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What is Fibromyalgia??
Background: Fibromyalgia is a complex disorder defined only recently, but it is not a recently discovered disorder. Descriptions have been found in the medical literature as far back as the early 17th century. Many physicians prefer not to deal with patients who have this complicated disorder and question the actual existence of the disorder. In the past, poor recognition and lack of treatment for this disorder could be explained by a lack of meaningful research. Today evidence supports the diagnosis of fibromyalgia, as well as the accepted treatments.
Some experts propose that physicians should make a paradigm shift in their approach to patient care to treat patients with fibromyalgia successfully. Since no widely available laboratory tests confirm diagnosis of fibromyalgia, a physician skilled in taking a careful history, listening to the patient's concerns, and performing a thorough examination remains the foundation for diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia.
This article reviews synonyms and clinical features of fibromyalgia, as well as an approach to obtaining a medical history, physical examination, and recommended treatment. Treatment suggestions are meant to be a resource for developing a creative treatment program, not a cookbook approach to all patients with fibromyalgia.
A definition of fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia, a common disorder, is a syndrome composed of a specific set of signs and symptoms. Fibromyalgia long has been considered a "wastebasket" diagnosis, but, in 1987, the American Medical Association (AMA) acknowledged fibromyalgia as a true illness and a potential cause of disability. Fibromyalgia is accepted as a legitimate clinical entity by many well-respected organizations, such as the AMA, National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the World Health Organization (WHO) (Starlanyl, 1996).
Patients with fibromyalgia generally see many physicians before receiving a correct diagnosis. Some report that patients seek medical advice for more than 5 years before a correct diagnosis is made, and over 50% of patients are misdiagnosed and undergo unnecessary surgery.
Although the syndrome has been known by other names, the word fibromyalgia was first introduced in 1976. This word is derived from the Latin roots "fibro" (fibrous tissue), "my" (muscles), "al" (pain), and "gia" (condition of). Fibromyalgia was known most commonly by the misnomer fibrositis, the "itis" implying an inflammatory component. Chaitrow asserts that no inflammatory process ever has been found to be part of this disease.
Pathophysiology: Although the sequence of events that cause fibromyalgia remains unknown, recent advances and discoveries may help to unravel the mysteries of this disease. Recent research shows biochemical, metabolic, and immunoregulatory abnormalities associated with fibromyalgia. Clinicians' approach to diagnosis and treatment may be enhanced by broadening their knowledge of these biochemical and immunoregulatory abnormalities, which may be involved in the way patients interpret the nociceptive signals to the central nervous system (CNS) and how they respond physiologically to stress. Current understanding of the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia describes the disease as a central pain processing disorder.
The most widely acknowledged biochemical abnormality associated with fibromyalgia is abnormally low serotonin levels. Many studies by researchers have linked serotonin, a neurotransmitter, to sleep, pain perception, headaches, and mood disorders. Lower than normal levels of serotonin have been observed in fibromyalgia patients. Low platelet serotonin is believed to be the cause of the low serum levels. Studies show low serum levels correlate with painful symptoms. Serotonin levels in the CNS are thought to be low due to both low tryptophan (the amino acid precursor to serotonin) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (a metabolic by-product) in spinal fluid. Investigators have proposed a link between low serotonin levels and fibromyalgia symptoms. Moreover, many investigators propose that low serotonin levels may cause fibromyalgia totally or in part.
In support of the idea of a systemic biochemical abnormality in fibromyalgia, 4 independent studies reported elevation by 2-3 times of substance P, the neuropeptide in spinal fluid. Substance P is a neurotransmitter released when axons are stimulated. Increased levels of substance P increase the sensitivity of nerves to pain or heighten awareness of pain. The elevated levels in the spinal cord cause fairly normal stimuli to result in exaggerated nociception. Some authors believe that neither elevated substance P nor low serotonin alone can be primary causative agents but that the dual dysfunction may be responsible for fibromyalgia.
Researchers also have found the existence of low levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in red blood cells of patients with fibromyalgia. Although the significance is unknown, some suggest low platelet serotonin levels could be explained if platelet ATP levels are also low. ATP is necessary to move and then hold serotonin in platelets. More investigation into ATP and the link to serotonin is needed.
Others have studied the neuroendocrine aspects of fibromyalgia and found hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction in these patients. The HPA is a critical component of the stress-adaptation response. In a normally functioning system, the anterior pituitary is stimulated by corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The adrenal cortex then is stimulated by ACTH to produce glucocorticoids, which are powerful mediators of the stress-adaptation response. Circadian regulation and the stress-induced stimulation of the HPA axis are, in part, regulated by serotonin. Serotonin metabolism perturbations (as well as premorbid HPA-axis abnormalities) may explain HPA-axis abnormalities in fibromyalgia.
The effects of abnormal serotonin metabolism may be exaggerated by HPA-axis dysfunction. Low central serotonin actually may be caused by HPA-axis hypoactivity. Some authors have noted the following 5 main measurable neuroendocrine abnormalities associated with HPA-axis dysfunction:
Growth hormone, produced during delta sleep, is involved in tissue repair. The low levels of growth hormone may be explained by disrupted stage 4 (delta) sleep associated with fibromyalgia. Growth hormone stimulates liver production of insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I). Some authors have found that low levels of IGF-I are present in most patients with fibromyalgia and that low levels are both specific and sensitive in fibromyalgia.
Some studies have found that nerve growth factor was 4 times higher in the spinal fluid of patients with fibromyalgia. This factor is important to the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia, since the process enhances substance P production in the afferent neurons, thereby increasing the sensitivity or awareness to pain. Nerve growth factor also may play a role in spreading or redistributing perceived pain signals.
Increasing evidence suggests the existence of a genetic predisposition for developing fibromyalgia. The inheritance pattern is autosomal-dominant. Some investigators propose that the genetic predisposition requires either reaching a critical age or sustaining an external insult such as trauma or illness.
Although the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia is not understood completely, the currently known abnormalities substantiate the proposal that fibromyalgia can no longer be considered a subjective pain condition. Many research groups suggest that fibromyalgia may be a condition of abnormal central processing of nociceptive pain input.
Mortality/Morbidity: The social, emotional, economic, and functional impact of fibromyalgia on an individual's life have been compared, by some authors, to the effects of rheumatoid arthritis. Approximately one third of patients with fibromyalgia have reportedly modified their work to keep their jobs. Some patients have shortened their workdays, their workweeks, or both. Many patients with fibromyalgia have changed to less physically and mentally taxing jobs. Often, this type of job change leads to decreased income and increased financial burdens. One figure suggests that approximately 15% of the people diagnosed with fibromyalgia currently are receiving disability benefits. An estimate of the overall annual cost of this disease to the American economy is over $9 billion.
Race: No racial predilection exists in fibromyalgia. Researchers have reported the condition in all ethnic groups and cultures.
Sex: Studies have shown that fibromyalgia is 4-7 times more common in females. No universally accepted explanation exists for this predilection for females, as there is hardly any difference in incidence among males and females in childhood.
Age: Fibromyalgia may be diagnosed in individuals of all ages. Symptoms usually arise between the ages of 20-55 years, but the condition also may be diagnosed in childhood.
History: Although it may take a little more time to gather a thorough and detailed initial history, the author finds that a good history saves time in the long run, reduces potential for litigation, helps prevent incorrect diagnosis, and eliminates inappropriate or unnecessary treatments.
Start the evaluation with identifying the chief complaint, which usually is related to pain. Although the initial interview starts with the chief complaint, avoid treating patients based on the chief complaint alone. Premature treatment may lead to symptom chasing and ineffective treatment. Patients with fibromyalgia experience a change in symptoms from day to day, which may not reflect the global nature of their disorder.
Next, expand on the chief complaint with specific questions about the pain. Question the patient about the distribution of the pain (eg, ask whether the pain is regional or generalized). Ask about the duration and onset of the pain. Patients usually can remember sudden onset of pain; if there was a gradual onset, determining the exact time of onset is difficult. Inquire about pain aggravating and alleviating factors. Record the description or characteristics of their pain (eg, ask whether the pain is migratory, burning, tender, sore, aching, sharp, radiating).
Thirdly, question the patient about his/her sleep habits and environment. If possible, ask the sleep partner if the patient snores or kicks while asleep. The clinician needs to know how long it takes for the patient to fall asleep and how many times he or she awakens. Ask patients how they feel in the morning.
Pellegrino and the author suggest that physicians obtain information about the patient's diet, particularly caffeine and carbohydrate intake. The history should include any symptoms that may indicate the presence of one or more of the coexisting conditions. Information on medications, exercise, and fatigue also is important. List any allergies and perpetuating factors.
Diagnostic criteria
Unfortunately, no medical test or x-ray can help provide definitive diagnosis of fibromyalgia, although these tests can help evaluate suspected coexisting conditions or rule out other possible diseases. Prior to 1990, there were no guidelines for evaluating and diagnosing fibromyalgia.
To reduce misdiagnosis and confusion, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) recognized the need to establish a clear definition and guidelines. They sponsored a multicenter study to develop these criteria. In 1992, at the Second World Congress on Myofascial Pain and Fibromyalgia, the diagnostic criteria were expanded and refined.
The diagnostic criteria include 2 basic requirements. The first is the presence of pain in all 4 quadrants of the body, as well as in the axial skeleton on a more or less continuous basis for at least 3 months. The pain often is described as widespread or global. The second criterion is the presence of at least 11 of 18 anatomically specific tender points. A tender point hurts only at the area where pressure (enough to cause the examiner's nail bed to blanch, or about 4 kg) is applied, and there is no referred pain. An instrument known as a dolorimeter can be used to apply exactly 4 kg of pressure over the tender points during the examination. The 18 possible tender points exist as 9 pairs. Tender points may be found in any palpable muscle, but there are 18 sites that have been found to be present consistently in patients with fibromyalgia and are used for diagnosis. The ACR criteria describe 4 pairs of tender points on the anterior of the body and 5 pairs on the posterior of the body.
