Advertising was limited to paid directories.  Now, there are directories, banner advertising, ppc advertising (on multiple search engines), affiliate marketing, etc.

Social Media was limited to forums.  Now, there is Facebook, Linkedin, Youtube, Twitter, Quora, Pinterest, Posterous, Yelp, Klout, etc.

The first challenge comes in determining which platform will be most effective.  That can only be done through a time-consuming trial and error process.  How long does it take to collect 5,000 friends on Facebook or 1,000 connections on Linkedin?  How many blog posts are required to achieve “critical mass?”  What about potential setbacks?  A disgruntled customer, a misspoken comment, an erroneous statement can place an impenetrable roadblock in the path to success.  Solicit too many connections on Linkedin, and you will be required to provide a correct email address for each new connection to be accepted.

The second challenge comes in identifying the true cost of your Social Media labors and the subsequent return on investment.  Is time spent hammering on a keyboard equal in value to time spent at networking events, in existing client offices, on the telephone seeking referrals from existing clients, designing new strategies or creating better product presentations?

This brilliant video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU has generated more than 12 million views since it was posted on February 23, 2010.  If .001% of the views turned into clients, then Purplefeather would be an industry standout.  That is easy to measure using the same tools we apply to weigh the success of our own marketing efforts.  The odds of creating a video, a blog post, a Facebook/Twitter entry with an equivalent impact fall somewhere between zero and none.

Until such time as Social Media becomes more streamlined with fewer platforms, or when existing platforms target specific channels, there will be too much wasted effort.

By 10PM last night (1/18/12), 9 of the original 39 Senate sponsors of the PIPA bill had withdrawn their sponsorship.  At last count, there are 35 supporters, 18 opponents, and 12 leaning toward opposition.  35 Senators remain uncommitted.

Senator Leahy is attempting to rewrite the legislation.  Congressman Smith has stated that he stands squarely behind the bill he wrote and will continue to push it forward.

Precisely 60 years ago, my mother, sister, and I left my father at the railroad station in Elizabeth, NJ.  Mom was driving our 1950 Studebaker convertible on West Grand Street, as we went to my grandmother’s home.  In the last frame of the newsreel, you can see the bridge we crossed at that fateful moment.  We watched the entire event from our unwanted vantage point.

Newsreel:  AIR DISASTER:  Second Worst in US History Takes 56 Lives

Digital Marketing Challenges: When SEO is not enough.

The client recently took ownership of a mid-rise condominium in Little Tokyo, a Los Angeles, CA neighborhood.  The condos were to be sold to a very narrow target market consisting of 1^st and 2^nd generation families of Japanese or Korean descent in the 55+ age group.  It was immediately clear that a large pool of viable prospects would be required since closing ratios were expected to be below industry averages.

Determining where to find the target market required identification of Japanese communities or Japantowns around the world.  While there are three in California – San Francisco, San Jose, and Little Toyo in Los Angeles; there are others throughout the US, Europe, South America, and Asia.  Scattered around the globe, the shotgun approach of typical SEO would have only limited value.  A more focused approach would provide a more satisfactory return on investment.  Pay-per-click advertising was chosen as the most desirable solution.  The ability to geographically control the placement of ads assured penetration of the target market on a limited budget.

Selection of the search terms that would trigger ad presentation was the next challenge.  “Condo” is simply too broad a term.  Modifying it with a geographic descriptor like “Little Tokyo” would help, but there are “Little Tokyo’s” in numerous communities.  Furthermore, potential buyers might begin their search before settling on a specific community.  We needed to determine the types of searches that would lead people specifically to the Japanese community in Los Angeles.

An in-depth study of the community and the area surrounding the property revealed a wealth of information.  Little Tokyo is steeped in Japanese culture.  There are museums, centers, churches, parks, and artistic displays throughout the area.  Many are named for historically significant or high profile people of Japanese descent.  These names would be familiar to and searched for by our prospects and were thus included in the campaign.

Ad content proved to be equally challenging.  The focus had to be on something other than the actual property.  Placing oneself in the position of a prospective buyer, it was necessary to identify the benefits of a purchase.  What are the quality of life aspects of living in the heart of Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA?

