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Oklahoma climate
Oklahoma has cold winters and hot summers. January temperatures range from about -6 (Celsius) to 4 degrees or so. By May it is warming up to mid 20s, and August can go into the 30s. September is cooler, and October temperatures range from the 10s to low 20s.Typical Oklahoma weather is dry and sunny. Precipitation varies from about 38cm (15 inches) in the panhandle to more than 127cm (50 inches) in the southeast. Oklahoma City gets about 23cm (9 inches) of snowfall and is one of the windiest cities in the US.Most of Oklahoma's severe weather is in the form of high winds. Oklahoma is in the tornado alley, and the peak tornado season is March to May.
When to fly to Oklahoma
Peak Season:
May through September is the high season and when most visitors step off their Oklahoma flights.
Oklahoma City has the Festival of the Arts in April, the Charlie Christian Jazz Festival and Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival in June, and the World Championship Quarter Horse Show in November.
The Oklahoma State Fair draws crowds from September to October.
Off Season:
In spring you can get to most attractions with fewer crowds and lower prices. Autumn is also a good time to visit. It may take some searching, but you can find things to do in winter.
Getting around Oklahoma
To explore Oklahoma you need a car, but how else would you go down Route 66? There is train service to Oklahoma City, and bus service to the major cities, but little to the rest of the state.
Oklahoma City has the Metro Transit rubber-tyre trolleys that loop the downtown area and go between downtown and several hotels. There is also a bus service that will take you to most destinations. Tulsa has some local bus service and a self-guided walking tour of downtown.
If hiking, biking, and horseback riding are your preferred mode of transit, there are urban, mountain, pine wood, and prairie trails. With all the lakes and waterways, boating, rafting, and kayaking are also popular.
Oklahoma insider information
- It ended here: the Trail of Tears, the forced march, ended at Tahlequah. The Cherokee Heritage Centre incorporates the Cherokee National Museum and Tsa La Gi Ancient Village. Muskogee is where the Five Civilised Tribes Museum is. The tribes are the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole. For souvenirs such as Indian jewellery, T-shirts, moccasins, rugs, pottery, Indian art, Pendleton blankets, beads and craft supplies, Lyon's Indian Store in Tulsa has been in operation since 1916. Tulsa is also the home of Gilcrease Museum, which houses the world's largest, most comprehensive collection of American Western and Native American art, artifacts, manuscripts, documents, and maps.
- Indian City U.S.A. in Anadarko was established in 1954. It was designed as an outdoor museum of reconstructed American Indian Villages to provide an insight into the routines, religious beliefs, and social life of the First Nations peoples.
- The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is in Stillwater. It promises that you will "feel the heat, smell the sweat and experience the excitement of ancient and modern wrestling".
- Fishing and water sports are very popular on Oklahoma's lakes. The state has about 200 lakes. The largest is Eufaula Lake. Water sports available include boating and canoeing, kite surfing, parasailing, water/jet skiing and scuba diving.
- The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is said to be the largest protected remnant of tallgrass prairie left in the world. Tallgrass prairie originally covered 400,000 square miles in the US, but with urban sprawl and agriculture, less than 4 per cent remains. In 1996, the Government created this reserve of nearly 11,000 acres. More than 2,000 bison roam free on the land and a "patch-burn" model approach to prescribed burning protects the ecosystem.


text: Just wondering if anyone can help, got a boost control issue since i've cleaned out the VNT. Anyway my issue is this, I have a boost guage fitted so i knew previous pressures etc, since i re-built the head and cleaned out the turbo it's been high boosting 20+psi @ motorway speeds on full throttle it will instantaniously hit 30psi!!!! This is not good atall! and thus limp home mode has activated twice. So i've been driving with a carefull eye on the boost until i had a chance to change the actuator setting as i think i freed it's movement to easily when re-building it. Since i adjusted the boost (took a few adjustments to get it right) it now boosts ok (not over 20psi) tho the N75 and actuator seem to have no adjustment ie as if the N75 is not working as there is now no vacuum going to the actuator on idle as there was in previous tests. The result is the car has the vanes set at one position, and is very laggy, boost no longer picks up on throttle but is more according to revs. But not having any fault codes to read? i'm poking around in the dark. An idea for you of the tune: 110 bhp Audi A6 1.9 TDi S/S cat back Exhaut Pannel filter Tuning box FMIC EGR disconnected (but not blanked ATM) Just done head re-con and Turbo VNT cleanout. I've double and tripple checked the vacuum pipes and electrical connections and cannot see anything amiss there. I'm stumped really, and until i get fault codes read i'm a bit stuck but i'm sure that will throw up loads of stuff which will be indecisive of the issue i'm sure. I'm sure it's nothing to do with the maf/fueling as when on boost (above 2200rpm) it performs well and i can still overtake at less than motorway speeds, but @ 70mph boost is at 20psi (full throttle) still (obiously no VNT correction happening) and will go in limp mode, which limits fuelling aswell as boost hits 9-10psi but if u floor it performance is worse than "light footing it" as i call it. Anyway anyhelp much appreciated.

subset: commoncrawl


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How does the immune system fight disease?
Because war is a handy metaphor for the human body's reaction to disease, science writers like to describe the immune system in militaristic termsthe body's department of defense. But unlike the Armed Forces, the immune system has no headquarters or commander-in-chief. And its operations are usually swifter and more efficient than any army's could be.
Rather than "making war," your immune system is really more like an immigration service: a highly differentiated cellular bureaucracy that supervises your biological commerce with the outside world, sorts through billions of pieces of information about incoming materials, and takes routine action as required. Only occasionally does it declare an emergency.
The immune system's basic task is to recognize "self" (the body's own cells) and "nonself" (an antigena virus, fungus, bacterium, or any piece of foreign tissue, as well as some toxins.) To deal with nonself or antigens, the system manufactures specialized cellswhite blood cellsto recognize infiltrators and eliminate them. We all come into the world with some innate immunity. As we interact with our environment, the immune system becomes more adept at protecting us. This is called acquired immunity.
What are the parts of the system?
Among the primary components of the immune system are a variety of white blood cells. These constitute a communications network that helps organize the immune response.
Most people are surprised to learn that the skin, including the mucous membranes, is among the most vital components of immunity. The skin not only forms a wall against intruders, but actually alerts the white blood cells if the wall is breached by invading organisms (through a wound, for instance.) The protection afforded by the intact skin is why it's nearly impossible to catch a disease from a toilet seat, for example.
Most infectious agents get inside the body when we inhale them or swallow them; a few can enter through the genitals. They make their way into the blood and move rapidly through the body. The immune system has its own circulatory system called lymphatic vessels, which allow white blood cells to catch intruders. Other important parts of the immune system include the tonsils and adenoids, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, appendix, certain areas of the small intestine and bone marrow.
What do the white cells do?
Many mature white blood cells are highly specialized. The so-called T lymphocytes (T stands for thymus-derived) have various functions, among them switching on various aspects of the immune response, and then (equally important) switching them off. Another lymphocyte, the B cell, manufactures antibodies. A larger kind of white cell, the scavenger, called the phagocyte (most notably the macrophage,) eats up all sorts of debris in tissue and the bloodstream and alerts certain T cells to the presence of antigens.
In addition, there are killer, suppressor, and helper T cells. Killer T cells, stimulated by helper T cells, zero in on cells infected by antigens, or turn against the body's own cells when, as in the case of cancer, they begin to proliferate abnormally. Another class of lymphocyte killer cell is called "natural" because, unlike T and B cells, it doesn't need to recognize a specific antigen. Most healthy cells are of no interest to natural killer cells, but cancer cells and cells invaded by viruses may be vulnerable to their search-and-destroy missions.
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OREM — The Orem High baseball team opened Region 8 play Tuesday with a 12-2 victory over cross-town rival Mountain View. The Tigers (5-5, 1-0) were led by junior Parker Overly, who threw a six-inning complete game, surrendering just three hits and one earned run, while striking out four. Sophomore Jordan Raab took the loss for the Bruins (6-4, 0-1).
Using a balanced offensive attack, Orem scored 12 runs on 11 hits with 10 Tigers collecting at least one hit apiece. Nolan Gray led Orem with two RBIs, while five other Tigers — Ethan Chatterley, Brett Tittle, Garett Cook, Nic Andersen and Quinn Ringer — each scored twice.Comment on this story
Orem got on the board early, scoring three runs in the first inning and two more in the second to take a 5-0 lead. The Bruins scratched out a run in both the third and fourth innings, but Orem responded in the bottom of the fourth with three more to take a commanding 8-2 lead. Two more runs in both the fifth and sixth innings gave Orem a 10-run victory. Overly improved his record to 2-0 on the year with an ERA of 1.67.
The Tigers and Bruins will play game two of the series on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Mountain View.


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SourceFestival June 8th-July 1st, 2012
In its fifth year, the SourceFestival is held in Washington, D.C. over a three week period and provides rising theater artists the chance to creatively showcase their talents. This year 24 original, new works for the stage will be showcased and highlight some of D.C's new theater talent. During this time, audiences get to see new, creative plays being performed by up and coming artists and producers alike. Be sure to check out these wonderful performances taking place in our Nation's Capital.
SourceFestival has featured the work of current and past UMD students including (list not exhaustive): Jordan Levine, Judith Ingber, Maya Jackson, Gwen Grastorf, Patti Kalil (props designer for the 2012 Festival) and Rebecca Wolf.
UMD's comedy group Sketchup has also performed at the SourceFestival.
Be sure to visit UMD's School of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies web page to learn more about UMD's theater program and about productions coming up at UMD this coming Fall.


