upstart mining company."
Vance gave Dobowi all of Alpha's trade secrets, from pricing information to its customer list to the design blueprints for Alpha's specialty tires, court records say."
The damage to Alpha was extensive as court records show that "Del-Nat Tire Corp. and American Tire Corp. were buying a combined average of $1.9 million per month from Alpha until April 2005, when they stopped buying anything."
From April 1, 2005, to Jan. 15, 2008, Alpha lost more than $10 million from Del-Nat alone, the court found."
It's a theme on this blog that I will keep repeating: the biggest threat to your trade secrets are your own employees. A comprehensive trade secrets protection plan is imperative for any company that depends on trade secrets for a competitive advantage. You must begin thinking about this critically before your company has its own Sam Vance and unlike Alpha, because you didn't protect your trade secrets adequately, you are prevented from recovering any damages due to the misappropriation.
The $19.7 million award is one of the largest trade secret judgments in Florida history. But, how likely is it that Alpha will recover? Since, Vance didn't show up to any court appearance, he's probably living the high life somewhere outside the U.S. Hopefully, they'll be able to find him and make him pay the piper for his misdeeds.
Coldwell Banker Sues Former Employees
In a scenario that is becoming all too familiar, Coldwell Banker has filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore, seeking $2 million in damages and a restraining order on soliciting its clients, against two former executives, John and Ann D'Ambrosia, who left to open a branch of GMAC.
The suit alleges that Coldwell Banker lost 10 listing agreements to GMAC within two weeks of the GMAC branch opening. The major evidence that Coldwell is banking on (excuse the pun) appears to be email transmitted using Coldwell Banker email accounts which were sent to future GMAC sales agents who were then working as independent contractors for Coldwell.
According to this article, the email messages discuss "recruitment of Coldwell Banker sales agents; how to convince Coldwell Banker clients to follow their individual brokers to the new GMAC office; and how to transfer data from computers.
"A common thread in the quoted e-mails is the D'Ambrosias' alleged use of Coldwell Banker to springboard their upcoming affiliation with GMAC Real Estate, which has 1,300 franchised and company-owned real estate offices in the United States and Canada and 22,000 sales associates, according to its Web site."
Coldwell Banker has alleged 14 counts in its complaint, including violations of the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which governs unauthorized access to "protected computers" resulting in a business loss; breach of the duty of loyalty to Coldwell Banker; tortious interference with contractual and prospective economic relations; and violations of state trade secrets law.
This case is interesting because of the heavy reliance on emails as evidence that the D'Ambrosias were planning their business venture with GMAC, and were targeting Coldwell Banker listing agreements and sales agents while working for Coldwell Banker. This is a very typical trade secrets scenario. I have said many times that email is an important part of any trade secret case involving the departure of employees who leave to open a new business in competition with their former employer and begin taking their former employers' employees, customers and other confidential information. I can't say it enough, when you believe that this type of situation exists within your business, one of your first priorities should be to backup the email system so that you can prevent the accidental deletion of important emails due to a document retention policy.
It will also be interesting to see what the employment agreements said–were there non-disclosure agreements, confidentiality agreements? These items are critical to an effective trade secrets protection plan.
Good Hands or Just A Middle Finger – Allstate in Contempt of Court
The Miami Herald is reporting that Allstate is facing contempt charges in Missouri regarding its refusal to turn over certain documents prepared by an outside consultant from McKinsey. Allstate has already had its license suspended in Florida for its failure to turn over the same documents. Allstate claims that the documents are trade secrets.
The Miami Herald reports: "According to an attorney who has seen the report from consultant McKinsey & Co., it advises Allstate on how to improve the company's profitability: pay less on claims and take a longer time to pay those claims."
'The documents describe, in graphic terms, a scheme devised by Allstate and McKinsey & Co. to essentially turn the business of insurance into a zero-sum game," said David Bernardinelli, a Santa Fe, N.M., plaintiff attorney involved in a case against Allstate.
Not exactly the kind of stuff that is good for business and it's obvious why Allstate would rather pay $25,000 per day in contempt charges than turn them over so that the public could get a look at them.
While I understand why Allstate would not want the documents to be produced, calling a scheme to essentially stick it to the consumer a trade secret is quite a stretch. After all, doesn't the public generally know that insurance companies operate this way? In other words, what's the secret?
UPDATE: Here's an additional article on the Allstate case and the so-called McKinsey documents. The author speculates that this case could cause major changes in the insurance industry, that it could result in a class-action lawsuit, and that all major insurers are nervously watching the outcome. I'll bet they are.
Nevermore quoth the Ravens – Aerotek Sues Johnson Group Again
Financial Week is reporting that Aerotek, a staffing firm based in Maryland and run by Steve Bisciotti, who also owns the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL, has sued Michael Ponce, a former employee for breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, interference with contractual relationships, unfair competition and false advertising. Aerotek has also asked the court to stop Mr. Ponce from using its trade secrets to solicit business and to force him to return confidential client information. The suit was filed on November 9, 2007, in Sacramento County Superior Court.
This is where it gets interesting–the allegations relate to Ponce leaving Aerotek to join Johnson Group Staffing Co., a company started by Chris Johnson, another former employee of Aerotek, who was already sued by Aerotek in June 2006. That lawsuit was settled–as part of the settlement the Johnson Group agreed to stop soliciting or serving Aerotek contract engineering clients for 15 months.
Now, Aerotek is going after another employee who defected to work for the Johnson Group. According to the Sacramento Business Journal, Ponce was hired by Aerotek in March 2005. According to the article, he signed a confidentiality and nondisclosure statement, promising not to divulge any trade secrets for the benefit of another company. The complaint alleges that Ponce made an unauthorized copy of a client binder which he is apparently now using to contact clients of Aerotek.
We'll keep you updated on this case as it progresses.
iRobot/Robotic FX follow-up
Here's an article following up on the iRobot/Robotic FX case, for anyone interested. It appears Mr. Ahed is out of business. Lesson: Don't steal trade secrets.
You can see my earlier post on this topic here.
Silicon Image v. Analogix
Last January Silicon Image sued Analogix in California for copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, and unlawful, unfair and fraudulent business practices. Silicon Image alleged that Analogix, without authorization and in violation of Silicon Image's intellectual property rights — copied and used Silicon Image's proprietary register maps and semiconductor configuration software. In addition Silicon Image sought an injunction barring Analogix from its ongoing infringement of Silicon Image's intellectual property rights.
If your confused, maybe this will clear it up. According to Silicon Image's previous press release: "Semiconductor layout designs involve strategic placement of various electronic components, including small memory cells called registers, on interconnected layers of a chip. Silicon Image's layout designs, including its register maps that identify locations of registers within its chip designs, are its guarded trade secrets. Documentation describing its designs is not publicly disclosed and is provided to Silicon Image's customers or business partners only under strict non-disclosure agreements. Silicon Image alleges that Analogix copied and used Silicon Image's register maps by gaining unauthorized access to Silicon Image's proprietary and confidential information."
"Along with its chips, Silicon Image has developed, at substantial expense, its semiconductor configuration software. Silicon Image provides the software to its customers who use it to configure Silicon Image chips incorporated in their consumer products. Under its software license agreements, Silicon Image's semiconductor configuration software can only be used with Silicon Image chips and no other products. Such a restriction is common in the industry. The complaint charges Analogix with illegally copying and modifying Silicon Image's semiconductor configuration software and knowingly encouraging its existing and prospective customers to modify and use Silicon Image's semiconductor configuration software with Analogix's chips, a use that is beyond the scope, and in violation of, the rights granted under Silicon Image's software license agreements."
Now that we have the lay of the land. On January 8, 2008, it was reported that the U.S. District Court denied Silicon Image, Inc.'s request for a preliminary injunction.
Both sides are spinning the story in their favor. Analogix released a statement emphasizing that the court denied the request stating that "the evidence gives rise to serious questions on the merits as to this claim." You can find that press release here.
Silicon Image released its own statement emphasizing that the court had concluded that "Silicon Image has demonstrated a strong probability of success on the question of misappropriation" and that the judge ordered an expedited trial for April 2008 on that basis. The trial was originally set for September 2008. Silicon Image further stated that the judge accelerated the trial date "in light of the evident copying, the serious questions raised by Silicon Image on the merits, and the possibility of irreparable harm." You can find that press release here.
This is an interesting turn of events and makes one wonder what exactly Silicon Image's evidence of misappropriation was and why it was not enough for a preliminary injunction but was strong enough to find there had been "evident copying" and warranted an expedited trial. We will continue to follow this case as it progresses and keep you informed of the results.
Trade Secrets For The Dogs
An interesting case out of Mississippi concerning the scope of trade secrets. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has requested documents under the Mississippi Public Records Act from Iams (a pet food maker) relating to experiments conducted on animals. Iams says that the information is protected Intellectual Property and trade secret and not subject to the Public Records Act. PETA responded by saying they don't want trade secret information, they just want to know what happened to the animals.
While I'm not sure that PETA's request that they don't want trade secrets and only want to know what happened to the animals contains a distinction (aren't the results of the experiments (the alleged trade secrets) actually results about what happened to the animals?), I find myself in rare agreement with PETA. I don't believe that a company should be able to hide behind IP laws to protect actions taken which might be otherwise objectionable. There is certainly a distinction between protecting customer lists and business processes as opposed to the results of experiments which might be harming animals. I think that if we begin to extend IP or trade secret protection to these types of situations, we may find ourselves on a very slippery slope indeed.
Apparently the court agreed as it found that protocols relating to the experiments was not protected by trade secret law. The case is up on appeal in the Mississippi Supreme Court–we will inform you when there is more news.