Culture – Little Tokyo is an extremely social community with a large number of social groups that meet as often as every day to play games, to worship, to continue societal influences.  Instead of the individual, the family is the social center.  Thus, “Old word traditions in a modern community,” and “Share the new world with old friends and family,” provides an instant comfort level.

Digital Marketing Challenges – A case study

Amenities – Restaurants, museums, social clubs, parks to enjoy with friends and family.  A community within a community.  While thriving within a familiar society, residents will enjoy the benefits of the Los Angeles megalopolis and all it has to offer.  That provides assurance that they will “fit in” with a familiar and comfortable lifestyle.

Since the target communities are located around the world, separate campaigns had to be created for each time zone to maximize effectiveness.  This campaign includes only text ads.  By replacing underperforming search terms and ads, the success of the project has grown.  The client is receiving the steady flow of bona fide prospects.  Sales are exceeding established goals.

Following analysis of public input and review by working group partners and permitting agencies, a shoreline stabilization design will be amended to this plan.

There has been no effort to include the public in the planning process since three “public” meetings that occurred in 2009.  Despite efforts to secure an opportunity for public participation, members of the working group, including BLM, have steadfastly avoided any public involvement.  The latest meeting of the JILONA Working Group was held on 10/26/11 at BLM offices in Tequesta, FL.  There were no minutes taken.  A series of observations follow:

When asked, Bruce Dawson, BLM Field Director, said the public would not be allowed to speak.  Only after Tequesta Mayor Paterno threatened to leave the meeting did Dawson reverse his position.  Public awareness/participation is being aggressively circumvented at every level.

Dawson claims BLM “solicitors” are reviewing the possibility that JILONA meetings violate Sunshine Laws and other regulations governing the activities of federal agencies but have not given an opinion.

It was revealed that a woman from Jupiter Inlet Colony (Tracy Siani) considers herself to be a member of the public.  At the last meeting, she was provided a seat at the table and was allowed to speak at length in opposition to boater access.  Two other members of the public and opponents of the plan were denied the opportunity to speak.

Dawson stated that the obligation to include public participation was fulfilled by 3 meetings held in 2009, that once the management plan was completed, the public can be excluded from further involvement.  He has made two errors.  1) The law requires “full public participation.” 2)  The management plan is incomplete.  It calls for an addendum covering the management of Lot 17 (the site of Cato’s Bridge Beach) that has not yet been approved or included.  The plan will not be complete until that addendum has been made a part of the plan.

BLM hired Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management (ERM) to design a plan for beach restoration and stabilization in 2010.  Rich Walesky, Department Director – ERM, delivered a document that effectively transfers management of the JILONA project from the Bureau of Land Management to ERM.  From now on, ERM will schedule all future meetings of JILONA and establish the location and agenda for those meetings.  ERM will take notes (not minutes) and keep a record of all that transpires.  The contractor is now “running the show.”  There were additional elements included in their documented plan.  It was accepted by all participants.  Walesky retires tomorrow.  There was no discussion of who would run the meetings in his absence or if he will remain active.

Rich Walesky openly acknowledged that ERM takes intentional steps to hide their activities from the public.  On JILONA, they plan to leave a buffer along Beach Road that will prevent observation of their restoration activities.  He said that it’s the only way to keep the public from asking questions.

Walesky acknowledged that the suggested open area for boaters (147 feet) was placed in a position that will not interfere with the view of Jupiter Inlet Colony residents.  He said it could not be enlarged because of a sea grass bed that cannot be disturbed.  He neglected to mention that the proposed toe wall will cut through the same sea grass.  He also confirmed that boater access area can be easily closed at any time by extending the toe wall and limestone breakwater to the north.  Mayor Paterno expressed disappointment with the small size of the boater access area, stating that it likely will accommodate no more than one or two boats at a time.

Palm Beach County Commissioner Marcus’ aide made the same error the Commissioner repeatedly makes.  She stated that public access to the lighthouse property is illegal.  The Treasure Coast Planning Council corrected Commissioner Marcus the last time she made that statement.  Access to the property is not illegal.  The only exception is the small section still used for Coast Guard housing.

An ERM representative acknowledged that the southernmost portion of the toe wall – limestone breakwater is, in fact, a perched shoreline.  Earlier this week, documents were posted on line stating that, “a perched beach cannot be recommended as a sustainable shoreline management solution due to the risk of dangerous currents and loss of sand.”  According to experts, the current design is doomed to failure.