Clinical presentation
Some authors have noted that the typical patient has seen an average of 15 physicians and has been affected for approximately 5 years prior to being diagnosed correctly with fibromyalgia. Many patients are misdiagnosed and endure costly treatments that provide little benefit. At some point, most patients have been told that nothing is medically wrong and that the condition is all in their heads. Many patients are frustrated and skeptical. Although most are relieved when a correct diagnosis finally is made, some patients affirm that the clinician may need to convince the patient that he or she actually knows what is wrong and that there is a treatment plan.
Most patients with fibromyalgia are female and do not appear chronically ill. They may look fatigued or agitated. Their chief complaint is often "I hurt all over all the time." The quality of their constant pain is described as burning, aching, and soreness. They may feel as if they are bruised all over but without visible signs. Although the pain is constant, the location migrates and the intensity varies. Many patients may complain of only a single painful area, such as the low back or neck. A careful history reveals that their pain is not focal in its distribution but global. Initially, they may complain of pain at one site because they tend to be concerned primarily with their worst pain. Since many patients do not understand that the symptoms are connected, they give a fragmented history. The physician must ask the right questions to develop a complete understanding of the patient's pain distribution.
Patients generally do not tell the physician that they have a sleeping disorder. Again, a carefully taken history reveals unrefreshing sleep in about 65% of patients and morning fatigue in about 80% according to recent studies. Patients awaken as tired as they were before sleeping. Most patients awaken frequently throughout the night, and some have difficulty falling asleep. Generally, they finally fall asleep in the early morning hours, describing this as their best sleep. Many patients fall asleep immediately, deny sleep onset problems, and report only infrequent awakenings. Sleep onset this rapid is abnormal and should not be overlooked. Most patients complain of morning stiffness of variable duration. Question the sleeping partner about lower extremity movements. Approximately 20% of fibromyalgia patients have concomitant restless legs syndrome, the presence of which may lead the physician to choose or add medications other than antidepressants to the treatment.
The patients report their fatigue is second only to pain. The fatigue is worse in the morning and early evening. By ten or eleven o'clock in the morning, the fatigue subsides somewhat. Several investigators, including this author, have found patients' fatigue is worsened by poor sleep, physical activity, and diet.
These patients may not admit to feeling depressed or anxious; therefore, the physician must inquire. The source of their emotional stress may be multifactorial.
Several studies show approximately 50% of patients present with complaints of tissues feeling swollen and numbness and tingling in the extremities. These symptoms generally are more common in the upper extremities than in the lower extremities. Objective swelling, sensory changes, and other neurologic findings usually are absent.
Some investigators list many other common complaints, including chronic headaches and tenderness of the scalp to the touch. Complaints of chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations are common. Serious cardiac problems should be considered and may require extensive evaluation. Many of these patients' symptoms are related to mitral valve prolapse syndrome. Approximately 40% of patients with fibromyalgia describe symptoms of alternating diarrhea and constipation, bloating, cramping, and an increased urge to defecate. These symptoms most likely are related to irritable bowel syndrome. Some patients also may complain of symptoms that include urgency, frequency, and a sense of incomplete voiding. Pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea may be present as well.
Associated conditions
Several medical conditions and diseases are thought to coexist frequently with fibromyalgia. These coexisting conditions can aggravate and perpetuate symptoms. Left unrecognized, the physician inadvertently might prescribe an ineffective or even harmful treatment regimen, leading to costly and unnecessary testing. Several of the most common conditions are discussed briefly. The most common associated conditions include the following:
Sleep disorders
Sleep is not a state of massive system shutdown, but quite the contrary. During sleep, the brain is very active, constantly communicating with the body. Many neurohormones, antibodies, and other molecules also are synthesized during sleep; therefore, when sleep is disrupted, biochemical abnormalities can occur, leading to multisystem disturbances.
Sleep studies have shown that patients with fibromyalgia have disordered sleep physiology. Most of these patients experience unrefreshing sleep with morning fatigue.
To understand abnormal sleep architecture, it is essential to know the basics of normal sleep. Sleep can be divided into 2 main parts, nonrapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which alternate cyclically through the night, always starting with NREM sleep. In each successive NREM and REM cycle through the night, the amount of NREM sleep decreases and the amount of REM sleep progressively increases. Each cycle, NREM plus REM, lasts about 90 minutes. NREM is divided even further into 4 stages: stage 1 is initial drowsiness; stage 2 is light sleep; and stages 3 and 4 are progressively deeper levels of sleep.
In stages 3 and 4 of NREM sleep, the electroencephalogram (EEG) shows a pattern called delta waves, which are high-amplitude waves (greater than 75 mV) that move slowly (0.5-2 Hz). Much of the body's regulatory work, as well as synthesis of many substances (eg, antibodies, growth hormone, other neurochemicals), occurs during NREM sleep.
REM sleep has a low-voltage mixed-frequency pattern on EEG and is considered dream sleep. In this stage, the body has a complete loss of muscle tone, known as flaccid paralysis, and cannot move. During this part of sleep, consolidation of memories may occur, but there is still disagreement over exactly what occurs with memory during REM sleep. Some investigators found that during waking hours, the brain generates alpha waves with a frequency of 7.5-11 Hz.
Sleep dysfunction is considered an integral feature of fibromyalgia syndrome. Seventy percent of patients with fibromyalgia recognize a connection with poor sleep and an increased pain, along with feeling unrefreshed, fatigued, and emotionally distressed. Several studies have linked abnormal sleep with these symptoms.
Some researchers have studied fibromyalgia and sleep, confirming the disordered sleep physiology in fibromyalgia. This abnormality has been identified as an alpha-wave intrusion sleep anomaly, which occurs during NREM stage-4 sleep. This intrusion into deep sleep causes the patient to awaken or to be aroused into a lighter level of sleep.
Some authors describe the altered sleep physiology and somatic symptoms as a nonrestorative sleep syndrome. This sleep dysfunction is believed to be linked to the numerous metabolic disturbances associated with fibromyalgia, including abnormal levels of neurotransmitters (serotonin, substance P) and neuroendocrine and immune substances (growth hormone, cortisol, and interleukin-1). These authors propose that these metabolic imbalances are responsible for the increase in symptoms associated with this alpha-wave intrusion sleep disorder by impairing tissue repair and disturbing the immunoregulatory role of sleep. Studies show that the greatest amount of alpha-wave intrusions occur during the first few hours of sleep, decreasing throughout the night to normal levels by early morning. Some researchers note that this hypothesis correlates well with patients' frequent reporting that their best sleep is obtained in the early morning hours just prior to arising.
Depression in fibromyalgia is a controversial topic. In support of the contention that fibromyalgia is not a psychiatric illness, some authors believe that no correlation exists between fibromyalgia symptoms and psychological factors; others have determined that fibromyalgia is not a psychiatric disorder. The depression associated with fibromyalgia is believed to result from the pain, sleep deprivation, and dysfunction.
Depression in fibromyalgia may be treated with a regimen that includes nonpharmaceuticals. Antidepressants may help, but the clinician also should address other symptoms, such as fatigue or pain. Modifying diet and practicing good sleep hygiene are crucial. Starting a rehabilitation exercise program also is important. Some authors suggest that behavioral modification techniques and stress management also should be employed.
Myofascial pain syndrome
Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome may coexist, presenting a complex clinical picture; however, fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome are not one and the same condition. As stated, fibromyalgia is a generalized amplification of pain or hypersensitivity condition and is associated with tender points in the muscles. Tender points are focal areas of muscle tissue that are exquisitely tender to compression. The tender points of fibromyalgia are painful locally at the site where the pressure is applied, without referred pain to distant areas.
By contrast, myofascial pain syndrome is considered in the narrow definition to be a disorder of trigger points. Similar to tender points, trigger points also are discreet areas in muscle tissue and/or its associated fascia that are exquisitely tender to compression; however, unlike tender points, when pressure is applied to the trigger point, pain occurs not only at the site of the applied pressure, but also at a distant site (zone of pain referral). Trigger points are found in taut bands (firm elongated bands) within the muscle fibers and are associated with the local twitch response. This local twitch response is an involuntary transient contraction of the taut band muscle fibers and can be elicited by snapping or pinching the taut band. Some authors assert that both disorders (fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome) can magnify and perpetuate the symptoms of the other.
Several differences have been noted between fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome, and a few mentioned by some investigators are listed below. A more detailed review of the similarities and differences in these 2 syndromes is found in Acupuncture: Trigger Points and Musculoskeletal Pain (1993) by a leading British physician and acupuncturist, DP Baldry.
Cognitive dysfunction
Central nervous system imbalances have been linked to cognitive dysfunction or "fibrofog." This condition may cause some patients the most disability. According to some investigators, such symptoms include confusion and forgetfulness, inability to concentrate and recall simple words and numbers, and transposing words and numbers. Often, their cognitive functions are so impaired that they are unable to perform their usual activities of daily living (ADL), and the patient may get lost in familiar places or not be able to communicate effectively. Those patients who work face the fear of losing their jobs. Some school-aged patients drop out because of their inability to complete schoolwork.
Advances in noninvasive technology have made it possible to visualize the brain. New methods such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanning have helped define some of the abnormalities linked to the cognitive dysfunction. Studies involving SPECT scanning show decreased blood flow in the area of the right and left caudate nuclei and thalami in fibromyalgia patients. Cognitive dysfunction may be caused by abnormal levels of neurotransmitters such as substance P, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Some investigators claim that neuroendocrine imbalance of the HPA axis also may play a role in fibrofog. Others studies have implicated yeast overload, water retention, and glial cell abnormalities as causes of cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia.
