text:
Friday, December 3, 2010
The 3 MOST Important HR Metrics
10 comments:
- Michael D. Haberman, SPHR said...
Cathy - great post. However, the numbers you speak of, cost of people, $ generated, etc. are many figures many HR people will tell you they don't control or have access to. So how do you suggest they get that access to them?
Also, many people do not make a distinction between human capital costs (which are enterprise wide) and HR costs which many people view as the money the HR department is spending. For many people HR metrics are all about measuring the activities of the HR department as opposed to measuring the impact of people or human capital on the success of the organization. How do you get people to see the difference?
- December 6, 2010 at 12:51 PM
- Unknown said...
Thanks so much for those great questions. It took me awhile to think about the answers as I wanted to make sure I gave a good response.
As far as access to data like cost of people, and revenue generated, you basically just become best friends with the CFO or Controller or have access to the balance sheet. By becoming a strategic player, you have to establish yourself as a business person that is also an HR technician. So, to this end, you will need this data. Making a business case to the holder of the data is important as well. Make sure they understand WHY you need the data and WHY it is important to the orgnazation.
To your second question... that is a very good question as well and one that I get a lot. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the two. But here is how I try to look at it. Looking at HR department related costs, is really looking at how EFFICIENT the HR department is at its internal service delivery and talent acquisition.
The human capital cost are just like you said, related to business outcomes and impact. In other words how is our investment (in people) performing relative to our stated revenue and profit goals. To me this speaks to efficiency (costs) and effectiveness (productivity).
These 2 areas are BOTH important to measure but understanding the difference is critical before you embark on any metrics initiative.
Thanks for commenting!
- December 6, 2010 at 3:49 PM
- Luk Smeyers said...
Thx for your advice. Unfortunately, I don't share your opinion that your 3 measures are the most important ones. We need to make a difference between measures of 1) efficiency (your first 2 measures), 2) effectiveness (engagement? maybe?) and 3) business impact. The 3 measures that you are proposing aren't business impact measures. Unless you can measure what the outcomes/effect is of engagement on e.g. sales, revenue, customer satisfaction, work accidents, turnover, etc, they aren't very usefull measures. Efficiency measures (your proposed measures 1 & 2) are focusing on internal measures and will not bring you behind the famous 'Wall' (John Boudreau, 'HR hits the wall' in Investing in People). Anyway, thanks a lot for your thoughts. Kind regards from Europe, Luk
- December 8, 2010 at 1:28 AM
- John Papers said...
Can you write more about "The 3 MOST Important HR Metrics"..
I am making a list of the "The 3 MOST Important HR Metrics"..
- December 8, 2010 at 2:48 AM
- Unknown said...
Thanks for reading and your comments. I agree with you entirely those measures on their OWN aren't going to tell you any great story of impact. Engagement is on the list as one that is necessary for other analytics. So we use engagement to be predictive about things like you mentioned turnover, performance, etc.
It is hard to pick just 3, actually there about 12-15 that I would use as just regular tracking type measures, mot to mention the analytics behind the scenes that are involved.
My end game is the same as yours....what drives business results in the human capital area. Which levers do we pull to increase results? That is the goal.
Tell me if you could only pick 3 measures, which ones would you pick and why?
- December 8, 2010 at 5:49 AM
- Luk Smeyers said...
Cathy, thanks for your answer. My answer to your question which 3 measures I could pick: it depends. I am advising organizations to pick those 3-4 that matter for them, depending on strategie, business issues, organizational change, etc. For some it's business impact of (too) poor diversity, for others it's developmental leadership as a driver of customer loyalty. For me, there's not such thing as: the best 3 measures...it depends! Anyway, was good discussion. Thanks a lot for your time. Kind regards from Europe, Luk
- December 10, 2010 at 2:50 PM
- Jennie said...
I am curious to know your thoughts on HR analytics for the government sector.
- January 12, 2011 at 9:18 AM
- Unknown said...
Hi Jennie:
The government sector has really started to embrace HR Analytics due to recent budget and revenue constraints. So, I see more and more municipalities, city governments, etc. moving towards using their data to make better decisions and to make sure tax dollars are being used wisely. I see governments starting out in the HR efficiency area making sure HR is being run as cost effectively as possible while maintaining a good service level to employees.
If I can answer anything more specific please let me know....
- January 12, 2011 at 9:25 AM
- Mark Miller said...
Thanks for the thought-provoking post - I stumbled onto this blog and found it very insightful. After reading through your thoughts, I think they are right on, although somewhat difficult to track on a real-world level. How do you account for a lot of other factors that come into play with productivity (specifically $$ generated, which can be affected by the economic climate, competitor actions, etc.)?
This of course, is not a new challenge for HR and Training, but definitely something to consider.
One metric that our company, which uses a thinking and behavioral assessment (The Emergenetics Profile) has done is to connect a training session in with achievement of individual and team objectives. This has been interesting to track as some of the objectives are very bottom-line and numbers driven whereas others tend more toward relationships and effectiveness.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
Mark E. Miller
Director of Marketing
Emergenetics International
- January 25, 2011 at 2:17 PM
- Unknown said...
Hi Mark:
Thanks for stopping b and reading and commenting. You raise an excellent question regarding productivity and its drivers. I believe you are absolutely correct in that there are other external factors that could impact productivity. However, if you are tracking it consistently, you should be able to so those ebbs and flows in your data. Also, by isolating initiatives within the organization like training, maybe rewards, or others....you can perform statistical testing and see how much impact that has on productivity. Using regression you can see how a certain initiative impacts productivity. And you are right you will never will be ever to explain ALL the increase or decrease due to factors like you mention....but you will be able to see what the impact is for certain initiatives depending on the R squared you get when analyzing.
I hope that makes sense. I will check out your website to learn more about the Emergenetics Profile.
Thans again-
- January 26, 2011 at 2:13 AM


text:
Meet the Team
Our Dentists
Each of our dentists are highly qualified and dedicated to ensuring that they deliver the best dental treatment for you and your family.
Dr Alex Goichman (B.Med.Sc D.M.D)
Dr Alexander Goichman has been practicing clinical dentistry since 2001; he is an experienced clinician with attention to details and passion towards dental restoration and rehabilitation involving implants, crowns and complex facial and smile makeovers.
Early in his career, Alex gained clinical experience in private and corporate dental practices working alongside Oral surgeons, Prosthodontists, Endodontists and Periodontists.
During these early years, Alex realized that by gaining in-depth experience in different aspects of dentistry and being exposed to diverse and different approaches to dental diagnosis and treatment modules will allow him to offer his patients the highest level of care.
As a result of these years Alex had established his treatment philosophy: Dentistry, same as medicine, needs to start by comprehensive and accurate diagnosis which relays on skill, knowledge and backed by technology. This is to be followed by detailed planning and only then a high level of treatment.
Throughout his clinical career, Alex has noticed that most people prefer quality yet "in-house" dental care, therefore, Alex insists that his entire dental team will constantly be training and improving to be able to offer most aspects of dental care "in-house" to the highest standard.
Always wanting to learn and improve Alex is passionate about dental technology and materials. Having a background in chemistry you will often find Alex experimenting with new materials and technologies: attempting to improve working protocols and experiment with different applications.
With the advances in digital technology, Alex was able to combine his knowledge of chemistry and passion for the accuracy of 3D design to develop dento-digital treatment protocols which collect digital 3D dental data to pre-plan then carry out accurate and reliable dental solutions for a variety of dental and aesthetic conditions.
Alex has been the principal dentist and owner of Balaclava Dental Care since 2008, implementing his clinical philosophy enabled BDC to grow and become a multi clinician, multi-disciplinary and advanced dental centre. In recent years, due to high patient demand, we found it necessary to expand our operations and now are fortunate to include Malvern Family Dental as a sister clinic, offering the same level of service and care to our existing and new clients.
When not working, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife, three children and 2 dogs. He is a trained Barista who often roasts his own coffee, plays Basketball and loves Mountain Biking with his kids and dogs on the hills and mountains around Melbourne.
Alex is fluent in English, Russian and Hebrew.
Dr Stewart Macdonald BDSc (Melb) LDs (VIC)
Dr Sonia Barreto
Dr Sonia Barreto was educated at Javeriana University in Colombia, one of the premier dental faculties in South America.
Sonia has practiced in both private and public in Colombia and in Australia. Sonia preforms a wide variety of general dental procedures such as children dentistry, root canal treatments, implants, surgery and restorative dentistry. However, Her work in the specialist department of Prosthodontics at the Dental Hospital in Melbourne has given her a very solid experience in Crown, bridge and Denture as well as aesthetic procedures.
Sonia's approach to dentistry is marked by a holistic approach that emphasises the general wellbeing of the patient. This view of dental practice is further enhanced by the Master of Public Health that Sonia obtained by the University of Melbourne. Sonia has been involved in evidence-based dental research through all Victoria that has contributed to the improvement of the oral health of the population.