There is no plan to significantly modify the proposed installation of 13,000 square feet of industrial grade vinyl as a retaining wall for the bluff.

A review of the activity of the JILONA Working Group and its members suggests a pattern of deceptiveness and raises the possibility of “a hidden agenda.”  Attempts to obtain copies of a variety of documents were denied during and after the meeting.  Why would they work so aggressively to hide their actions and decisions from public view?  Why do they persist in pushing a plan that is under investigation by the Governor’s office and is opposed by:

Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council

Florida Inland Navigational District

Village of Tequesta

Town of Jupiter

Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce

US Congressman Tom Rooney

US Congressman Allen West

1500+ local residents

Florida State Department of Environmental Protection

Sadly, the answers will not easily come.  There are many concerned people who occupy positions substantially higher in the pecking order who will find the answers.  It is only a matter of time…

ADDENDUM

Earlier today (10/26/11), an attempt was made to obtain copies of the JILONA Management Plan from the Loxahatchee River Historical Society.  The attempt drew the ire and derision of the Executive Director and two staff members.  They demanded to know why they were needed and who would receive them.   After a prolonged, heated discussion, they were only able to provide one copy.  After the confrontation ended, the Executive Director called a county commissioner to ridicule the character of the person who requested the documents.

Dawson distributed copies to the working group, yet there were no copies available for public scrutiny.   This is just one more example of the methods used to hide this information from the public.

Times changed. Kids grew up. Kids built lives for themselves. Good times became fond memories. Tough times required serious commitment to families, jobs, and health. The boats were sold or simply stopped running. The rods were put away. Contact dwindled to occasional brief phone conversations or even less frequent email messages.

Then, the phone call came: “Hey Dad, I want to tell you something…” Six months later, the door that was opened has enabled me to pass into a world so precious it defies definition. John, my eldest, had stopped into John B’s Fly and Light Tackle in Stuart. He had heard that it was the place to go, that John B had a heart of gold and a burning desire to turn every man, woman, and child into a fly-fisherman. My two granddaughters had tagged along with their dad on this expedition and patiently passed the time sitting on the floor engrossed in fly-fishing magazines. When the hour-long process had culminated in a $3.50 transaction and my son gathered the kids to leave, John B insisted that they wait until he finished rummaging around in the back of the store. He finally returned with a juvenile rod and reel, which he offered to the sisters as a gift.

All my life, I have lived by the belief that there is goodness in every person. A young person sometimes has difficulty grasping that concept especially after struggling mightily to find success and happiness. That day, my son became a believer.

John B had told my son that a friend of his gave free fly-fishing lessons every Saturday morning at Indian Riverside Park in Jensen Beach. “Do you want to go with me this Saturday?” The stars were properly aligned. The wind was in the right quadrant. Everything fit together perfectly, and the park became my Saturday morning destination.

Even with no expectations, the experience was a continuing series of surprises. John and I arrived nearly 1/2 hour early to an open expanse of grass on the edge of the Indian River, which seemed like as good a place as any to wet a line. The day was off to a beautiful start. While some shy from the sun and heat of an August day, I thrive on it. Even at 8:30am, the temperature was poised in the high 70′s on its way to a real scorcher. The heat had stolen the wind leaving a dead calm weighted with humidity. My kind of day!

The slate gray Suburban with US Army, Stars and Stripes, and Airborne stickers rolled into the parking lot and backed lazily to the curb. Finally settled into place, the tank’s door popped open and belched out our instructor. There was no doubting ownership of the vehicle, as his belt buckle carried the same military theme with the impressive winged parachute front and center. A body that had experienced one too many low altitude jumps in full gear was twisted like a pretzel. It didn’t slow his gait. Gigantic hands formed a grip that did not hide their strength. The voice was clear. The gaze was sharp. Our instructor was a force to be reckoned with. Introducing himself as “Sarge,” we quickly learned that he was a retired Command Sergeant Major, an original member of the Special Forces, and was in his mid-80′s.

His sidekick who arrived shortly thereafter is a retired Air Force colonel who is fighting the vagaries of Agent Orange. I was stunned to discover the depth of Sarge’s warmth, his innate ability to simplify a complicated process and his patience as we struggled to duplicate his effortless cast. Instead of fish in the river, we were casting to bare patches in the grass. Typically, 15-20 feet of line ended up in a pile within 10 feet of where we were standing. Sarge can drop a perfect, straight/taught line over a squirrel’s back at 90 feet! We had a long, long way to go.