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School Notes
School notes
Sunnyside School
Walking Wednesday
Winners from April 17 are Kayden Wells, Ms. Kelley kindergarten, and Allison Kruger, Mrs. Swanson first grade. Seventeen students participated in Sunnyside's Sneaker program.
Spring concerts
Several spring concert performances are set in the school's large gym:
Kindergarten concerts by class are at 2:30 p.m. -- Monday April 22 - Mrs. McDonnell, Mrs. Prahl, Ms. Rak; Tuesday April 23 - Mrs. Dressen, Mrs. Johnson, Ms. Kelley; Wednesday April 24 - Mrs. Otterness, Ms. Prigge, Ms. Pumper
First/second-grade concerts are at 6:30 p.m. -- Monday April 22 - Mrs. Fagerlund, Ms. Feders, Mrs. Grove, Ms. Maki, Ms. Hicks, Mrs. Newman; Tuesday April 23 - Mrs. Bjork, Mrs. Damman, Ms. Gorski, Mrs. O'Leary, Ms. Pearson, Mrs. Swanson.
Book fair
The Scholastic Book Fair will open in the Art Room the week of April 22. Hours are:
Monday-Friday 8 to 9 a.m. before school
Monday-Thursday 3 to 4 p.m. after school
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday during concert hours
Volunteers are still needed. Please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
Field trip
First-grade Earth Day field trip is rescheduled for Friday April 26 at Red Wing High School.
Library news
Students are reading poems at the Poetree in the Sunnyside library during National Poetry Month. During library classes kindergartners are exploring Mother Goose nursery rhymes, first-graders are studying the work of Minnesota poet Joyce Sidman and second-graders are learning how to write haiku poems.
Twin Bluff Middle School
MCA reading tests will be given April 23 and 24 for students in grades 5-7.
St. John's School
Field trip
Students took a bus trip Friday April 19 to St. John's in Lake City to enjoy the Martin Luther College presentation of "Who Can Fix the Dragon's Wagon?"
Softball day for grades 5-8 will be May 7 in Rochester. Track and field day will be May 17. The school will need drivers and coaches for both events. Sign up outside the school office.
PTO officers
The Parent Teach Organization will meet April 25. Members will elect officers. Contact the school to learn how to serve on PTO
Little Blessings
Preschoolers are learning the Bible lesson "Jesus Goes Up to Heaven." They have been working on letter "W" activities.
The new kindergarten math unit is about money. Students talked about coins, head and tails, and the names of the coins.
Mark your calendars, all-day, everyday kindergarten will begin May 20 and run through the end of the school year.
Grade 5
Math students are working on diameter, circumference and area of a circle.
Grade 6
Students have been working on ratios and rates. Transition math began unit 10. Algebra students graphed linear inequalities to solve them.
The students have begun a study of World War I.
His Kids
3-4 preschool
Class this week discovered baby farm animals with a visit from three fluffy chicks. Children cracked eggs and used them to help develop the concept of baby chicks peeking out of the shell. They prepared for spring gardening by counting and watering tomato plants. Songs included "Old McDonald" and "Hello Neighbor," and "Little Quack" by Laura Thompson was a popular story in the listening center.
Second Step teaching focused on listening rules. The game to "Simon Says" used the words love, look, listen and wiggle.
4-5 preschool
Children focused on baby animals and read "Pokey Puppy" and "Whose Baby." The children graphed names animals have like cat-kitten, kangaroo-joey, how they are born into this world either by eggs or birth.
Children started a science project by planting beans, carrots in bags so the students could see the root growing. The finger play was "This Little Calf."
Colvill Kids
Colvill Kids 3's
Miss Katie's classes will be learning about farms and farm animals. The classes will read "The Big Red Barn" by Margaret Wise Brown. For science, the class will learn about the life cycle of a chick; they will also explore items that are heavy and light. The students will sort farm animals and zoo animals. They will create a list of what they might see on a farm and play a farm animal guessing game.
Colvill Kids Mixed Ages
Ms. Lila's classes will be talking about how to take care of the Earth as part of life science curriculum. They will read "Let's Take Care of the Earth" by Roxanne Lanczak Williams. During the week, they will decorate a pot to look like the Lorax and plant a seed.
Colvill Kids 4's<.B>
Miss Catie's classes reading "The Very Busy Spider" by Eric Carle. The children will be learning the letter Zz and related works using the Smart Board to assist with beginning alliteration skills. The children will be making spider webs with marbles as part of their visual arts curriculum.
Red Cottage Montessori
Red Cottage children prepared all week for Friday's silent auction fundraiser. They dusted shelves, washed windows, mopped floors, polished all of the wood and brass objects, scrubbed tables and straightened the shelves of materials. They also sewed coin purses and various embroidery patterns, painted small water colors, ground coffee, and designed oil pastels for the attendees.
Children explored the Hay Creek Trail and found many signs that spring is near. Small buds and new shoots on trees, small green bits of grass, and birds everywhere were the first pieces of evidence that the weather is warming up.
On Tuesday, the extended-day children spotted five different pairs of birds along the creek: blue herons, white cranes, Canada geese, ducks and what they think are meadowlarks.
Walking in the rain
On Wednesday, children went for a walk in the rain and crept close to a robin. They gently sang "Robin in the Rain" and it stayed close to them.


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Relax RX[CD]
~ Steven Gurgevich, Phd
Product Notes
Research studies have proven what you already know: relaxation is good for your health. In fact, it is vital. Yet for many of us, relaxation is elusive - even when we're on vacation. With Relax Rx, hypnosis and mind-body medicine expert Dr. Steven Gurgevich gives you a sure-fire way to ease the stress and anxiety of everyday life, whenever and wherever you choose. Using his clinically designed audio program of guided trancework sessions, you will learn how to use self-hypnosis to reduce physical tension, relieve anxiety, and create inner calm - in 10 minutes or less. Join Dr. Gurgevich for 11 sessions to quiet both mind and body, including: • The Relaxing Breath - a trancework session based on Dr. Andrew Weil's most powerful method for relaxation and stress reduction • A Blessing Ceremony - journey to a sacred place at your center to receive the blessing of relaxation • Walk to the Sea, Your Private Island, and other "self-hypnosis vacations" • Relax to Sleep - the most gentle of hypnotic inductions to guide you into a good night's sleep Clinical trials show that hypnosis is one of the most accessible and effective ways to tap into the mind-body connection for enhancing your health. With Relax Rx, Dr. Steven Gurgevich presents potent trancework sessions and self-hypnosis techniques for harnessing one of your body's most important healing tools - the power of simple relaxation. PURPOSE: The purpose of this program is to help you learn self-hypnosis to produce an effective relaxation response in a short period of time. The guided trancework sessions are progressively arranged from longer more comprehensive sessions to decreasingly shorter sessions. The goal is to progressively improve your ability to rapidly produce an effective relaxation response so that by the time you have used each session a few times, you have taught or conditioned your mind-body to relax in less than ten minutes whenever you choose to do so. The \'Foundation for Hypnosis\' session is the longest at 29:27 minutes in length. Each guided trancework session thereafter becomes progressively shorter in length but is intended to produce the same result... effective relaxation response. By the time your practice or use reaches the \'Starry Night\' session you are relaxing in about 5 minutes. The very last track is \'Relax to Sleep\' and does not include any alerting or arousing suggestions at the end so you can use it to drift into sleep when you want your relaxation response to continue into sleep. What is Relaxation? Relaxation is perhaps the simplest, most effective, and least expensive form of "self-care" that benefits your health and well-being. Medical journals now report thousands of clinical studies which have proven the health benefits of relaxation. These include health benefits to cardiovascular function, digestion, allergies, skin reactions, asthma, diabetes, hypertension, infertility, insomnia, preparation and recovery from surgery, pain, headache, wound healing, immune responses, and control or relief of many types of side effects, anxiety, depression, and much more. Although there are a variety of techniques to access the mind-body connection, this program uses my favorite - self-hypnosis. It is my favorite because it is the easiest to learn, requires no special equipment and, once learned, can be applied for a wide range of ways to promote health, well-being and achievement. Relaxation is a physiological state in which the heart rate and respiration are calm, blood pressure is relaxed and normal, digestion is functioning comfortably and efficiently, muscles are relaxed, nerves are calm, and one feels a sense of peace, calm, and safety. Relaxation is actually a response of the parasympathetic nervous system. There are two dimensions of the involuntary or autonomic nervous system, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system creates the "arousal response" we call "fight or flight." The arousal response is the opposite of relaxation response. The parasympathetic nervous system is the other part of the involuntary or autonomic nervous system that restores us to a calm and relaxed state - the relaxation response. In this program, you will learn and practice self-hypnosis, in order to easily access the mind-body connection and use your parasympathetic nervous system to relax rapidly and very effectively. The guided tranceworks have been designed to progressively improve your ability to use self-hypnosis to create the relaxation response. Initially, use each trancework in sequence, from the first one (which is longer) to the last ones, which are progressively shorter in length. Your ability to produce relaxation response will improve, until you find yourself effectively relaxing in ten minutes or less. With regular practice, your mind-body learns to respond more effectively and rapidly. WARNING: Possible side effects of practicing the self-hypnosis techniques in this program include restful sleep, increased energy, and improved mental clarity.
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Kirkland's moving to Exchange center
Kirkland's Home Decor is moving from its 3437 Wrightsboro Road location to a larger space in the Augusta Exchange shopping center – the old Borders book store location, which has been divided into two stores. Ulta Cosmetics will occupy the other half of the space.
Amber May, an assistant manager at Kirkland's, said the new location is more than 8,000 square feet and allowed the store to hire 20 employees.
"We have exciting new products and more space to display them," she said.
Kirkland's has nearly 300 locations in 30 states across the country. It was founded in 1966.
Kirkland's expects to be in the new location by early March.
Home sales up in nation, Augusta
U.S. home resales rose to a 1½ year high in January, pushing the supply of properties on the market to the lowest level in almost seven years in a hopeful sign for the housing sector.
And the Augusta area saw the highest January sales numbers since 2008.
The National Association of Realtors said on Wednesday that existing home sales increased 4.3 percent to an annual rate of 4.57 million units last month, the fastest pace since May 2010.
There were 299 homes sold in January, according to the Greater Augusta Association of Realtors. The last time it was higher was in January 2008, when 309 homes were sold that month.
In other news
THE CONSUMER Financial Protection Bureau said Wednesday that it will investigate bank overdraft fees, including how they are marketed and explained to customers. The agency said the probe could result in additional rules, perhaps even lawsuits.