Physical: The goal of the physical examination is to confirm the diagnosis, rule out concomitant systemic diseases, and recognize the presence of common coexisting conditions. The examination should include neurologic, joint, and musculoskeletal evaluations. Note the presence of swelling, deformities, and erythema. Examine the patient's gait, joint range of motion (ROM), and posture for structural asymmetry and skeletal deficiencies. Palpate the soft issues for tone, spasm, and tender points. Also check for taut bands, twitch responses, and trigger points; their presence signals the coexistence of a myofascial pain syndrome.
The standard criterion for diagnosis of fibromyalgia is the presence of 11 of 18 designated tender points. Other tender points may be present and also should be recorded. Some patients may present with less than 11 tender points. Experts contend that fibromyalgia can be diagnosed with as few as 8 or 9 tender points if other symptoms are present, such as sleep problems, fatigue, and any of the characteristic coexisting conditions.
The 1990 ACR criteria for the location of tender points are as follows:
Causes: No cause for fibromyalgia has been accepted universally, although there are many theories. Some authors suggest that there may even be an inheritance factor. Ongoing research may soon elucidate the cause(s).
Disc Disease
| Lab Studies:
Imaging Studies:
Rehabilitation Program:
Other Treatment (injection, manipulation,
Trigger point injection is an important technique to provide mechanical disruption (myolysis) of the trigger point. Disruption leads to reduction of pain and an increase in ROM, exercise tolerance, and circulation; therefore, it is a valuable tool in the treatment of patients with tender points and trigger points. Long-term outcomes improve when trigger point injections are used in conjunction with physical therapy, massage therapy, or home stretching exercises.
Both dry needling and needling with infiltration are effective in eliminating trigger points and tender points. Many authors report that needling with infiltration is most effective. Patients with fibromyalgia who receive trigger point injections have shown significant improvement in pain intensity and pain threshold and improvement of ROM after trigger point injection. These patients may experience a delayed improvement of their pain but an immediate improvement in ROM following injection. They also experience more severe soreness that develops sooner and lasts longer following injection.
A number of both materials and techniques are used for needling with infiltration. Most physicians prefer either 1% lidocaine without epinephrine or 0.5% procaine. Lidocaine often is chosen over procaine because of fewer allergic reactions, more rapid onset of action, and greater potency. Steroids generally are not indicated or recommended for trigger point injections in patients with fibromyalgia. Sterile saline can be used in patients allergic to local anesthetics.
When performing a trigger point injection, use a sufficiently long needle. Usually an extensive area must be infiltrated, so a relatively large volume (2-12 mL) is injected. Before injecting the local anesthetic, make certain that the needle is in the trigger point. Localization of the trigger point is ascertained when the needle either causes a marked increase in pain with referral pain, a fasciculation is seen or felt, or both.
Several contraindications to trigger point injections
must be observed. Avoid trigger point injections in patients with local or systemic
infection. Patients with bleeding disorders or who are taking anticoagulation medication
should not have trigger point injections without proper medical evaluation and only after
the risks and benefits are explained clearly to them.
Fibromyalgia patients have difficulty tolerating regular doses of most medications and supplements; they are very sensitive to medications, and side effects are common. To avoid these problems, use the lowest dose available or perhaps half to a quarter of the lowest recommended dose.
Several medications should be avoided or used very carefully. Most investigators recommend using narcotics sparingly. In fibromyalgia without concomitant rheumatic illnesses, steroids are not helpful and should be avoided.
Avoid complications and confusion by providing written instructions and drug information. These instructions need to be easy to understand. Patients should be instructed to consult their physicians before starting any over-the-counter (OTC) medications or supplements to avoid potentially harmful drug interactions.
Useful medications for treating fibromyalgia
Drug Category: Antidepressants -- These drugs are used not only to treat depression, but also to improve sleep and pain. Antidepressants increase CNS serotonin. Delta-wave sleep also improves. The end result is an improvement of the symptoms experienced by patients with fibromyalgia.
Drug Category: Anticonvulsants -- Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine used to control anxiety and improve sleep. Also used to control seizures.
Drug Category: Nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic -- Used to improve sleep onset and maintenance
Drug Category: Muscle relaxants -- Helpful in short-term management of muscle spasms along with rehabilitation measures.
Drug Category: Narcotic analgesics -- These agents should be used for the short-term relief of pain.
Drug Category: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) -- Used to help control the pain associated with fibromyalgia. Although effects in treatment of pain tend to be patient specific, ibuprofen is usually DOC for initial therapy. Other options include flurbiprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen.
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- sunnyDee
- 5 years ago
- Wedding: August 2014
Kyle came over to my place Christmas ever, and we decided to do our gifcts to each other that night instead of christmas morning because we had to be at his sisters for Christmas breakfast/brunch by 9am.
So Kyle hands me a bag full of gifts and says "they're numbered so open them in order. gotta save the best for last" (i know to others this seem totally obvious… but Kyle was always very serious on how he would never propose on christmas because its "too predictable". So i just thought he was being his silly self). So i go through each one.. a couple bras.. some perfume… candy ect… then i get to #6… which was not in the bag.. i totally fell for it.. complaining how it was missing… turned the bag upside down and everything. I turn around and there was Kyle down on one knee with the ring out "I forgot to put a #6.. but i hope this will do? I know its been a short time, but i know you're the one i want to spend the rest of my life with. will you marry me?"
First words out of my mouth : " Are you serious right now?" then "Of course i will!" and of course i was bawling like a little baby.
We then announced it to all of the family Christmas day, and they're all just as excited as we are.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 16.1684 Tuesday, 4 October 2005
Date: Tuesday, 4 Oct 2005 11:24:40 +0100 (BST)
Subject: The Oxford Edition of the Shakespeare Works
Dear All,
Having been in off-list conversation with Professor Wells concerning my
recent comments on SHAKSPER I would like to qualify my comments posted thus:
"Oddly, the Oxford Works Ed. by Wells and Taylor isn't a bad start.
Though many of their other 'facts' are wrong, their list of sources for
plays is a useful thumbing resource and memorial aid I find. Also of
course the most famous and inclusive is Bullough's 'Narrative and
Dramatic Sources of Shakespeare'. Several volumes, very useful!"
Stanley wanted to point out that these are not 'factual' errors of the
edition as such, but rather matters of judgment.
My point was that as a na


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Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, November 9, 2012, 11:16 AM
Town Square
Streetwise: Fall foliage
Original post made on Nov 12, 2012
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, November 9, 2012, 11:16 AM
Comments (3)
a resident of Danville
on Nov 12, 2012 at 8:44 am
Ummmm---you wrote "Indian"---oh we are so offended--oh my! You need to go to a re-education camp where we can make you think right!!!!! Call Obama and the socialists---you must be reported.
a resident of Danville
on Nov 12, 2012 at 10:34 am
Rose, the term "Indian Summer" has been used since the 1700's to convey a heat wave that occurs in Autumn. What does Obama have to do with Indain Summer? Perhaps you should go to re-education camp. Please don't refer to "we". If you are so offended by "Indian" Summer, maybe you would be happier in some other area. Danville and California don't need any more negative and unhappy people living here.
a resident of Diablo
on Nov 12, 2012 at 11:19 am
@JJ: there are several contributors to this forum who are working their way through the stages of grief -- I think that "sarcasm" is a subset of Stage 2 "Anger."
I just hope the GOPers in the House get to the Bargaining stage, and soon.
Don't miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.


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Lemon as Sore Throat Soother
Relieve a sore throat. Cut a lemon in half. Skewer one half over a medium flame on a gas stove or an electric burner set on high and roast until the peel turns golden brown. Let cool slightly, then mix the juice with 1 teaspoon of honey. Swallow the mixture.


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A string of recent court cases have seen a multi-national corporation and sole traders alike punished for flouting hygiene and trading standards laws.
A crackdown revealed a mouse infestation at a corporate chain's bakery, a market trader selling counterfeit footwear, a global telecom company illegally advertising and a second bakery overrun by vermin.
Environmental health officers carried out a series of inspections in 2012 and 2013, and the resulting prosecutions have been progressing through the legal system.
Last November at cash and carry store Costco in Shadbolt Avenue, Chingford, three dead mice were found in a food cupboard and three more were found decomposing on a sticky board.
Mice had also gnawed into several bags of flour and cake mix and droppings were found throughout the bakery.
At Thames Magistrates' Court last month Costco Wholesale UK Ltd pleaded guilty to seven offences.
It was fined £27,120 and forced to pay costs of over £6,000.
Telecom giant Lycamobile UK Ltd pleaded guilty to six charges of breaching advertising regulations after it was found to be flyposting.
The company was fined £2,400 for each of six offences plus costs, resulting in a bill of over £16,000.
Finally, Aadams Bagel Bakery in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, was forced to pay over £18,000 for repeated offences.
The owner pleaded guilty to nine offences, including allowing the premises to be infested by vermin and operating without hot water.
He has now been banned from owning any food business.
In February four pairs of UGG boots and 20 pairs of Vans shoes, which were hidden, were seized from a Walthamstow market trader.
The footwear was confirmed as counterfeit and in September stall holder Chui Ting was sentenced to 80 hours unpaid work and forced to pay costs of over £500.
Councillor Clyde Loakes, deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, said: "In Waltham Forest we will not tolerate our residents being cheated or our borough being disrespected."


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Retraction of the caruncle is best avoided by closing the conjunctival wound with a stitch, and thus pulling the caruncle forward.
The conjunctival flap is now replaced and a bandage applied.
This portion of the operation is concluded by the formation of a conjunctival flap a line and a half or two lines in length.