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James Surowiecki wrote a book entitled "The Wisdom of Crowds".
He postulates that a diverse group of independent individuals generally make better decisions than even the smartest individual in the group. Even the less valuable members bring new information to the decision making process, and help create a better decision.
His examples include stock markets, web page ranking, car manufacturing industry, sports betting markets and ant colonies.
This concept has a really strong application in one particular aspect of ultimate.
This aspect often has suboptimal decision making by a group that is too small and not diverse enough.
The aspect is: selecting a team.
At several Australian University Games, I have been a selector of the Green and Gold team, an honorary All-Star team that would theoretically represent Australia in an international university competition. The selections are based solely on performance at this one tournament.
This is a challenging team to select. Most selectors have other roles at the same time: tournament director or coach of a particular team. And they have limited time to watch games.
The most useful piece of input comes from the wisdom of crowds.
Here is one way to do it: near the end of the tournament, ask one or two senior players on each team to write a list of the players they would select for the Green and Gold team. Ask them to consult teammates.
Of the eight teams in Division 1, you now have eight lists. And the cumulative information is very valuable.
Firstly, biases are apparent. Each list nominated by a particular team tends to have several players from that team. Obviously senior players see their teammates play more, and overestimate their performance a little. But these biases are easily spotted, once you look at all the lists: Fred may get a vote from his captain, but potentially none from other teams.
Secondly, you gain information on games the selectors never saw. If no selector saw Team B play Team C, yet Team B says there is a worthy player from Team C, you now have new input.
In summary, this voting system is valuable for gathering the wisdom of the tournament. Input is gathered from more games than any selection committee can watch. It is more time efficient. And it highlights biases that captains or selectors (who may be team coaches) have.
If you have to select a team, consider asking a diverse group of informed players for their teams. The wisdom gained may be very eye-opening.


