Slipping into a cold water bath for 20 minutes after exercise may seem more like punishment than relief for aching muscles, but many athletes and bodybuilders have relied on cold water therapy as a way to get relief for sore muscles after workouts.
Now, researchers are questioning whether cold water baths make your muscles feel better than other treatments, such as compression stockings or stretching.
A cold water bath—also known as cryotherapy—involves sitting in a tub of cold water for five to more than 20 minutes. In the 17 studies looked at, the water temperature ranged from 50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit—similar to the ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia. Most treatments involved sitting in the water for the entire time, but in some studies, the participants stepped into and out of the water several times.
The researchers did find that cold water baths were better than resting or doing nothing, reducing muscle soreness by about 20%. However, it purely eased the feeling of soreness—it didn’t make the muscles stronger.
"It is important to consider that cold water immersion induces a degree of shock on the body,” lead researcher Dr. Chris Bleakley of the University of Ulster said. "We need to be sure that people aren't doing anything harmful, especially if they are exposing themselves to very cold water for long periods."
He added, "Most of these studies are done in pretty elite athletes. So, their physiological reserves are probably greater than most people. I think you have to be careful that you don't generalize these conditions to everyone."
Cold water baths should be avoided if you have a heart condition or a problem with circulation (such as Reynaud’s). Also, the quality of water should be considered. No one really wants to sit in a tub of water after 15 other sweaty guys with cuts and scrapes on their legs.
2012年2月20日星期一
2012年2月19日星期日
Best 2012 family cars under $25,000
Let’s say you are looking for a compact family sedan for under $25,000.
For years, the low end cars in domestic and foreign automotive fleets were little more than basic transportation: bells and whistles cost a lot more. Still, there is nothing wrong with wishing that you could get a small family car which wasn’t boring to look at, was comfortable to sit in, had enough gadgets to keep everyone happy and, if you floored the gas pedal, actually took off.
For many motorists, that was the turf of the Honda Civic, long the entry level workhorse of the popular Honda line. They were short on flair and long on utility, but consistently reliable, efficient, durable and, with an EPA rating of 41 miles per gallon in highway driving, easy on the pocketbook. What they provide, however, is basic transportation: the Civic is not a balm for the ego or a rolling sculpture destined to grace the driveway.
And if you are willing to get the basic, no-frills version, you can roll out of a Honda showroom with a Civic HF for under $20,000. But the Civic is actually a family of compacts, from the no-frills, HF box to the competitive $25,000 EX sedan.
The bare bones version of the Civic HF has plain cloth seats, but they are wide, manually adjusted. The dashboard is contoured, to give it a little character. And the dials, in blue and white, are easy on the eyes with digits easy to read. The doors had mostly hard, molded plastic with a thin layer of padding where the elbow rests and, as a result, were not very comfortable on long trips. Surprisingly, the car lacked Bluetooth communication, but it did have a single disc CD player, and connections for MP3, iPod, and USB. Its four-speaker, 160-watt sound system was adequate for the small interior, but nothing special. There is room in the rear for a couple of average sized adults, but the only cup holders are in the front. But the HF is intended to be just basic transportation.
For about $5,000 more, the Civic can be upgraded to the EX model, which better reflects the quality of the Honda line. At that price, the cloth gives way to thick, padded leather seats which are power adjustable and heated. Overhead is a power sunroof, which gives the compact a feeling of spaciousness. And the bare bones entertainment system is replaced by a navigation system, satellite radio, and Bluetooth. At that point, the Civic is a car one can look forward to owning for several years.
Under the hood, the Civic HF has a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine producing just 140 horsepower. Thus the small car is fine on the road, but sluggish when you take off or need to accelerate. That small engine, however, is why the Civic has an EPA rating of 29 miles per gallon in city driving and 41 MPG on the highway. And on the open road, the Civic HF handle with the assuredness expected of a Honda in any price range.
I awakened to find there were five inches of loose, powdery snow one Saturday morning, and the stuff was destined to fall intermittently all day. The main roads were kept relatively clear by municipal plows, but home owners on most of the side streets had to fend for themselves in the slippery stuff. This was no problem for the Civic.
The compact, with its all weather tires, had no trouble on hills, curves and uneven surfaces though more expensive vehicles were skidding that morning through the same slippery terrain. The Civic’s snow-oriented traction control compensated for the bad road conditions – which showed that not all safety technology is saved for the expensive players. With the Civic family, Honda is trying to get a lock on the low end of the compact sedan market.
