Billings Books

This book was given to me by a friend. We have both lost our health & jobs that we loved that were located in different mold infested buildings. We have both gone through the nightmare of finding the right doctors to diagnosis us & get the proper treatments to kill off the toxins inside us. When I started reading this book, I had a hard time putting it down. I would suggest this book to any one who thinks they or someone they care about may have been exposed to mold in their home or work place. Since my life has been turned upside down from this exposure & illness, I have been starved for answers & information. I knew I was not crazy-I knew something was terribly wrong with me & I knew it was from the historical building I leased for 3 years to run my retail business out of. This book is a God-send. I related to so much of what was being said. It has given me hope & understanding. I am going to buy another book to pass on to my primary doctor - she suggested I was suffering from menopause! I am only sorry there are still so many uneducated doctors & government officials who are in a position to help, that are choosing to look the other way. It is very sad that ignorance & greed get in the way of the truth. I applaud the Billings for following through on their quest for helping other people by witting this book.

Mold: The War Within
In reading this book that Lee Ann and Kurt Billings have written, as a mold victim it has given me added strength, along with knowing that people like this care about helping all mold victim's not only through their personal experience, but taking the time to do research, talk with experts, and other mold victim's by sharing the truth's of how devastating the health effects that toxic molds do inflict on people. This is a confirmation, to all from the experts: Mold Can Make You Very Ill. I have been a mold victim for 18 months now, it is a slow death in my opinion, because I am living the nightmare because I have no way out of my toxic mold environment. I have the medical proof of my toxic mold illnesses along with the professional reports of the testing in my apartment that confirm the toxic molds. I highly suggest that not only mold victim's need to read this book, but also medical experts that are not privy to the proof that the experts in this book have and is documented, along with all those non-believers: Purchase this Book. You would not want your child, your mother, your father, any other relative, friend, co-worker, etc to ever experience what us mold victim's are going through with these proven illnesses. I breath with a respirator mask, oxygen, and take many medications because of toxic molds. I never had a breathing problem in my life and would give anything if toxic molds have not taken away my life like they have done. I can't even let my little grand-children, my sons, my family in my apartment. I can't go to family functions, out to dinner, share holidays, and just putting it simple, Toxic Molds kill every aspect of your life. These people are helping people like me and thousands of others across the states, the experts in the book are helping to save some lives here. I don't want to die, do you. I am too young. This book has given me hope, provided me additional experts proof (along with my own physician's), that could save my life.
Darlene from Worcester, Massachusetts

The Billings have done an excellent job of publishing a much-needed "handbook" for the layperson with regards to being exposed to biotoxic molds and other contaminates.
I give a lot of credit to this family for the quick response in addressing health issues that plague most people exposed to mycotoxins for any length of time. A large portion of the population cannot afford or even find the correct environmental physicians to help understand our health conditions relating to mycotoxin exposure.
This book gives hope and sheds light that we are not crazy. We don't need psychiatric drugs. Our bodies are sick, and we know it!
Katrina is bringing a whole new face to biotoxic exposure.
The two weeks exposure shows just how toxic these molds are- and how quickly our physical health can deteriorate.
It is a miracle that these special people pulled together this publication that so many people who need, good, solid, basic, reliable information, AND from the right sources, now have it available to them! And at such a reasonable cost. (I hate to mention what my mold-toxin education and recovery has escalated to!)
I know the book is creditable because I have had a personal working relationship with many of the doctors that contributed to this book. They are all outstanding, in their perspective fields, with years of experience and knowledge of mold toxins.
These doctors have been relaying the same health ramifications to patients for years, only- the public consciousness has not responded to the potential detrimental implications- mainly by the lack of government agencies and our own family physicians lack of knowledge; which is acknowledged in this book.
Can this situation happen you- Definitely!
Is there a way out- Definitely!
But we have to take responsibility for our recovery- it's not just handed to any of us.
There are incredibly powerful passages in the book- such as: Would we go sightsee at a known toxic Anthrax location?
Would we allow our children to go play at Chernobyl? Hello?
There are many items about Katrina that are very quietly addressed for the whole health of this nation. Not just victims of the hurricane.
The Billing's have passed along a gift to Mold Victims- globally. They have been brave enough to voice on the subject of the epidemic that surrounds all of us.
The book is reader-friendly, packed with information, but I will add that this one book only the tip of the iceburg- there is much more that needs to be made available for the public.
As to the Billings recovery protocol- they are on the right path- and there is more than one road to recovery.