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LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With the annual Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan enrollment period set to begin Oct. 15, Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is focused on delivering affordable health plan options that can help people with Medicare achieve their best health.
Humana has served Medicare beneficiaries for nearly three decades, and as of June 30, 2016, covers more than 8 million Medicare members in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. That includes approximately 3.2 million Medicare Advantage plan members.
"At Humana, we know that health means something different for everyone," said Alan Wheatley, president, Retail Segment at Humana. "That's why we offer personalized support and plans to help our members achieve their wellness goals, so they can pursue what's most important to them in life – because great things are ahead of you when your health is ready for them."
Humana supports its Medicare members with easy online tools and apps, personal attention and a long-term commitment so that they can manage their health with confidence. Humana's care managers, nurses, social workers, pharmacists and health coaches foster strong connections to help ensure that Humana Medicare members have what they need to take on their health and their lives with confidence.
During the Annual Election Period (AEP), which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2016, people with Medicare can choose Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans for the upcoming year. Humana's 2017 Medicare offerings include a range of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. Humana also offers Medicare Supplement plans, which can be purchased outside of the AEP.
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans cover all the benefits of Original Medicare, and more. Many Medicare Advantage offerings combine medical and prescription drug coverage into one, easy-to-use plan.
Humana offers a wide choice of Medicare Advantage plans across the country – from HMOs, to local and regional PPOs and Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans – designed to meet a variety of needs. For 2017, Humana will expand local PPO offerings into 74 new counties and will offer $0 premium HMO plans in 478 counties.
Many Humana Medicare Advantage plans include:
New for 2017, most Humana Medicare Advantage members will have access to Go365TM, Humana's wellness and rewards program, designed to motivate and reward members for taking steps to improve and continue their healthy behaviors. By integrating rewards with health, Go365 provides the tools and support to help members live healthier lives and reduce health care costs.
In addition, Humana will expand its telemedicine program in 2017 to 80 counties in 23 states. Members whose plan includes the program can consult a doctor by phone, via video or on their mobile device. This program offers convenient access to board certified physicians for non-emergency medical conditions such as cold, flu, and sinus infection.
Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
A Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) can help lower prescription drug expenses and protect against higher costs.
Humana offers a number of PDP options, including the Humana Walmart Rx Plan (PDP), which returns for 2017 with a monthly premium of $17 ($15 in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio), one of the nation's lowest stand-alone PDP premiums. The co-branded offering from Humana and Walmart is among Humana's most popular PDP options. It features:
Health and well-being resources and programs
Most Humana Medicare Advantage members enjoy access to a number of programs and services that encourage healthy behaviors and foster overall well-being. For example:
In addition, Humana Medicare Advantage members who need help remaining independent at home have access to their own personal care manager, who can call or visit them regularly and provide personalized education and help accessing resources. Members leaving a hospital who are at high risk for readmission can get help understanding and accessing the support they need to make the transition back home as smooth as possible.
For more information
For more information about Humana's 2017 Medicare offerings, visit www.humana-medicare.com or call toll-free 1-866-836-1210 (TTY: 711). Representatives are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
*The ability to take advantage of $1 copays for preferred generic drugs may be limited in areas where preferred cost-sharing pharmacies are not easily accessible.
** There is no deductible for Tiers 1 and 2; $400 annual deductible applies to Tiers 3, 4 and 5.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a leading health and well-being company focused on making it easy for people to achieve their best health with clinical excellence through coordinated care. The company's strategy integrates care delivery, the member experience, and clinical and consumer insights to encourage engagement, behavior change, proactive clinical outreach and wellness for the millions of people we serve across the country.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:
Y0040_GHHJR9XEN Accepted


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Berlin, March 22: German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned German industries on Wednesday about losing competitiveness in the time of digitalization.
As good as the German economy is at present, Merkel said there would be great changes in the German economy due to digitization and globalization, Xinhua quoted a statement as saying.
"We see that the rapid digitization of all areas of life, the increasing commitment of the economy, and the growing economies of the emerging economies," said the Chancellor, referring to China.
"It is not guaranteed that Germany will be as economically prosperous in five or 10 years as it is today. After all, the drivers of digitization would not be in Germany or Europe, but in the United States and Asia," she added.
The economic framework has changed rapidly, the world economy is closely intertwined, and the world is quickly changing. The leading German industries have all been affected, said Merkel, who cited former telecom giant Nokia as a warning to German industries about falling behind the market.
"The social market economy must pass a new test," said the Chancellor.
Politics must create a new framework for the challenges of the digital age, in which data is the raw material of the future, she added.
Source: IANS


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The airport was originally built by the International Nickel Company, opening its doors in 1961 as part of a support network to their mining operation in the local area, although at the time it only boasted a runway of 3,000ft in length. In 1963, Transport Canada took over the ownership and upkeep of the airport and it was handed to the District of Mystery Lake, to whom it belonged until 2000 when Thompson Regional Airport Authority took charge of the facility.
As well as serving commercial passenger flights, the airport is the base for Custom Helicopters, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Air Services, Manitoba Government Air Services, as well as several other private companies. Government air water bombers are often stored at the facility during the local fire season, while there are a number of ways tourists can compare Thompson airport car hire thanks to the numerous firms offering such services.
Calm Air fly services to Winnipeg, Arviat, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Churchill and The Pas, amongst many other destinations, while the other operator in the area, Perimeter Aviation, fly to airports such as Gods Lake Narrows, Gods River and York Landing, providing a huge choice for both residents looking to leave the area for a trip and for those who are arriving on holiday.
Air Traffic Control At Thompson. Creative Commons Image Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NavCanada_FSS_in_Thompson.jpg
For more information about the airport or flight info visit the official Thompson airport site here.


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4330 8th Street South Suite 100
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
Estimated Monthly Payment2 will depend on vehicle make and model and will be determined upon actual vehicle inspection. All payments are estimates. Tax, title and any other fees are extra.
Rapids Ford Lincoln LLC
4330 8th Street South Suite 100
Directions Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494


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I was requested to create a Vampire makeup look, however after scoping YouTube for 'Vampire Makeup Tutorial', I found that a lot of people used a mass of products. Honestly, I don't have time and patience to sit for an hour to create a look that I know can be achieved in a shorter amount of time.
So, what did I use?
The main product I used was the HD Brows Kit - but any dark brown eyeshadow and black eyeshadow will do the trick!
I also used two different types of red lipstick on the lips - for an ombre effect - and I used black eyeshadow on the corners of my lips for a more gothic feel.
Oh, and fake blood! I purchased this fake blood from Asda - I'm not too keen on it as it peels off once it's really dry, I'd rather it look more dewy and realistic throughout the time I'm wearing it.
Check out the tutorial here:
I hope you guys like this tutorial and do let me know if you try it out! I'd love to see photos or hear your opinion on how it worked for you :)
~ xoxo