For years, the low end cars in domestic and foreign automotive fleets were little more than basic transportation: bells and whistles cost a lot more. Still, there is nothing wrong with wishing that you could get a small family car which wasn’t boring to look at, was comfortable to sit in, had enough gadgets to keep everyone happy and, if you floored the gas pedal, actually took off.
For many motorists, that was the turf of the Honda Civic, long the entry level workhorse of the popular Honda line. They were short on flair and long on utility, but consistently reliable, efficient, durable and, with an EPA rating of 41 miles per gallon in highway driving, easy on the pocketbook. What they provide, however, is basic transportation: the Civic is not a balm for the ego or a rolling sculpture destined to grace the driveway.
And if you are willing to get the basic, no-frills version, you can roll out of a Honda showroom with a Civic HF for under $20,000. But the Civic is actually a family of compacts, from the no-frills, HF box to the competitive $25,000 EX sedan.
The bare bones version of the Civic HF has plain cloth seats, but they are wide, manually adjusted. The dashboard is contoured, to give it a little character. And the dials, in blue and white, are easy on the eyes with digits easy to read. The doors had mostly hard, molded plastic with a thin layer of padding where the elbow rests and, as a result, were not very comfortable on long trips. Surprisingly, the car lacked Bluetooth communication, but it did have a single disc CD player, and connections for MP3, iPod, and USB. Its four-speaker, 160-watt sound system was adequate for the small interior, but nothing special. There is room in the rear for a couple of average sized adults, but the only cup holders are in the front. But the HF is intended to be just basic transportation.
For about $5,000 more, the Civic can be upgraded to the EX model, which better reflects the quality of the Honda line. At that price, the cloth gives way to thick, padded leather seats which are power adjustable and heated. Overhead is a power sunroof, which gives the compact a feeling of spaciousness. And the bare bones entertainment system is replaced by a navigation system, satellite radio, and Bluetooth. At that point, the Civic is a car one can look forward to owning for several years.
Under the hood, the Civic HF has a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine producing just 140 horsepower. Thus the small car is fine on the road, but sluggish when you take off or need to accelerate. That small engine, however, is why the Civic has an EPA rating of 29 miles per gallon in city driving and 41 MPG on the highway. And on the open road, the Civic HF handle with the assuredness expected of a Honda in any price range.
I awakened to find there were five inches of loose, powdery snow one Saturday morning, and the stuff was destined to fall intermittently all day. The main roads were kept relatively clear by municipal plows, but home owners on most of the side streets had to fend for themselves in the slippery stuff. This was no problem for the Civic.
The compact, with its all weather tires, had no trouble on hills, curves and uneven surfaces though more expensive vehicles were skidding that morning through the same slippery terrain. The Civic’s snow-oriented traction control compensated for the bad road conditions – which showed that not all safety technology is saved for the expensive players. With the Civic family, Honda is trying to get a lock on the low end of the compact sedan market.
2012年2月16日星期四
Lucky and good
There are some fantastical elements in Ottawa mystery writer Peggy Blair’s first book The Beggar’s Opera, but nothing stranger than the story behind how it came to be published. It’s the sort of tale that will encourage every writer hoping to strike it lucky.
Blair, a realtor and former government lawyer, had racked up about 150 rejections for her manuscript. It’s a large figure, but not surprising when one remembers that most publishers look on a first novel by an unknown writer with the enthusiasm they would normally reserve for a cold sore.
Undaunted, in 2010 Blair submitted part of the book to the Debut Dagger, a British crime writing award for unpublished authors. She didn’t win, but was drowning her disappointment at the hotel bar in Harrogate, Yorkshire, when in walked Ian Rankin, the famous Scottish mystery writer. Blair struck up a conversation and it turned out Rankin had just been in Ottawa for Bluesfest. She naturally told him about her book and he kindly offered to mention it to his agent.
Word quickly got around that Ian Rankin’s agent was going to look at Blair’s book. Other agents sensed blood in the water and cruised in for a look. As a result, Blair did land an agent and a three-book deal with Penguin. Her book was released in Canada this month and will also be published in Germany, Holland and Norway.
For an unknown writer from Ottawa, that’s like winning the lottery.