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Video: Chamillionaire ft. D.A. – Show Love
Chamillionaire drops his first video in over two years for "Show Love" featuring D.A. of Chester French. Says Cham of the track:
"I have decided to release a visual for the fans that have been patiently waiting for me to finish my Poison album. I know it has been a while since the last release, but just know that the wait will be more than worth it. This is a stand alone song/visual that it isn't on the album or any project, but I hope you enjoy this first offering."
Spotted: Complex
Previously: Killer Mike ft. Emily Panic & Chamillionaire – Anywhere But Here


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Results 1 to 2 of 2
01-30-07, 01:00 #1Registered User
- Join Date
- Jan 2007
- Posts
- 1
Unanswered: MS Access runs slowly for client PC's after a update or insert
We are using MS Access as the backend to our application which has been written in delphi and have run into a problem that we have not been able to solve. Hoping someone has run into this before or any suggestions are much appreciated.
The problem:
MS Access runs slowly for client PC's after a update or insert.
- I am using ADO to connect to the Access database, which is using the OLEDB for ODBC Provider.
- The application I have sends queries (both select and update) direct to the database (ie client datasets are used).
- When only select queries are sent to the DB the response time is fine.
- When an update or insert query is sent to the DB the response time of the PC it is run on is fine.
- When an update or insert query is sent to the DB the response time of any other client PCs running the application take about 5 to 6 times longer to run queries than before the update\insert query was done. This is the issue that I am having.
- Any client PC's that display this slower response time, can have their response time returned to normal by closing down the application and restarting it.
- No more than 3 PC's connected at one time to the DB.
- Maximum database size of 150MB.
- Problem occurs on various network setups, including domain and workgroup.
- Problem only surfaces for users at times well after any application updates have been applied (ie several weeks after, and then once the problem starts it continues).
- It does not occur for all user sites.
I have tried and thoroughly tested the following to no avail...
- Applied all the latest microsoft updates
- Closing and re-opening the ADO connection after updates\inserts
- Changed the ADO provider to Jet 4
- Saving the DB in Access 2000 or 2002 format
- Set the Default record locking to 'No Locks' and 'All records' and 'Edited record'
- Used 'Open databases using record-level locking' selected and unselected
- Many application techniques (using delphi) to work around the issue. Many of which have indeed improved general response times, but have not resolved this particular issue.
The only thing I have tried that has resolved the issue is... - Upsizing the database to SQL Server (Unfortunately this option is not a viable one for us at this stage, so I need to find a resolution to it while still using the Access DB).
Thanks for your help
03-06-07, 16:37 #2Super Moderator
- Join Date
- Jun 2004
- Location
- Arizona, USA
- Posts
- 1,848
Note: I moved this thread here to the Access forum, as it should not be in the other database server forum...
You say that you can't upgrade to SQL Server - what about MSDE? It's free, and can be installed on any of the PCs currently could host an MDB file. It is truly SQL Server lite, and any code that works with it will migrate seamlessly when you upgrade to the full-blown server later. Plus, it's a lot more reliable and is NOT prone to data file corruption. Finally, since its a true server product, you have a more options in the way you retrieve data, and in the way you write data (you can use stored procedures and triggers, for instance.)
With the Access database, how are you indexing the tables where you retrieve data? Since Access is a file-based database, all processing takes place at the ado client. Each field used in the WHERE clause or ORDER BY clause must be indexed, else the entire table gets copied from the data file to the client. In a local instance of the data file, the data transmission for the entire table takes place over the PC's data bus, and is fast enough to mask this issue. When the data file is remote, however, the transmission time adds up, and it is exascerbated by network bandwidth throttling (plus, in an already bandwidth limited situation, it will worsen the problem for other apps/users)
If the tables are indexed properly, only the index is copied in its entirety from the file to the ADO client, and then the individual records are retrieved.
Last edited by loquin; 03-06-07 at 16:54.Lou
"Lisa, in this house, we obey the laws of thermodynamics!" - Homer Simpson
"I have my standards. They may be low, but I have them!" - Bette Middler
"It's a book about a Spanish guy named Manual. You should read it." - Dilbert


text:
Winterfest medallion found
WORTHINGTON -- This morning, between dropping her kids off at school and going to work, Worthington's Angela Klaassen snagged the Worthington Winterfest medallion at the Centennial Park bridge.
The medallion hunt is sponsored by the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce through the marketing committee of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Klaassen said she has looked for the medallion in the past when having the opportunity. When she heard the clue Thursday morning, she said she thought she might know where it was hidden.
"I heard it on the radio this morning and figured there were only a few bridges in town," Klaassen said.
When Klaassen drove past Centennial Park, she noticed a lot of people in the area, looking in the bushes near the bridge.
She walked across the bridge and had decided to head back to her car when she noticed something green in one of the bushes right next to the bridge.
"One guy even said he saw it in the bush but thought it was garbage," she added.
Part of Worthington's annual Winterfest celebrations, the medallion hunt offers $100 in Chamber checks to the winner.
Klaassen isn't sure where she'll use the prize money for, but she said might save it for this summer.
"Although, I do need gas right now," she added with a laugh.
Had the medallion not been found, the last clue would have been published today:
"Along this hiking trail, in Centennial Park, please come before 5:00, or it will be too dark."
The medallion hunt has been a tradition since Winterfest started in Worthington five years ago. It's a way for more of the community to get involved in the excitement, said Ashley Goettig, a Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce employee.
"It's a fun activity for the community to take part in," Goettig said. "There's always excitement to see what the clue is every day."
Like many small-town traditions, the medallion hunt has become an anticipated winter event.
"I think people look forward to it every year," Goettig said.
Other Winterfest activities to look forward this weekend include the pond hockey tournament, ice fishing contest, 2-mile walk/run and Deep Freeze Dip, all taking place Saturday. A co-ed volleyball tournament and Evergreen Shoot hosted by the Southwest Bowbenders Club are set for Sunday.


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However, the 2010 law created a one-size-fits-all health care system that imposes numerous mandates, regulations, and tax hikes on America's job creators. Additionally, the law failed to address the number one health care concern of families and employers: costs.
Due to the fatal flaws of the president's health care law:
Employers face job destroying mandates and tax hikes
Costs continue to rise at an unsustainable rate
Millions of Americans risk of losing their existing coverage
Workers have fewer job opportunities
By raising health care costs and destroying jobs, it is clear the 2010 law was the wrong prescription for reform. Republicans will continue fighting to repeal ObamaCare and enact commonsense solutions that will lower costs and encourage businesses to grow and create jobs.
# # #