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Top 6 Aesthetic Procedures from 2016
January 4, 2017 9:41 AM
Mina Grasso
1. Microblading Microblading for eyebrows, which is also known by a variety of names such as microstroking, feather touch, eyebrow embroidery, 3-D eyebrows and hair-like strokes, has become an increasingly popular form of cosmetic tattooing or permanent
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Laser Treatment for Peri-orbital Veins
September 7, 2016 8:42 AM
Mina Grasso
Peri-orbital vascular lesions distract from the beauty of a person's eyes. Our genes are to blame for the most part. The presence of red or green vascular lesions under the eyes gives the appearance of dark circles , which makes an individual look tired
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Microblading for Men
June 7, 2016 7:41 AM
Mina Grasso
The aesthetic industry has catered primarily to women, but a growing percentage of men are entering the aesthetic world every year. Men are spending more money on their appearance, as evidenced by increasing sales of grooming products for men and a greater
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1 comments »
Platelet Rich Plasma for Hair-Loss
May 20, 2016 10:02 AM
Mina Grasso
Hair loss can be devastating to both men and women, affecting self-esteem and self-confidence. Various genetic and environmental factors can cause hair-loss. Environmental factors may include chemotherapy, diet & nutrition, stress, hormonal shifts
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Non-Surgical Liquid Facelifts for Men
May 10, 2016 9:25 AM
Mina Grasso
Athletic men often look older than their peers the same age due to facial volume loss. Some men with wrinkles between their brows and across their foreheads are often mistaken to appear angry or stressed. Volume loss under the eyes and mid face creates
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Men Get Beach-Body Ready
April 26, 2016 9:51 AM
Mina Grasso
Men are becoming more focused on their appearance. This is especially true for those in a work environment where younger, equally qualified attractive males make for a more competitive arena. As a result there have been an increased number of male visits
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A Nose Job in 15 Minutes
April 12, 2016 9:25 AM
Mina Grasso
With the desire for aesthetic enhancement, there are many that have contemplated a surgical procedure called rhinoplasty. Rhinoplasty is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. However, some patients are not willing to undergo a surgical procedure
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Non-Surgical Eye Rejuvenation
March 29, 2016 7:50 AM
Mina Grasso
When seeking rejuvenation, patients usually present with multiple concerns on various parts of their face. Rejuvenation around the eyes is what I like to start with. The eyes reflect personality and character of an individual. It is what engages individuals
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Your Hands Can Make a Fashion Statement
March 14, 2016 2:12 PM
Mina Grasso
Fashion surrounds and influences our everyday life. Advertisements in magazines and commercials featuring fashionable clothing, jewelry, clutch purses, hair, makeup and more, which draws attention to the beauty of the part of the body that shows off these
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Will Coolsculpt Tighten Skin?
March 7, 2016 2:55 PM
Mina Grasso
Body shaping procedures continue to increase in popularity. More options are becoming available for various parts of the body. However, it is becoming more complicated and confusing to consumers. One of the most popular aesthetic procedures that patients
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Appropriate Diagnosis of "Brown Spots" & Treatment Plans
February 16, 2016 12:10 PM
Mina Grasso
Treatment of brown spots is the most common condition patients inquire about during a consultation. Appropriate assessment and diagnosis of what the patient calls "brown spots" is essential to developing an appropriate treatment plan. Brown spots may
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An Exciting 20 Years
February 4, 2016 11:18 AM
Mina Grasso
It is exciting to reflect back over the past 20 years on the evolution of non-surgical aesthetics in our practice. Non-surgical aesthetic procedures now address fine lines, wrinkles, volume loss, irregular pigment, loose skin, veins, tattoo and hair removal,
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Skin Quality Improvement
January 19, 2016 8:18 AM
Mina Grasso
Skin quality improvement can be accomplished in a variety of methods. Skin is the first line of beauty. It is one of the first clues to our age and general health. Skin hydration, reflection of light, tone, texture, pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles
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What's Hot in 2016
January 5, 2016 1:50 PM
Mina Grasso
Aesthetic concerns of women go beyond the face and common body treatments. Over the last decade focus on the body with term "Mommy Makeover" has increased in popularity. This year women will seek solutions to restore feminine youthfulness. "Vaginal Rejuvenation"
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Scalp Micropigmentation
December 22, 2015 9:18 AM
Mina Grasso
Hair loss can be devastating to anyone at any age. Image is so crucial in the society that we live in. The devastation of hair loss affects self-esteem and self-confidence. Men and women suffer from this life-changing experience and go through psychological
Read More...
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The deets on submitting to us for features.
It's #MusicMonday once again and today we're keeping it short & sweet Beaters. Over the past few months, we've had several local artists submit new singles, EPs, mixtapes and full-length albums for us to review. And guess what? WE WANT MORE!
When we review your work, we promote it on our website and our social media, PLUS you can pull press quotes from our pieces and use them for your own promo! Like this:
And guess what? We actually listen to your sh*t. So what we write isn't based on one or two spins of your track(s)- WE GO DEEP. We're artists ourselves so we know how personal it is to have someone review your work. Our intention is to extend the reach of your work by telling people how awesome it is and to build a long-term relationship with you so that we can keep growing your fan base, and our own. And though some room-for-improvement comments might be made, that's how we all grow in making art. We always find something to appreciate in everyone's creative work and process. And we want to share that with all of our local music lovers.
SO BOULDER AND DENVER: If you know someone who knows someone who's in a band (or that someone is you), send your work our way! We want to spread your creations; your vibrations. Simply head over to our Contact Page here and get in touch with us. We can't wait to put our headphones in and listen to you.
Follow Hannah on Instagram and Twitter.
All photos, videos, and embedded tracks per the artists featured and those credited. This feature was edited for brevity and clarity by BolderBeat.


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IF Mobility Rule - what counts, the residency or the work contract?
If you take a general case where a researcher holds an employment contract in country A, but goes for 6 months to country B (keeping the same employment contract i.e. employer), the EC services will not remove this period of 6 months out of the calculation with respect to the mobility rule regarding country A, due to the fact that the researcher was physically present in country B. The employer will always be considered. This is also why REA asks the researcher during the eligibility check, to confirm who was the employer during this 12-month period before the call deadline.


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Meet Dr. Debra Yerman, D.C.
As a teenager, I had severe back pain. I was told it was "growing pains" and there was nothing that could help. I tried all the pills and medication available. But, nothing worked.
Although I was scared of chiropractors (and skeptical), I was desperate. I needed relief. Reluctantly, I ended up getting a chiropractic adjustment.
It literally changed my life.
Not only was my pain gone immediately, but I knew I had found my life's work. At 20 years old I enrolled in chiropractic college and I have never looked back.
Helping others find relief from pain and suffering has been the great joy of my life. At Yerman Chiropractic there is only one goal: reduce patient pain and offer relief in the fewest visits possible.
Life is too short to walk around without the energy and mobility that an active life requires. Let me help you discover for yourself the power of good health and a pain-free life.
About Dr. Debbie Yerman, D.C.
Dr. Debra Yerman received her Doctor of Chiropractic in 1979, and is licensed to practice chiropractic in the state of California, Nevada, and Hawaii. As a lifelong student of health and wellness, Dr. Yerman attends countless post-graduate seminars and workshops, most recently focusing on treatment of female neck and back pain syndromes.
Meet Quennie Chavez (Office Manager)
Since I was 7 years old, I've had migraines. I suffered horribly with them until I was 24 years old, even spending months in bed because of them. All that changed the day I started getting chiropractic adjustments. Within months of my first adjustment, my migraines were gone and my life was returned to me.
Because of that life changing experience, I started working for a chiropractor. Fact is, I've been working with chiropractors for the past 18 years, all culminating with me now working for my all-time favorite chiropractor, Dr. Debbie Yerman. It is a joyous office, filled with much love and dedication. It is here where I truly feel like I'm making a difference.
I'm married with three wonderful children. When not working, I like cooking, sports, music, and, of course, getting to know the many wonderful patients who walk through our doors.