Sonia believes that good dental health is a significant factor in a person's overall well-being. Therefore dental treatment not only responds to the immediate dental problem but also contributes to the patient's general health and we'll-being. This philosophy characterises Sonia's practice of dentistry.
Away from dentistry, Dr Sonia Barreto enjoys signing, playing guitar and dancing.
Speaks Spanish and English
Andrew is a dual citizen hailing from Vancouver Canada and has Australian citizenship. He graduated from Sydney University in 2007 and has 12 years of dental experience. Andrew enjoys all facets of dentistry but has a keen interest in paediatrics.
Andrew was once a national calibre swimmer for Canada and represented his native country on several junior and select state teams that travelled around the world to compete against the world's best.
Andrew's passion for dentistry is seen with his countless hours of dedication to his craft and his desire to be a versatile dentist.
Our Staff
You'll see these friendly faces around the clinic and hear their happy voices on the phone. They're always more than happy to help our patients out so feel free to direct any enquiries their way if you need any assistance.
Eileen has been in the field of dental nursing for just over 9 years. She has worked in several practices across Melbourne and regional areas, gaining experience ranging from dental practice management to specialised implants and periodontics.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Posted by Larry Catt on March 05, 2018 • mora knives, survival gear, survival knife
Survival can be a very complicated thing. There seems to be a roadblock in thinking when choosing a survival knife. You know, it is not like every survival situation will be in the woods. While it is very convenient to assume that what you will need to do is process wood, build shelter and the like, we should also consider the fact that survival an be in an urban environment as well.
In such a case you might find that the right knife has several tools. Perhaps a Swiss Army knife with a good blade and some tools would get you further than a single fixed blade knife. More people live in urban environments than anywhere else. What do you fear in terms of survival?
If you are an adventurer then the standard fixed blade knife will make sense. A survival knife should meet certain criteria, but it should also be a tool that is going to help you when you need it most. As you read about the knives mentioned below, it is important that you consider these things.
Mora Companion
- Best in Value
- Quality Tool
- Sheath
When we talked about the value knives that are available on this list, there are none better than the Mora Companion. Mora has created the most reputable value survival knife on the market, period. There is nothing that compares to it at this price point.
The durable, high-quality Swedish steel is razor-sharp and designed for survival applications. While Mora Knives has been in the knife making industry for over 100 years, they really hit the mark with the Companion. For the great price you also get a plastic sheath that attaches to your belt.
If you are on a modest budget, there is no answer out there better than the Mora Companion.
Tool Logic SL Pro 2
Now, many people in the survival community scoff at these all in one design. Again, this goes back to the urban survivor. What the urban survivor might need is much different than what the wilderness emergency might require. The Tool Logic SL Pro 2 is a great way of answering that call.
This 3 inch folding blade does not fit the bill for many survival uses but its what it does beyond the blade that makes it stand out. The Tool Logic SL Pro 2 has several features built into it.
- Flashlight
- Survival Whistle
- Magnesium Alloy Firestarter
The knife also clips to your belt for ease of carry and use. This tool gives you the light in a power outage, fire if heat or cooking is an issue and you can also signal for help in a situation where it is required.
While this blade by Tool Logic is not your average survival knife and doesn't fit the norms, it can be very effective an urban survival situation in your area.
Victorinox Centurion
Carrying the sturdy fixed blade knife is important, but who is it to say that you can only carry one knife? How foolish an idea that we must choose one knife in an age of design and access like this one. There are so many great options out there, don't limit yourself.
Most people will give you the nod when it comes to carrying a multi tool on your person. It just makes good sense. Well, the Victorinox is a classic Swiss Army style knife. It comes with loads of tools and a 4 inch locking blade. That's a pretty impressive size for a multi tool.
Here is a look at what this knife offers beyond the blade.
- Screwdrivers
- A wire stripper
- A reamer
- Can opener
- Bottle opener
- Tweezer
- Key ring
- Toothpick
If you are looking for a few more tools to carry on your person, the Victorinox is a great option!
SRT (Self Reliance Tool) by Habilis Bushtools
Let's talk about wilderness survival! Let's talk about going all out for what you love. The SRT by Habilis Bushtools is a high dollar knife that hits all the high-notes when you talk about a quality survival knife for the wilderness. If bushcraft is your thing and wilderness survival is what gets you going this knife is worth looking at.
- Full Tang
- 90 Degree Spine
- 5inch Blade
- High Carbon Steel
- Strike with Flint
- Non Coated
The above listed are those things you need a knife to do at The Pathfinder School. These requirements are all met by the SRT. You will find that this knife is hard to beat and it's a work of art from the standpoint of craftsmanship.
These beautiful handmade knives are designed for people who take survival seriously.
Bush One by Jeff White
The Bush One is a smaller version of the Bush Knife, but don't let size fool you, this a very effective knife. These knives are also handmade but at a price point that most everyone will be able to afford. Being that they are made by hand there might be some small differences between models. However, the particulars will hold true.
The Bush One by Jeff White is a beautiful, maple handled knife with a 4 ½ high carbon steel cutting blade on it. This knife is built to take on the wilderness but at a price that only the Garberg can really stand up to. The full tang, scand-ivex grind means you have a knife that is sharp as a razor and able to take the beating you might exact on it in the wild.
This is a knife you can afford to scuff up and come back to time and time again. It's the best value on the list.
When you consider how close you will hold this knife and what it will be responsible for, it's easy to understand why these knives are so important. It is also easy to understand why they cannot be one size fits all.
Emergency and disaster can happen anywhere, it is not just about having the knife that rules the woods or the knife that meets the needs of an urban survivalist. Keep this personal. Seek the knife that both fits your budget and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. You should be proud of that knife you carry!


text:
Fall is here. Theres crispness in the air. Theres a buzz of activity downtown. Theres traffic on the bridges. And its time for a quick look at whos who and whats happening in the local music scene on paper, through the stereo speakers, on the cluttered stages, and elsewhere.
Ask 100 locals to define the local music sphere or the Charleston sound youll get 100 very different answers. That diversity is a strong sign of a healthy situation numerous cultural perspectives from a multiplicity of players, fans, and middlemen.
With this issue, weve assembled a collection of comments from local musicians and operatives in Charleston music. We pressed these people to name one song, album, or piece of music that best described, defined, or reminded them of the local music scene something that tied in with their impression or opinion of the whole thing something that popped into their minds when they considered their experiences or opinions of music in Charleston.
And we asked them to explain why.
Gary Erwin
(singer, keyboardist, blues historian; a.k.a. "Shrimp City Slim")
"Charleston Blues," recorded in 1946 by Chucktown-born Bertha "Chippie" Hill. Walking the hallowed streets of the peninsular city, I prefer to daydream about our blues and jazz greats of yesteryear. Hill was an impish but leather-lunged singer who enjoyed some international success before being killed by a hit-and-run driver in Harlem in 1950. Great lyrics: "Charleston, South Carolina, baby, is where I was born/If you get there, baby, those Geechees put your water wrong/I'm goin' to Charleston, honey, but I can't take you/No, there ain't nothin' on King Street, baby, a crazy gal like you could do/I'm goin' back to the fish house, baby, and get me some shrimp/I've got to feed, baby, two or three hungry ol' pimps." In 1991, I tried to get Charleston to adopt "Charleston Blues" as its official song, but I guess they're holding out for "Charleston" off the CD Blues on the Beach by Shrimp City Slim!
Kevin West
(singer/songwriter/bandleader/white rapper)
The first song that comes to mind is "A Little Help From My Friends" off The Beatles's Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. The one thing about the Charleston music scene is that most local musicians, bands, media, and club managers all seem to have a "we're all in this together" attitude. There have been plenty of times I've needed a cable, a mic stand, a speaker, or even a musician on short notice, and the show has always gone on – thanks to the friends I've made playing music in Charleston.
Murphy Pitts
(drummer of The Killer Whales, "almost slappy, galoot")
The album Streetcore by Joe Strummer. I used to play Charleston at least once a month in the '80s. These days, it's only twice a year. Venues have changed, but not the fans. This album exemplifies for me an immeasurable diversity in musical styles, rhythms, and lyrical content. It reminds me of the many open-minded – and sometimes twisted – souls that hunger for everything musical. The real scene for me comes from the audience, not the musicians. "May I remind you of that scene, the spirit is our gasoline" – from "Arms Aloft." Rock on Charleston!
Chris Sullivan
(lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Big Black Building, solo act)
The song that reminds me most of the scene would be "Talent Show" by The Replacements because it takes me back to being a young guy starting out – playing downtown on the Market, or house parties, or for a free beer tab and being really excited just because you were playing in front of people. That song just has a great sense of innocence and possibility about it!
Alan Brisendine
(drummer with Vehicle, Unisol, and Kevin West; saxophonist and keyboardist with Booty Call)
While there's no particular song or album to generalize the diversity of music in this town, I think Little Feat's Waiting For Columbus captures the feel of a live show in a way that can be compared to what you may experience at one of the many venues in Charleston, such as the Pour House, Music Farm, or Johnson's Pub, where true music lovers tend to congregate. I can't think of anyone in the audience on that album who could not be having a good time, and that's what going to see really fine live music is all about.