I first heard about Blair’s good fortune and her book when we were both on a mystery writing panel in the fall of 2010. I have been looking forward to the book since then with considerable curiosity.
I’m happy to say that The Beggar’s Opera does not disappoint. It’s fast-paced, atmospheric, has unusual characters and delivers surprises right to the final pages.
Blair was inspired to set the book in Cuba after a holiday there in 2006. Wise choice. Cuba is a country of contradictions where most anything could plausibly happen. For Canadian tourist and Ottawa police detective Mike Ellis, it is being accused of the brutal murder of a young boy who begs on the streets. The reader will have a hard time believing that Ellis did it, but he was on a bender and is not so sure himself.
We know there is more behind this crime, plenty more, and it’s up to Inspector Ricardo Ramirez to get to the bottom of it. He’s world weary but still trying to do the job right with the limited resources that the Cuban police have. One other thing about Ramirez. He has an unusual form of dementia, we’re told, that causes him to hallucinate, seeing the victims of the crimes he investigates. It’s a unique source of information for a detective, but it’s also an affliction that is said to be fatal.
Ramirez’s sidekick is pathologist Hector Apiro, who happens to be a dwarf. What might first seem like a stunt for the sake of novelty works rather well in Blair’s hands.
The Beggar’s Opera has original characters, a compelling plot and just enough humour to take the edge off the suspense. The book certainly falls well within the “good read” category.
For me, there are only a couple of thing that keep the book from the A level. The first is the author’s decision to imagine Cuban police procedures rather than research them in detail. This is fiction and what is offered seems credible enough, but my preference is for research and facts. Other readers might disagree. The other thing, oddly enough, is Ramirez’s lousy skills as a detective. The inspector is in a rush to convict Mike Ellis based on evidence that seems too obvious and lacking a credible motive. One would have expected a veteran police inspector to be more skeptical.
Ramirez will get a chance to hone his skills in Blair’s next book, which is set in Ottawa and picks up where The Beggar’s Opera left off.
In all, a worthy debut and proof that one generally has to be good to be lucky.
Blair, a realtor and former government lawyer, had racked up about 150 rejections for her manuscript. It’s a large figure, but not surprising when one remembers that most publishers look on a first novel by an unknown writer with the enthusiasm they would normally reserve for a cold sore.
Undaunted, in 2010 Blair submitted part of the book to the Debut Dagger, a British crime writing award for unpublished authors. She didn’t win, but was drowning her disappointment at the hotel bar in Harrogate, Yorkshire, when in walked Ian Rankin, the famous Scottish mystery writer. Blair struck up a conversation and it turned out Rankin had just been in Ottawa for Bluesfest. She naturally told him about her book and he kindly offered to mention it to his agent.
Word quickly got around that Ian Rankin’s agent was going to look at Blair’s book. Other agents sensed blood in the water and cruised in for a look. As a result, Blair did land an agent and a three-book deal with Penguin. Her book was released in Canada this month and will also be published in Germany, Holland and Norway.
For an unknown writer from Ottawa, that’s like winning the lottery.
I first heard about Blair’s good fortune and her book when we were both on a mystery writing panel in the fall of 2010. I have been looking forward to the book since then with considerable curiosity.
I’m happy to say that The Beggar’s Opera does not disappoint. It’s fast-paced, atmospheric, has unusual characters and delivers surprises right to the final pages.
Blair was inspired to set the book in Cuba after a holiday there in 2006. Wise choice. Cuba is a country of contradictions where most anything could plausibly happen. For Canadian tourist and Ottawa police detective Mike Ellis, it is being accused of the brutal murder of a young boy who begs on the streets. The reader will have a hard time believing that Ellis did it, but he was on a bender and is not so sure himself.
We know there is more behind this crime, plenty more, and it’s up to Inspector Ricardo Ramirez to get to the bottom of it. He’s world weary but still trying to do the job right with the limited resources that the Cuban police have. One other thing about Ramirez. He has an unusual form of dementia, we’re told, that causes him to hallucinate, seeing the victims of the crimes he investigates. It’s a unique source of information for a detective, but it’s also an affliction that is said to be fatal.
Ramirez’s sidekick is pathologist Hector Apiro, who happens to be a dwarf. What might first seem like a stunt for the sake of novelty works rather well in Blair’s hands.