text:
"Can the inverse boots work on the IronMan Gravity 4000 Inversion Table? I was thinking about ordering them because my ankles hurt really bad when I lean backward just a bit."
I've only used it a couple of times so far but seems to be great quality. I was a little confused about the strap regulating the inversion degree but soon figured it out....
This user earned $2.00 in rewards for writing this review.Learn More
IronMan Gravity 4000 Inversion Tableby Ironman
ITEM#: 11443183Stay in shape and relieve muscle soreness with this IronMan Gravity4000 inversion table that provides superior comfort and securityduring your exercising routine. Featuring a sturdy tubular steelframe, this fitness product supports up to 350 pounds. Ascratch-resistant finish keeps this inversion table looking likenew for longer, and an easy-to-fold design helps you store thisitem without occupying too much space.
- Relieve stress, back and muscle soreness
- Perfect core and training device to reduce fatigue and stress
- Promotes blood circulation to relieve stiff muscles
- Built with durable tubular steel frame with scratch-resistant powder-coated finish and foam covering
- Supports up to 350 pounds and a user height up to 6 feet 6 inches
- Ergonomically molded ankle holders provide comfort and security
- Rubber non-skid floor stabilizers prevent movement during inversion
- Patented easy-reach 'Palm Activated' adjusting ratchet ankle locking system
- Extra long safety handles
- Memory foam backrest
- 3 adjustments for different starting inversion angles
- Folds for storage
- Safety vinyl side covers
- Height adjustable up to 6 feet 6 inches
- Overall: 49 inches long x 26 inches wide x 65 inches high
WARNING:Attention California residents: This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer. www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
|Weight Capacity
|301 - 350 lbs
|49 inches long x 26 inches wide x 65 inches high
|1 year Manufacturer
|Model Number
|Country of Origin
Quality RatingLearn More
Features for RugsSee All Features
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Love foam back
I've only used it a couple of times so far but seems to be great quality. I was a little confused about the strap regulating the inversion degree but soon figured it out.Read More
Help my husband with his back
We were skeptical at first. This is a high quality and heavy duty table. Not a cheapy like many that we have seen. Well worth the cost. He uses it daily and has for the last 3 plus years and he says it really does make a difference.Read More
Great buy
We get lots of use out of this machine. Shipping was quick and drive to perfect. It's been really good for our backs.Read More
Big Gyy
I'm a big guy and this has worked great! I'm 6' 3" tall and weigh 340 pounds. I use it 3-4 times a week. It has brought me some much relief from pain in my lower back. It is still like brand new even though I bought it a couple years ago and use it frequently. Extremely well constructed! Best purchase I've made to help my lower back pain.Read More
Works great - easy to handle.
I purchased this for my husband in hopes of helping the pain in his back. He works out at the gym 5 days a week and always comes home with a back ache or sore muscles. He loves the ease of using this alone, no help is needed. The rubber "cups" that hold your ankles can feel a bit uncomfortable, but it's locked in place to keep you hanging in place, so not a huge deal. Would recommend this product to anyone needing adjustments, or a good stretch!Read More
Most Helpful
Left me hanging... in a good way
I had looked at several models of tables before selecting this model. For the price, brand and durability, this product seemed to offer me the most. The product is well made with quality stiching, welding, and craftmanship. I was surprised at just how heavily made the appliance was when it arrived. The assembly was rather easy and fast with clear instructions and organized part labels and bags. Some reviews pointed out how this product was comfortable to use on your ankles when hanging upside down. I think a key to the comfort is relaxing your ankles when inverted and trusting the machine to do what it was designed to do. The ankle pads are quite comfortable, if you remember to relax your ankles and point your toes to the sky when hanging upside down. My chiropractor had told me that the machine would serve well to release the locking discs that I have in my lower back. Since using the machine, the pain in my back and the irritation of the nerves, which would become numb or pinched from the locking discs, has virtually gone away for me. I notice I even sleep better. Naturally you would consult your doctor before using such a product to assure it is meant for you as well. The main red flag for 2 stars on safety for this product was the box used for shipping. The box was marked as a heavy item for lifting, but one still has to move the box to the location appropriate for assembly. The highly cumbersome, 90 some pound box had no handles built into it and the slippery, heavy cardboard was a challenge considering I live alone. Perhaps I could have opened the box at the delivery point and carried in the pieces a few at a time. If the delivery would have happened on a rainy day, I would have had a large, heavy mess to deal with...There were a few holes in the cardboard from the box being dragged, dropped or thrown during transit.... luckily no parts were lost. Overall, the product is awesome, but keep in mind the size of the unit is large to do the job it needs to do. A heavy and sturdy appliance mean quality, just plan for the box when it arrives. A solid and great buy for the average or bigger guy.... I wouldnt give mine up for anything... :)Read More
Back pain help
I read all the other reviews and was a little skeptical about the machine. I have Lumbar arthritis and general pain in my lower back and legs. I find the table must be set taller than you actually are and it won't return to the upright position without you actually pulling it upright. Having said that, I thought it was worth a try, The first couple of times you use it, you will be in pain. Don't try to go all the way over and don't use your whole weight. Work up to it and remember to come back to the upright position slowly. I can now go fully inverted, don't feel light headed, and the back pain is better. I need to make time for at least 20 minutes 2 times a day upside down. I would recommend it if you have some kind of disc damage. I'm 59 and didn't ever meet anything too heavy to lift. Now, I'm paying for it. The table seems to be helping. Only had it about 3 weeks, but, so far, it's a keeper. Don't expect immediate relief and be prepared for "new" pain when you first start. Hope it helps you too.Read More
Got rid of pain.
I tried my table a couple of days after I got it. It was strange to be upside down, but I felt secure whith the ankle supports. I've kept it open because it looks like I would hurt my back trying to open and close it every time. I did feel really good relief on all parts starting on my knees, hips, lower back, even neck. I had lower back pain for a long time. The first day I used it, the pain was gone. Sure I felt a little sore because it obviously causes a stretching of joints and muscles. But after that was gone I felt no pain. My right hip was also giving me trouble. The chiropractor would have problems setting it in place. Some times I couldn't even get up from sitting without it hurting so bad that I couldn't walk. This pain is gone since I've used it. It's worth the investment. I don't feel like going to the chiropractor so the table has paid for itself. I do kettlebells workouts, some times with 50 lb weights, and that would tighten up the muscles on my back. (I'm only 115 lb). I can jump right on after a work out and stretch like I could never do with any normal stretching routine. Definitely would recommend it.Read More
Amazing product with amazing reults
I have had back problems for 15 years. I hurt my back when I was in the Army, they refused to do anything for it at all when I was in, and after I got out the Veterans Affairs only wanted to do surgery. I was diagnosed with everything from a pulled muscle to degenerative disc disease. I went to a physical therapist for 6 weeks with no improvements. On the 6th week I asked her to try traction. After 10 minutes of traction I was 100% pain free. This lasted for about a week and then everything went back to the way it was before the traction. 2 years later I went to a chiropractor, spent 4 months with bi-weekly visits, and only had minor reduction in pain and minor mobility gain, but still an improvement. I then began looking into inversion therapy. I was hesitant to buy a table due to the cost and it might not be a viable solution to my problem, but eventually I broke down when I found this table at a great price here. I recieved this table on April 9, 2013. I have been using it daily for over two weeks now, and I can honestly say that I have regained FULL mobility and am 100% pain free. From the first time I laid back on this table I could feel the pain in my lower back, hips and legs slowly ebb away. Next week I will start going to the gym to rebuild the strength I have lost over the years, and I will continue to use my inversion table to relieve the pressure in my lower back, hips and legs as needed. Not everyone may have the same results as I did with inversion therapy, but for me, this is the best investment I have ever made, and I would recommend it to anyone that does have any heart or blood pressure related issues, or and serious eye related issues, if they have lower back pain of any kind.Read More
Great for lower back pain
Have now owned this for over a year and love it. Nothing helps with low back pain more than getting in this thing and letting the back release all the way up through all the spinal column. My chiropractor uses one and advised never to use it at more than a 45 degree angle and to simply get on the table and then gently rock. He said hanging upside down is not recommended. Takes a little getting used to, but my husband and I both love it.Read More
Questions & Answers
I don't see how you'd use them. I have the same problem as you: the IronMan Gravity 4000 is virtual magic on back pain. But-- If you also have ankle and knee pain, the relief you get from this device--and trust me, the relief is phenomenal!--is unfortunately offset by ankle and knee pain incurred while stretching. I have no knowledge of the boots or how they would truss your knee-to-ankle joints in a way that would help you avoid that pain. However, consider that the inversion table literally locks your ankles into place at an angle at most 3-degrees from the table surface. If the boots are thick and wide, the only way imaginable for boots of any kind to help would appear to be if you hung TOTALLY inverted (i.e., like Dracula :) ). I have my IronMan in my bedroom and have not inverted in two months because of knee and ankle pain. The loss is severe, because this inversion table treats depression as well as back problems. I wish I knew what to advise you. Best of luck with your decision.
"How high does my bed have to be off the floor to get this table under it?"
I'm not sure how many inches off the floor. I would suggest at least 6-8 inches. Depends on the width of the armrests. My husband loves this item and it has helped tremendously with his back pain and problems. It is a heavy duty item, frame/steel construction is top notch. If it doesn't fit under your bed, I would suggest a closet. Item is worth investing in.
I personally think it would be to much work to take it down. I like the table but mine stays up
"Can you fully invert vertically with this table?"
This table can fully invert.
Yes, you can fully invert. I use this table to work on people with poly chromatic light therapy and only invert about 20 degrees. It is enough to take pressure off of the spine. Please remember to return to the upright position very slowly as increased blood flow to the upper extremities will likely cause dizziness or possible fainting.
"What is the height of this unit when in full inversion, measuring from the very top end of the inverted table to the floor. Just checking for placement in a low clearance basement. Thanks for your help."
Approximately 6 ft
...That's a loaded question as there's many variables; I'm 6'4" (as the machine can be set to different heights) and don't completely go upside down on it (more like; head at 8 o'clock -feet at 2 o'clock) so it stands 66" in height. If a person was to go full inverse (and the machine can be set for that easily), It would be real close to 80" (at 6'4" tall). Hope this helps...
I'm 6' 6" when fully inverted I would have to say that it is at least 7 and a half feet. That being said I would say that it's safe to assume to add 1 foot to your height.
The length of this unit is around 52 inches.
"Why did you choose this product?"
peer pressure
consumer ratings as#1
I am having back pain issue. I have tried this inversion table from a friend and it seems to help
It got good reviews and it seems like a good value.
the pad looked better
Research on internet.
Based on reviews and what friends currently have that they are happy with.
Help with back pain
5 stars and comes assembled
Chiropractor suggested it.
Reviews for this product were plentiful and helpful.
back problems
holds 350lbs and length of 6'6" it was one of the few.
it really works
to help with my back pain
Bigger and stronger and good price
I chose this product after shopping around and I have a bad back.
Lower back pain
it came highly recommended by friend
"What company makes this product and do they have a website?"
Hello Christiners03, we are unable to disclose the manufacturer of some of our products; however, Overstock.com stands behind every product we sell. When necessary we can contact suppliers if a product issue arises. Thank you for shopping with us.
"does the inversion table come assembled,if no what has to be assembled`-iron man4000"
The table and handles need to be attached to the base.
Hello rolandg, assembly is required on this item but it is easy and fast with clear instructions and organized part labels and bags. We hope this helps and thank you for shopping with us.
"Does this table have 110/220 voltage?"
Hi sandmomma50, this unit does not operate with electricity and does not support any type of voltage. Thanks for shopping with us.
The inversion table inverts manually and doesn't require electricity. Personally I think its a great device...I would purchase it again.
"was this product made in the U.S.A.?"
Hello pjrim, this is made in China. Thank you for shopping with us.
"What degree angles (90*, 130*,etc) & how do you lock it at those angles?"
This will allow one to hang totally inverted if that is desirable. I haven't done that because I have had 3 back surgeries on my lower back and I don't want to mess that up. It locks with a safety strap so that it won't accidentally invert fully and the strap is adjustable to whatever degree you wish to invert. It is MUCH better than one I had about 15 years ago because of the way it locks your ankles in place instead of having separate "ankle boots" which hung from a bar while you were inverted. Sorry that I never saw your question previously!
The strap can be used to limit the maximum angle. Otherwise I find it better not to lock it in, because my back likes a little continuing movement from one angle to another, and back again. The side bars and easily adjustable heights allow the user to get a neutral balance point so that gentle movement is very easy.
"How high is it when fully assembled?"
The IronMan Gravity 4000 inversion table is built with a durable tubular steel frame with a scratch resistant powder coated finish. Memory-foam vinyl covered backrest for a comfortable head and back. It has tough rubber non-skid floor stabilizers that provide stability when inverting. Extra long safety handles provide easy return to the upright position and vinyl safety covers are added for safety. The ergonomically molded ankle holders provide comfort and security. When not in use, the Gravity 4000 can be folded. Extra wide tubular steel frame for additional weight support. Scratch resistant powder coated finish. Foam covered, extra long safety handles. Tough rubber non-skid floor stabilizers to prevent any movementduring inversion. Memory Foam vinyl covered backrest with double stitching. Ergonmically molded ankle cushions hold ankles sec inurely and comfortably. Gravity 4000 will invert up to 90 degrees. Supports up to 350 lbs. 3 adjustments for different starting inversion angles. Folds for storage. Height adjustment up to 6 feet. Easily adjustable safety tether strap controls the maximum angle of inversion. Patented Easy reach "Palm Activated" adjusting ratchet ankle locking system. Removable lumbar pillow for exta lower back support. Safety vinyl side covers to protect hands and fingers. Helps reduce back stress by releiving pressure on vertebrae discs and ligaments. Can reduce fatigue, stress and relaxes the overall body. Can promote stimulation of blood circulation to relieve stiff muscles. Helps reduce the effect of aging due to gravity. Increases body flexibility to improve athletic performance. Helps relieve lower back aches due to sitting or standing. Product Set Up Dimensions 49"L x 26"W x 65"H 124L x 66W x 165H cm. Product Folded Dimensions 80"H x 26"W x 17"D 203H x 66W x 43D cm. Product Weight 75 lbs 34 kg. Dimensions: 49"L x 26"W x 65"H 124L x 66W x 165H cm
Its well over 5' high after its setup. I guess this is so that it can accommodate people of different heights.....I'm 6'2", and have no problem fitting on it.
"Do you ship this item to Hawaii?"
Yes here is the link with all the info: https://help.overstock.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/208/c/2
"How much does the machine weigh?"
Thank you for your interest. This item weighs 85 pounds. Please feel free to contact us again with any further questions.
Yes, the table inverts fully.
"what is the maximum wieght this table can hold?"
This information is listed on the website in the product description. Supports up to 350 pounds and a user height up to 6 feet 6 inches
"does this go to 180 degree invert"
Yes, it does.
"Does this table lock in different positions for ab (i.e.: sit ups) workouts?"
It does lock into other positions.
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JACKSON — As legislators held session in the New Capitol, which celebrates its centennial this year, a few blocks away, the Edison Walthall Hotel opened in the spring of 1928 alongside other downtown hotels like the Robert E. Lee, the King Edward and the Hotel Heidelberg.
Seventy-five years later, the Edison Walthall is the only one of these four downtown hotels still open. The hotel's staying power is especially appreciated by supporters who are pushing to make downtown Jackson a place that doesn't close down after the workday is finished. John Lawrence, president of Downtown Jackson Partners, said Jackson is fortunate to have local ownership of a quality hotel like the Edison Walthall.
"It's extraordinarily meaningful on so many different levels," said Lawrence. "We have a high-class, well-run hotel in an urban area, which is absolutely necessary for both the tourism market and also business development because business travelers have to have a quality place to stay.
"They are also wonderful corporate citizens who provide meeting space for us to entertain prospective clients and investors," said Lawrence. "The hotel provides a wonderful economic development boost that makes our job easier."
The Edison Walthall property has changed hands — and looks — a few times over the years. The current owner, Earl Gaylor, bought the property in 1990 and restored it to its original period of construction. The hotel property started out in the early 1920s as a three-story building for the Jackson Baking Co. The bakery was considered the place to go by local ladies who bought high-end cakes, petit fors and other sweets. They also dined in its elegant tea room on the first floor in what is now the hotel's main dining room.
The bakery was bought a few years later by a group of Jackson businessmen who saw the building had three very important assets — location, location, location, according to local historian Forrest Lamar Cooper. The building was gutted and rebuilt with five extra floors. It opened in the spring of 1928 as the Hotel Walthall among private homes and a few businesses on Capitol Street. Lamar Street on the hotel's back was still a new street for downtown Jackson.
The hotel is rich with history — including local lore about a fight in the lobby between Gov. Paul B. Johnson Sr. and the editor of the Jackson Daily News, now known as The Clarion-Ledger. The governor was none-to-happy about what the paper was publishing about him, and when he encountered the editor in the lobby, the two had a knock-down, drag out fight in front of the hotel's guests and staff.
Thanks to Earl Gaylor, the Edison Walthall's interior is rich with 1920s-style decor, but the hotel has not always stayed true to its original construction. Investors who bought the hotel in 1967 refurbished it with a more modern look for that era, including the rainbow-colored tiles on its exterior that many native Jacksonians remember. The hotel was then called the Downtowner, and later became a Radisson in the 1980s. It was taken over in foreclosure by Deposit Guaranty National Bank. That's when the Gaylor family stepped in.
Earl Gaylor, a native of Ohio, has invested about $7 million to outfit the hotel in 1920s decor. The hotel is full of amenities that hearken back to another era — chandeliers in the elevators, an elegant library, a wood-paneled bar, a barber shop and an elegant dining room where brunch is held each Sunday. The lobby walls are adorned with artwork found in the hotel's attic by the maintenance man and almost thrown away.
The hotel is run by Earl Gaylor and his son, Stephen, both of whom have years of experience in hotel and resort operation. Earl Gaylor ran his own hotel and resort company, Noble Inns Corp. in Atlanta for years, and Stephen Gaylor worked for the Boston-headquartered Promise, which merged with Hilton.
When Earl Gaylor came to see the Jackson property for the first time, he found concrete block walls and bare floors in the guest hallways. But he looked past appearances and saw what the hotel could become.
"I liked its lines, and I thought it was laid out in an interesting way," he said.
Fortunately, it was built with an extra-solid foundation capable of withstanding pushing and pulling by Yazoo clay, and former investors had made several improvements, including adding a pool, a parking garage and enlarging the guest rooms. Typical of old hotels, the original rooms were about 10X15, what is now a typical size bathroom, said Stephen Gaylor, who is now the Edison's general manager.
The rooms were enlarged to a more comfortable size for guests and outfitted with plush furnishings and marble to fit Earl Gaylor's vision of an upscale, full-service hotel. Although the Gaylors were careful to stay true to the building's early-century construction, they outfitted the rooms with modern conveniences like high-speed Internet access.
This is important to the hotel's clientele, which consists of 75% business customers. Many of the Edison's customers are repeat customers who stay in the hotel when they visit Jackson on business.
"After hassling with the airlines, it's nice to come in and be greeted by name and get personal service," said Stephen Gaylor.
Another large part of the Gaylors' business is meetings and receptions. On any given day, the Edison hosts five or six meetings, and during wedding season, there are four or five rehearsal dinners and receptions every weekend. For one especially large wedding, the hotel hosted a reception for 800 people on two floors.
With the interior restoration complete, the Gaylors have set their sights on the exterior, but there are no definite plans for when the outside will get a facelift. For now, they are enjoying the benefits of years of hard work and the realization of a dream to create a full-service hotel for business travelers.
Contact MBJ Staff Writer Kelly Russell Ingebretsen at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Tulsa World, July 8, 2013
The physician shortage in Oklahoma—one of the worst in the country—is indeed severe, and in fact was a concern long before the Affordable Care Act came to be. But eliminating the possibility for many Americans to obtain insurance isn't an appropriate response to the doctor shortage. According to a recent Associated Press report, about 20 percent of Americans already live in an area that is experiencing a shortage of primary-care physicians. There are about 250,000 primary-care doctors in practice across the country now. Industry experts expect the shortage of these providers to grow to about 30,000 in two years, and to about 66,000 in a decade or so.