The hour passed too quickly. The following week passed equally fast, but with one exception: multiple phone conversations with John reviewing the events of that fateful Saturday, discussing fruitless practice sessions, and planning the next excursion. The weeks and months have marched inexorably onward with mundane work and life experiences punctuated with entertaining fly-fishing classes. If I can somehow learn to stop bending my arm, the endless pushups might come to a halt. Each week, others have joined us, but none have remained. John and I continually return, more for the contact with a truly wonderful old soldier than for perfection of our cast.

John B died. He died way too soon, way too fast. No one was ready to let him go. The memorial service at that same park was attended by hundreds of family, friends and acquaintances. John and I were there. We shared the grief. We laughed at the stories. We marveled at the tightness of the fishing community in which he thrived. While we frequent other similar stores, we try hard to make our purchases where they will in some small way help John B’s family.

John and I talk nearly every day. Once a week we meet at his home and work on a 14-foot johnboat that we plan to use this summer in quest of snook, trout, and redfish. John’s brother, Morgan, has a new “best friend forever.” Dan is the salesman in the Orvis store in Alexandria, VA, Morgan’s home. During his infrequent visits to the area, the three of us manage to squeeze in some time to try a new stream, canal, or pond.

It’s not like “old times.” Everything has changed. John and Morgan’s mother, my first wife, is fighting cancer. Morgan is battling a chronic illness. We all seem to have a fair share of dents and bruises, but we have also found a place in our minds and hearts where we can escape to lie back and immerse ourselves in the comfort of relationships that are totally devoid of rules, exceptions, or disruptions.

Fly-fishing has opened the door to a world populated almost exclusively with John Bs, Sarges, Colonels, and other equally warm, generous, good people. The space that world has provided for my sons and me cannot be defined. We are learning to simply accept it with the deepest gratitude.

This story was originally posted on 2/13/10 at:  http://anothercasualobserver.blogspot.com/2010/02/family-fly-fishing-fun.html

3 tier sheet-pile system in DuBois Park

Look at this picture carefully.  It is a reflection of well-intended efforts by Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management (ERM) to restore and stabilize the embankment on the edge of the lagoon in DuBois Park, Jupiter Inlet, Jupiter, FL.  This picture was taken on September 7, 2011.

ERM installed a 3 tier industrial grade vinyl sheet-pile system less than 2 years ago.  The picture shows huge sandbags (red arrows) that were placed at the base of the first tier.  Their only purpose:  To prevent undermining of the first tier through erosion caused by water flow.

Sandbags protect the entire length of the newly installed sheet pile system.

There have been no changes in water flow through this area before or since the installation of the sheet-pile system.  It appears as though designers of this solution simply overlooked its effect upon the completed project.

It has been necessary to sandbag the entire length of the sheet pile system, which has in-turn necessitated installation of a flimsy rope barrier to keep people away from a dangerous situation.  One could otherwise have their foot caught between the sandbag and the corrugated vinyl.  That could easily result in a sprained or broken ankle.  Unfortunately, the rope barrier and the sandbags stand in the way of lifeguards in the event of an emergency.

There have been three deaths and a near-drowning of a young child in DuBois Park in the past 3 years, all in swimming related accidents.

There is one significant difference between this installation and the proposed installation at Cato’s Bridge Beach:  The proposed installation will not include the attractive “cap” that has been placed on top of each tier of corrugated, industrial-grade vinyl. The appearance of the proposed solution will be more consistent with this image:

Example of a vinyl sheet pile system with an open "capless" top.

Perhaps public scrutiny of the plan might not have prevented this problem, but the current procedures definitely did not prevent it from happening.  As the same body (ERM) prepares to install a similar system, the community is well within its rights to demand a cost-benefit analysis and the opportunity for input.

Despite their public image, FBI agents are simply not that dumb. Not only had they tapped the residential phones of these local ne’er do wells, they also had all the local pay phones tapped and had a photographer capturing their furtive images inside Hansgen’s phone booth.