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You've done your market research, created a product that your customers love, and developed and implement world-class production with top-notch quality and now there is only one thing left to do; pack the boxes and ship the product. What are my options for case erecting, packing, and sealing? Should we just manually build and load the boxes, or should we completely automate?
Recent Posts
A major cause of product damage is loads tipping over during transportation. Once a truck pulls out of your loading dock, what happens to your products is out of your control. Here are two things you can do to keep loads from tipping over.
Topics: Stretch Wrapping, Product Damage, Freight
It's no secret square cases pack, stack and palletize better when they're erected with 90-degree corners. They also ensure that a product's primary and secondary packaging looks good when it arrives to your customers or sits on a retailer's shelf.
But here's a secret you may not know:
Topics: Case Equipment
The Law of Unintended Consequences Is Alive and Well
Erecting cases with a machine doesn't automatically guarantee an increase in productivity. Without proper planning and consideration, a case erector can cause unanticipated problems and even turn out to be counterproductive. In the worst situations, production is constantly interrupted to recover from unplanned downtime or machine jams.
Topics: Case Equipment
In a recent interview with Planet Lean, Jim Lancaster, Lantech CEO and owner, sat down with Roberto Priolo to discuss his new book The Work of Management.
Topics: Lean Operations
When you've been manufacturing, and distributing stretch wrappers as long as we have - since 1972 - it's inevitable that a pattern will begin to emerge in the kinds of questions people ask you. There are a number of questions that most buyers, at one point or another, have about their specific stretch wrapping needs and the machine that will work best for them. However, before most buyers get to those specific questions they often have questions about the reliability and quality of the machines in general.
Topics: Stretch Wrapping
From containment force to film tails, there is a lot to know if you want to achieve the efficient stretch wrapping necessary to minimize damage.
Topics: Stretch Wrapping
From cereal to concrete, stretch wrapping plays an important role in the shipping journey of many kinds of products. In our industry, we often say that anything can be stretch wrapped. Some items just need special considerations and planning before they are wrapped, but for the most part, you can stretch wrap anything.
Topics: Stretch Wrapping, Buying a Stretch Wrapper
No matter what kind of product you make, packaging and shipping are crucial steps with big impacts. You produced your product yourself and enthusiastically brought it to market, but how can you get it to your client in one piece? We've had years of experience packing and protecting—it is our goal to get your product from A to B without a scratch. Square packing is one of our best kept secrets...
Topics: Product Damage
When was the last time you saw a cockroach crawling out from under your baseboard or fridge? Last month? Last year? It's more likely you saw an image of one (or several) in a scary movie. We don't usually see them. They're invisible, hiding behind baseboards or under the fridge, waiting for us to go to sleep so they can come out. As much as we hate to admit it, they're always around.
Topics: Product Damage


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N6 Panelbeaters
Home > Service Providers A-Z > N6 Panelbeaters
One Vehicle a 4 x4 for Tiffendale Route Insured & Member of RMI Daul
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Rates Quoted (ex vat):
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An albumen print is a photograph printed on paper that is coated with an emulsion of egg white and brushed with light-sensitive silver salts. It is usually brown or sepia in color, with a shiny surface. Albumen prints became popular in the early 1860s, and remained the most common form of photograph until the turn of the century.
1. Abraham Lincoln /Mathew Brady Studio
2. Walt Whitman /Mathew Brady Studio
3. Rose O'Neal Greenhow and her duaghter


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ASTD-Puget Sound CPLP Study Group
Face to Face Meeting
Tonight's topic: AOE 8 – Managing Organizational Knowledge and Social Learning
CPLP Study Group objectives:
To benefit participating members by:
-Enhancing preparation for the CPLP certification
-Following a schedule of progress through the AOEs
-Tapping into the knowledge and expertise of the group members
The process:
The CPLP Study Group goal is to cycle through all of the Areas of Expertise and Work Product submission guidelines – then begin the cycle again.
This would allow for a member to start whenever they want and eventually cover all the AOEs and the Work Product submission guidelines.
With the exception of holidays, the group is scheduled to meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 6:00 - 7:30 PM. The 2nd Tuesday is a virtual meeting; the 4th Tuesday is a face to face meeting.
ATD Puget Sound ChapterP.O. Box 46368
Seattle, WA 98146
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website design MembershipManagementServices.


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I am very pleased to announce that the Sakai connector portlet has had an update and is released as version 1.4.0.
This portlet allows you to render tools from your Sakai environment inside uPortal. It is completely configurable, and each user can choose a tool from any of their Sakai sites to display in the portal. It uses a combination of web services and and implementation of the IMS Basic Learning Tools Interoperability specification to connect you to Sakai from within uPortal.
This release includes an improved Basic LTI launch, as well as an improved editing UI for when multiple connector portlets are on screen at once.
This portlet is running in production in the Australia National University's portal, my.anu.edu.au, based on uPortal 3.2.4.
For downloads, configuration, screenshots and all other information, head to the Jasig wiki:


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Father and Son – Review
Film – 88:40 – Vietnam
Mon. July 3 – 6:45 PM
ReelHEART Film Festival, Toronto
We are not Cities. We are Humans!
'Father And Son' is a visually stunning film, that revolves around the happiness and tragedy of a single-father Moc and his 6-year-old son Ca, who lived near a river-bank, somewhere in Vietnam. This Film is a directorial debut of Vietnamese filmmaker Luong Dinh Dung, who recently has nominated for prestigious "Remi Award" at 50th Annual Worldfest Houston International Film Festival this year for this film.
Wrote almost 22 years ago by Luong Dung himself, 'Father and Son' opens with a remote but picturesque village, where Moc is surviving with his kid by catching and selling fish. The blend of nature and innocent characters take us to the traditional Vietnamese scenario and the stillness of their lives, which are masterfully photographed in this thoughtful film.
The story moved with the dreams and curiosity of 'Ca' and his other little friends who are keen on planes, which they call 'bird from the city' and other nuances of city life. So in the flood season when Moc and Ca, with other community members, move uphill, it's the routine of kids to listen the story of the city from 'Uncle Blind' who once worked in that city, building the "Future House' ( largest skyscraper ). 'Uncle blind' lost his eyes by working construction in that building.
Going through the beautiful imagery of mountains, fog, river, fish and a tragedy of losing a family due to flood, people return back to the Riverbank and build their house again from the scratch.
Meanwhile, the community members suggest Moc should get married again, but before Moc can think further on this, Ca becomes terribly ill. When traditional herbs from the forest don't work, Moc takes Ca to the hospital in the nearest city.
Metaphorically, the film makes a transition from the calm life of Riverbank to the noisy, polluted and hurtled world of city full of tall buildings and, the "future house of blind man" right, opposite that hospital. This reminds me of Chinese Filmmaker 'Jia Zhangke's film 'Still Life' which is also based on the similar themes of the gap between cities and Riverbank areas.
Moc must find a way to get his son proper healthcare which of course, is equal of catching 160,000 fishes. When recovered, Ca wants to go on that 'future house of blind'. Metaphorically, the hospital becomes a partition between the reality and the dreams.
The film has superbly crafted soundtrack by Korean composer Lee Dong Jun, the artist behind the sounds of many of that country's popular movies like "Miracle in Cell No. 7" and "Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War".
On the hospital bed, Ca dreams about the boat, river, and fish. On the other hand, Moc worries about collecting money for Ca's treatment. Will Moc successfully take Ca to the 'future house of blind man'' where only people with good clothes can go ? Where dreams and reality intersects?
The mesmerizing story "Father and Son" opens the 13th Annual ReelHeART International Film and Screenplay Festival, Toronto, Canada on July 03rd
ReelHeART runs until 08 July 2017. Book your tickets now!
Gursimran Datla @gursimrandatla


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|Sighting Report
|Occurred : 3/6/2006 05:45 (Entered as : 03062005 5:45)
Reported: 3/6/2006 11:52:10 AM 11:52
Posted: 3/11/2006
Location: Winterhaven, FL
Shape: Disk
Duration:3 min
|cresent reflection of light off of a cloaked, saucer shaped object over winterhaven fl. at about 5:45 am
i am an irrigatation tech and sometimes have to be at work around 4 am. today around 5:45 am i had seen a faint cressent light ( not a real bright lite but almost like a reflection from the street lights and such) reflecting off of the bottom of nothing but at the same time it was a clear circular almost mentos ( like the candy) but thinner shaped, and quite large, it was also heading north. moving very fast roughly about a mile away in the sky and possibly a few hundred feet up. my eyes are very strong and im reasonably smart. but this time i just cant really explain what i saw without explaining it with pictures.