At first dryness, then watery discharges, finally involving the frontal sinuses and the conjunctival membrane.
Dilatation of the conjunctival vessels was observed in thirty-four cases.
The spatula is then withdrawn and the conjunctival flap is replaced in position.
The conjunctival sac should be washed out with boric lotion and a pad of cyanide gauze applied over the closed lid.
If discharge be present the conjunctival sac should be washed out carefully with boric lotion.
conjunctival diphtheria may or may not be associated with diphtheria of the throat.
Irrigate the conjunctival sac thoroughly with sterile saline solution.
1540s, medical Latin, short for membrana conjunctiva "conjunctive membrane" (see conjunctive).
conjunctival con·junc·ti·val (kŏn'jŭngk-tī'vəl)
Relating to the conjunctiva.
conjunctiva con·junc·ti·va (kŏn'jŭngk-tī'və)
n. pl. con·junc·ti·vas or con·junc·ti·vae (-vē)
The mucous membrane that lines the inner eyelid and the exposed surface of the eyeball.


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OneRepublic Auction VIP Passes to Benefit Pediatric Cancer Research
Here's your chance to meet OneRepublic while at the same time supporting an incredible charity! The guys are auctioning off a pair of tickets to attend any show on their US Native Summer tour and the winner will score a backstage meet + greet with the band!
Bid Now at CharityBuzz.com »
All proceeds from the auction will go to The Pablove Foundation. The Pablove Foundation's focus is to fund pediatric cancer research and advances in treatment, educate and empower cancer families, and improve the quality of life for children living with cancer through hospital play, music and arts programs.
Giving back to others and getting an incredible experience as well? What's not to love about that?
Source: CharityBuzz.com


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Horrible service. Ridiculous terms and rules. Being charged over $200 for a false noise complaint, TWICE. Not even informing us about the charge whatsoever. Really selfish staff.
It was very clean secure and had a friendly staff Parking deck was 6 foot eight inches and had to pay twenty dollars to park my van overnight
The staff was so welcoming and courteous we felt very much at home the minute we arrived! No late dining in hotel. However there were LOTS of great places within 2 blocks
The gum The room ... The bell hops
Close proximity to restaurants and sites, Long wait to check-in
My husband and I decided to book a room somewhat last minute on a holiday weekend. It was our 6th wedding anniversary & we were looking for something a little different than the past years celebrations. The first night, we were on the 5th floor, in a comfortable room with nice amenities. The next day, we decided to book another night & had no problems doing so very easily. My husband spoke to an employee in the lobby about possibly switching rooms so that we could see the fireworks. While we couldn't get a room on the side of the building where they shot off the city's fireworks, we got a great room on the other side of the building where we could watch all the fireworks on the horizon going off for hours. They gave us a sweet gift bag with snacks & since we were moved to the top floor, we also got access to the executive lounge, where we had access to free breakfast & all the other amenities offered there. It was great & we really appreciate all the help from the staff for making that possible. While we had one night of parking comped, the $20 a night parking fee seems a little steep to me. We live in a small town where there aren't even meters for parking, so that's a bit of an adjustment.
How clean and friendly everyone was
Was just passing through NC and needed a nice hotel gor decent price and I was amazed at the deal I got on a hotel that in my book should be 7 stars!!! Rooms.were spacious and modern, beds and pillows are very comfy, batrhoom very cool!!!
The location was great, with an awesome view to boot. The room was comfortable and clean. I felt like I was staying in a cheap motel next to the highway when the occupants in the next room turned up their music and partied into the wee hours of the morning. The walls were thin enough to hear laughter, cursing, and singing... was very disappointed to not have a restful time.
The staff was great. Always friendly and helpful. The location was perfect for our needs (we were attending an event at the convention center). The executive lounge was an excellent place for coffee & breakfast with a nice view of Charlotte. Our A/C in the room did not work. We called the front desk and they sent a gentlemen up to fix it. He came in, changed the filter, told us it was working now and left. However, the room never cooled down and I called down again. Unfortunately, we had left the "do not disturb" sign on the door from that morning and the technician was not permitted to enter the room. (we had left for the evening) So the air conditioning was never repaired and the only downside to our stay was a very hot room.
Location, price Air conditioning in room couldn't get below 72 degrees
The view of the city was beautiful at night though walking to the Epicenter was interesting as a group of adults were two blocks up trying to panhandle on the one side of the street. Family stayed at the same time and said they had robes on there room and we did not. Also cold water in room was not cold but warm. Also housekeeping did not leave correct bath amenities and toilet handle was broken.
I love the fact the asked me if I wanted a high or low room..of course we took the high and the view for the 15 floor was amazing
Bed was very comfortable and the staff was my favorite part. They were very helpful and nice. The place was very clean and loved the checkout time. My fiance and I traveled to Charlotte for one night to attend a concert. We pulled in and cones were blocking the entrance to self park which resulted in us using the valet service. Service was great but it was 30 dollars for one time valet. Very pricey especially for something we didn't want to do in the first place. Checking in didn't go as planned either, my reservation wasn't showing up but I had a printed and email confirmation. About 20 minutes later it was sorted out by having to make another reservation. The staff was by far my favorite part. They were helpful and patient even with a ton of people bustling around needing something.
Valet is super I had a modified reservation with a better rate and the manager Darron acted as if I was making it up! Not satisfied with his handling of it.
The staff was very friendly, always offered assistance, great place to take your family and dog, great location in Greenville within walking distance to many restaurants and places to do something fun, we recommend this place highly and planning on returning soon! Staff was amazing Rooms very clean and great views at charlotte Dog friendly they offer treats and water in the lobby Close to restaurants
Everything When I got there the room was clean. But the bathroom still had dirty towels in from the previous people staying in my room.
I didn't like that I requested a room on a high floor with a nice view and wound up with one on the 7th floor with a view of a roof. I also didn't like that I had to keep pestering the hotel staff for a remote and the only way someone finally seemed to act was when I requested another room, one with a remote. The TV had the channel and volume button disabled so I could only watch the never ending hotel channel. It drove me insane and I missed my favorite TV show because 3 phone calls, a trip to the front desk, and an encounter with a gentleman on the floor taking care of something else didn't seem to be able to produce a remote. Why didn't the cleaners check previously that a remote was in the room? That is standard. I was also disappointed that the hotel didn't have wifi. Some computers, especially MacBooks do NOT have an ethernet port so they cannot be plugged in. I wound up having to tether my computer to my phone just to surf the net. For the price, this was a very bad experience and I will NEVER stay at this hotel again.
Very clean. Friendly staff. Good food. Nice and comfortable bed!
Overall, a very nice hotel. Up to standard. Was not pleased with my stay. I checked in at 6:30 and none of the rooms were clean. I found this ridiculous and almost unheard of. I was not put in the room that I had originally booked which had bathrobes. The room they put me in did not so I asked for them three times. They promised they would bring them up and they never did. Very disappointed in the staff and customer service so I will not be staying here again unless I am reimbursed.
I liked everything about my stay except for a few unfriendly and standoffish hotel employees and security staff members... When I first arrived I was greeted rudely by the security staff... There was an event/wedding under way, and because I was dressed in casual urban attire I was blocked at the front door until I informed them of my reservation.... The only people who were genuinely friendly to ke throughout my stay were a valet associate named Matthew and older Spanish woman in the gift shop and the young ladies at the concierge counter. If it wasn't for those 5 connections my stay could've been undesirable... Those individuals mentioned above, salvaged the negative impression that the security staff left with me....
Excellent location! Perfect walking distance from all of down town! Great view of the Panthers stadium. Room was generally clean. Received an unauthorized charge after check out of $20 for self parking after paying for a very high end hotel room. There were very few self parking spots and most of the garage was taken up with construction. There were plenty of reserved valet parking spots, but we WERE NOT TOLD about the $20 self parking and the $25 valet parking, so we just walked the extra distance thinking we were saving money.
Staff was very friendly Rooms smelled like a 10 year old ashtray. Rooms are dirty and old. Very noisy. Forced valet parking. I love Omni but this one is bottom of the barrel
Location, Vallet Accommodations, dirty, furniture in room was broken and/or disheveled, low quality toilet paper, rough towels, accessibility into hotel after hours.
Freindly and helpful staff no shopping nearby
Excellent restaurant, beautiful room, friendly staff Poor guest internet options. No ethernet, mediocre / difficult WiFi
Concierge and staff were amazing! This is an older hotel, not what i expected for an omni brand.
so the problem is next door there is a complex of bars and restaurants and the music blares and thumps thru the night ...got to bed around 2:00 am So cannot recommend
Location, staff, room, shower, electric outlets (numerous and working well), complimentary morning beverages. Nothing
Great Service! Excellent Room, and Perfect Location in Downtown Charlotte, NC!
Staff and the cleanliness was good but my room was broken for $200 I feel like I should still want to the Ritz I pay for a luxury Suite but I got a king size bed instead which was not luxury at all. I didn't like the fact they Park their cars in public parking. I specially don't like how unsafe our cars, it should be more the luxury to the higher class. Especially don't like the rooms since my room was old and outdated for the money I should just going to the Ritz. The staff was pretty good.
They have a lot of hidden fees they don't tell you about and also they charge for everything!!!
One of the worst hotel stays ever. For a 4 star hotel I expected more but it's a really trashy place . Stay at the Embassy and avoid this place.
Loved the fitness facilities, they had everything we needed to keep up on our workouts; nice "business center" with access to computers; very friendly staff; enjoyed the restaurant & outdoor pool lounge areas; very clean. Beautiful hotel. In the midst of remodeling so construction going on, but we were on one of the newly renovated floors, so it was very nice! Very comfortable rooms & beds, loved the large "rain" showerhead and having an actual shower versus the typical bathtub/shower combo. Great central location for all the sites and activities around Charlotte. Breakfast buffet was nice but a bit pricey for what was offered. Would have liked a larger variety and choices for the price. It seemed to take a long time to get meals when ordered.