I have stage II breast cancer and my boyfriend did not know what to do and how to act. He was awkward with comforting me and felt frightened by my crying and so thus withdrew. His actions and decisions angered and hurt me and I felt our relationship was falling apart. We went to see a wonderful therapist sponsered by the American Cancer Society and she gave him this book to read after the first session. It's like she cast a spell upon him. In just four days he became a totally different man. He knows and understands just what i am going through and that I will need special care and attention. He now he has the power to lift my spirits, to let me know that he is there for me no matter what I need. Compassion has blossomed forth with such speed it is amazing. And I love him all the more for trying so hard to do the right things for me. He makes the darkness go away with the light he brings to my life.

This book talks about one person's experience with breast cancer. However, the insights and wisdom would help anyone coping with life's challenges. It's wonderful.

The book is chock full of wise and useful advice on how to care for your wife who has breast cancer. It also has wisdom for all spouses on how to live life to the fullest and enjoy and care for your spouse. It's a quick read, and well-organized, so you can read what is pertinent to you. My favorite sections include: One Day at a Time, Humor Heals, Learn from Prostitutes, Use the Serenity Prayer, Lemonade from Lemons, Avoid Doom and Gloom. While the book would benefit all spouses, the book is a special comfort to those finding their way with a wife with breast cancer. With this book, you are not alone.

I'm so glad that Amazon has a way for big spenders, like myself, to ensure I spent every dime that I make frivously. This is a page turner (a short one at that!) and now I'm confident that my utilities' billing will be properly outsourced all the way to 2008! Thanks IDC! This is sure to be #1 on AMAZON!

*** WARNING: Spoiler! ***
*** This review reveals plot twists! ***

"USUBO 2K8 FA", as I and other members of the fan club have affectionately come to call it, is more than a report. It is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. My friends and I waited on line for days to be among the first to download it.

To say it is a real page-turner is an understatement. Once you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down for anything, until you have read all 12 pages.

The surprise ending (which I will NOT reveal here) comes so suddenly... I literally gasped! Let's just say it gives anyone with a sense of commitment to any utility billing operation A LOT to think about!

Even after you reach the end, you will find yourself in denial, clicking the down arrow in your Adobe PDF reader, hoping against hope for just one more sentence. You will try strange key combinations on your keyboard in the vain attempt to unlock an easter egg. But to no avail.

You will just have to wait until the greedy, manipulative, George-Lucas-like wizards at IDC decide to release the sequel. Let's just hope they do it promptly in 2008. In the meantime, we will have to sustain ourselves on the countless rehashes, special illustrated edition, collectors' edition, author's cut, all in both wide-page and narrow-page. And then there's the USUBO Battle for Endor... In all honesty, even though I detest the idea, I have to admit I will not be able to resist watching the Christmas Special as read by a CG effect of John Houseman.

Oh to have a piece of the merchandising for this baby!

As the editorial review states:

"This IDC study examines the market for U.S. utilities billing outsourcing and provides a forecast for 2004-2008. The competition for the few thousand North American utilities will continue to be intense. Mergers (such as Capgemini and TXU) may create the best of both utilities focus and outsourcing/systems integration expertise. However, established relationships that each of the leading players have already established with utilities may limit the strength of new partnerships."

How modest! To call it a mere "study"! We really need a stronger word in the English language than "examines". "Forecast"? Try prophecy maybe. The competition will continue to be intense? You cannot come away from reading this without a real sense of dread, panic even, over the intensity of the competition that will be faced by the unsung heroes of the utilities companies. How you will bemoan the established relationships of each of the leading players and how they so limit the strength of any and all possible new partnerships. Oh the humanity!

Sorry for getting so emotional. But that's what USUBO does to you!

And now, the promised spoiler. This ought to make anyone who reads it salivate with desire, get chicken-skin from excitement, and hold their breath with anticipation.

"Business process outsourcers should avoid the trap of repeatedly customizing outsourcing solutions for each client," said Meredith Whalen, group vice president, U.S. Vertical Market Research. "This defeats the purpose of the economies-of-scale concept that is necessary to make the outsourcing model cost effective."

Even after dozens of readings I still get chills.

I cannot recommend this precious resource enough, to anyone in any way involved in utilities, billing, or even outsourcing. It is a MUST READ!

See you at the fan-site!

When you think about it, $375 for each page isn't THAT bad. Especially when it covers the Utility Billing Outsourcing all the way to 2008! Seriously, how can you go wrong?

Great reading, humorous and informative. Henry Billings gives us a picture of the Vietnam War from geopolitical and military
strategies to everyday life in the streets of Saigon sprinkled with MASH does Vietnam anecdotes of his own experiences. A great book for young people not wanting to wade through a tome on the subject yet leaving them with a good history lesson.