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Nov. 21, 1999
Martial, the Things For To Attain
Poem: "Martial, the Things For To Attain" from Martials Epigrams by Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.
The PILGRIMS landed in what is now Provincetown on this day in 1620, two days after sighting Cape Cod. The 102 passengers had been onboard the Mayflower since September 16, 65 days.
It's VOLTAIRE's birthday, the French writer born in Paris, 1694 as Francois-Marie Arouet (frawn-SWAH mah-REE ahr-WAY). He came from a middle-class family and went to school to become a lawyer. But he was bored with law, and left school to try writing. His first pieces were tragedies for the theater, and he actually kept writing plays for the rest of his life. But he became infamous as a critic of the French government and church in his essays and poems. He was thrown in prison when he was in his early 20s for these. He spent three years in England in exile, then came back to Paris and again spoke out against the government and church, and was forced to flee once more. He died at 83, and his last 25 years or so were spent in Switzerland where he wrote his best known work, the satire Candide.
It's the birthday in 1929, New York City, of novelist MARILYN FRENCH, author of The Women's Room (1977). French was married with children when she picked up a copy of Simone de Beauvoir's feminist treatise The Second Sex in the early 1960s. The part in the book where de Beauvoir talks about women consistently postponing their writing careers to raise families particularly struck French: she divorced, went back to school and got a doctorate at Harvard, and began writing short stories. Her other books include The Bleeding Heart (1980), the nonfiction title, The War against Women (1992), and last year's memoir, A Season in Hell.
It's the birthday in 1933, Liverpool, of British writer BERYL BAINBRIDGE, author of The Dressmaker (1974), An Awfully Big Adventure (1992), and Every Man for Himself (1996) stories about the lives and neuroses of the English lower-middle class. Bainbridge was an actress for 15 years before she began writing in the late 1950s, and when an editor returned the manuscript of her first novel with "rotten" scrawled on it, she quit writing and went back to acting. But she picked it up again in the 1970s, and is now one of England's best-known fiction writers, producing novels and short story collections at the rate of one a year; her latest, Master Georgie, came out last year. When asked to describe herself, says she is a "lapsed Catholic who, for hobbies, paints, sleeps, and smokes."
It's the anniversary of the ALCAN HIGHWAY, opened in 1942, connecting Fairbanks, Alaska and Dawson Creek, British Columbia, some 1,500 miles.
NEW YORK'S VERRAZANO NARROWS BRIDGE, connecting Brooklyn with Staten Island over New York harbor, opened on this day in 1964 was the world's longest suspension bridge, a title it held until 1981.
Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.®