The staff was very friendly and the building looks and smells clean. I will be staying there again. The walls are very thin. I could hear the TV next door all night.
not very clean, AC is super loud
Great location, right off the highway. Hotel was going through some renovations, which is a good thing. The rooms felt old. There was blog or some substance on the bedding in my room. I didn't notice it until I was packing up to go the next days.
No complementary breakfast
Newly renovated rooms Had a brief loss of water due to a broken pipe. Toilet leaked around the base
This hotel is one of the most modern hotels that I've ever stayed and I love it here! The food and bar were amazing (a little expensive but definitely quality) and the staff was really welcoming and accomodating. I wish they would notify you a little sooner if they cannot honor the check-in time you request. I had a very early flight to Charlotte so I requested a check-in time of 8AM-9AM and I had scheduled meetings for 2PM that day so I needed to rest. Once I arrive in Charlotte, I receive a text at 8:40AM that my room won't be ready until 3PM so I had to roam around the city until about 1PM when they called to let me know my room was ready.
Great breakfast in the morning and great nightlife at the bar with amazing rooftop patio. Internet connection never really worked so we didn't make use of it.
We really had a great stay there!!! The hotel and staff were excellent!!! The only complaint was the parking,,, the valet was great but wish they would have had a parking lot, but being in the city that is understandable.
The location is a few blocks away from where I would prefer to be, but otherwise this is the perfect hotel for business travel
The staff was great. Marvin is an excellent staffer. He was helpful and friendly.
No parking and pool is on same floor as upscale restaurant.
The staff were all very friendly and helpful. The room was spacious and the bed very comfortable. Everything in the room was spotless. The location was very convenient. Breakfast provided lots of options and the staff serving it went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome. We were a bit surprised by the $22 charge for required valet parking but the valets were great. The morning we left, only one elevator was working, which caused a bit of a wait since we were on the top floor.
Good breakfast. Accommodating front desk personnel when wine bottles needed to be opened. Key required for elevator ; didn't always work, card keys frequently failed . Very difficult to figure out where the entrance was, especially since it was in an area of one way streets.
The location, staff, and room were great! Very helpful staff and comfortable beds. They only have 5 luggage racks, and there were non available upon check in or check out. It made it hard to transport our luggage with our 9-month old.
Nothing about this hotel is worthy of positive comment except the Valet Servicecleam Cleanliness. Service. Food. Beds. Quiet - the walls are paper thin. Elevator access - terrible. Response to problems - pass the buck. I do go to Charlotte a bit and I will NEVER stay here again.. Room was filthy with hair in the tub and used tissues behind the bed. The rolls were literally half baked dough. The beds could have been from the Spanish Inquisition. Worst of all was the front desk staff. While courteous, their answer was to pass the remarks on to Management and "see what could be done". Hey Hyatt - Don't make excuses, find solutions. It's called empowerment and unlike your hotel - It works!
It was my first time in Charlotte, staff left a very good impression!
It was very close to our venue of the concert at the stadium. Just a block away. But it was close to the metro station which had some shady people. But that's givin near any city area. There was bars and restaurants nearby. We had a good time. Just keep a close eye on yourself. But the view from our room was very nice of downtown. Especially at night when the building lights came on!
The layout of the room was great! And the bathroom was outstanding. The hotel was difficult for many members of our party to initially locate. All most everyone went to the Hyatt House, 2 blocks away, before finding the Hyatt Place. Increased signage is needed, given that the entrance to the hotel is not road side.
Enjoyed my stay loved the location. Very clean and the staff was very friendly. The valet parking was awesome.
The gym is actually pretty well equipped for a hotel. The king studio suite I stayed in was spacious and well designed to feel more like a home than just an average hotel room. I appreciate the abundance of electrical outlets in the room, as well as the full length mirror. Not well soundproofed to the hallway.
i like how it was downtown....and that is were it ended the front desk clerk was rude and not well informed. She sent me on 30 min search for a pack of smoke. The room had a weird smell. The cleaning staff woke us up several time EVEN THOUGH we had a 1 pm check out
The employee's are incredibly helpful. The breakfast was great. Location was perfect. Rooms were sexy. Had a nice time getting away for a weekend.
Great location and extremely receptive staff
Very clean, rooms were everything I had hoped, breakfast was amazing! There is construction going on in front of the hotel. Entrance is kind of hard to see.
Quiet. Friendly. Nice room. Needs smoking area for each floor.
We made last minute reservations and there was no problem. Cost was reasonable. Shuttle to airport was invaluable -- on time, courteous drivers and available at convenient times. Desk crew was a little frantic, especially since it was not very crowded.
Excellent accommodations and courteous, friendly and helpful staff. Also, a great value, considering the quality of the hotel, furnishings and amenities. We'll be back! On arrival late in the evening the hotel was out of a number of items on the menu, both food and drink. A bit frustrating since we arrived late and had counted on a late dinner.
We typically stay at a Choice Hotel when we travel, but the wifey wanted to "step it up" for our weekend getaway, so we stayed here. The check in was really quick, room was spacious, & location was close to everything we like to do, such as shop, eat, and sightsee. The hotel is worth the price and now I think we will always step it up when we travel. Staff very hospitable. Even the housekeeper wished us best when we were checking out. Highly impressed!!! Shower was a bit small. I'm a big and tall guy, and shower was a bit snug. A microwave would be nice in the room.
I liked the cleanliness of the room The power went out and it was 80+ degrees in my room.
I loved that the hotel was very clean and offered food 24 hours.
Our only complaint was some grape stems found on the floor behind the foot stool and extra conditioner left but no shampoo on second day.
Every staff member was personable and friendly. Quick responses to any question/issue. Nothing ever runs perfectly but it's a great company that responds and works to improve in the future. Their GM should be proud. No much. Restaurant menu could use more vegetables but that's just me.
Nice place and location. Comfortable room Why did the cleaning staff try to barge into our room repeatedly starting at 8 in the morning? Seriously tried to come into room 3 hours before checkout, then tried two more times before 11am. Ridiculous.
Great location, superb staff, nice rooms. No lobby coffee service after breakfast. No free internet in rooms.
Every representative of the hotel we encountered was awesome. They went above and beyond their duty to provide outstanding customer service. So impressed!
Decor Restaurant was a joke. Empty and expensive. Not a great value
Comfortable linens and an attentive staff highlighted our quick get-away weekend to this Queen City of the mid-Atlantic. It was a plant 15-minute stroll to the uptown area along quite, tree-lined streets. We expected queen and king-sized beds. We were given a room with two full-sized beds and ill-fitted sheets. The lighting was not all in working order, and my phone failed to charge overnight, leaving me curious about the staff electrician. There was no door in the walk-in shower, and the overspray nearly caused a slip on the floor of the cramped bath. It was a week after the DST time change, but the clock hadn't been touched. None of these issues was show-stopping, but noteworthy as a collection of caveats.
Lovely hotel with great location. The temperature in the room could not be adjusted making it too warm throughout the night. Despite the fact that the hotel wasn't crowded the valet did not have our car when we requested making us late for our meeting. Also, the valet closed the car door on my wool wrap leaving a hole & grease stain in it!
Design, ambiance, and yes even the shower. Pillows! Horrible pillows ... no support ... wasn't comfortable at all.
comfortable beds; good coffee this hotel is designed to be hip; it has a rooftop bar that is clearly a scene, an outdoor pool with blaring pop music which is attached to another large bar. This hotel shares facilities with the Sheraton next door. If you're under 35 without kids in tow, this is probably the place to be. For everyone else, it's certainly a nice enough hotel but the whole ambience -- decor, menu, espresso bar etc is just too much like an upscale spring break party -- at least the weekend we stayed.
The staff was very friendly and helpful. This feels like a business class hotel. It isn't a luxury or extravagant location but there is good access to the main roads and it was very comfortable.
Beds were comfortable My son asked for an extra blanket because he was laying on the chair and the guy at the front desk told him they don't have extra blankets. Seriously?!? I've never been to a hotel that didn't. We didn't stay the second night; decided to go home so he didn't have to worry about it.
We stayed here last minute due to being stuck at the airport for weather issues. The front desk staff was friendly and helpful. They even brought us a pack n play for our baby to sleep in. The bed was very comfortable. Room was clean. Breakfast was good.
Close to airport but far enough for noise and value. breakfast area cleanliness could have been a little better attended to. Wasn't dirty, just not as clean as one would expect from Wyndham.
All around good value. Friendly staff. Easy to find, etc. Would be a great place for extended business stay. Breakfast was...not that great. Staff were not too helpful. Not that hotel coffee is supposed to be all that good, but it was horrible.
The cleaness of the hotel, the kindness of the staff and i loved the big bed! Had a great night sleep and stay! Would deffinetly go back and stay! To me it was a lil too high in price. The house keeping come in the room without knocking which we didnt appericate.
The front desk and especially the shuttle drivers went out of their way to be helpful. Clean and comfortable. I will definitely stay again!
Clean facilities in a quiet area. The Bath was well appointed and everything worked as it should, plenty of hot water, etc..... The Coffee maker is a nuisance and the "Designer" coffee is awful. The "Complementary" breakfast area is poorly laid out.
They had all the basics you'd expect and the staff was friendly.
Easy checkin Not consistent with other Wingates
Comfortable room, plenty of space and pillows. Lots of options at breakfast. A very nice hotel.
I never received my receipt by email.