Kevin Kless
(one half of the Kevin & Jourdan acoustic duo, bassist with MacDaddy, guitarist with TNT)
The Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Under the Bridge" comes to mind. First, you have the bridge that has come to symbolize the city. Then, a musician can feel as if their only friend is the city they live in because the Citadel football team or the Blue Dogs are playing in town and everyone is there.
(lead singer for The Soul Bass Band, one half of the Kevin & Jourdan acoustic duo)
I believe a song which personifies the scene is "Everyday People" by Sly & The Family Stone. The song speaks of diversity. Charleston has developed a blend of many different cultures musically. As a result, it has become the "norm" to see most local bands rocking out different genres in one night.
Michael Thompson
(singer, guitarist, songwriter)
If I had to choose an album to describe the Charleston music scene, I couldn't. The scene here is so eclectic that it can't be described by one song or album. One day any given venue could give you metal, and then the next day give you bluegrass. But, if I had to, I'd say Johnny Cash's American IV: The Man Comes Around. Cash, who was as distinctly Southern and country as Charleston, gives something to all of us by covering Nine Inch Nails, Paul Simon, The Beatles, Sting, The Eagles, Hank Williams, and "Danny Boy" on this album. Not to mention that the record is produced by Rick Rubin. If anything, Charleston embraces all things music, as did Johnny Cash.
Fiona Phillips
(singer/guitarist with The Cool and The Sirens)
The album that reminds me the most of the Charleston Music scene, from my experience of course, would be Rumours by Fleetwood Mac – not too much explanation needed. I think we have a great group of musicians in this town, and I have met a lot of wonderful and talented people since I've been here.
Andrew Hollowell
(co-owner of local venue West Ashley Bait & Tackle)
There's an old Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee song titled "People Get Ready." With all of the talented musicians, the variety of styles and unique venues to showcase these skills, it's a matter of time until a "Charleston" sound is recognized outside of the Lowcountry. So ... people get ready!
Harrison Ray
(guitarist/vocalist of The April Invention, vintage pop enthusiast)
I would have to say at this time "Octopus Ride" by Syd Barrett. The Madcap Laughs album. To me, it paints a vivid picture of an observant musician stranded on a giant sailboat decorated and staffed by the Ladson County Fair committee.
B.J. Craven
(longtime Charleston strummer, guitarist with Murrell's Inlet's Ten Toes Up)
Charleston's scene reminds me of George Clinton and Parliament's "Tear The Roof Off Of the Sucker." The line "You've got a real type of thing going down, gettin' down/There's a whole lot of rhythm going round," lends itself well to my experiences here. The bands fight to see who can make the most people dance. There is too much make-up and whining in music today, but Charleston is happily bouncing to its own beat.
Kain Cameron
(rock, jazz, and music theatre singer; actress, and local radio personality for Y102.5)
"Piece Of My Heart" by Janis Joplin. It's a song that, for me, connects my experience in the local rock scene and with my local theatre experience in "Rock 'n' Roll Heaven" portraying Janis. I know what it's like to give a piece of my heart and have a part of it taken by the local music and theatre scene. Just like Janis' voice, the scene can be tough, hard, cutting, deeply soulful, sort of earthy with the occasional stroke of genius. I can relate to her grit and strength and her vulnerability and insecurity on- and off-stage. It's tough to be a woman in rock 'n' roll ... Janis knew that and I found that out, too, first-hand.
John Crain
(songwriter; bassist of The Stiff Joints, MacDaddy)
It would have to be, hands down, The Replacements album Pleased to Meet Me, which reeks of the Charleston music scene. The minute you start blasting the first song, "IOU," you get a whiff of cigarette smoke and the taste of Cumberland's cheap draft in your gullet. I mean, come on. "Shootin' Dirty Pool?" Were those guys at the Firehouse in West Ashley when they wrote that song? What about "Red Red Wine on Sunday?" Every dedicated Charleston musician I know nurses the hangover from the lousy gig the night before at a downtown watering hole on Sunday. No blue laws, thank God. "Nightclub Jitters" literally speaks for itself.
Bobby Ross
(The Windjammer's longtime manager, booking guy, sound engineer)
That's a tough question. I've just finished my 27th summer here, so there's a lot of music to consider. The first thing that comes to mind might be the Hootie boys. I remember one show around 1993 after some band played for a full house, I played "Hold My Hand" over the P.A. as a closing song for the night. Basically, the whole fucking bar started singing along with the lyrics – and this was before they'd hit the radio at all. I called Woody Bartlett [at 96 Wave] and said, 'Man, you've got to play this song on the radio!' A few days later, Miles Crosby played Hootie for the first time on commercial rock radio in Charleston.
Lawson Roberts
(club owner and event organizer, Tonik)
When I think of local music, I always end up back at the "Bottle of Moonlight" tune by Uncle Mingo. They have such a strong mix of funk and progressive rock. The way that they utilized horn lines in songs and the tasteful arrangements that were put into play always stuck out to me. It's real easy in a town like Charleston to lean towards a jam band feel but to maintain the tight sounds that Scott Quattlebaum and the boys used is what really makes them stand out in the scene. My overall impression of the local music scene is that it has been quite evolutionary.
Larry "Sugarbritches" Williams
(keyboardist and vocalist with shag/R&B showband The Coppertones)
You know, the scene is so diverse. Pick a night, you can hear speed metal, classic rock, power trios, jazz, bluegrass, funk, blues, country, alternative, or beach. I think what personifies it for me is Ray Charles. Draw a line from the first caveman beating on a hollow log to any one of those genres, and you have to draw that line through Ray. Listen to Ray's version of the old country classic, "You Are My Sunshine." Country, blues, soul, and jazz fused together and giving birth to musical genres yet unborn. That's what the music scene is here in Charleston: a melange of styles.
Leah Suarez
(singer and bandleader of Cuban/Latin jazz ensemble
Toca Toca)
Bob Marley's "Jammin'" is the song that reminds me most of the scene. It's the first one that comes to mind. Maybe it sounds a little obvious, but I think that reggae is one of the most prevalent influences in popular music in Charleston today, maybe because of its obvious connection to the Caribbean. Most consider it "feel-good" music with "easy" lyrics. His tell a history of thousands of years and the repetition of that history in the world today. I think Charleston and its music scene have a lot to learn from their roots in spirituals, blues, jazz, and language.
J.R. Getches
(guitarist for MacDaddy and Smoking The Ghost)
For me, the definitive Charleston song is "Love Shack" by the B-52s. The lyric is evocative of the humid, erotic atmosphere of the party scene. The song appears to appeal to all generations and packs the dance floor every time the opening drum riff rings out.
Stuart Johnson
(booking agent and sound engineer at A Dough Re Mi; guitarist with Allnightkungfu)
The song and album that come to mind is Marquee Moon by Television – a band that was at the forefront of the New York punk/new wave scene with intertwining guitars that seemed to jam on forever. The way that it reminds me of the local scene is that a lot of the people involved, both past and present, seem to have a very objective view of what they do, thereby stretching their genres, if they are capable of being classified at all. The other thing is that song reminds me of when I worked at The Village Tavern. It was on the jukebox.
(Asst. Program Director, morning personality, The Bridge at 105.5)
The Charleston music scene, on a local level, is shedding its skin from acts like Hootie & The Blowfish, Edwin McCain, and The Blue Dogs. Though these guys have made a real place for themselves, the torch has yet to be passed. I've seen a lot of fantastic bands and artists since then that should have gone much further than they have, but even they have moved on to other things. Much to my dismay, the music industry has this idea that if you're over 30 you may as well hang up your instrument — no matter that you've been busting your ass since your teens to get noticed. I see some bands that are buying into the "model." Sometimes success is not in getting signed but in the experience and being true to your art. When I think of the Charleston music scene the song that comes to mind is "Better Things" by The Kinks from their album Give the People What They Want, because "I know tomorrow you'll find better things."
Josh Terry
(tour manager for Motion City Soundtrack; manager for Leslie; booking agent for Owen Beverly and Ward Williams)
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' "Learning To Fly" is a pretty good explanation of how hard the local bands in Charleston work. The song touches on the ups and downs in people's lives, their setbacks and their successes. For so many Charleston bands recently, we've seen several of them get major label deals and be given a better opportunity to take their music to a much larger audience than our small scene. Not to mention all the up-and-coming bands in the scene right now that are touring like crazy and starting to get some attention from other areas.
Clay Ross
(guitarist, risk-taker, former Charleston jazz cat now based in New York)
Now, you know this is unfair 'cause I could come at this question all day, but I'm gonna play nice and pick one song. I'll imagine that I'm hanging at the house with all my favorite Charleston musicians. We're having some beers, sharing some stories, and taking turns with iTunes. I wanna tell everyone about my first roommate at CofC, how he was an intense character, how he threatened to kill me because I borrowed a pair of his socks, and how he turned me on to this great "black" artist named G. Love. Well, I later found out that G. is white, but that didn't change the way I felt about his song, "Baby Got Sauce." To this day, when I hear this tune, it reminds me of Charleston and the local music scene. It's got a little jazz, a little hip-hop, a funky back beat, and a mellow vibe.