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This is the second of a 3-piece pre-Christmas release by Linde Werdelin. The new SpidoLite II Titanium Red is a limited edition of 75 pieces (in "Series A") and is priced at $11,900. This piece joins the Titanium Blue which was released last week. As you can see, this is a great looking watch, with a beautiful and bold shade of red on the dial. The further interplay of colors with the black DLC bezel and the black textile strap with red stitching bring it all together. Live looks and wrist shot, below.
As I have been critical of the legibility of the date display on other LW models, it is only proper that I point out the much improved date display on this watch. The skeletonized black date disc on the Titanium Red is very much to liking – good job guys.
Check out the red "LINDE WERDELIN" on the rotor — nice!
Note: all pics courtesy LindeWerdelin.com.
This watch is now available for purchase direct from Linde Werdelin: http://www.lindewerdelin.com/watches/spido/spidolite-ii-titanium-red. You can also view more images, specifications and descriptive information.
Oh yea – -there's one more piece to come — on December 13, 2012!


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Sierra Strength & Speed was created in 2004 to provide Northern Nevada with the finest personal training experience possible. Our staff members are highly educated, certified, and experienced fitness professionals with a strong interest in helping you succeed.
If your objective is injury prevention, youth athletic development, improved physical performance, nutritional advice or a post-rehabilitation return to sport we provide the tools, expertise and motivation you need to attain your goals.


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While cleaning out the grounds from a recent French Press, I being my usual spastic self, somehow managed to chip and crack the glass beaker of the press. I was not happy. It wasn't my French Press to break and now I had a fully functional lid and handle to go with a destroyed beaker. I pulled out my wallet and went to Bodum's website, fully prepared to buy a whole new setup.
Then I got the best surprise ever. It turns out, Bodum has a whole section on their site devoted to replacement parts. Everything is on there, down to the last screw and mesh filter. After a quick search to find the right size, I was able to find a replacement glass beaker and purchased it on the spot. It arrived yesterday and I enjoyed a delicious French Press along with some homemade banana bread. In the future, I will be much more careful when composting those coffee grounds…
So that's the good news. The semi-frustrating bit is that Bodum is definitely making a killing on this replacement parts thing. The beaker we ordered was $20 with $7.95 for shipping and handling. A brand-new all-parts-included Shin Bistro Coffee Maker (pictured above) is only $30, which makes it tempting to buy a whole setup. Someday I'd love to see companies charge less for replacement options, but if spending that $27 means not wasting perfectly good pieces (i.e. the lid and handle of our existing press) and not buying new materials, then I'll fork over the extra dough.
Side note: they also sell a plastic replacement beaker, for $22. Which is awesome for 2 reasons: a) it creates a small demand for glass and b) coffee would taste terrible and brew horribly in a plastic carafe. Glass carafes are a win:win for Bodum and make for very satisfied customers (read: a household who craves French Press on Sunday mornings).
To top it all off, their tagline is "Make Taste, Not Waste."
I like that. 🙂
*All Photos courtesy of the Bodum website!


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NXP, Tata BP Solar in development pact
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BANGALORE, India NXP Semiconductors will supply electronic components to Tata BP Solar India Ltd., a joint venture of BP Solar and Tata Power, under terms of a new agreement.
The deal calls for the companies to roll out electronic control products starting next year, according to K. Subramanya, CEO of Tata BP Solar, and NXP CTO Rene Penning de Vries. "Given the high level of sunlight all over India and in view of the country's ever increasing power demands, solar power is an economically efficient and environmentally sustainable source of energy for India," Subramanya said in a statement.
Penning de Vries added that the solar deal underscores how chip makers are attempting to move beyond the confines of Moore's Law and traditional chip making.
With manufacturing located here, Tata BP Solar is one of India's oldest solar companies. It currently focuses on the export market. The joint venture is one of the largest solar companies in the world.
K.C. Krishnadas is site editor of TechOnline India


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Reviewers do not need to register for an account and do not need a user name or password. Reviewers only need to keep the invitational email and click the link in the email to go to the reviewer page. Reviewers have five statuses in the reviewing process (Waiting for reply, Agree to review, Ask reviewer to review revision, Decline to review, Report received).
Reviewers can use OES to conduct the following tasks:


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Purchase Just Dance 3 [Nintendo Wii] for only $19.99 – was $39.99! That's a 50% savings! My kids have Just Dance 4 and love playing it together.
- Region of Operation – North America Only
- Top of the Chart Hits – Over 40 all-new tracks, featuring a variety of musical genres that will appeal to everyone.
- New Modes to Extend Game-play – Dance Crew Mode, Smart Shuffle, Flash Mob Mode and Dance Mash-up.
- Shake Your World – Interact with the in-game environment, be a part of the action, and watch the game respond to YOU as you dance.
- Just Sweat More – A more advanced training program with calculated Cardio Training
- An expanding list of down-loadable tracks will be available at launch to fuel every player's dance frenzy.
Your order will qualify for FREE shipping with Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25 or with Amazon Prime.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Thanks, Mom on Dealz!


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- Directions: From I-90 (south and east): Exit at E. State St. and go west to Alpine Rd. Turn north on Alpine. From the north: Exit I-90 at Riverside Blvd. and go west to Alpine Rd. Turn south on Alpine.
Edgebrook offers local specialty shopping with a unique blend of eclectic boutique shops, excellent restaurants and convenient service-oriented businesses, where there is truly something for everyone. Please visit edgebrookshops.com for a list of merchants and events happening. Owned and operated by Orput Companies, Inc.
Look for the Unique Products Page and Blog on the website for featured products that can be found at Edgebrook.