The Beggar’s Opera has original characters, a compelling plot and just enough humour to take the edge off the suspense. The book certainly falls well within the “good read” category.
For me, there are only a couple of thing that keep the book from the A level. The first is the author’s decision to imagine Cuban police procedures rather than research them in detail. This is fiction and what is offered seems credible enough, but my preference is for research and facts. Other readers might disagree. The other thing, oddly enough, is Ramirez’s lousy skills as a detective. The inspector is in a rush to convict Mike Ellis based on evidence that seems too obvious and lacking a credible motive. One would have expected a veteran police inspector to be more skeptical.
Ramirez will get a chance to hone his skills in Blair’s next book, which is set in Ottawa and picks up where The Beggar’s Opera left off.
In all, a worthy debut and proof that one generally has to be good to be lucky.
2012年2月15日星期三
Researchers warm to effectiveness of ice baths
For most of past century, soccer players, athletes and other footballers would cool down by warming up.
The hot bath after a game was an unquestioned ritual.
More recently, the hot water has been replaced by cold.
Athletes know that in the days after great physical exertion, their muscles get sore, but they believe that pain will be lessened if they immerse themselves in ice cold water immediately after exercising.
And now, an international team of researchers has confirmed the effectiveness of cold water immersion therapy in stopping muscle pain.
Some in the field, however, are still sceptical.
"It tends to be effective, at least compared to other means that are used. Maybe not in terms of a specifically strong sense but at least in the way that's meaningful," said Professor Ty Hopkins from Brigham Young University in the US state of Utah.
Professor Hopkins, who specialises in sports medicine and exercise science, was one of the authors of the study into the effectiveness of cold water immersion therapy.
"Not only did the subjects feel better but there were actually signs that tissue damage was decreased," he said.
In their review, the authors compared 17 small trials involving 366 people.
They included people who were asked to get into cold water after running, cycling and resistance training.
And they found a significant reduction in muscle soreness in the four days after exercise.
"Maybe for those who border on endurance sports and higher workout times at least or intensities, they might dabble into it and see how it works for them," Professor Hopkins said.
He says any water under 15 degrees Celsius will be somewhat effective.
"And the time can really vary depending on the tissues," he said.
Importantly, the study did not compare the effects of cold water with other interventions like light jogging or using compression stockings, so the researchers cannot say which technique would be the most effective.
They also cannot say what harmful side effects might flow from cold water immersion.
"Certainly some people could be hypersensitive to cold which could allow them to have a skin or even an allergic type of reaction," Professor Hopkins said.
There is also the risk that the therapy simply will not work at all.
Dr Shane Brun, an Associate Professor of musculoskeletal and sports medicine at James Cook University, says most of the studies are poor quality.
"There's not a lot of evidence so far that cold water immersion does a lot for physical benefits of people using it," he said.
Dr Brun says placebo effect may be playing a role.
"Without a doubt, a significant aspect of how well an athlete performs is basically what's going on between their ears," he said.
"If an athlete has confidence, belief, mental strength, that has a significant impact in how they perform."
That does not mean Dr Brun wants athletes to steer clear of the technique.
"If you were to ask me, what I prefer an athlete doing ice water baths or using anabolic steroids it's an open misere, I mean my answer's going to be jump in a cold bath rather than take any supplements," he said.
Dr Brun says in many cases, all that matters is that the athlete believes the cold water is doing them good.
He says the same can be said for stretching after exercise.
The physical evidence suggests stretching does not do much to help the body recover, but if you believe it is helping, then it probably will.
The hot bath after a game was an unquestioned ritual.
More recently, the hot water has been replaced by cold.
Athletes know that in the days after great physical exertion, their muscles get sore, but they believe that pain will be lessened if they immerse themselves in ice cold water immediately after exercising.
And now, an international team of researchers has confirmed the effectiveness of cold water immersion therapy in stopping muscle pain.
Some in the field, however, are still sceptical.
"It tends to be effective, at least compared to other means that are used. Maybe not in terms of a specifically strong sense but at least in the way that's meaningful," said Professor Ty Hopkins from Brigham Young University in the US state of Utah.
Professor Hopkins, who specialises in sports medicine and exercise science, was one of the authors of the study into the effectiveness of cold water immersion therapy.
"Not only did the subjects feel better but there were actually signs that tissue damage was decreased," he said.