Chris McLernon
(guitarist/bassist with Weird Science, Hair-e-oke, Jack & Tyler)
"Dance To The Music" from the 1968 album of the same name by Sly & The Family Stone. Why? The element about the Charleston music scene that has struck me the most has been the sense of community. And like Sly and his band, it's a melting pot of people, styles, and cooperation from seemingly disparate corners of ages, abilities, styles, roles, tastes, and volumes. And when you harmonize all those pieces, you get dancing. Just like the song says. Can't get any better than that.
Danielle Howle
(vocalist, veteran songwriter, guitar picker)
There are tons of Charleston and a couple Columbia-based artists on my latest album, Thank You, Mark. The groovy horn playing of Charlton Singleton, Stephen Spaulding, and Christopher Williams on the tunes "Walking Through the Black" and "Oh Swear." I wrote "I'll Be Blue" sitting on the stoop of 84 Cumberland St., after a gig at Theatre 99. Adam Blake plays drums on that and others. I think Jay Clifford arranging strings for my tune "Love is a Fall" and Ward Williams playing those amazing notes. I think Darius Rucker singing a duet with me on the Etta James/Harvey Fuqua classic, "If I Can't Have You," with those same horn players mentioned above, and Mark Bryan producing. But, I did write a song called "Dark, Like The Coat" about strolling Charleston's streets, on the album Skorborealis. My new record would not exist without Charleston's extraordinary musicians and their influence. All this inspiration ... I carry it with me gratefully every day of my life.
Arleigh Hertzler
(guitarist/vocalist of punkabilly rock trio The Defilers)
I landed on "Don't Take Me For Granted" from Sex, Love, and Rock and Roll by Social Distortion. We've been lucky to do well around Charleston, and have a great time playing here. We do all we can to bring in the best bands that we play with around the Southeast when we're on the road so that the folks here in Charleston can see what other cities get to hear on a regular basis. The one thing that bugs me is when I hear people complaining that there isn't much going on in Charleston. When Social D or The Reverend Horton Heat come to town, tons of people show up, and while I know we're nowhere near as good as those guys, we're similar in styles, and so are a lot of the other bands we bring in. So, instead of sitting in the same old bar every night, make a point to go out and catch a live show. It might turn out that you're missing some really good local bands that are right up your alley.
Trey Lofton
(owner and booking guru at the Village Tavern)
I would have to mention the 351 Cleveland self-titled disc [351 Cleveland] as a standout, recorded by a group of guys with deep roots in S.C.'s music scene. A short but nearly flawless album that boasted the best production values I have ever heard in a purely independently produced release by a group from S.C. Four years later, I still listen with frequency. Most of the guys are still playing in excellent groups, but this was certainly a high point. Criminally neglected anywhere outside of Greenwood.
Bryant Stowe
(radio host of "The Cutting Edge" and "Local Look
@ 10" on 96 Wave)
When I think of the local music around here, it reminds me of a song by the Supersuckers called "Rock 'n' Roll Records (Ain't Selling This Year)." I have had the pleasure of having most of the local bands from Charleston in the 96 Wave studio to chat and play tunes over the past several years, and I hear about how hard they struggle to make time to practice, get gigs, record CDs, and just make a living to support their music habit. Sometimes it makes me sick to see or hear how small a crowd is at one of their shows when I know how good the local bands are here. Please support your local musicians, local music stores — not the big boxes — and your radio stations that play local music.
Jason Shields
(bass player of Charleston/Kansas trio The Capsules)
I can't help but think of the Muse album Absolution every time I think about music. It was all we were listening to around the time we moved out here and it kept coming up around that time. One of the first nights we were in town we went out to see a great local band, Maniquinn, and they were playing that album between sets. It's also the album that keeps us awake at 3 a.m. on tour or on our long treks between Charleston and our hometown, Kansas City.
Kenny Varner
(shaggy-headed bassist of Red Handed)
I am going to refer back to a 1989 album released on a not-so-well-known label – Nirvana's Bleach on Sub Pop. Let me tell you why this album reminds me of our music scene. If you put the this in your stereo, immediately you're overcome by raw and emotionally charged songs influenced by genres like punk, metal, and classic rock. Those sounds are found in every band in Charleston, one way or another. And like how Bleach was unknown to most of America in 1989, so is the rock scene here... and like Nirvana, I think Charleston will have its Nevermind.
Jim Voigt (a.k.a. The Critic)
(morning show host and veteran DJ with 96 Wave)
When I first arrived in Charleston in '92, I was listening to The Woodman on 96 Wave, and I was instantly impressed when he played The Cynics' "Baby What's Wrong" and the Supersuckers' "Coattail Rider." I couldn't believe that this radio station in S.C. was so much cooler than the phony stations in ultra-hip New York City that I just left. Then I heard he was broadcasting live from the original Music Farm on East Bay Street and I had to investigate. Not only did I love "the dump" that was the old Farm, but on stage was Charleston's legendary – and best – hard rock power trio, Children's Choir. I remember thinking to myself, maybe I can get used to living in Charleston. And needless to say, nearly 15 years later, I'm still here.
Michael "Atonal" Vick
(fretless guitarist extraordinaire, a.k.a. VVV)
Although I rarely ever consider Charleston's music scene as a whole; I feel the song "Joy" by Shakti represents the scene very well because most artists seem full of joy whether people are listening to them or not. At least, that is my experience.
Lorne Chambers
(West Of publisher, former music editor of City Paper)
When I first moved to Charleston in the mid-'90s I was exposed to alt-country. This was the heyday for 96 Wave. Bands like Uncle Tupelo, Cracker, Son Volt, and Wilco were in regular rotation. It was magic to me. These bands took all the things that were good about country music and gave it a twangy, indie rock feel. Wilco released A.M. in 1995, an album that will always remind me of that time in my life and of Charleston in general. In 1997, they played the Music Farm. Later that year, they played Wavefest along with Son Volt, The Jayhawks, Ben Folds Five, Cracker, and David Byrne. My life would never be the same. To this day, every time I hear "Passenger Side," or "I Must Be High," I can't help but recall those reckless, carefree years. It's as if that album is the soundtrack for a time and a place that seems almost surreal now. But that is the Charleston I choose to remember.
Matthew Herring
(singer and guitar player for Milhouse)
I say "Sick Cycle Carousel" by Lifehouse, off No Name Face. The local music scene has changed dramatically since I was young. I remember coming down here – spinning from the buzz in the air about Jump, Little Children, Uncle Mingo, and even Hootie was partially claimed by the Lowcountry. All those days are gone. The local bands today are driven by the microwave generation's need to be gratified, and be gratified as instantaneously as possible. What could be a new offering to the crowd quickly becomes a Jack Johnson cover. But I don't blame the bands ... and I don't blame the crowds. It's a sick cycle carousel.
Taylor Massey
(globally-aware turntablist at Torch)
Charleston's known for many things: colonial architecture, a vivid history, a brilliant art festival, the lively college crowd, and the tourism. In that light, to define the energy of Charleston's growing music scene, it's only prudent to describe the sights and sounds of Charleston through artists that truly represent the old merging with the new. Thievery Corporation's 2005 release The Cosmic Game is the first group/album that comes to mind when the question is posed, "what song/album defines our local music scene today." The album itself, with no mention of any one specific track, is a true "Tour" if you will, of the wonderful music that helped shape our modern scene here in Charleston, and everywhere else for that matter.
Mike Szemly
(guitarist with Summerville's neverthaless)
"Original Fire" from Audioslave. I kind of molded it to be about the "fire" that many local musicians have ... and some have lost. That deep-down desire to move someone with your music, to write something cool and have people dig it. Sometimes you get lost in a paycheck and forget why it is you do what you do in the first place. We are lucky to have a scene where you can constantly find that "original fire burnin'" and be sent home inspired.
Skye Suarez
(local music agent and band promoter; staff writer for Charleston's Free Time)
"Diamonds on My Windshield" By Tom Waits is the song. It's blues and jazzy funk with a shot of mountain moonshine rippling through the water ... that's as close as I can get to giving a brief summation of the Charleston music scene.
Tom Hamer
(drummer with the Fire Apes, The Hed Shop Boys)
The album Emotional Geography by the Killer Whales — and the self titled EP as well. [Guitarist] David Bethany and the Whales! I remember watching them on Star Search from a buddy's house when we were just beginning to play music. Inspirational stuff, that record — and they were from my hometown of Charleston! "Marlene" was the hit song. Drummer Murphy Pitts was my freakin' idol ... Charleston music scene at its finest!
