Retired Army Capt. James Van Thach walks with a cane and with Liz his assistance dog by his side. Just two weeks ago, they were paired for life by Canine Companions for Independence. Theyve been in training ever since.

Its a very challenging process and a rewarding process because were building a new relationship, Van Thach told CBS 2s Vanessa Murdock.

Its a constant companionship between man and mans best friend. The Wounded Veteran Initiative pairs brilliant canines like Liz with wounded warriors for free.

Not only for emotionally, but physically because its so difficult with my disability, Van Thach said, describing the programs benefits.

The retired captain was injured twice during a two-year deployment to Iraq first by an improvised explosive device (IED) and then by a rocket which exploded just 20 meters away from him.

My body got picked up by the bomb blast and I was thrown to the ground, Van Thach explained. And I incurred a traumatic brain injury.

Van Thach suffers from migraines and short-term memory loss. He has also lost some mobility in his back and neck, making it hard to bend down.

The Geos Zoo urn, is made of soil, minerals and vegetal agglutinants that hold it together. This urn is intended to be buried and there is the option of removing the lid and planting a tree from the region, this way the fertile ashes along with the nutrients in the Geos Zoo urn will help the tree grow strong and healthy. Now everyone can bury their beloved pet in their backyard or their favorite park and watch the tree grow as a perfect memorial.

There is also the Nu urn made out of salt, intended to be disposed in the ocean where it will dissolve in less than 5 minutes reintegrating with nature.

The third model is the Samsara urn, made out of sand intended to be disposed in fresh waters like lakes, rivers, etc.

Limbo Zoo has wholesale prices for pet stores and veterinarians.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/5/prweb9520163.htm

Most financial advisers and investors are sticking to a strict diet with exchange-traded funds, avoiding all but the most popular of options.

Heading into this month, just 25 funds held 61% of all the assets in US-listed ETFsand there are more than 1,458 on the market right now, according to investment researcher XTF Global. That herd-like mentality is credited by analysts to an emphasissome say an overemphasison size and liquidity.

A growing number of ETFs focus on smaller niches and esoteric themes, which could be useful in a portfolio but their bid-ask spreads are often wider because they hold fewer assets and trade less often.

Califfs version of the story, told first to the Daily News, is one riddled with angst and sleepless nights and devoid of wife Erin, who, when informed by her husband of his off-again, on-again trade situation, became a wreck on the other line, 3,000 miles away.

According to Califf, 32, he was told by Union boss Peter Nowak that along with Chivas, lowly Toronto FC also wanted his services. And that given the choice to weigh the two options it was a no-brainer.

But that wasnt the issue here.

The issue for Califf was listening to Nowak on Wednesday spin the story his captain was eager to return to California to continue his MLS career where it began 12 years ago while a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

It made me want to throw up, said Califf.

But while he repeatedly admitted that Nowak kept him in the loop, Califf said it still felt like being kept in the dark, at the same time.

I think Peter was forthcoming in the fact that there were rumors, offers or whatever for a trade, said Califf. Between myself and Toronto and to be fair to him he did tell me about the offers. But at that point, how do you take that? Your coach is telling you theres offers, but there are offers all the time so the only way you can take that is they were looking to get rid of me.

Califf, however, remained mum until the dust settled late Thursday when it was announced that in return, the Union received allocation money and midfielder Michael Lahoud, a player joining an already crowded pool of young talent in the center of the park.

Dont tell me this move wasnt all about the Benjamins, especially with Julys summer-transfer window looming.

Change is never easy and when you give your heart to something and much of yourself, and it all gets ripped out from under you, that part of yourself is essentially ripped away, said Califf. Its like putting a Band-Aid on a scab and then ripping the Band-Aid off over and over and over again. I understand that these types of trades happen in professional sports all the time, I mean I am not stupid to this fact, but we were just in a really good place as a family [here in Philadelphia] and thats why it hurt so bad.

The Union pawning Califf lifts his six-figure salary off the books but it also removed one of the few outspoken personalities in the locker room. Califf was a leader as much on the field as off, visiting hospitals and reading books at schools and known to have a pint or two with supporters. Its even rumored that during his end of days here in Philadelphia, he did the latter at a local pub.

There was plenty of drama in Philly, plenty of stuff that doesnt need to get rehashed, and a lot of that involves me unfortunately, said Califf. But Im just trying to realize this situation, get my feet under me and wrap my head around the fact that I am walking into a locker room full of faces I dont know.

The whole deal was one for the bizarro-files, as in spite of the trade pending only approval from Major League Soccer, according to Nowak, Chivas USA coach Robin Fraser and Goats general manager Jose Domene saw things a lot differently. After getting wind of Nowaks comments Wednesday, Fraser and Domene were seen leaving a morning training session in haste, with Domene telling an ESPN reporter that the two have to put out a fire.

The fire appears to be that while Nowak believed Califf was on his way, Fraser hadnt read all the fine print, and according to an ESPN report, there was no deal yet at the time of Nowaks presser. Though he admitted talks were ongoing, Fraser seemed miffed that Nowak would make such information public before things were finalized.

At this point I would say hellip; I guess until any deal is done, you cant say for sure, Fraser said. And when asked at the time if Califf would even join Chivas, he added, I am not sure how to answer that, to be quite honest. I hate to be evasive, but I cant say more than that. We are very much in a discussion with them.

Except pending league approval, according to Nowak, the deal between the two sides was wrapped and on Wednesday (barring official announcement) Califf became the last non-rookie Union original to leave the locker room in exchange for a player to be named and something else, according to Nowak.

So why the secrecy from Chivas? That in itself was a mystery and a whole other columnhellip;

Perhaps the one person who played it smart in all this was Califf. When I reached out to him via text earlier this week, he responded only by saying: I know I said I would talk, please dont think I am dodging or ignoring you. Thank you, Danny. It was perhaps the savviest play in this whole fiasco considering hes the one caught in the thick of it. Erin Califf didnt share her husbands sentiment and posted on the Unions Facebook page: My husband DID NOT WANT to be traded The Truth after the reports of what Nowak said Wednesday got out. The post was later taken down.

The dust has settled on this situation, and in retrospect, with minimal damage. But its hard to deny that this is yet another occasion involving the Union where the transition hasnt been seamless. When asked if he saw any similarities in the way he and many other former Union players took their final exits, Califf quipped: The only difference is that my exit took a few days longer.

Contact Kerith Gabriel at gabrielk@phillynews.com