I have just finished reading "VIETNAM FOLLIES, a Memoir of an Intelligence Officer", by Henry Billings, published by 1st Books Library. For anyone who grew up in the 1960's in the shadow of the Vietnam War, with inner conflicts of conscience vs country, this book is well worth reading.
The young Henry Billings is caught between two forms of idealism; a sense of duty and obligation to his country, and a pacifist's aversion to the "us against them" mentality that soldiering requires. In his own words, he was "on the one hand a Boy Scout and on the other hand a bleeding-heart leftist". He ends up spending 1966 in Saigon as an intelligence officer.
His book goes into detail about some of his assignments. He discusses B-52 bombing, Cambodia (before, during, and after the U.S.-Vietnam War), and attempts to research enemy morale. He also tells of the rebuke he often received from his superiors when the information he gathered, and perceived to be true, did not fit with the propaganda "spin" they were looking for. As he closes his narrative, looking back, he seems to have more regrets for what he didn't do as a pacifist at home than for what he did do in the Army in Saigon.
I liked the way H. Billings relates his time in the Vietnam Era with a historical overview, but separates his own experiences and opinions. Places and names that blew by me when I was a "teeny-bopper" in the mid-1960's come to life again. The last time I heard some of those names was from Walter Cronkite.
When I see the word "Memoirs" in a book title, I worry that more than half of the sentences will start with "I" or end with "me"; not so with H. Billings' book. Chapter 8 on Cambodia impressed me the most.
I didn't go to Vietnam. I had a draft-lottery number of 259 in 1971. But those of us who watched from the sidelines were not untouched.
VIETNAM FOLLIES is worth reading, whether you were a pacifist who didn't go or a soldier who did.

E J Tretter

As a college student thinking of majoring in history, Vietnam Follies was exciting and informative from start to finish.
While many historical autobiographies are difficult to read and hard to follow, Henry Billings throws the reader into the shoes of a young soldier trying to get through the war while dealing with various psychological and personal problems along the way.
My favorite part was when I was reading chapter 5 about Henry's final mission in training camp in which he had to play Escape and Evade. I found myself literally sweating throughout the chapter, wondering whether or not he would make it to safety, or be caught and tortured. I became so engaged that i continued reading past 1:00 on a school night until i reached the conclusion of the chapter. Only a handful of books I have ever read have gotten me this passionate about reading, which definitely says a lot about Henry Billing's writing style.

I would recommend this book to anyone.

I ordered this book some time ago and find that it has been a continuous sourse of information. The details of individual microscopes are excellent and will inspire any collector or anyone interested in microscopy. My only true critisism (minor) is in the layout, the book is divided into sections due to the additions of different collections which upsets the cronological arrangement. Over all a magnificent work, I would be lost without it.

The Billings Microscope Collection is a very straight-forward reference book with hundreds of photographs of antique and vintage microscopes. The Billings Collection catalogs the fascinating history of the light microscope and the many innovations and improvements given to this most important optical device. I can't imagine that this fantastic reference book will stay out of print forever considering america's now insatiable appetite for all things old. However, and thankfully the catalog is only an historical reference and not a price guide. If you never met a microscope you didn't love, then this is the book for you.

The authors really knows their glass, and especially glass rose bowls. The material is presented in a clear, well documented manner and the pictures are just wonderful to look at. I highly recommend this book to glass lovers and glass collectors.

Collectible Glass Rose Bowls is an excellent history of the glassmaking artistry of rose bowls. The book starts with a detailed explanation of rose bowls and then studies examples created in the different eras leading up today. Johanna also gives great details on the method of manufacture of the rose bowls that are pictured and a bit of history on the companies that produced each item. She explains and defines many glass terms that are useful in the study of other glass forms.

The photography is terrific. The fine workmanship in the rose bowls nearly jumps off the page. If you think rose bowls are simple and boring, you will change your mind in very short order.

Collectible Glass Rose Bowls is an excellent tutorial on the hobby of glass collecting. Even if you don't collect rose bowls, you will learn much from reading this very enjoyable book. This book is highly recommended for all glass collectors.

This is a fascinating story, timely again because it involves a wartime terrorist attack, foreign espionage, major issues of habeas corpus, and uneasiness about national security in general. It's also a warning about how runaway hysteria about national security can wreck lives, empower charlatans like the DA who prosecuted (framed) this case, and, in the end, fail to gain any security.

(There's even electronic surveillance in this story: seems that Federal agents had a dictaphone in the DA's office. In 1918.)

This book's appendix is particularly valuable. Having told the story of how two innocent men served 23 years for a bombing they never committed, Gentry asks, Whose Bomb? He reviews a number of theories (various -- and doubtful -- confessions, accusations about Mexican insurgents or the DA himself, labor activists, &c.) One finger points at the Imperial German consulate, and German espionage was a very real threat during that war.

I recommend Richard Frost's "The Mooney Case" because it goes into more detail on the legal intricacies of this case. Gentry and Frost complement each other because Gentry pursues the trial-by-press and multiple-suspects parts; Frost the law history. Both are useful.