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The two of us are planning a 7-day trip from Florence to Rome, and have the following questions we would like to seek your advice on:
1) We are flying into Milan Malpensa and leaving from Rome airport. As we have been to Milan a couple of times before, we plan to take the train from Milan to Florence and then hiring a car there. Does this sound better than driving all the way?
2) I don't know the Tuscany/Umbria area at all, and am not sure about what route to take driving down to Rome - although my wife has insisted that we stop at the brand outlets at Montivarchi (Prada?) and Leccio (mall). As we only have 7 days, we intend to go via Tuscany and/or Umbria only without going "sideways" to Pisa, etc. Any suggestions for routing?
3) Friends have suggested towns including Siena, Chianti, Perugia, Assisi, Spoleto, before getting to Rome. What would be the driving times between these areas?
Thanks a lot for the help!
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Driving from Florence to Rome
The two of us are planning a 7-day trip from Florence to Rome, and have the following questions we would like to seek your advice on:
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You can input your trips at viamichelin.com to get driving times at routes.
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. . . times and routes . . .
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I am confused---are you staying in Florence?
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Re: 1) If you drive from Malpensa, you could visit the Cinque Terre en route (and maybe stay a night or two).
Re: 2) Stick to Tuscany - there's plenty to see and do there; save Umbria for another trip.
Re: 3) My advice would be to find a centrally located base and daytrip from there to the various scenic spots and hilltowns. Somewhere near Siena would be good. Or maybe near Montalcino.
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I have the same question as ellen:
Are you staying in Firenze?
If you are, you definitely don't want to park a car (or drive, other than to leave town) in Firenze.
However, if you are simply picking up a car there to take you into other parts of Tuscany, then I would recommend getting the car at Malpensa. It will save you a lot of time, since it takes an hour at least to get to the train in Milano to catch a train to Firenze.
However -- have you ever driven in Italy before and how are you with jet lag?
Also, if you are spending nights in Firenze and Roma both during 7-day trip, I would recommend that you price out the cost of hiring a driver for whatever excursions you want to take. Siena can be reached by train or bus quite easily from Firenze. You might enjoy Chianti more if someone else is doing the driving and you're doing the drinking. The Umbrian cities of Perugia, Assisi and Spoleto are too much to pack into such a short trip.
Lastly, do remind your wife the Italians to the US to shop because the exchage so much favors them, not dollar-earning Americans.
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I am assuming that as you stated, you will take a train to Florence. If you plan to spend a night or two in Florence, you don't need a car. You can get one on your last day, on your way out of the city.
Next I assume this leaves you five days to get to Rome (where I hope you are spending more time -- assuming the 7 days you were planning were to cover Florence and the distance to reach Rome. Your wife will find shopping in Florence and Rome are great. My DD had fun at the outlets outside of Florence, but she was in Italy for 3 weeks. She is also about a size 2. Her size 12 friend had no luck at all. I suggest unless you have more time, don't waste it at the outlets.
You can drive the road through Chianti, and stay out in the countryside, near smaller towns like Monteriggioni or Greve, or in Sienna -- which you will want to visit if you don't stay there. It is a nice city, but it is more of a city than a town.
As you drive towards Rome, you may want to stay a night in Orvietto (which is actually Umbria, but very close to Rome.) Do take the tour of the tuffa caves beneath this town at the top of a "hill" If you wish, you can drop your rental car in Orvietto and take a short train in to Rome.
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A good idea as pointed out by zeppole would be to stay one night in Orvietto a great destination located close to A 1...
If you do not need the car in Rome an even better idea would be to return the car in Orvietto and continue by train or bus.
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Just to help you with your research alphalau it is not Orvietto but Orvieto.
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Grateful for all's suggestions. UPdate: We will not be spending any time in Florence City or Rome at all - upon arrival at Malpensa we have rented a car and will drive straight down to Tuscany - Umbria with final stop in Rome only to spend the night before flying out.
List of towns to visit (and I am certain I need to shorten this list, or just drive through some of them without stopping) now include:
Leccio-Reggello (outlet only)
Montivarchi (outlet only)
San Gimignano,
A bit difficult since the first few are really in a loop, whereas the latter part of the journey, the cities are all on the same road ecept Orvietto, which we may be forced to skip.
Any suggestions as to:
1) Which of the cities to leave out;
2) The rough amount of time required to see each city, not spending a lot of time in each yet doing it justice;
3) What are better places to stay in.
Because of our short trip staying in one town and doing day trips will be too much of a waste of time. Another thing is that we are not big on wine (my wife does not drink at all) hence we will not need to spend time in wineries in the Chianti region except to drive through it.
Feedback appreciated!
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I think your list is way too long for 7 days. FYI, you can't "drive through some without stopping" because the towns are removed and usually uphill from the road.
If the priority is the outlet malls, then I think you have to decide between the Tuscany towns and the Umbria towns.
I wouldn't even consider Perugia, Arezzo and Spoleto on this trip. They're interesting towns but too big to see quickly and too time-consuming to get in/out.
The rest is up to you.
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> Feedback appreciated! <
alphalau, here's my feedback...
I must disgree with you that "doing day trips will be too much of a waste of time".
Having a home base is the most sensible use of time, especially when the sites are fairly close at hand.
Searching for a place each night, and checking in and out, is quite time consuming.
These are not cities that "are all on the same road". They are hilltowns; you have to park outside the walls and leave the car to visit the town. And, as jean said, you can't "drive through some without stopping".
Furthermore, by having a long list of spread out towns (that includes Umbria), you'll be missing out on some of the smaller gems that you'd be shooting past to get from one to another. That's a mistake IMO.
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OK. That helps.
My recommendation is that you leave Umbria for another trip, and concentrate on Tuscany (although you can easily include Orvieto, which is technically in Umbria, because coming from Tuscany it can be "on the way" to the airport). I would suggest you go to a Borders or Barnes & Noble and buy a good Michelin map of Tuscany. If you've already got the map, you may notice that actually, distances are NOT far.
There are a couple things you should also know about the "hill towns" of Italy -- just about everything except for restaurants closes at lunchtime. Do not plan to see more than two towns in a day, and if you get to see a third that's a bonus.
You may want to stay someplace near Florence for only 1-2 nights, so you can spend a full day in Florence and catch an outlet on your way to somewhere else. People say San G is a good place to stay because when the day tourists leave, you get to enjoy having the city to yourself. That means you can see a nearby town or two during the day. I have a good friend who stays in Pienza everytime she goes to Tuscany (3 times now). It was a town we only drove through, and figured we would come back to see it better someday. Siena is really beautiful and you could easily spend two full days there.
You will notice in Tuscany that there always seem to be road signs pointing to Firenze and Roma -- that is because the A1 - the superhighway - runs between the two. However just because you see a sign doesn't mean the highway is nearby. Also, some road signs have arrows pointing left with the name of a town (e.g., Pienza). It doesn't mean that you should turn left to go to Pienza, it means "You are on the road going to Pienza." It is very obvious when there is a turn you need to take. I suppose GPS systems make this a bit less confusing, but having a physical map is still an excellent idea.
Driving in Italy is mainly, even on small beautiful country roads, VERY EASY and BEAUTIFUL. You will love it. You may also find yourselves stopping very often just to enjoy the scenery. That is where your time will "go!"
Florence is horrible to drive in. We are used to driving in busy, big cities like NYC, LA and Chicago, but Florence was REALLY confusing.
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First, you need a good map! Go to Barnes & Noble to get the Touring Club Italiano Toscano map. I used it last fall and it got me all over the place. It won't cover the section from southern Tuscany to Rome, but that route is easy enough to obtain online.
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This is our final itinerary (with hotels all booked):
Day 1 (flight arrives in Milan 8am) - Drive to Florence via Portofino on the Ligurian coast for lunch and a short walk along the harbour, then into Florence for dinner + night.
Day 2 - Spend all day at the Mall at Leccio, and if time, the Space (if wife decides not to buy Prada then we just go back to Florence earlier for a walk). Night in Florence.
Day 3 - Slow drive through Chianti, lunch at Castellina, afternoon arrival in San Gimignano, stay night in San G.
Day 4 - All day in Siena (and sleep there).
Day 5 - Abbey Monte Oliveto near Chiusure, lunch at Montalcino, afterwards into Pienza, stay the night there.
Day 6 - Cortona, then lunch (only lunch) at Passignano sul Lago Trasimeno, then drive to Bevagna (night there).
Day 7 - Assisi, Spello, 2nd night back in Bevagna.
Day 8 - Drive to Orvieto to see the Cathedral and for lunch at Piazza del Popolo, then straight down to Rome on the Autostrada. Dinner and night in SW Rome.
Day 9 - Bright and early, we drive to the airport and fly away.
Not very relaxing, but then not too rushed either, doable! Detailed itinerary for each town not put here.
We have booked everything but just noting this down here for others' reference and comments still welcome.
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I would not drive into Florence at all. And, your 3 nites in Tuscany could all be done from one location. Yes, I would train to Florene and not get the car until you leave. I suggest that the mall may disappoint you.
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I agree with bob above, plus I would drop off the car in Orvieto and take the train to Roma. It will be much, much faster than hassling with Roma traffic.
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I just noticed this:
"Day 1 (flight arrives in Milan 8am) - Drive to Florence via Portofino on the Ligurian coast for lunch and a short walk along the harbour, then into Florence for dinner + night."
What day of the week at what time of the year are you talking about, and how well do you drive vertiginous roads after an overnight flight?
If you are thinking of doing this drive on a sunny weekend day anytime between May and October, you are going to run into real bottlenecks as you get toward Portofino. On the lone road to Portofino (which is in some places only one-lane wide) there are huge electronic boards that flash "FROM THIS POINT, TWO HOURS WAIT TO PORTOFINO" or 3 hours, or 1 hour, etc.
You should also know that the main road over the mountains between Milano and Genova is really a roller coaster. It's demanding driving. I wouldn't want to do it after an overnight flight. And I especially would not want then need to keep driving after lunch to get to an area you describe as one you "don't know at all."
I seriously suggest you drop Portofino from this trip or, if you insist and are doing this between May and October:
Take the train from Milano to Camogli.
Take the boat from Camogli to Portofino. Have lunch.
Take the boat (or bus) to Rapallo.
Rent car in Rapallo (after 4pm only).
Drive on.
Even better would be to bed down in Rapallo and pick up your car early the next morning.
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Chianti, Perugia, Assisi, Spoleto are definitely wonderful places to visit, but...
I would spend a couple of days in Firenze, then Siena, Montepulciano, Perugia, Assisi, Spoleto, one day at the Roman baths of Viterbo and then Rome.
By car it takes:
1.20h from Florence to Siena
1h from Siena to Montepulciano
1.5h from Montepulciano to Perugia
35 mins from Perugia to Assisi
42 mins from Assisi to Spoleto
1.25h from Spoleto to Viterbo
1.30f from Viterbo to Rome
It might be a bit stressful but it's definitely worth it!
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This is a longer version of an article also published in the Financial Times.
Last week's London tasting of the newly released crop of vintage ports, the 2007s, was held in a sort of transitional passageway at The Foreign Press Association in Carlton House Terrace. The glass overhead certainly helped us distinguish between the different shades of purple in these 42 samples, but I couldn't help seeing a parallel between the room and the transitional nature of the Douro Valley which had yielded them all.
Less than 10 years ago this was the most obviously backward of the world's classic wine regions, with grapes still trodden by the feet of locals whose lives seemed to have more in common with the third world than with Europe. Planting of vineyards in neat rows and terraces of a single vine variety is still relatively recent, and mechanisation in the vineyards and cellars even more so.
But this century has seen a transformation. Realising that they could no longer depend on local labour, the major producers have installed computer-operated alternatives to the human foot for the all-important extraction of colour from the grapes. Those producers used to be called shippers, because that was mainly what they did: buying in grapes from local growers, turning them into wine up the valley, shipping it down to Oporto, maturing it in lodges by the river in the Oporto suburb Vila Nova de Gaia, and then shipping it around the world. But today, the shippers have become growers.
The five big port groups control about 80% of the port market between them and the likes of the Symington family (who produce Dow's, Graham's, Warre's most famously) and The Taylor Fladgate Partnership (Croft, Fonseca, Taylor's, etc) have recently added a good 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of prime vineyards to their holdings, as well as upgrading their wineries and all-important storage facilties in the challenging Douro Valley - with its harsh winters and summers. This means that they no longer buy nearly as much from local growers, who are now increasingly dependent on the local co-ops and their relatively paltry prices. Life is becoming tougher and tougher for the legion of smallholders in the Douro.
(Our photograph shows, left to right, Adrian Bridge of The Fladgate Partnership, Paul Symington, and Christian Seely of Quinta do Noval at the tasting of 2007 vintage ports reported on here by Richard Hemming.)
But there are other important structural changes that impact much more directly on us wine consumers. Table wines, labelled Douro rather than port, have become a fully established, and highly profitable, product of the wild Douro Valley. Producers whose table wines have already established a reputation, such as Quinta do Vale Dona Maria and Quinta do Crasto, are already able to sell their top table wines at the same price as their vintage ports (even if, admittedly, their vineyards tend to be better suited to the former than the latter).
This makes it all the more extraordinary that the Taylor Fladgate Partnership continue their policy of eschewing serious table wine production. They argue (see Taylor's and table wine) that they want to focus on port for the moment, but they must be aware of the extent to which port prices have lagged behind those of other fine wines. As this affects prices of vintage port in the saleroom, this is most unfair, for the quality of port is better than it has ever been. At the bottom end of the port market, however, the shippers have brought much of this on themselves by engaging in a price war via the large retailers.
They like to point to the resulting increased volumes sold in the UK as a sign of buoyancy in the port market, but this has to be countered by observations such as the one made at last week's tasting by a member of the wine committee at the nearby Oxford & Cambridge Club. He observed that the club's current holdings of vintage port will last the members 40 years at their current rate of consumption. Oxbridge colleges report the same sort of slowdown in demand. Vintage port is the port trade's calling card, the essence of the Douro trapped in a bottle. Its appearance every three or four years reminds us all that port exists and should encourage us to pull some corks - certainly on the basis of the quality and sheer sophistication of the best 2007s shown last week.
Bill Warre, of the port family, popped in to the port tasting after lunch at Boodle's (where presumably he does his best to keep their stocks well below 40 years' worth). He has tasted every port vintage at this early stage since the 1948s, and even he was hard pressed to find any vintage remotely like the 2007.
Rather like the 2008 bordeaux, no one realised at the end of August that good quality wine would eventually result. This was an unusually long, cool, steady growing season, without extremes of heat or drought. In fact the rains were unusually generous, and the temperatures moderate enough to preclude the sort of shutdown that can stop photosynthesis and ripening in very hot weather. Sugars came from proper ripening of the grapes rather than desiccation, so there were few raisiny characters in the wines. Nights in particular were usefully cool and these ports are all remarkably fresh - one or two even have a strange note of greenness. The harvest was two weeks later than usual, and the grapes spent longer than usual in lagares, the Douro's distinctive shallow fermentation vats. Touriga Franca grapes in particular benefited from the long season, while Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) especially benefited from yields shrunk by a poor fruit set and both sorts of mildew.
I was amazed by quite how many of these vintage ports confronted us - even though the style comprises a mere one per cent of all port production. Presumably because wine is now so fashionable in Portugal, and there are so many able winemakers now in the Douro, there are many more individuals who want a shot at producing this classic wine, port at its most expensive. Expect to pay over £200 per six bottles in bond for the top names, much less for most of the generally rather weaker ports produced on the single quintas (individual wine farms), many of them associated with one of the famous producers. Perfect for 2007 babies.
Favourite 2007 vintage ports
Quinta do Noval
Taylor's, Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha
Smith Woodhouse
Niepoort, Pisca
Quinta do Vesuvio
Quinta do Vesuvio, Capela
Niepoort, Broadbent
Quarles Harris
Quinta do Vale Meão
See my full tasting notes on all 42 wines with suggested drinking dates for some of the likely bargains, including some of Symington's less famous bottlings.