A horny high school student hitchhiked home from liaisons with his long-legged heartthrob along those same roads on a regular basis. Those experiences would have been forgettable, had it not been for the time that the free ride was provided in a late model, British Racing Green Jaguar “saloon” piloted by a raven-tressed, dynamic and spirited lady who stirred the manual gearbox with the alacrity of the Wicked Witch of the North’s potion preparations.

The Jag (not to be confused with “the car,” “the vehicle,” or any other mundane term) sang an ecstatic response to the driver’s delicate stroke: surging, pausing, surging, braking, leaning, gripping, diving, leaping with a fluidity of motion that belied it’s majestic proportions. This exotic, mysterious siren seemed to thrive on the energy she was able to coax from the highly refined driving machine.

Awestruck in the presence of incredible beauty, mesmerized by the intensity of pure passion, a young man who would in the not too distant future have all vestiges of innocence ripped from him in the violent struggle of military combat, could only sit silently and strive to understand inputs from senses that were on overload.

No gold and alabaster chariot pulled across the heavens by a team of 8 driven by Zeus himself could have elicited a more profound memory for this young man. A Jaguar was the ultimate expression of luxury and performance. That was a given in the minds of every boy over the age of 15. A Jaguar with a manual transmission was a mark of driving decadence. Only drivers addicted to performance lust for rising and falling engine tones played to the cadence of swift gear changes.

Who was this incredible vision of beauty and sexuality, this ethereal expression of all that is feminine and delicate who clearly thrived on danger, speed, and power? As in all singular moments, the answer came too late: my personal vision of pure perfection was the widow of one of the truly masterful, truly great sports car drivers in the world.

While others lust for wealth an power, the overriding goal in a long life containing innumerable successes and personal accomplishments has been to somehow capture the same raw emotions that filled a young man’s heart on that fateful day: to connect through heal and toe, hands and fingers with a mechanical thoroughbred, a purpose-built, refined automobile with the heart, power, and grace of a champion. Forty years later, every flick of the wrist, every whine of the synchros, every crisp and distinctive metallic click of the shifter brings light to a reality that seems more like a dream.

While Mrs. Walt Hansgen is long gone, her memory lives in the heart of a now old man as he strives in some small way to capture that oneness of man and machine, that synchronicity of thought and action which propelled us through the countryside with an impossible fluidity nearly fifty years ago.

This true story was first posted on 11/2/2009 at http://anothercasualobserver.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-01-15T15%3A29%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=7

Kissimmee River, Central Florida –

A stretch of the straightened and channelized Kissimmee River in central Florida

After an active hurricane season in 1947 caused extensive flooding in Central and South Florida, state government requested federal assistance in controlling future floods.  In 1954, “canalization” of the Kissimmee River was authorized by the US Congress.  It took 8 years to dredge the 56 mile arrow straight canal that replaced the previous 106 mile long meandering river.  While 40,000 acres of floodplain dried out, the quality of waterfowl habitat was reduced by 90%.  Heron, egret, and wood stork populations were reduced by 66.67%.  Nitrogen content in Lake Okeechobee increased by 25%, and phosphorus content increased by 20%.  After coming close to turning the once pristine and wildlife filled Lake Okeechobee into a dead sea and poisoning the Everglades, Congress approved restoration of the Kissimmee’s original flow pattern in 1992.  The actual process began in 1997 and is expected to be completed in 2014.  A total of 43 miles will be restored at an estimated cost of $400,000,000.  One can only hope that wildlife will return to the former habitats.  http://www.wftv.com/news/22424629/detail.html

Control Tower, Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, FL –

Completed in October 2010, this $19,200,000 control tower sits vacant - unused.

The FAA signed a contract in 22008 with PCL Construction for the erection of a 231 foot tall control tower at Palm Beach International Airport.  The $19,200,000 project was completed in October 2010.  Eleven months later, no equipment has been installed, and the tower stands vacant.  At issue, a low altitude radar system called TRACON.  Construction plans did not allow space for TRACON because the FAA planned to consolidate local TRACON services with similar services at Miami International Airport.  Traffic controllers and federal lawmakers have been opposed to this measure that would shift services to Jacksonville in the event of a failure in Miami.  The push for a new tower was fueled by a runway expansion plan justified by projected growth.  That expansion has been put on indefinite hold.  The $19.2 million tower stands empty.  http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/pbias-19-2pbias-19-2-million-air-traffic-control-tower-1812043.html?cxtype=rss_news

Miccosukee Burial Ground Restoration, Somewhere in the Everglades, FL – Everglades restoration includes creation of a vast man-made wetland south of Lake Okeechobee.   In May of 2008, archaeologists began the process of relocating a small, sacred Miccosukee burial ground that stood in the way.  The tribes were assured by authorities that the utmost care and dignity would be applied to the process.  Weekly meetings of the archaeologists, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the state Historic Preservation Office kept everyone up-to-date on the progress – everyone except the tribes.