This tells how the rulers and politicians of 1916 San Francisco tried to legally murder Tom Mooney and Warren Billings for a crime they didn't commit. Every scrap of testimony by the prosecution was perjured! The verdict caused worldwide protest demonstrations. Both men were freed after twenty years in prison.

Preparedness Day parades that year were business sponsored, pro-Republican party, anti-Wilson, and anti-labor. It could mean the European War, the Invasion of Mexico, or an attack on Democrats, Progressives, organized Labor, Socialists, pacifists, or supporters of President Wilson (p.12). The parade went on with unaccustomed silence from the crowd. At 2:06PM the bomb went off, killing 10 people and wounding may others; over forty were hospitalized. Glass from broken windows fell on the people below. When DA Fickert arrived, he used a sledge hammer and crowbar to create more damage! Photographs on page 28. Five people were arrested for this crime, when there were no warrants and no evidence to connect them to it.

Thomas Jeremiah Mooney's father was a coal miner and union organizer. His early death left the family poor, and they moved to Massachusetts where they had relatives. Tom became involved in union activities (p.34). The Panic of 1907 saw him travelling to find work across the country. He found work in Stockton, and joined the Socialist Party. Salesman Mooney went out to sell pamphlets rather than wait for customers to call. Tom became a militant organizer for industrial unionism. He then joined the IWW and its "direct action". Tom often criticized the union leaders as much as corporate employers; he made enemies of those who should be allies.

The early life of Warren Knox Billings saw him moving from job to job. One of his jobs was at a struck factory, where he sabotaged the work (p.54). He then became part of the Mooney family. Page 60 explains how the frame-up racket worked. Tom seems to have had too much arrogance and pride. Page 66 tells how the president of United Railroad looted the company of millions, not unlike today's scandals. Tom tried to organize a union there but failed. Page 70 tells of another attempted frame-up: they hired a look-alike to carry suitcases to where bombs would be set off!

This book is important as it documents prosecutorial tricks repeated at other political trials. Single, double, and triple agents do not occur only in wartime! Part One is their personal history. Part Two is about the trial. Part Three is about the efforts to free them. Part Four tells of their release. The appendix discusses the solutions to the crime. Henry Landau's "The Enemy Within" tells of German espionage in America during that time. His "Secrets of The White Lady" tells of his intelligence work in occupied Belgium and France.

"Mastering the Reimbursement Process is the single best source for the physician, medical office staff, or others to get a comprehensive understanding of health insurance, claims submission, and the follow-up necessary to get paid by third parties." - Michael T. Myers, Jr, MD, MBA, Director, Health Care Regulatory Group, PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP

With Medicare compliance and false claim risks increasing, this is a wonderful guide for Physicians and those who bill for them.

This well written text book is helpful in grasping the various basic concepts of microbiology.

I utilized this text for my microbiology class in undergrad. It lists the major parasites, molds and bacteria. Parasites were the most interesting because it shows you what foods are associated with what parasite. Pretty gross stuff but was not boring at all. I also used:
Microbiology Study Guide: Key Review Question and Answers, isbn 0971999635, to help me with test preparation. The questions were quite similar to what I found on my college microbiology tests. Both books helped me to achieve very good scores on my tests.

A great new 208 page treasury of Peachblow Glass collectibles, with more than 500 very large, colorful, sharp photos. Pricing is year 2000. The quality of the photography is amazing. You'll find plenty of useful and interesting in depth information here. Major topics range from Morgan, Mt. Washington, World's Fair, to Italian, Fenton, Imperial, Pilgrim and Intaglio. Newcomers to the hobby will find it most vaulable, as will the old-timers. You can't go wrong with this book. It's a beauty. Add it to your collection.

I have just begun to collect peachblow glass and I know very little about it. I bought the most beautiful vase, not knowing what it was other than glass, and decided to learn a bit about the piece in particular.....and then I discovered the wonderful world of peachblow! I picked up info here and there, but began to notice that it was confusing - the types, the companies that made them, the coloration, the imitations and most of all, what the heck defines what is and what isn't "peachblow," "peach blow," "peach bloom..." and so on. I started looking for a book that was informative, yet written so a beginner could comprehend. Voila! I found out about this book and it was a super investment. The pictures are stunning and the captions are helpful. The book is divided into chapters by company/type (i.e. Mt. Washington, Wheeling etc.) and each chapter gives loads of info, pictures, history and the Identification Cards, which plainly set out the characteristics of that particular type. If you collect peachblow or any glass or antiques, or if you just love beautiful art - this book is for you. Since the coloration and pictures are so excellent, it even makes a perfect "coffee table" book! I couldn't be more pleased.