Rik Cribb
(singer, songwriter, solo act, guitarist of Rik Cribb
& The Problems)
Whenever I hear the Killer Whales — anything off of Emotional Geography — it brings me back to the real reason I started playing … I mean Murphy fuckin' Pitts, dude … and the smell of the old Windjammer and Myskyn's — it was another universe. That guy was the king of the Roto-toms and the sound of David Bethany's Roland Jazz Chorus amp. Shit. That is the sound, to me, of the music scene and why I wanted to be part of it.
Evans Putman
(local freelance music writer, plogger, trivia master with The Post & Courier's "Preview")
I guess right off the top of my cranium I'd have to go with Devo's "Freedom of Choice." On any given night in the scene you can see a band or artist playing bluegrass, rock 'n' roll, funk, reggae, metal, punk, rockabilly, and so much more. Then you also have local bands that take a variety of genres, stir them up in a big ol' pot and come up with a recipe of their own. "Freedom of choice ... is what you got." Use your "freedom of choice" and get out there in support of our local music scene because in many other cities our size, your options are about as exciting as choosing between regular or curly fries.
Shawnté Salabert
(freelance writer and longtime City Paper contributor)
"Make Me a Mixtape" by The Promise Ring. I really, really refuse to call them "mix CDs." They'll always be mixtapes to me, and although I've always been a fan, my affection for them grew exponentially while I lived in Charleston. They were traded amongst friends and lovers, each one a tiny peek into a particular relationship – there was the series of under-the-radar indie-rock I received from a friend who now resides on the Other Coast; a purple disc of soulful love jamz given to me by an ex-boyfriend, and the Birthday Mix from an old roommate – in fact, the person who introduced me to the song above, which we used to belt at the top of our lungs while we drove with the windows all the way down, wind whipping through our hair. So, make me a mixtape ... just throw some Charleston on there, if you will.
Amy Hutto
(midday DJ for 98X, Production Director, and host of
"Local X")
AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)." I think everything about this song captures the scene. The entire scene has progressed to a great place, and continues to grow! It's hard out there, but every band out here makes it look so easy and we all keep pushing on together. The Charleston music scene has "big balls!"
Rob "Bon" Liotti
(lead vocalist for local AC/DC tribute TNT)
The one song, title, and musical lyric that is for me most analogous to the scene originally comes from Down Under — "It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" by AC/DC, of course. It is the phrase that all musicians have and do live by whether they have heard the song or not.
Brady Waggoner
(MC/DJ with Dub Island Sound System)
As David Rodigan would say, I'm a dancehall reggae fanatic. So I have to represent with a landmark dancehall must-have. General Degree's "Traffic Blocking" has to remind me most of my experiences playing in Chucktown. It's a solid and sweaty dancehall standard about women so hot they stop traffic. If you've ever been to a Dub Island Show at Barrier Island on Saturday and seen the cars lined up, you'll know what General Degree is talking about. That's the closest thing to seeing a Jamaican sound play out in Grange Hill or Savanna La Mar of Westmoreland, Jamaica. Cars pack the country roads there for miles.
Travis Allison
(singer, keyboradist, bandleader, session man)
Tom Waits' "(Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night" actually comes to mind when I think about all the good variations of music coming out of the local bars, restaurants, and nightclubs on any given night of the week. It's always a good night to go see live music here in Charleston.
Eric "Lunar"
(band manager/promoter, Lunartik Entertainment)
Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" reminds me of the scene over the years. Not the style of the song itself, although it is a great one, but the message. The idea that someone will do whatever they have to in order to continue on in spite of major obstacles and setbacks is one that I've seen time and again in Charleston's music scene: the bands, the venues, the radio stations. I've seen a lot of peaks and valleys in Charleston's music scene over the years, but I don't doubt with the intensity of the artists and their supporters and the fans that it will continue on and continue to survive.
Hermann Mutant
(vocalist for Hybrid Mutants, "chief burger flipper" at McNeill's Pub)
When thinking of the Charleston band scene, I think of The Beatles' Abbey Road. A collection of gems whose only connection is being in the same place at the same time, and one of them has no shoes.
James McKinney
(guitarist and string player in Good News, The Sound Affects, ex-Velveeta)
Although my contribution to – or detraction from – the local music scene was playing cheesy '80s music, I have a real passion for Southern roots music. I feel that the album Decoration Day from the Drive-By Truckers defines a very important aspect of our music scene. The blazing riffs from three guitars harken back to the glory days of Southern rock in the '70s. To me, this album reflects unique Southern culture and values. It is a vast departure from the commercialized country music that is programmed on radio stations.
Kevin Hanley
(musician, Chord & Pedal overlord)
Bud Collins' "White Trash Spiritual" from The Preppy Fakebook. Believe it or not, 96 Wave used to play local music every afternoon and I heard this gem the first week I lived in Charleston. I had a hard time believing it was a local band and it made me excited about the prospects of living here. As fate would have it, I ended up working at a place with one of the members of Bud Collins. Within a month, I filled in on drums for them at a Music Farm gig with Superchunk. I met countless local musicians during that time, and I count many of them today as great friends. One of whom was Bud Collins' bassist, Bill Carson, who, incidentally, christened the name "Chord and Pedal." The Preppy Fakebook remains, in my opinion, one of the best albums to ever come out of Charleston.
Sadler Vaden
(guitarist and vocalist of Leslie)
This is a recent discovery for me, but I think it has to be Elvis Costello's "Welcome to the Working Week" off of My Aim is True. I just think about my group and all of our other comrades that know what it's like to be "weekend warriors" and havin' to come back to those jobs after an especially good time over the weekend. "I know it don't thrill you, I hope it don't kill you!"
Charlie Geer
(drummer, author, world traveler, ex-Curious George)
I'm thinking "Hey Nineteen" by Steely Dan. Slick production, all silk and cheese on the surface, with a sinister undertow. Too, I sometimes feel ancient when I'm walking King on a Saturday night. Everybody's 19, and other than the fine Colombian and the Cuervo Gold, we got nothin' in common, no we can't talk at all.
Tim Davis
(vocalist of Columbia/Charleston band The Soul Mites)
The Charleston music scene reminds me of not one but many different styles. From the eclectic remnants of Jump, Little Children to the hard edge hits of Number One Contender, I feel the area has much to offer not only to the Southeast, but to the world. With Jimbo at the Music Farm, Bobby at the Windjammer, Trey at the Village Tavern, and a host of other great music venues here in Chuck Town, we have the right environment to build and sustain the kind of music scene that keeps us fresh and innovative. As Nirvana would put it, Charleston is always "In Bloom."
Ryan Brown
(manager at The Map Room, player in The Apologies)
I always thought our local band Hot Charlie with tracks like "Swiss Army Dildo" and "Turkish Prison Surprise" brought me back to the days when the gang and I would be riding to nowhere in my crappy '83 Datsun singing "Bitchin' Camaro" by The Dead Milkmen or They Might Be Giants' "The Statue Got Me High." It's that freewheeling, geeky, wiseass, sometimes nonsensical humor that we craved. Remember: "If you don't got Mojo Nixon / Then your store could use some fixin'."


text:
What has to change for you to be happy at work?
Do you need a new position?
Do you want a different office?
Do you want to move?
Do you want to travel more? Less?
Do you need your supervisor to quit?
Do you co-workers need to be less "catty?"
Does your boss need to stop making crude comments?
How about a raise?
Would you be happy if you worked different hours or had less stress?
Actually, if you are not happy now, none of those things changing will make you happy. At the risk of sounding cliché, happiness is, after all, an inside job.
Circumstances will continue to change. People will continue to do irritating or ignorant things. There will always be business opportunities that look better than where you find yourself currently. This is all part of the ranging storm of chaos that continues to swirl around us. It will not stop. It's part of living in this world.
But YOU are one with your creator. One with love and joy and peace. YOU are actually carrying joy around on the inside of you. The problem is that you have allowed other things to cloud your vision. You have started to perhaps compare yourself and your situation to that of other people. Life will never be "fair." If you are looking outside of yourself in any way for peace or joy, you will not find it.
Outside circumstances are just smoke and mirrors; they shift and change, but they are only replaced by other things that will bring stress or pain or feelings of inadequacy, or maybe even temporary elation. All feelings are temporary.
Your strength comes from your connection to all that is. It comes from knowing your true identity. Strengthen those things. Strengthen your gratitude practice. Learn to be thankful where you are. That doesn't mean you don't work toward improvement or better circumstances or leave relationships or get out of situations that are harmful to you. Of course you need to do those things. However, if you are focused on what you don't have, or on what someone else has, your valuable time is spent spinning your wheels in a deep, deep rut of muck. The longer you stay in that rut, the harder it is to get out and the less forward movement you will experience.
You are sucking your productivity dry by focusing on irritations, annoyances, the unfairness of the situation. Recognize the situation for what it is, but strengthen your meditation practice, repeat your mantra that "I am whole, perfect and complete," and look hard and deep for things to be grateful for. You will attract those things that you focus on. If you focus on the negative, more of that will flood into your life. If you focus on what is already good and beneficial, more of that will flow to you.