By January 2010, the archaeologists were so concerned about the ever-increasing size of the burial ground that they sought a decision to either preserve the existing site or continue with the removal.  The removal continued.  By then, the size of the original burial ground was so large that it would have been eligible for inclusion in the National Registry of Historic Places.

When finally informed in May 2010 that the site contained the remains of 56 men, women, and children, tribal representatives demanded full and complete restoration of the burial ground with precise placement of all remains and protection from any potential damage from water encroachment.

The South Florida Water Management District has agreed to meet tribal demands and expects to complete the restoration by June 2013.  There are no cost projections for the three years of work that has been completed nor for the additional two years of work that will be required to undo the work that has been done.  http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/tribes-state-near-pact-on-re-installation-protection-1824113.html?showComments=true

Cross Florida Barge Canal, Palatka-Dunnellon, FL

In 1963 with support from President John F. Kennedy, who allocated one million dollars to the project, the long-standing plan for a canal across the State of Florida was once again made active. The next year, Lyndon Johnson set off the explosives that started construction. It was hoped that the canal would provide a quicker and safer route across Florida by 1971.

Opponents subsequently campaigned against the canal on environmental grounds, and the project stopped in January 1971.  By then, more than $74 million had been spent on land acquisition and construction.  The canal was 1/3 complete. It was officially cancelled in 1991. The right-of-way was turned over to the state and became the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, named in honor of the woman who led opposition to the canal.

There is a name for this type of governmental malfeasance.  It is a boondoggle and is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a wasteful or impractical project or activity often involving graft.”  First used in 1929 to identify a braided cord worn by Boy Scouts, this usage of the term dates back to 1957.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

There may be a reason why similar boondoggles occur so frequently.  Unlike privately funded projects, government projects receive significant public exposure.  They are vulnerable to criticism from not only bona fide authorities with knowledge and experience that enables them to accurately evaluate potential, but also from brainless Monday morning quarterbacks who have an agenda that is often not in alignment with the scope of the project.

No one voluntarily subjects oneself to inane, moronic criticism from loud and frequently obnoxious complainers.  If the best way to avoid such conflict is to be secretive in deliberations and to act quickly and decisively in execution, then why not?  So what if the result is costly corrections and overruns?  The government has deep pockets.  No one knows the names of the people who approved any of the above-referenced projects.

When the economy is strong, no one questions these decisions because money appears to be readily available to cover costs.  When frugality becomes the byword, then and only then is a cost/benefit analysis done.  The South Florida Water Management District recently eliminated hundreds of high-paying jobs in order to meet a tightly restricted budget mandate.  How many jobs could have been saved if the burial ground fiasco had not occurred?

SOLUTION

We (you and I, the public, voters, citizens, families, parents, homeowners, or whatever name that applies) must demand a detailed, long-term cost/benefit analysis for every government project.  The final analysis must be made public – open to public scrutiny and comment.  Failure to properly address issues raised through this process must be punishable.  Two minds are better than one.

• No stitches or sutures
• No splints or casts
• No diagnosis
• No medication
• No treatment plan
• NO RESPECT!

Although they justified a CAT Scan by claiming a fear of possible head/neck injury, he was left tightly secured to a backboard for more than an hour while neither his head or neck was immobilized.  Distressed with the constriction, he was allowed to writhe and move his head and neck freely while left unattended.

While he is less than the model of patience and understanding, any person called upon to shell out $7,000 for a few minutes of service deserves to be treated like a saint.  The attention I received for my role as friend and transporter was equally disgraceful, and I’m a nice guy…

This hospital may have recently been recognized by US News & World Report as “the highest-rated hospital” in Palm Beach County, but that designation is not reflected in the attitudes of the emergency room staff.