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That Time I Ran 18 Miles
Last fall, my sister asked if I wanted to join her yoga studio's Ragnar relay team for a race in June 2015. The details: Park City, Utah + 200 miles in 24 hours.
I had never heard of a Ragnar race before but I said, sure, why not?
The months flew by, I semi-trained (aka ran whenever I had time to), and then all of sudden I was boarding a plane to Utah to run 18 miles in a new altitude, with new people, in a new city.
Why not indeed.
We arrived late Wednesday to a rented condo in downtown Park City, and mostly got to know the whole team, talked about our fears and goals for our individual leg distances, and then hit the hay. Thursday kicked off with a hot yoga session, which felt amazing after all that cramped travel on the plane and in the car, and headed out for lunch at a Mexican restaurant (can't remember the name) where we enjoyed drinks, chips and tacos on a patio.
One huge thing about Utah: NO HUMIDITY. Like, it was hot, but you didn't feel as though you were being smothered by a heavy, wet blanket at the same time. I did get a couple of nose bleeds over the course of the weekend, due to the dry air, but for the most part, I loved the lack of humidity.
We spent the remainder of Thursday preparing for Ragnar. While I knew that we would be in vans some of the time going from location to location as part of the race, I didn't realize that we would actually be . . . living in a van for almost 48 hours. Hence the need for coolers chock full of Gatorade, coconut water, bottled water; snack bags brimming with almond butter and raspberry jam sandwiches, trail mix, granola bars, Clif bars, shot blocks (basically gummy, sugary energy bites -- gross yet effective), pretzels, apples, bananas, etc; bags with changes of clothes and pillows and blankets and extra shoes and race belts and reflective vests and hats and sunglasses; printed directions for when cell service disappeared in the mountains . . . you get the idea.
Thank God I only had to show up and run. The team at the yoga studio was incredible -- they rented the house, collected the money, scheduled the vans, assigned the runners, handled registration, bought food and drinks to cover all dietary needs and desires, and much more.
Friday morning, my sister and I walked to grab coffee from Main Street, which is the core area of Park City, super quaint, and fairly hilly. The views, of course, are beautiful, and it serves as a neat area to walk through all kinds of boutiques, stores and restaurants. We went to Atticus almost every day during the trip and picked up iced coffee (their fruity iced tea was also outstanding), but also tried some neat nitro brewed coffee at a sweet dog-themed place called Hugo.
Then we were off! After an almost two-hour drive north to Logan, UT, we found the starting line and hung around until our first runner, my sister, began. Interesting fact about Ragnar: teams start at various times on the first day depending on their collective pace; our time was 11 a.m. but teams started as early as 7 a.m., which meant that there were probably only 75 or so other people there with us at the starting line. So if you imagine a big crowd, as with a marathon or half (or pretty much any other race), it was kind of the opposite: a small group of runners with folks cheering from the sidelines.
Liv kicked things off with six miles, and our team hopped in the Explorer to travel alongside her. Following along in the van became absolutely essential during each runner's leg -- the temperature quickly rose to 92 degrees, and everybody needed constant encouragement and most importantly, WATER, nonstop. When we reached the first exchange and started watching runners come in, they all had the same look on their face: "That was so hard, and so hot." Many runners flopped on the grass to exclaim their gratefulness that it was over, red faces and all.
Our next runner went, and killed it since he was super fast, and then it was my turn as runner three. Seven miles -- not an easy-peasy distance by any means but one I'd accomplished back in Iowa multiple times. I became almost immediately humbled by the heat and direct sunlight and straight roads. I'm a runner who needs constant distraction: music, water, hills, turns, scenery, shade, anything to get my mind off the fact that I'm running until I hit a groove. This particular run? No trees for shade. Minimal turns, which had me feeling like I was running with no end ever in sight. Spotty wi-fi service and a cell phone battery depleting faster than I anticipated.
But the scenery? Stunning.
I felt incredibly grateful for my teammates, who kept stopping every two miles or so to offer water and words of enthusiasm, and I picked up my speed slightly toward the end when I realized my phone was definitely going to die if I didn't get moving.
Once I finished, our next three runners went in order: up mountains, down dusty red paths, through tree-lined gravel roads. Then we had about a six hour break while the other van, and other half of our team, started their first leg. Our downtime included showering, resting in the cool grass, dinner, a quick nap, and then before we knew it, it was midnight and our second leg set to begin.
I had thought that I would sleep while the first few nighttime runners ran, but the exact opposite happened. Honestly, the overnight running turned into one of the best parts of the entire race. The temperature dropped quite a bit, which made a world of difference. I personally prefer running when it is 60/65 degrees or lower, and so at 55 degrees, it was perfect!
I had two fears about late night running: 1) that I would get lost, 2) that I would be afraid in the dark. Neither occurred. A van, either your team's or someone else's, was pretty much always visible ahead or behind you, and just as we did during the day, we kept pulling off to check on our runners and make sure all was well. That's why I ended up not sleeping much more than an hour -- my sister was the first nighttime runner, and I really wanted to cheer her on and follow along to check in. By the time my route rolled around, I felt wide awake, and took off at a clipped pace feeling like a million bucks. Even as a giant hill rolled around, I felt full of energy and excitement. It was so quiet and peaceful running by a lake, with only the sound of your footsteps pounding the ground. (Note: runners on our other team had many more experiences with wildlife and feeling more scared/lost, so it depends on the route, I think.)
More downhill running had me feeling crazy fast, and then, it was all uphill. For the rest of the run. It didn't help that my leg was 0.5 longer than the map originally said. Trust me, half a mile feels like forever when you thought you were technically done! Again, thank goodness for my team encouraging me from the side of the road, because running up, and up, and up for 2.5 miles was so challenging.
Still, it was over before I knew it, and by the time the next two runners powered through, daylight broke to show us the most incredible views.
(Yes, we put a Go Pro on the hood of the car. Seemed like a good idea at the time.)
We finished our 2nd set of legs around 7:30 a.m., and the other van took off. Around this time, we realized that we didn't have that much time in between our 2nd and 3rd legs -- partly because the other group of runners were collectively a little faster, but also because their 2nd set of legs distance-wise was slightly shorter. After a group conversation, and in talking to other teams plus some of the race officials, we decided to start our 3rd leg at the same time: both vans would begin running, in the hopes that we would be able to finish by 6 p.m.
Now, nobody on our team was running for time, but we had all indeed been running for almost 48 hours -- and we wanted to be able to enjoy our Saturday night! The thought of not being done until 9 p.m. made everyone cringe. Due to the heat, multiple teams were behind schedule, and so this recommendation was widely distributed to anyone not running for time. I'm so, so, SO glad we did this and finished at a reasonable hour.
Luckily, the 2nd leg ended fairly close to Park City, so we were able to run back to the condo, shower, eat and take a quick hour-long nap before carrying on with the race. This break was CRUCIAL for my mental game -- I was totally reaching that "this sucks, I don't wanna doooooo this anymore" moment and it felt so good to refresh and reset before finishing strong.
We began again around 11 a.m., and our new conditions meant that the first few runners would essentially start at the same time. It ended up being another incredibly H-O-T day. My last run was also my longest run, more than 8.5 miles. It started off entirely uphill and on concrete (fun), again in broad daylight with barely any shade; however, the first mile also went through a golf course at the very top of aforementioned hill. I kept my mind distracted by thoughts of "Is this the golf course for the rich and famous of Park City? What is it like to golf on top of a giant hill? Do a lot of balls get lost?" And so on. Really important questions, I know.
The next two-thirds of my route consisted of running up a mountainside, and then back down the other side, all on a rocky, bumpy trail. I walked off and on quite frequently during this leg, mostly because I was nervous I would sprain my ankle on a rock or trip and fall off the side of the mountain. Ha. Yet again, the views were outstanding, and the higher I ran, the more I felt motivated to reach the top and see the sparkling blue lakes, the snow-capped peaks and valleys, and the greenery stretching as far as my eye could reach.
Ahh. So gorgeous! I remember feeling very triumphant at this point, and glad to only have a few downhill miles left before being done, done, DONE!
Of course, those last miles ended up being the longest miles of my entire life. I'm not kidding. My shins screamed due to the sharp decline, my mind was over it, and again -- no water, no shade, no nothing in sight except the beautiful views I just mentioned. Which, I mean they were beautiful, but I had started to feel so tired and hot that the novelty wore off fast. Luckily, I saw my sister and another teammate in the distance, waving a water bottle at me; they had brought me ice cold water and a wet towel to put on my neck. Sweet relief. They also informed me that I only had a mile left, which revved my engines to finish strong.
We picked up the rest of our crew, all equally hot and sweaty and sick of running, and headed back to the condo for a quick shower before meeting up with the other half of our team at the finish line.
Amidst a huge crowd, we inched our way to the giant Ragnar balloon indicating the conclusion of the race, and waited in the bright sunshine for our last runner to come through. I have to admit that this took a while, but it couldn't have felt as long as it did for the runner to make it through 6 miles in 95 degrees at 5 p.m. after already running 10 or so miles. Yuck.
We finished with cheers and claps, and felt so proud of ourselves. As a whole, we collectively ran almost 200 miles in less than 48 hours!
Go Team Downward Dog!
I learned so much about myself by participating in Ragnar, namely, that I'm stronger than I think, both mentally and physically. The race also reminded me that team support makes a significant difference in terms of experience and attitude. I've always been a casual runner, but running so many miles in a different location showed me that moving by foot in an unusual environment allows you to see things you never would have otherwise. There's nothing quite like it.
Traveling to new places continues to be a top priority for me. For all the people who asked me, "Why go to Utah to run?" Well, why not? I love to challenge myself with new opportunities to do something I've never done before, and go to places I've not seen before. The world is a big place, and I'd like to see as much of it as possible.