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Among the fans in attendance at last night's game at Camden Yards was a gentleman who's practically become part of Brian Roberts' family. No one else outside of it talks to him more - almost on a daily basis - or has a better understanding of what the Orioles' second baseman has gone through since he suffered his first concussion late in the 2010 season.
Dr. Michael Collins, director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program, wouldn't have missed Roberts' return to the Orioles for anything in this world. He's a New England native and a huge Red Sox fan, but that allegiance was placed on hold.
"Last night was a special night," Collins, who goes by "Mickey," said this morning while driving back to Pittsburgh. "To see him play like he did, to see him perform at that level, he really stepped up. His command on the field and the leadership he brings, it's really something. I'm not an Orioles fan, but I'm pulling for them now a little bit. This could be a special time. A pennant race. What a thing to come back to."
And to think, the initial goal for Collins and Roberts was to make sure the second baseman could lead a normal life again. Baseball wasn't a consideration until later, once Roberts could stand up and walk around and perform daily tasks without the room spinning and his stomach flipping.
"Baseball was so far from reality," Collins said. "It was just about him getting through the day and feeling normal again. We didn't even talk about baseball for a while. But when it became clear that he was doing better, baseball became the focus, the goal.
"Last night meant a lot to me. I've dealt with a lot of athletes, and last night was one of most special moments for me as a clinician who deals with this stuff. He's genuinely a good human being and he worked so hard to get to this point. He wanted it so badly that at times I wondered if it was putting a lot of pressure on him.
"It's hard. If you feel stress and feel those issues, it can really delay your recovery, so him getting back to playing last night was very special."
Roberts didn't jump into spring training activities. It was more like sticking his toe in the water. And the thought of trying to play in real games was chilling.
"I remember him watching his first spring training game and he was like, 'I can't imagine getting out there. I can't imagine dealing with the speed and emotion,' " Collins recalled. "His type of concussion affects the brain's ability to integrate complex environments. Baseball, being around crowds and people and just all the motion that happens in that environment, the system of the brain that was affected was that system. We had to go through this so carefully and so systematically. Just getting him back in the locker room with the guys was part of his rehab. Getting him back on the field around a bunch of other people. He had to work out on his own, solitary on the field and in the weight room with no one else there. Just running on the treadmill.
"To go from there to seeing him slide back to first base last night, go first to third, all that activity we take for granted - that's what we had to rehab for, step one to step two to step three. And we did it very carefully, systematically. Now he goes out and doesn't feel any of it anymore. He's back to being a baseball player. He can handle any environment. Day game after night, travel, walking through an airport - we take it all for granted.
"It's such a long haul for someone who goes through his type of injury. It's not like he has a cast on his head. He looks fine. People see him and don't realize what he's going through. It's a really long journey for someone who goes through this."
At least he didn't go through it alone.
"I definitely was his emotional coach through this," Collins said. "We talked a lot. We joked about it last night. I said, 'Brian, I don't want to talk to you anymore, man.' We haven't spoken as much lately. He went on his rehab assignment and he felt better there than he had all along. He was feeling great and last night was no exception. The first thing I asked was, 'How do you feel?" And he said, 'Mick, I feel great.'
"It's still a process. I'll still monitor it carefully. I anticipate him doing very well, but I'll continually monitor him and make sure he gets breaks if he needs it. But he's doing great."
Roberts has come a long way since the Orioles' annual holiday party at Dave and Buster's at Arundel Mills Mall. Roberts showed up for the December event and looked nothing like a professional athlete. He was a shell of his former self, his facial expressions unable to mask his physical condition. Even worse, they advertised it.
"I remember the Dave and Buster's thing," Collins said. "I remember thinking to myself, 'We're not ready for that again.' I cancelled the FanFest thing. I'm the one. It was me saying, 'No, Brian, we have to do this the right way.' It was hard for someone like him to go through that, someone who cares so much about the community. He knows the perception of doing that. People don't understand that's exactly the environment that made him feel horrible for a couple days. It will set you back for days if you don't do it right. That was me saying, 'No, you can't do that stuff.' And it was a challenge because there's so much educating we have to do as clinicians and doctors with this type of injury for people to understand what concussions are all about.
"I deal with a lot of high school kids. Imagine being a kid going back to school like that. It's hard for anyone - an elite athlete or a fifth-grade kid trying to get through math class.
"I always felt like we could get back to baseball. I really did. But I'd be lying if I said there weren't trying moments and times when it was more difficult than we wanted. Moments when he certainly didn't feel like he was going to make it back. Times when his wife, who's a wonderful human being, felt the same way a little bit. But I knew what he had to go through and that he had to keep his foot on the pedal softly."
Roberts has stepped into a June pennant race, with the Orioles hovering around first place rather than looking up at four teams in their division. He's never finished above .500 since reaching the majors in 2001. No concussion could make him forget all the losses and heart-wrenching disappointments, the managerial changes and the same old results.
"He's a guy who deserves to win," Collins said. "He has tried so hard to get back to playing. And honestly, in a lot of similar cases like this, there isn't a 100 percent success rate in terms of getting back to play. The work he's gone through and had to endure ... when you go through this, you feel the same symptoms as you're progressing. You're going to feel things and at first it's completely disconcerting. You're dizzy and foggy and nauseous, and you feel tired and you have headaches. That's part of the process. You feel those symptoms. It takes a strong individual to endure and get back to doing what you love. That's what we had to do. I think that's lost on a lot of people.
"A player told me once it feels like going on a roller coaster and getting your (butt) kicked. That's what you feel like."
Roberts dished out the punishment last night, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, and he'll bat leadoff and play second base again tonight. Manager Buck Showalter has no immediate plans to alter the lineup.
"He's ready," Collins said. "I feel very confident about him. I think he's going to do well. I think we laid the foundation and he has a very good foundation right now. I expect him to progress and do well from this point forward. I feel very good where he's at and where he's going."


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