Sometimes that means to resist every single temptation to worry, to be critical, to hold onto resentment. You have created those habits. Only you can break them. If you understand that you are shooting yourself in the foot every time you allow one of those thoughts to fester, it will be easier to resist and replace with healthier thoughts and actions. Those habits were not formed overnight. It takes diligence to replace them.
If you have a strong why, such as you are diving yourself away from that raise, you are allowing an atmosphere in your body for disease, or that you are becoming someone that you don't want to be by following your impulse toward negativity, it is easier to change. If you want to lose weight you need to eat a healthier diet. If you want to lose old baggage, you need to feed your mind healthier thoughts.
Stop chasing happiness. Slow down enough to recognize that it's already there and nurture it.


text:
As you saw today on BJS there were two excellent articles written concerning the Divine Call process and the Office of the Holy Ministry. These two articles were enhanced by a Google Hangout hosted by Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller with the … Continue reading
Tag Archives: YouTube
Our BJS Catechism Series continues with Part 2, the First Commandment. Watch for these and share it with your friends, you will not be disappointed. And as the summer goes by, keep coming back for more installments. For those pastors … Continue reading
Great news to our readers (and watchers!). Some of our authors here at BJS are working diligently on what we are calling "The Brothers of John the Steadfast Catechism Series", which are 2-5 minute video segment summaries of the Small … Continue reading


text:
Spacious comfort and modern convenience combine with impeccable results here at the Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort. Ideally located in the heart of the city's vibrant downtown district, on Victoria's Inner Harbour, our hotel showcases outstanding amenities and easy access to some of the area's most popular attractions. Whether you're here for business or leisure, you'll be thrilled with our accommodation, which offers breathtaking waterfront views, as well as perks like a flat-screen TV, 24-hour room service and a well-lit work area. Stay fit during your Victoria visit at our fully-equipped gym. LURE Restaurant & Bar offers great cocktails and innovative cuisine sourced locally in BC, and our hotel spa sets the stage for relaxation. And be sure to take advantage of our location in downtown Victoria; we're just moments away from Butchart Gardens, the Royal British Columbia Museum and much more. We can't wait to welcome you here to the Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort.
Amenities· 24-hour front desk
· 24-hour room service
· Accessible facilities
· Accessible parking
· Boarding pass print-out available
· Bookstore - (In Area)
· Business center
· Business services
· Car rental desk - (In Area)
· Carryout breakfast
· Child programs
· Complimentary in-room coffee or tea
· Complimentary newspaper in lobby
· Concierge desk
· Concierge floor
· Continental breakfast
· Currency exchange
· Direct dial telephone
· Dry cleaning
· Efolio available to company
· Elevators
· Exercise gym
· Express check-out
· Florist - (In Area)
· Free high speed internet connection
· Front desk
· Full american breakfast
· Full service housekeeping
· Hair dryer
· Health club
· High speed internet access
· High speed wireless
· High speed wireless
· Hot breakfast
· Housekeeping - daily
· Ice machine
· Individual Efolio available
· Indoor pool
· Interior corridors
· Ironing board
· Kitchenette
· Laundry/Valet service
· Meeting rooms
· Non-smoking rooms (generic)
· On-Site parking
· Parking
· Pets allowed
· Pool
· Public area air conditioned
· Restaurant
· Room service
· Room service - full menu
· Safe deposit box
· Sauna
· Security
· Spa
· Tennis court
· Valet cleaning
· Valet parking
· Vending machines
· Wakeup service
· Wedding services
· Whirlpool
· Wireless internet connection in public areas
Room InformationThe amenities listed in this description represent a sample of amenities available in some or all guest rooms in this hotel
High speed internet connection, Internet access, Wireless internet connection, High speed wireless, Non-smoking, Kitchenette, Sofa bed, Coffee/Tea maker, Alarm clock, Air conditioning, Air conditioning individually controlled in room, Bottled water, Large desk, Chair provided with desk, Desk with electrical outlet, Spare electrical outlet available at desk, Telephone, Voice mail, Two-line phone, Speaker phone, Private bathroom, Bathrobe, Hairdryer, Iron, Bathroom amenities, Foam pillows, Cribs, Rollaway bed, Converters/ Voltage adaptors, Electrical adaptors available, Free toll free calls, Color television, Cable television, CNN availaible, International channels, All news channel, iPod docking station, AM/FM radio, Stereo, Remote control television, Duvet, Shower, Bathtub/shower combination, Upgraded bathroom amenities, Plug & play panel, Electrical current voltage, Separate modem line available, Multi-line phone, Microwave, Toaster, Mini-refrigerator, Instant hot water, Direct dial phone number, Connecting rooms, Silverware/utensils, Plates and bowls, Dish-cleaning supplies
Miscellaneous Information
· Canadian Dollars is the native currency.
· Check in time is 4:00 PM
· Check out time is 12:00 PM
· Opened in 1992
· Renovated in 01/01/2012
· 240 rooms.
· 4 suites.
· 8 floors.
Cancellation Policy
Cancel policy may be more restrictive based on rate / room booked, season, special events
Restaurant InformationLURE Restaurant & Bar
LURE Restaurant & Bar showcases locally sourced cuisine ranging from crispy calamari to maple bourbon pork ribs. We also serve a wide range of creative cocktails; stop by after a busy day in downtown Victoria, BC and relax by the waterfront with friends.Harbour Grab 'n Go
Located in the lobby, our Harbour Grab'n Go offers Starbuck's coffee, tea and a variety of snacks such as pastries, sandwiches, yogurts and fruit.
Meeting FacilityArbutus Ballroom Arbutus Ballroom A Arbutus Ballroom B Arbutus Ballroom C Arbutus Ballroom D Arbutus Ballroom A/B Arbutus Ballroom C/D Arbutus Ballroom B/C/D Arbutus Ballroom Foyer Pacific Suite Executive Room Songhees Suite Cowichan Room Hudson Room Pier Boardroom Harbour Room Harbour Foyer Harbour Patio Loft Suite Ocean Suite (Hospitality Suite)
Recreation Information
Fitness center on-site
Health club
Tennis court
Scuba diving
Bowling alley
Hiking trail
Horseback riding
Putt putt golf
Sports court onsite
Squash court
Indoor pool
Children's program
Area Attractions- Victoria
- Bay Centre
- Market Square
- Victoria International Airport
- Royal BC Museum and IMAX
- Save On Foods Memorial Centre
- University of Victoria
- Victoria Conference Centre
- Mile 0
- China Town
- Butchart Gardens
- Craigdarroch Castle
- Hatley Park & Castle
- Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse
- Whale Watching & Wildlife Tours
- Royal Theatre
- McPherson Playhouse
- Belfry Theatre
- University of Victoria's Phoenix Theatre
- Beacon Hill Park and Petting Zoo
- BC Parliament Buildings
- Butterfly Gardens
- Fisherman's Wharf
- Victoria Beer Week
- Chinatown Walks (Walking Tours)
- Victoria Ska Festival
- Aboriginal Cultural Festival
- Victoria Jazz Festival
- Spirit of Victoria 150
- Victoria Pride Festival
- Downtown Victoria Busker's Festival
- Rifflandia Music Festival


text:
Update your password regularly to keep your account safe.
Elite Status Progress
Lifetime Diamond
With Lifetime Diamond, there is no expiration and no re-qualifying for your status - ever again!
Skip brand navigation
skip form
Where do you want to go?
City, Airport, Address, Attraction, Hotel
No search results found.
results were found. Press up and down key to select.
Use flexible dates
Promotion/Offer Code:
Group Code:
Corporate Account:
Use Points
Travel Agent
AAA Rate *
AARP Rate *
Senior Rate *
Government / Military Rates *
* ID required at check-in
Skip secondary navigation
At Hilton, dining options are designed with you in mind. Start the day with a hearty breakfast or nutritious light bite; savour innovative dishes prepared with only the freshest ingredients, or simply relax with a cup of coffee in the hotel lounge. From business brunches to pre-dinner drinks and everything in between, the options at Hilton are catered especially for you.
Grab and Go marketplace for selection of daily made products as well as local candy, snacks, beer, wine and cocktails
Come relax in the Atrium Bar located at the Hilton Nashville Airport. Serving a delicious variety of American/Southern cuisine and beverages to quench your thirst
Extensive Buffet with made to order items and a la carte dining options available


text:
South Park is 38 acres of natural native riparian flood area located in south Sheridan. Sheridan Mayor Dave Kinskey says that they need a few good hands to help clean up the area next Saturday.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - A poll says Wyoming Republicans Rita Meyer and Matt Mead are their party's leading gubernatorial candidates ahead of the August 17th Primary Election. Results of the poll show that 27 percent of 400 voters surveyed said they would vote for Meyer, who is State Auditor, while 24 percent said they would vote for Mead, a former U.S. Attorney for Wyoming.