Be careful if you stay at this hotel and plan to sleep. This property is situated directly across the street from the Epicenter which houses several very loud nightclubs. My room was on the street side and it was so loud I felt like I was actually in the club. Be sure to ask for a room on the back side if you want quiet. This is a new hotel so it was nice that everything was so clean and comfortable while I was awake.
The staff was very friendly and attentive; the location was great for attending events at the Times Warner Arena, shopping and dining; the room was clean, and very comfortable.
Great location Kind of felt like a hipster hostile, not very clean, mediocre at best
I love aloft hotels. I love the location!! Perfect area!! It was not as clean as other aloft I stayed at.
I didn't like anything about this hotel , staff was nasty hotel smelt like a cheap strip club upon entry. Parking was $23 a day and didn't find that out until I was down there. No street level entrance which is really fun on Friday night , oh and after I finally get on the elevator and get on to my floor there was someone formicatong right when I walked out.
If you don't know anything about Charlotte, you'll probably get lost trying to find parking and understanding the elevators. I tried to check in at 1p but no rooms were clean, so I had to roam around for over an hour in the heat. They said they would call when a room was clean, never got it. At 230p I went back and they said they had a room. The basic room is kinda small, nowhere to put your clothes as in a dresser. Location is at the EpiCentre which is in walking distance to all the bars, restaurants, etc. Wish the pool was on the rooftop. I would stay afain, but in a bigger room. Oh yea, found trash in the bed too uggghh!! Parking
I loved the amenities, pool table, indoor pool, the view. We took 2 teens ( 17 yr) olds and Aloft was upbeat and fun and the staff was accommodating! We just loved it. Beds comfortable, rooms clean! Parking was a little weird. We ended up valeting for $20 a day and then of course the gratuity every time we used the car. It was just an expense of the trip. I think it's a Charlotte thing, not an Aloft thing.
Charlotte is a fun city. The staff were all awesome and super friendly.
Aloft gives you a luxury hotel feel without a stuffy feeling. Polite staff, nice rooms, complimentary wifi all round out for a nice stay. No signage on the exterior of the building to notate where the hotel is located. Aloft is actually on the fifth floor of EpiCenter (a dining/shipping/club district) so unless you researched that (I only grabbed the address and put it in GPS) you will be driving around in circles trying to locate it. Parking is also not clearly noted, nor is the valet option.
Would have been nice to know that parking would be $25 for being there less than 12 hours! I also didn't realize the otel price listing on Kayak was before taxes - why not include that? Knowing both of these would likely have changed my decision.
Great place to stay when your out for the night
Hotel staff was friendly and helpful, assistedwith everything requested immediately and professionally. Hotel reservation was for two queen beds, received one queen bed. Parking garage was full with no reserved spots for hotel guests causing me to spend half the hotel rooms cost just to park my car for the night. Requested she mattress which staff promptly sent up, minus any blankets so had to request that to show up. Room must of been right over club because we could feel every bass hit until 230 I'm the morning. After the club let out you every for truck passing by felt like it was in your room from how loud it was. The bathroom was a handicapped accessible style and the hand held sprayer was dirty with black marks and crud ask sounds the mount connecting it to the shower. I've stayed at aloft before and never had these issues I'm guessing it's dependent on which section of the hotel you get. But this stay will have me seriously considering the extra 30 bucks to stay at omni across the st.
Location They do not have an ice machine (bags available in the lobby), limited amenities, ac did not work properly, elevator takes forever
Location was great and in walking distance to all activities
Very friendly staff Large comfortable rooms Complimentary hot breakfast Starbucks in lobby Free internet Very thoughtful design
Room, staff,breakfast all great
Staff was very friendly. Starbucks on site Short-staffed housekeeping
The staff were very helpful Nothing
Clean and very friendly staff. Business center out of order.
Very good breakfast!! Not food room service
I loved the room. It had a beautiful set up and the removable shower head was great. It was nice to have a mini fridge for storage and the bed was surprisingly comfortable. Breakfast was generic but sufficient if you wanted to save money and buy lunch and dinner later. When my partner and I first arrived the receptionist was on the phone laughing and giggling to who ever was on the other line. We were only second in line but had to wait at least 15 minutes for service. The other receptionist was servicing another family and was quickly on the phone after speaking with them. In came another receptionist reprimanding her co-workers in front of everyone in the lobby. Very unprofessional! After our 15 minute wait we get to the receptionist only to find out that even though we had a reservation we would have to wait another 15 to 30 minutes to get the room we wanted! After driving 11 hours to North Carolina, that isn't what you want to hear. So we took the room initially offered due to being exhausted. We stayed at the Hyatt house a few months back and preferred that one much much better. It got 5 stars across the board! This airport Hyatt had a small closet, leaving at least half of my dress to rest onto the floor
The friendly and professional staff were the most notable of the whole experience. Everyone was very friendly and making sure that you had everything you needed. Loved the whole experience!
Great staff and service--everyone was very helpful and friendly. The rooms were spacious and clean and breakfast was enjoyable. The location was very convenient and the area/neighborhood was peaceful, clean and serene. There was a group of people on our floor that made a ton of noise one night as they came in and out of their rooms to visit each other across the hall. Honestly it felt like we were staying in a college dormitory. While I know that this is not necessarily the fault of the hotel, the noise carried heavily into our room during bedtime for our young son. It went on for an hour and was just miserable. We called down to the lobby to see if they could address it but, at 8pm, I'm not sure what they could have done.
the staff is very friendly and helpful. the room exceeded expectation - bathroom is updated nicely and the bed was very comfortable. I didn't hear anything during my stay that would have kept me up. close proximity to uptown if that's what you are in town for. no complaints
The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. The inside of the hotel could perhaps use a little bit of a face-lift, but the rooms were clean and comfortable, with fridges, couches, etc, and I felt very welcome and safe here as a solo female traveler.
Check out was really easy I found a coco roach inside my room and if you thought they would do something about it you're wrong. They wrote the issue down till maintenance takes care of it.
Everything was good
friendly stuff; good shuttle service; room size; food at restaurant bathroom old; shower not working properly;
comfortable, clean and quiet
Overall was ok Executive lounge breakfast was lousy as we were struggling to find stuff. The attendant was least interested in making sure about it.
Hotel is within walking distance of several restaurants. 20 minute drive from downtown Charlotte.
The room quality, the aesthetics, and the bed! Small bathroom.
Wouldn't stay anywhere else but a Hilton
The staff were extremely helpful. The restaurant courtyard is lovely. The walls are thin, so it was not quiet in the room.
A bit loud.
Very comfortable bed and linens No breakfast
Restaurant was only a pub/bar. Great bartender and "cook". Okay for the business traveler stuck at the airport, but not for a family in the area. Good staff. Poor management.
I was in Charlotte for a conference and stayed at the Clarion. My stay was great.The desk clerks and manager were all nice and accommodating. I was due to check out at 11:00 a.m., but my conference exceeded the allotted time. The people at Clarion allowed me a 1:00 p.m. check out because I was not able to get back to chaeck out on time. I did appreciate the extra effort they took without charging me for an additional day. Great customer service!!!!
The hotel was clean. It was very noisy at night, they did little to nothing to make sure rooms were quiet at night time. It is in front of a Streapers Club, which means constant fights and loud music at night. There is a bar at the hotel that puts the music so loud your windows vibrate. The Heating unit is a small heater with no thermostat, it is really loud, and you have to get up in the middle of the night to turn it off or you will cook. The bathroom had a bathroom fan that could not be turned off, so there was a constant loud noise and a freezing breeze. I would not recommend this to any family or anybody wishing to rest at night.
Clean, being renovated, nice room, hotel security, very friendly staff. Why did it have to be in the middle of the gentleman's club district. Makes you wonder if rooms are rented by the hour. Everything is about location, and if you want to go to the strip club, this is the place for you....Not for myself and my family.
That breakfast wasn't included
Friendly fron desk staff Stale odor in the room Only one pack of decaf coffee Very small bathroom Repairs poorly done Bracket for the iron fell out of the wall Furniture in the room old and badly worn out (desk, chair) Did not like being literally across the parking lot from a strip club
The staff was nice and welcoming. The rooms weren't too clean. I received 3 calls from the staff, including 1 at 10:30pm. Not sure why, I didn't answer.
Close to airport. Nice staff Not enough shuttles later at night. Came in at 11 had to wait 3 shuttles with 81 yr old in wheel chair. No luggage people jump in before we could get luggage loaded. 3rd time my uncle had enough and we got on van. Waited almost 1.5 hrs to get to hotel. Once there though we had reservation but hotel was over booked but the staff was very helpful and got us room at Ramada next door. Great staff poor scheduling
Room was very well equipped and comfortable for the price. Breakfast preparation was bad for the price but a staff member did suggest I go to the local IHOP instead. Bad end of town, don't leave valuables in vehicles.
Breakfast, the cookies and the lemonade. Furniture and carpet were stained. Their were ants in my room and from the response I received it wasn't the first time they had been informed of this issue.
Great value. Pool. Better than average cont breakfast. Some minor renovations ongoing. No elevator for 2nd floor.
Very close to the airport. Tasty breakfast. Laundry in the building. Large laundromat and supermarket directly across the street. Standard room with two queen beds had a small refrigerator and microwave. rooms are surprisingly well noise insulated. Regularly forgot how close this hotel was to the airport until walking outside and having a plane fly directly overhead. Housekeeper started banging on the door at 9am everyone morning to ask if I was leaving. Definitely not welcomed when you just got finished working at 2am and clearly have three more days on your reservation.
We arrived at 2:00 am, saw the dirty room and asked for another room which was not available. However, staff came to clean the bathroon and brought clean bedsheets Breakfast was good. Wrinkled bed sheets and beds were poorly made. Nedsheets and pillow cases had stains and hair on them. Bathroom floor was not clean (blood stains on the floor, hair around the toilet and on the floor)
Desk staff gave me a room per request on second floor. Room quiet enough. Curtain was for decoration only. Unable to close to shield out parking garage light outside window. A few table lamps did not work, one was not plugged in. No elevator to second floor.
