In December, a 12-man Soldiers To The Summit (“S2S”) team will attempt to climb Cotopaxi, a 19,347-foot peak in Ecuador. Thomas Carroll, a 46-year-old former soldier from Point Pleasant, N.J., will be among the dozen brave souls mak- ing that climb. This is his story.

If you watch a great deal of television (if you're reading this blog, then I assume you do), you've probably noticed a trend of late: There are a lot of men in hats. And I don't mean some character trying to look hip by wearing an ill-fitting straw fedora.

We all know the dangers inherent in stunt work for movies, television and even commercials. And it’s certainly great when you see all the money on the screen, as the saying goes. But how often do we think about the cameramen tasked with filming these great action sequences, or the guys getting those specialty shots that writers and directors dream up? Well, the average moviegoer may not know who these people are, but industry insiders certainly are aware – especially if your specialty shooting company has been in business for more than 30 years, providing Hollywood and America’s leading corporations with marine and aerial cinematography.

Is it time to stop referring to movies as "films"? This is a question I've been pondering since June, when I read that movie studios will cease producing film prints for major markets by the end of 2013.

With few exceptions, compelling TV dramas used to be the exclusive property of cable/satellite channels. This was not because network shows were subject to more stringent regulations regarding colorful language and nudity. Often, the cable shows simply had bigger budgets for their original dramas, because they may only be producing a few at a time - and for a shorter season than is typical of network TV.

In October 2010, disabled veterans and experienced climbers embarked on a 20-day journey to reach the summit of Lobouche East, a 20,075-foot-high peak just 8.7 miles from the summit of Mount Everest in Nepal. Some of the injured soldiers (veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan) were skilled climbers, but most were not. Still, these brave men and women – some amputees, some with traumatic brain injuries, others with spine and nerve damage – put their trust and their lives in each other’s hands, much as they had in recent years during combat.

Balancing preservation with modern functionality is not an easy job for any restora- tion project, but when converting a 19th century prison into a 21st century, luxury hotel, the situation is unusual if not unprecedented. In 2002, a design and construction team led by Cambridge Seven Associates (C7A) of Cambridge, Mass., began a five-year process to restore the defunct Charles Street Jail in Boston into a place where the guests come willingly and thoroughly enjoy their stay.

JulAug 2008 Spotlight: Atkinson-Noland & Associates, Inc. An Academic Approach Atkinson-Noland & Associates, Inc. has spent more than 20 years cultivating a practice focused on structural evaluation and repair, as well as fostering a firm culture centered on education. Boulder, Colo.-based Atkinson-Noland & Associates Inc.

MarchApril 2008 Spotlight: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. 50 Years and Counting For half a century, SGH has upheld the goals of its founders, while earning numerous accolades and awards.

In a highly competitive industry – and at the center of the architectural uni- verse, no less – it can be quite difficult for an upstart firm to create a brand. Like so many before and since, Joseph J. Legat set out to do just that in the Chicago area in 1964. The then-28-year-old established his firm under the conviction that “great architecture hinges on great relationships.” Though many who followed the same path have failed, Legat Architects has grown and thrived into a 60-person, international operation known widely for its innovative designs, particularly masonry structures.

BUSINESS PROFILE Boswell Engineering By Cory Sekine-Pettite All in the family Hackensak, N.J.-based Boswell Engineering is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. And while this is a significant occasion for the multidisciplinary firm, its longevity alone is not what sets this firm apart from many other U.S.

Just like an innocuous cobia swimming to the Gulf of Mexico for warmer, summer seas, South Walton County's net will also drag you in and won't let go. Unlike the poor fish, however, you won't struggle to get away. After all, your fate doesn't lie with the seasonal specials menu at area restaurants but with the stark white sand playing its perpetual tug of war with the clean, beautiful azure water of the Gulf. Most of the 26 miles of shoreline have been left in their natural state, giving the area an increasing reputation as an ecotourism destination.