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Takeaway meals have become a staple ingredient in the diets of busy people but they are not always seen as a healthy option.
But now Newark & Sherwood District Council has decided to join in the 'hot' or healthier options takeaway scheme, which offers a 'hot' Merit award to any participating takeaway that meets the criteria for putting healthier options on their menu.
Small changes on the foods offered or the way food is prepared, cooked and served can make a big difference without compromising on tasteMel Coton, health improvement officer
Health improvement officer Mel Coton said small changes could make a big difference to takeaway customers and the scheme offers benefits to participating businesses too.
Said Mel: "Many takeaways, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops already offer healthier options and display information about them on their menus, whereas other venues may offer them without realising the potential to promote them.
"Small changes on the foods offered or the way food is prepared, cooked and served can make a big difference without compromising on taste."
Examples include switching from frying food to offering grilled, baked or steamed alternatives, removing salt from tables and counters, offering smaller portions for adults or switching from double cream to single or yoghurt.
Added Mel: "Takeaways could put unsweetened fruit juices on the menu, offer vegetable or side-salad options or wholemeal bread and wholegrain pasta
"Increasing customer choice means increased customer satisfaction, so it enhances the reputation of the business. Successful applicants also receive a certificate and promotional material, and recognition of their achievement on the Newark & Sherwood District Council website and via social media."
To be eligible for the 'hot' award, takeaways must have a food hygiene rating of three or higher (the top score is five), must fill in the self-assessment form and get a qualifying score of at least 60 per cent, and make three new pledges of healthier options on their menus.
Once a 'hot' merit is awarded it lasts for two years – unless the ownership of the takeaway or the style of its cuisine changes, or unless a complaint arises that healthier options are not being offered.
The council also has the right to remove the award if the food hygiene rating drops below three.
The scheme is being adopted by districts throughout Nottinghamshire as part of the strategy to combat obesity and has already been a success in Derbyshire.
For more information, forms and guidance search for hot award on the council's website or contact Mel 0n 01636 655990 for help and information.


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After fatal shooting, neighbors dispute Raleigh man's claim he was on 'neighborhood watch'
Shooting outside Raleigh home followed 911 call about 'hoodlums'
Just before a man was killed by a shotgun blast from a home in North Raleigh early Sunday morning, a man inside the house told a 911 dispatcher that he was "on neighborhood watch" and was going outside to secure his neighborhood against a "bunch of hoodlums."
But residents and a manager of the Neuse Crossing Homeowners Association say the neighborhood where the fatal shooting happened does not have a neighborhood watch. And police say that where homeowners do organize neighborhood watch programs they are told to call 911 when they see suspicious or criminal activity, rather than take matters into their own hands.
Police charged Chad Cameron Copley, 39, of 3536 Singleleaf Lane, with first-degree murder on Sunday. At the same time, they released a recording of a 911 call from a man inside the house early Sunday who told a dispatcher that he was "locked and loaded" and preparing to go outside.
"You need to send PD as quickly as possible," he said. "I'm on neighborhood watch. I'm gonna have the neighbors with me. There's hoodlums out here racing up and down the street. It's 1 o'clock in the morning, um, there's some vandalism. They have firearms, and we're going to secure our neighborhood."
Police say Copley stood behind his garage door and fired a single shotgun blast out a window that killed 20-year-old Kouren-Rodney Bernard Thomas, who was out near the street. Friends say Thomas was leaving a nearby party and was unarmed.
In a second 911 call from the house on Singleleaf Lane, the man said he had fired a "warning shot like I'm supposed to by law" and that he "was trying to protect myself and my family."
Police have not said whether anyone else was involved in the shooting or whether Copley was with any neighbors when the shooting took place. He is the only person charged in the incident.
Neuse Crossing residents don't have a neighborhood watch group, said Mike Ellis, a co-owner and spokesman for Kohn-Ell Association Management, which manages homeowners' associations across the city, including at Neuse Crossing. Ellis said if residents had started a neighborhood watch it would be affiliated with the Raleigh Police Department, not the homeowners association.
A neighborhood watch is just that: a watch. You don't pack a gun and put on a badge like you're a sheriff.
David Parker, who lives on Singleleaf Lane
"The association is mainly concerned with covenant enforcement and social functions, like mowing the front entrance and fixing things," Ellis said. "We do not give residents police powers at all. The homeowners association has certain responsibilities and obligations, and none of that can be construed as law enforcement. We can make you mow your lawn but not law enforcement."
David Parker, a 59-year-old, self-employed businessman who has lived on Singleleaf Lane since 1996, says the homeowners association tried to start a community watch several years ago. Parker said he was surprised to hear the man who called 911 tell the dispatcher that he was "locked and loaded."
"A neighborhood watch is just that: a watch," he said. "You don't pack a gun and put on a badge like you're a sheriff."
Raleigh's police department encourages residents to start community watch programs by creating partnerships with its officers. In addition to trying to reduce the likelihood of crime, the watch groups help create a greater sense of security among neighbors through meetings, social functions and communication through websites, emails and other media.
Police caution community watch participants to not take any risks by trying to prevent a crime or make an arrest. Instead, the department emphasizes the importance of being a good witness.
Raleigh police spokeswoman Laura Hourigan said community watch groups are organized by individual communities, but noted that the department "works with neighborhoods with and without community watch groups in the same ways, largely by sharing crime prevention information ... and by encouraging all community members to call 911 to report any suspicious people, vehicles or activities."
The Sunday shooting in the quiet, multi-racial North Raleigh suburb reminded Ellis of the death of Trayvon Martin, an African-American teen who was gunned down by George Zimmerman, a self-appointed, armed community watchman in Sanford, Fla., in February 2012.
Zimmerman called 911 and described Martin's behavior as "suspicious," then disregarded an emergency dispatcher's advice not to follow him. The unarmed teenager, who was carrying a bag of Skittles and Arizona ice tea, was confronted by Zimmerman and found dead from a gunshot wound to the chest.
"When that happened we reiterated to everybody the importance of inviting the police to talk with residents about having a community watch," Ellis said.
Thomasi McDonald: 919-829-4533, @tmcdona75589225
Thomas funeral
The family of Kouren-Rodney Bernard Thomas has set up a gofundme page to raise money for his funeral expenses. It can be found at www.gofundme.com/276hhgks.