The rooms will be nice when finished. The place was being renovated. And the doors were not secure from the parking lot into the hotel. I did not feel comfortable with such easy access for anyone to walk right into the hotel from the back entrances. Tile work was not completed, paint on the walls was not completed.
Property in process of renovation. Some newer furniture and paint in room, but they left the old, stained carpets. WHY????? Appears the property is in transition to being a lower end 'holiday inn express" from a (ahem) "residential" hotel. Some of the more long term residents made themselves quite comfortable, taking over the pool, being loud in the hallways, leaving trash about the place etc. Management needs to decide which group they're catering to, but glad my family was only there one night. Described as non-smoking, but other guests were smoking-leaving cigarette butts in hallway, stinking the place up. Property could be better, but staff needs to work to enforce non-smoking, and noise policies so that a few guests don't ruin it for others.
didnt inform pool was closed and doing work on building,bathrooms old and stained,all needs work price
Close to airport Rooms and old and dirty looking
The price was good and breakfast was not bad. Carpets old, bathrooms small, drain slow, no microwave or fridge.
location to airport. very country like settting. good breakfast the noise upstairs was very loud. had to call front desk twice for noise complaint. nothing was done about the noise.
Bed and TV in the room Only one bed in room, we had three Adults!, drain in tub was plugged, pool was closed(YES, STILL CLOSED AND IT WAS ONLY IN THE 90'S!!) Absolutely no urgency to fix Anything! Black mold spot in hallway, water damaged on drywall in bathroom.
The hotel overall was nice. Quiet great location, nice atmosphere.staff was very friendly bed super comfortable! The parts I didn't like, parking in their garage was $25 a day, which is ridiculous, if I had not parked elsewhere it would have been an extra $75! The other thing as the bathrooms were updated which was great except you have to climb completely into the tub to turn the water on and because of no shower curtain design water gets everywhetr
the modern design & location the restaurant was closed for remodeling and no room service or breakfast available. was not told this when booking. It changed all of our plans and I don't think we got full value for our money.
Location The parking situation was terrible and the the quote of $8.00 on your sight is incorrect - its more like $10.00/day. This part was ridiculous and very much unexpected
It is weird that I set up my wake up schedule based on the fact that the restaurant would open at 6am and would be able to deliver my breakfast while getting ready. I called twice and the FD kept telling me to call back. I finally got to order at 6:45. At this point I had no choice, but to order and eat as fast as possible as having to call and check up on the restaurant, I wasted time. I dislike tremendously having to strees about this little things while on business trips. I will not recommend staying here if you are a practical individual and like a reliable service. The decoration was beautiful and impressive.
No free wi-fi.
Hotel is about average for a Sheraton. Fancy coat of paint but behind the shine is not really worth the price. HELPFUL AND KIND STAFF. No thermostat in room. Small room for a "Deluxe King". They charge for every little thing. Including $20 a day Parking FYI. THE SHOWER WAS EITHER ICY COLD OR BLISTERING HOT.
Place and confort poor breakfast. $10 for a lousy continental breakfast is too much. Similar hotels offer Internet for free
Every one that worked te hotel was very polite and helpful
The staff was good, bartender was great (a little overworked), lobby looked great, room looked great until you looked at the bathroom area with rust in the tub and inconsistent water temperature and pressure You can tell that the place had recently been renovated, the craftsmanship just wasn't there, 2 out of 4 elevators working on an nfl game weekend... Unsat when I have to wait in a line for five minutes just to get to my room
The hotel was nice the bed was awesome and the shower was good to. Parking was a little weird they double charged her card WiFi was not free my wife got stuck in the elevator they don't have a indoor pool it's still getting built room service took 45 minutes.
Value equation. A little bit far from the center of the city.
Time to wait elevators
It was close to Bank of America Stadium. At check in we were charged for parking when I clearly showed them that it was to be included in my reservation. They said since I booked with a third party, there was no guarantee that the amenities I paid for would be honored by the property. REALLY??? They also knew we were a party of 3 and clearly needed 2 double beds but put us in a king with a roll away. Not overly pleased with the overall experience at check in.
Excellent hotel in every way, except was a little too expensive. Price was too high .
Beds Hotel staff was uptight
Newer, stylish. The kitchen has all equipment needed to make a meal. Beds very comfortable. Hardwood floors were pretty clean. Breakfast was good, staff was friendly. Would book again. Read multiple reviews before booking with complaints about hair on the bed, and this is clearly an issue for the hotel, as we encountered it as well. The back of the bathroom door obviously never gets cleaned either, based on the stains when it's shut. Clearly issues the housekeeping staff needs to address. Otherwise room was clean. The walls are thin, so you hear everything in the hallway, and a lot from the rooms next to and above yours.
Everything seemed nice, staff were friendly, room was very nice but....Strike One: We were placed in a room with a Massive, Room Shaking, Sleep Robbing A/C Unit the size of a large truck. Strike Two: The Fire Alarm went off and could not be turned off for an extended time. Strike Three: The Pool was closed for unnamed reasons..... The management refused to consider a rebate or in anyway make amends. So Three Strikes You Are Out Sonesta ES
Staff was beyond friendly! Rooms were very clean and the little kitchen was an awesome addition! I left my baby's little fox stuffed animal and when I called back to get it, the man who answered the phone was so friendly and helpful and very funny!!! The staff is wonderful! Worth the money!


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If crossing wetlands cannot be avoided, contact your State natural resources agency for rules and regulations, which may vary from State to State. The landowner is strongly advised to use the services of a forester and a professional engineer to develop complete design and construction specifications for roads through forested wetlands.
Forested wetlands can be divided into three types: mineral soil wetlands, shallow peat wetlands, and deep peat wetlands. Roads in both mineral soil and shallow peat wetlands may be constructed using conventional road construction techniques for cut and fill, and drainage structures. Special construction methods must be used for roads on deep peat wetlands.
This section gives general recommendations for planning, designing, and constructing roads in any of these wetland types. Geotextiles can be used to solve drainage problems in any wetland type. Recommendations are also given for road construction during winter, which can minimize adverse effects to the wetland and reduce costs.
|Minimize total wetland road mileage when wetlands must be crossed, while still meeting landowner objectives.
|Determine the type and depth of wetland subsoils to ensure proper road design and construction.
|Minimize width of roads consistent with maintaining safety and road design considerations. Provide turnouts, as appropriate, at intervals to accommodate two-way traffic. On deep peat wetlands, road fill slopes should be 3:1 or flatter to spread out road loading and minimize failure (Figure 9, Crowned Fill Section).
|Construct all road embankment fills with material free of stumps, roots, and duff.
|Design upland road approaches to wetlands so surface runoff is diverted before entering the wetland.
|Anchor temporary structures at one end to allow them to move aside during high-water flows.
|Remove temporary fills and structures to the extent practical when their use is complete.
|Employ sediment control techniques (such as silt curtains) to prevent sediment movement to open water when placing fill during construction.
|Provide adequate cross-drainage by employing one or both of the following techniques:
|Construction methods that allow free water flow throughout the entire roadbed (Figure 22).
|Culverts or other cross-drain structures at each end of each wetland crossing and at intermediate low points. Space culverts or other cross-drain structures at maximum 300-foot intervals to ensure adequate cross-drainage through the roadbed (Figure 23).
Choosing the appropriate road construction technique depends on a knowledge of water table position, zone of water flow, and type and strength of wetland soils. With any road construction technique in wetlands, culverts, ditches, or both may be necessary.
|Follow these recommendations when constructing ditches on wetland roads:
|Construct ditches, where necessary, to intercept and carry surface and subsurface water (the top 12 inches) to, through, and away from culverts. Unditched openings should be left midway between culverts (Figure 23).
|Avoid having ditches create additional outlets that will result in drainage of the wetland.
|Additional methods used for drainage ditches are listed under guidelines that follow for crossing specific wetland types.
Wetlands with mineral soils include those wetlands having fine-textured (clay or silt), slowly permeable soils to sandy soils overlaying impervious subsoils or hardpans. Road building across these wetland types employs conventional road construction techniques for road fill and drainage structures.
These weak mineral soils can be excavated and backfilled with clean granular soils, or they can be covered with clean granular fill and allowed to compress and displace. Additional fill is added to keep the roadbed at the desired grade.
Culverts and ditches are installed to minimize disruption of normal water flow across the landscape and transport water through and away from the roadbed. Install culverts of sufficient size to handle hydrologic flows for the site and for long-term maintenance needs. If ditches are needed, construct them immediately adjacent to the toe of the fill slope. Filled areas in flow planes should be designed to allow high flows to pass unimpeded.
Figure 22. Proper roadbed construction in peat wetlands allows free water flow. (Redrawn and adapted from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 1995, p. 50)
Roads in wetlands with peat soils less than 4 feet deep may be constructed using conventional construction methods. The conventional road construction method consists of excavating the shallow peat and then backfilling with clean granular material. The excavated peat can be used to flatten the roadbed fill slope. Excess peat should be hauled away and disposed of at an approved upland disposal site.
Figure 23. Adequate cross-drainage throughout the road length is essential in deep peat wetlands. (Redrawn from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 1995, p. 51)
|Another accepted road construction method
involves placing granular fill material directly onto the peat surface. The
weight of the fill material displaces (or pushes aside) the weaker peat until
the strength of the subsoils is sufficient to bear the weight of the fill
material and vehicle loadings. As final settling occurs, additional fill may be
needed to maintain the desired road grade.