U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis spoke out in opposition of H.R. 3534, or the CLEAR Act during a floor debate Friday. The bill includes unlimited spill liability for offshore operators, which could effectively eliminate independent producers from operating offshore if they cannot obtain insurance policies to cover their operations.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - An environmental group hoping to block construction of a $3 billion gas pipeline from Wyoming to Oregon has filed suit. The Tucson, Arizona based Center for Biological Diversity says the Ruby Pipeline would cut across "pristine and remote lands" and harm endangered fish.
Libby Hall, Overall Champion Senior Sheep Showman
The sinking sun in the west illuminates the clouds in the east
A happy Nikki Copenhaver leads "Heaths Little Star"
Grace Cannon "The Ghosts of Sheridan Wyoming" / Kevin Bohenblust, State Board of Medicine
Open Lines
Road & Travel


text:
The Masters is one of the "toughest tickets in sports" to get, but two badges could be yours through this unique Lazarus House fundraising opportunity.
The raffle package includes a hotel stay for two nights, transportation, VIP access to The Foundry at Rae's Creek featuring gourmet menu selections, massages, hand-rolled cigars, a premium open bar, daily pairing sheets, and official programs and mementos.
The lucky winner has the choice of using their badges for one of the following tournament round days:
Friday, April 10, 2020
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Only 200 tickets will be sold, each for $100.
The drawing will be on Monday, July 15th during Lazarus House Ministries' 24th Annual Drive for Dignity Golf Tournament at Andover Country Club. Winner need not be present to win.


text: Breadcrumb Home > Dictionary Search Cite Meaning of Lebanon Mountains Find definitions for: Leb'anon Moun'tains Pronunciation: [key] a mountain range extending the length of Lebanon, in the central part. Highest peak, 10,049 ft. (3063 m). Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. Lebanon lebbek Related Content Daily Word Quiz: skein Analogy of the Day: Today's Analogy Spelling Bee: Today's Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language


text:
How Digital Skills Can Improve Your Return On Investment
The relationship between businesses and their target customers has changed irreversibly. Buyers are more self-educated and autonomous than ever, and as a result, are less susceptible to the hard sell and one-sided marketing messages to which many organizations have been accustomed.
The impact of traditional sales and marketing techniques continues to dilute as buyers turn towards a variety of digital channels to inform their final purchase decision. 70% of the buyer's journey is complete before a buyer even reaches out to sales, as they prioritize consuming online content such as webinars, blog articles and short-form video over subjecting themselves to a sales pitch.
2/3 of revenue growth from consumers and advertising will be digital by 2018
As the balance of power continues to tip in the buyer's favour, organizations can often struggle to generate the requisite revenue. Social media and search engines present an abundance of options to a potential purchaser, which can act as a great equalizer for an organization and its competitors.
How can you differentiate your organization from the competition and improve your ROI in the process? The answer is simple. Did you know that two thirds of revenue growth from consumers and advertising will be digital by 2018? Comprehensive digital skills training will enable you to generate higher quality leads, increase conversions, and maximize profits while minimizing expenditure.
We've outlined the key reasons why digital skills can improve your return on investment below:
With digital skills, you can increase brand awareness
Digital has made it easier for organizations to engage immediately and effectively, across a variety of channels, from informative emails, to social media. Adopting the digital channels of your target buyers' choice will gain your brand valuable visibility and enable you to showcase its unique benefits to a more amenable audience, with whom you can nurture a relationship based on efficient responses, the provision of value, and trust. The greater your organization's reach, the larger your potential customer base, and the more likely it will be to maximize ROI.
With digital skills, you can target relevant customers
Digital marketing is a uniquely data-driven specialism, that can provide your organization with detailed insights that can increase the effectiveness of your sales and marketing strategies. Whether it's a segmented subscriber list for email marketing, or the enhanced targeting options available for social media advertising, if you can leverage digital tools and channels to direct your marketing messages at the most relevant customers at the optimal time, you'll be able to increase engagement levels and ultimately drive more sales.
With digital skills, you can reduce expenses
If you choose to invest in digital tools and techniques, rather than traditional outbound marketing methods, your organization can save an average of $20,000 per year. For many marketers, the greatest obstacle to effective lead and revenue generation is a lack of resources, particularly budget. Because digital marketing is targeted, specific and highly measurable, the costs involved in adjusting a digital marketing campaign are significantly lower than those required to amend a traditional marketing campaign.
With a comprehensive digital skillset, your organization can easily implement cost effective strategies and maximize ROI.
With digital skills, you can capitalize on a profitable specialism
Digital marketing is a proven revenue generator, a fact that is incentivizing a growing number of organizations to undergo digital transformation. There is an unmistakable correlation between high revenue growth and businesses who hold a positive attitude towards the adoption of digital. Email marketing, for example, has twice as high an ROI than cold calling, networking or trade shows. Social media also has a 100% higher lead-to-close rate than traditional outbound marketing.
Digital can help you to optimize your sales and marketing approach at every stage of the customer journey. All you need is a strong skillset.
If you really want to maximize your organization's Return on Investment, a globally recognized and respected qualification will help to advance your skills and enable you to instantly apply your learning in the workplace.
(This article was originally released and published by Digital Marketing Institute (DMI))
Learn more about getting into Digital Marketing
Want to learn more about getting into digital marketing? Check out our Digital Marketing Course – Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing. (No worry, you do not have to be IT-savvy. Furthermore, the course fee is HRDF claimable, so do sponsor your staff or get your employer to sponsor you.)
Download a brochure today and find out where our 5 Digital Marketing courses (Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing or Digital & Social Selling, and Specialist Diploma in Social Media Marketing or Search Marketing or Digital Strategy & Planning) will take your career. All 5 digital marketing courses are offered in Online Learning Mode while Instructor-led Blended Learning Mode is also available.


text:
Certification Application
ANZ Certification Application form v12 ANZ Certification Application form v12 supplement
Certification Services
UL offers a wide range of certification services, serving both the Australian and global markets.
Electrical Safety Testing
UL's Auckland laboratory has capability and accreditation to provide electrical safety compliance solutions for a comprehensive range of products to facilitate local and international market access.
About Us
Learn more about the UL presence in Australia.
UL offers accreditation services for both local and global markets.
Meet the Team
Meet our team.


text:
- Events
- Things to Do
- Deals
- Dining & Nightlife
- Where to Stay
- Travel Tools
With just a week remaining until the University of North Dakota football team officially opens its season, head coach Bubba Schweigert is hoping y'all will be his 12th player.
The whole crowd is sure to be up cheering after every touchdown and with some of the best athletes in the country on the field, don't expect to spend very much time in your seat! Along with talented junior transfer quarterback Nate Ketteringham plus top senior running backs John Santiago and Brady Oliveira, they hope to lead the Fighting Hawks to another winning season. Undefeated in 2016 conference play, UND hopes to capture the chemistry from that season and their first NCAA Division I-AA Championship!
You'll also be able to enjoy all the Alerus Center's indoor comforts and jumbotron screens that highlight every play, providing an up-close view of the action. A few of their newer enhancements include an updated sound system, top-of-the-line LED sports lighting and free public access Wi-Fi. Feeling hungry? Make sure to check out the large concession area with a variety of delicious food and beverages, including a featured Panini of the Game, The Grand Hot Dog and Coach Bubba Burger: quarter pound beef patty with garlic chipotle bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. Forgot to wear your Green 'n' White gear? No worries; there will be a pro shop set up with the latest, greatest, most stylish Fighting Hawks apparel around.
If you'd like to partake in some pre-game fun, make sure to stop by Tailgate Village 2.5 hours prior to every home game. The Alerus Center south parking lot will be filled with live music, food vendors, merchandise sales and giant inflatables for the kids…and it's free for fans!
2018 Home Schedule
August 30/6:30 PM vs. Mississippi Valley State
September 22/4 PM vs. Idaho State (Homecoming & Potato Bowl)
October 13/1 PM vs. Montana (Family Weekend)
October 27/2 PM vs. Weber State (Military Appreciation)
November 10/2 PM vs. Portland State (Senior Recognition)
Tickets for UND football may be purchased by going to fightinghawks.com, calling 800-745-3000 or in person at the Alerus Center Box Office, 10 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday-Friday and on game days.
Information about all #SimplyGrand events may be found at VisitGrandForks.com or by following Visit Grand Forks on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram.


text:
I've had lots of friends come to me for running advice, but the most common question I get is: How do I start enjoying running? Running isn't easy, especially in the summer. The best times to run are early in the morning or late in the evening and for most people that isn't ideal. After answering this question a few times I've come up with a list of ways to start truly enjoying running. Hopefully this will help!
1. Start out slow. If you pile too much on your plate and start out too heavy you will be sore, miserable, and discouraged. If you start slow by doing shorter runs a few days and week and building up from there you will be able to see progress and your endurance building. You will become more confident in your ability to run and soon be able to go for longer without stopping. For someone just starting out running I recommend you walk-jog-walk-jog each for a few minutes until your endurance builds up. Push yourself but don't increase distance or mileage too quickly or you risk injury. Try running 3 days a week, cross training (swim, elliptical, or bike) 2 days a week, and take a few days off. Improvement doesn't come quickly but it will come. Having confidence in your running will help you enjoy it more.