With both methods, culverts and ditches are installed to intercept surface and subsurface water flow, transporting it through and away from the roadbed. Most subsurface flow occurs in the top 12 inches of the peat.
|Follow these recommendations when placing culverts:
|Install culverts that are a minimum of 24 inches in diameter buried halfway below the soil surface (Figure 24). The upper half will handle surface storm flows and the lower half will handle normal subsurface water flows. Failure to bury the lower half of the culvert will cause subsurface water to pond on the upstream side of the road and to kill trees.
|Place culverts at the low points of the wetland to allow surface water flows to pass through the road embankments. If ditches are needed, construct them immediately adjacent to the toe of the fill slope.
Roads in wetlands with peat soils greater than 4 feet deep can be constructed using special construction methods that do not require excavation and backfilling. These methods use geotextile fabrics, special embankment structures (such as lightweight road fills, extra-wide road bases, or log corduroy layers), and the inherent strength of the underlying peat layers to resist slip failure and resultant road failure (Figure 22).
Road failure in deep peat wetlands can range from the gradual sinking to the sudden loss of the road into the wetland. When such failures occur, water flow through the peat wetland is greatly disturbed, which can result in large areas of flooding.
Figure 24. Proper culvert height is lower in wetlands than in other forest conditions, to accommodate subsurface flow. (Redrawn and adapted from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 1995, p. 55)
|Recommended construction methods
generally specify that a layer of geotextile fabric be placed on the peat
surface. Road fill is then placed over the geotextile. To provide additional
strength and adequate cross-drainage, special materials such as log corduroy,
chunkwood, or wood chips may be added in the lower portion of the fill (Figure
The specific road structure needed depends on the strength of the peat layers underneath the road. The determination of shear strength is critical in designing a sound, safe, and economical road. Consult the services of a registered civil engineer to accurately determine shear strengths, conduct field tests, and provide design specifications.
Some deep peat wetlands with peat layers too weak to support a roadbed will require traditional excavation and backfill methods. Because of the high cost of traditional construction methods, as well as adverse effects to the wetland, it is best to avoid building on these weak peat wetlands.
Cross-drainage through the roadbed in a deep peat wetland is normally slowed or halted as a result of the compression of the peat layers by the road embankment, rutting of the peat surface by construction equipment, or road failure. This slowing of cross-drainage can cause flooding on the upslope side of the wetland and drying on the downslope side.
|Cross-drainage can be maintained
by the proper installation of culverts and drainage layers. In all cases, the
construction objective is to provide a stable road surface while maintaining
the free flow of water through the roadbed.
The following construction techniques can prevent or minimize adverse impacts to deep peat wetlands:
|Construct road embankments when the peat is frozen. Construction on frozen peat avoids ruts and other damage to the topmost root mat layer which normally contains considerable shear strength. Damage to this root mat can greatly reduce the strength of the upper peat layers and reduce the ability of wetland subsoils to hold up the weight of the roadbed and vehicle loads.
|Maintain a separation between the toe of the embankment fill slope and the ditch when constructing ditches parallel to the roadway. The separation distance should be at least three times the depth of the peat (Figure 23), to prevent or minimize disturbance of the inherent strength of the top layer of peat containing the root mat.
|Provide ditches to facilitate water flow into and out of culverts (Figure 23). Construct ditches using flotation devices, such as timber mats, or schedule construction during frozen conditions, to prevent or minimize adverse impacts on wetlands and minimize damage to construction equipment.
|Construct ditches using flotation devices, such as timber mats, or schedule construction during frozen conditions, to prevent or minimize adverse impacts on wetlands and minimize damage to construction equipment.
|Obtain advice from professional engineers on designing cross-drainage ditches for permanent seasonal roads across deep peat wetlands.
Geotextiles and their uses are described in a separate section later in this guide. Roadbeds that use geotextile fabrics should be prepared to protect the woody root mat by flush-cutting trees and brush and leaving nonmerchantable material in place. The first geotextile fabric should be laid loosely over the cut material. Then proceed with road construction using log corduroy, a rock drainage layer, or lightweight road fill. Construction techniques follow.
|Log corduroy
|Place trees parallel to each other, side by side, and perpendicular to the roadbed direction.
|Cover trees with clean road fill or gravel.
|If log corduroy is to
be used for cross-drainage, apply geotextile both above and below the corduroy.
If log corduroy is not to be used for cross-drainage, other cross-drainage
structures should be considered (Figure 22).
|Rock drainage layer
|Place 12 inches of rock (4 inches or less in diameter) over the geotextile, followed by another layer of geotextile. The rock layer will settle into the top 12 inches of the wetland, providing the pore space for water passage through the roadbed.
|Place clean road fill
or gravel (typically 18 inches deep) on top of the rock.
|Lightweight road
Lightweight materials may be incorporated into the core of the road embankment fill to lessen the total weight of the road embankment when constructing on weak peat wetlands. Lightweight materials include chunkwood, wood chips, and sawmill residues, among other materials. Materials with known potential to leach toxic substances, such as construction debris, treated wood, tires, asphalt, or other petroleum-laden materials are not suitable for use.
|Place the lightweight materials over geotextile fabric to form the core of the road embankment fill, followed by another layer of geotextile fabric over the lightweight materials.
|Cover the core with at least 18 inches of granular sand or gravel.
|Install culverts and
ditches, if necessary, to allow surface and subsurface waters to pass through
the road embankment (Figure 23).
Roads are often constructed across wetlands in winter to take advantage of frozen ground conditions. Follow these recommendations to cross all wetland types in winter:
|Plan the road layout to maximize operating efficiency and minimize site disturbance.
|Select the shortest practical routes that minimize potential problems with drifting snow and the crossing of open water.
|Tamp and pack the wetland area wider than needed for the driving and working area if sufficient frost is not present. This additional space will allow for turnouts, snow removal, and parking.
|Avoid crossing open water or active springs. If these are unavoidable, temporary crossings are preferred. These can be ice bridges, temporarily installed bridges or culverts, or timber mats.
|Avoid using soil fill.
|Install any structures that will block water flow so they can be easily removed before ice breakup. If the streams are navigable or require a permit to cross, removal may be necessary at the end of each winter of operation, not just at the end of the timber contract.
|Use planking, timber mats, or other support alternatives to improve the ability to support heavy traffic.
|Anchor temporary structures at one end to allow the structure to move aside during high-water flows.
|Remove temporary fills and structures to the extent practical when use is complete.
|Avoid clearing practices that result in berms of soil or organic debris building up on either side of the road clearing. Such berms can disrupt normal water flow.
|Provide buffer strips near open water.
|Cease equipment
operations on any portion of the road where ruts exceed 6 inches below the
water surface for a continuous distance longer than 300 feet. Resume operations
only when conditions are adequate to support equipment. This practice will
minimize blockage of cross-drainage through porous peat and prevent or minimize
down-road channelization (Figure 25).
|Cease equipment operations on any portion of the road where ruts exceed 6 inches below the water surface for a continuous distance longer than 300 feet. Resume operations only when conditions are adequate to support equipment. This practice will minimize blockage of cross-drainage through porous peat and prevent or minimize down-road channelization (Figure 25).
Figure 25. Ruts deeper than 6 inches below the water table in porous peat can take up to 20 years to heal. (Redrawn from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 1995, p. 63)
|Return to "A Landowner's Guide to Building Forest Access Roads" Table of Contents


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I don't know whether Michele Bachmann will make a good president or not. But let's face it: none of us ever really know the answer to that question until a candidate is planted firmly in the Oval Office.
I do know, however, that the year 2010 was dubbed 'the year of the conservative woman.' And with Mrs. Bachmann's announcement of a presidential bid, 2012 is shaping up to be a banner year.
A conservative woman leader is precisely what America needs to shake things up (our very own Margaret Thatcher!), and Michele Bachmann just may fit that bill – if for no other reason than her complete disregard for the status quo. That she allows herself to be called "Mrs." speaks volumes. That she's a mother of five, as well as a former foster parent to 23 children, makes her a person of immense character. And character is in short supply these days.
But what makes Michele Bachmann so utterly delightful, so utterly relatable, is her strong conservative mind. It is totally bereft of victimhood. When asked if she finds herself in a subordinate position as a female, she categorically says no.
This is something female politicians on the left, such as abortion advocate Debbie Wasserman Schultz, can't begin to imagine. Their victimhood mentality consumes them. Why do you think the government plays such a huge role in our lives? It is largely because women on the left, a.k.a. feminists, have seen to it that it does. Schultz's fight for Planned Parenthood proves this in spades.
What feminists want has nothing to do with equality for women. Their goal is no different from President Obama's: to "fundamentally transform" America. Like Obama, feminists don't like America the way it is and want to change it. That's what they've wanted since the day they took to the streets more than forty years ago.
Michele Bachmann knows this. That's why she has never – unlike another well-known female conservative woman – called herself a feminist, or aligned herself with this very large (and very powerful) group. She knows these women are on the opposing team, and she knows what it is they're after.
She also knows they're in bed with Barack Obama. And that conservative women have no business being there.


text:
X-Men: Days of Future Past
New set photo from X-Men: Days of Future Past
4:00 PM on 02.21.2013 // Thor Latham
Well, the beginnings of a set at least
This is almost as exciting as the news from the other day. First some wheelchairs and now the skeleton of a set. Really gets the blood pumping, doesn't it? Okay, so it's all pretty bland, but I guess Brian Singer just wants to remind everyone that the ball is rolling as he counts down to San Diego Comic-Con.
Anywho, you can peek the full pic after the break, if you so fancy. It's obviously the X-Men version of the Bat-Cave that sits underneath Prof. Xavier's school. You'd think with how many movies they've made the old set would just be sitting around in some dude's yard somewhere. Learn to recycle, sheesh.
[via Collider]
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