2. Timing. Pick a time of the day that isn't absolutely sweltering. I prefer the morning but the evenings are nice too. I know with the summer it is hard to convince yourself to exercise when there are more fun things you could be doing. If that is the case, the morning is probably the better time for you to go. Wake up, get it over with, and go on with your day!
3. Where do I run? If you go to Map My Run you can make your own routes or find those that others have made. This way you can plot exactly where you want to go, see exactly how long it is, and you are less likely to get lost. Change it up! If you do the same route each day it is likely you will get bored and lose interest. Start from your house one day but another day try starting from a coffee shop, school, or work to get a change of scenery. If it is too hot do not be afraid to run on the treadmill!
4. Sign up for a race. Once you feel good about your running find a local race to sign up for! It gives you something to train for and working towards a goal will motivate you. For me, I would rather have a training plan (easily found on Pinterest) to stick to than to try and run without one. Once you complete the race you will be so proud of yourself and more confident than you were before! Races are a fun way to get together with a group of people that enjoy the same things you do. Everyone is working hard and working together and the crowd that gathers to cheer will push you and keep you going!
5. Find a group to run with. Many cities will have local running groups that are always welcoming new members. Ask your local gym if they know of any groups or try searching for them online. It is always easier to make running a social event than a solo struggle. It is also fun to do races with friends. That way you are all excited about the same thing and can keep each other accountable!
6. Get a good playlist. A good playlist can go a long way while working out. Make an up-beat playlist that you can sing along to and soon you'll find yourself distracted and enjoying the music and not paying attention to how hard it is to keep yourself moving. Try Pandora, 8tracks, Songza, or Spotify for free music to listen to while you run!
7. Endorphins - You will feel SO MUCH BETTER after completing a run! Nobody ever went on a run, came home, and regretted it. Everyone has those bad days, and those are inevitable, but each bad day will better prepare you for the next one to come. You will be glad you went, happy it is over, and ready for the next good run. Plus... your dessert or beer will be that much more deserved after a nice run!


text:
Below you'll find testimonials from some of our valued customers. To submit your own testimonial about our work, for possible inclusion on this page, please visit our feedback form.
Residential Customers
"Pleased with the promptness of the work and a good job done. Thanks!"
"Mark Doetzel is a pleasure to work with! We were extremely pleased with the entire process and finished product at both houses."
"Dear Mark, We want you to know that were very pleased with the work you have done on power washing our roof and side of our home. Your people were courteous and professional."
"Mark, the front porch looks terrific. The guys did a good job and are fine reflections of M&S Painting. Ill keep your number handy and be in touch should any more work arise. In the meantime Ill be sure to voice good words about M&S Painting and their work."
"We were very pleased with the painting work performed on our home over the last week or so. The team, headed by Bud, was very professional, communicated well, and we felt completely comfortable having them inside our home at all times. I do want to stress the professional work that was performed. These guys obviously knew what to do and were quite skilled at performing the work. Bud was great to work with, communicated progress and schedule well and my wife and I feel that he and his team did an A+ job for us. Thank you Bud and team for your excellent work."
"Thank you so much for doing such a wonderful job painting my Mom's condominium. She had recently passed away, but you did not take advantage of that fact. I really appreciated all the many good suggestions you made to make her home look so nice and ready to place on the market. I know the fresh paint helped it sell. Your personality and your knowledge of what needed to be done are what helped me choose to work with your company. The workmanship was well done and your crew was very polite. I am so happy I chose M&S Painting, Inc. to take care of Mom's home. Thank you again for a job well done!"
"Thank you. Im pleased with the way my house looks and Im pleased with the professional, friendly service."
"Thank you for the great job. You are appreciated."
"Thank you very much for your fine painting service. We are quite please with the results and what wonderful cleaners your men are. That was a marvelous surprise! We are very happy to recommend your services to our community and any others."
"I just wanted to thank you for the nice job you and your men did. The job was clean and professional something every customer hopes that they get. Thanks again for a job well done."
"Just a note to let you know how pleased we are with the work you did in our house. Walls, doors, wood work, fire place, iron rails, bathroom tiles and borders everything turned out beautiful!"
"Mark, we would like to thank M&S Painting for doing such a wonderful job of painting our house. The crew was polite, efficient, and hard working. We were please with the conscientious way they worked to roll the paint on the old cedar boards to try to make the wood look as smooth as possible. During the course of the job, we requested some changes regarding moldings and trim color and our wishes were readily accommodated. The house now looks 100% better than before. We have received several complements from neighbors on the new look of our home, so we hope you have the opportunity to do more business in our area. We would be happy to recommend M&S Painting to anyone looking for a quality company to paint their home. Thanks again for your great service. It was a pleasure working with you!"
"We were very pleased with the results of the job. You were very attentive to our needs and stayed on the job once started. Our house looks great. We will certainly recommend your company to others.""
"Just a short note to say thank you for doing such a wonderful job. Our home looks 100% better."
"Mark waterproofed our deck and railing using a stain and waterproof combination and made it look better than brand new. I know we could not have gotten better workmanship anywhere. Anyone needing this kind of work done to their home has our personal recommendation that Mark is the man for the job"
"After successfully delaying a painting project in my house for more than two years, my wife finally threatened to hire someone to do the job. She hired M&S Painting. This letter is to compliment Mr. Doetzel and his courteous crew on the professional job they did. The job was done when they said it would be and the estimate was very reasonable. After the paint was removed from the cider block wall, they stopped work to show how the mortar was deteriorated and recommended what to do about it. When I looked at the cost of this project compared to what it would have taken me to buy the paint, all the trips to the hardware store, the time it would have taken for me to do it, and my wife asking me when was I going to be finished, I think hiring your company actually saved me time and money. In the future, for all but the minor jobs around the house, we will be calling M&S Painting."
Commercial Customers
"Our condominium area is comprised of 118 units. We have several original wooden components of our buildings, which must be painted periodically. Last year was the start of our multi-year project of painting these garage doors, windows, sidelights, etc. After taking several bids, the Board unanimously decided to hire M&S Painting. Mark Doetzel met with our maintenance manager in order to assess our needs before submitting the proposal. He was professional, explained the preparation of the surfaces and was very thorough in making sure he understood Parkways needs before putting the proposal together. Mark and his crew were very easy to work with; the men were here when scheduled, did an excellent job and followed up promptly when necessary. They also worked well with the residents when the need arose. We were very pleased with this company and look forward to working with them throughout the rest of the contract. We highly recommend them to anyone who wants a good painting company"
"To Mark and the crew of M&S Painting, I just wanted to thank you again for the terrific work you did here. We do the best we can to keep this restaurant clean. However, with the old stained ceiling it seemed futile. This was a demanding job and you came through. Thanks for them extra effort. If I can recommend you work to anyone, dont hesitate to ask."
"Dear Mark, please accept our thanks and appreciation for the job you and your crew provided for our clients. I understand that they are very pleased with the appearance and workmanship provided. Thanks again for your commendable performance on this project."
"M&S Painting recently completed the external painting of our seven year old structure. Mark displayed extreme patience in our color selection process while offering professional advice for our company concerns. Marks team worked efficiently and presented an appearance which was pleasing to our residents. Their whole crew could not have worked any better with our maintenance department for a quick and efficient completion of a very large task."
"Mark, I just wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation to you for a job well done. The extra effort your employees gave and quality of work shows. On behalf of the church, thanks again."
"Having used M&S Painting for our work requiring painting, we have been extremely pleased. Mark Doetzel and his employees perform and complete the jobs as agreed upon and as directed. Their quality and job site cleanliness is exemplary. I have also referred Mark to many of our past customers which require painting. In each case upon contact with these customers, the customer has expressed thanks for the contact due to the quality and professionalism shown by M&S Painting."
"I am the owner of some rental apartments, and I recently contacted M&S Painting to repaint one of my units. After five years of occupancy, the tenants left the apartment in poor condition. The walls were dirty with lots of little holes and some big ones. Within two days, M&S Painting had the apartment complete repaired and repainted. The work was very satisfactory and it helped in getting higher rental rates from the next tenants. The new tenants were also very happy with the work after seeing it in its previous condition. I intend to contract with M&S Painting the next time I need work done in one of my rental apartments. "
"I am the owner of some rental apartments, and I recently contacted M&S Painting to repaint one of my units. After five years of occupancy, the tenants left the apartment in poor condition. The walls were dirty with lots of little holes and some big ones. Within two days, M&S Painting had the apartment complete repaired and repainted. The work was very satisfactory and it helped in getting higher rental rates from the next tenants. The new tenants were also very happy with the work after seeing it in its previous condition. I intend to contract with M&S Painting the next time I need work done in one of my rental apartments."