In their review, the authors compared 17 small trials involving 366 people.
They included people who were asked to get into cold water after running, cycling and resistance training.
And they found a significant reduction in muscle soreness in the four days after exercise.
"Maybe for those who border on endurance sports and higher workout times at least or intensities, they might dabble into it and see how it works for them," Professor Hopkins said.
He says any water under 15 degrees Celsius will be somewhat effective.
"And the time can really vary depending on the tissues," he said.
Importantly, the study did not compare the effects of cold water with other interventions like light jogging or using compression stockings, so the researchers cannot say which technique would be the most effective.
They also cannot say what harmful side effects might flow from cold water immersion.
"Certainly some people could be hypersensitive to cold which could allow them to have a skin or even an allergic type of reaction," Professor Hopkins said.
There is also the risk that the therapy simply will not work at all.
Dr Shane Brun, an Associate Professor of musculoskeletal and sports medicine at James Cook University, says most of the studies are poor quality.
"There's not a lot of evidence so far that cold water immersion does a lot for physical benefits of people using it," he said.
Dr Brun says placebo effect may be playing a role.
"Without a doubt, a significant aspect of how well an athlete performs is basically what's going on between their ears," he said.
"If an athlete has confidence, belief, mental strength, that has a significant impact in how they perform."
That does not mean Dr Brun wants athletes to steer clear of the technique.
"If you were to ask me, what I prefer an athlete doing ice water baths or using anabolic steroids it's an open misere, I mean my answer's going to be jump in a cold bath rather than take any supplements," he said.
Dr Brun says in many cases, all that matters is that the athlete believes the cold water is doing them good.
He says the same can be said for stretching after exercise.
The physical evidence suggests stretching does not do much to help the body recover, but if you believe it is helping, then it probably will.
2012年2月14日星期二
Cold baths 'ease aching muscles, but may be risky'
Plunging into chilly water can provide a shock to the system and may even be harmful, researchers at the UK Cochrane Centre warn.
After looking at available trial evidence - 17 small studies involving 366 people - they say there is not enough evidence to back the technique.
There may well be other better ways to ease muscular aches, they suggest.
This might include a spot of light jogging or a dip in a warm bath, they say.
The idea behind submerging the muscles in icy water, sometimes referred to as cryotherapy, is to reduce swelling and the associated stiffness and soreness that comes with working the muscles hard.
The trend started in elite level sport, but it is becoming increasingly popular amongst amateur athletes too.
Comedian Eddie Izzard, who last year ran 43 marathons in 51 days to raise money for charity, said his daily ice baths were a necessary evil to stop his "legs inflating to twice the size of an elephant".
In the studies that the Cochrane team looked at, participants were asked to get into a bath or container of cold water after running, cycling or resistance training.
In most trials, participants spent between five and 24 minutes in water that was 10-15C, although in some cases much colder temperatures were used or participants were asked to get in and out of the water a number of times.
Lead researcher Dr Chris Bleakley, of the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, said: "We found some evidence that immersing yourself in cold water after exercise can reduce muscle soreness, but only compared to resting or doing nothing."
But there were too few studies that compared cold baths with other interventions to say that it is the best strategy for sore limbs.
And safety concerns remain unanswered.
Dr Bleakley said: "It is important to consider that cold water immersion induces a degree of shock on the body.
"We need to be sure that people aren't doing anything harmful, especially if they are exposing themselves to very cold water for long periods."
Leonie Dawson, professional adviser to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: "This isn't advisable for everyone. If someone had an underlying heart condition then the shock could be damaging.
"And for anybody with Raynaud's - a problem of the circulation - it would have a devastating effect on them."
She said it would also be important to ensure that the water was clean for hygiene reasons: "Some rugby clubs have a wheelie bin filled with cold water that the players will use one after the other, even if they have open cuts and injuries from the playing field."
She said, generally, applying something cool on the skin to reduce pain and swelling was safe.
"It makes up part of the PRICE guidelines - Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation - for managing soft tissue injury.
"But it is worth remembering that some of those gel ice packs you can get go down to temperatures of minus 20 and if you go to sleep with them on you can get a rather nasty ice burn."
After looking at available trial evidence - 17 small studies involving 366 people - they say there is not enough evidence to back the technique.
There may well be other better ways to ease muscular aches, they suggest.
This might include a spot of light jogging or a dip in a warm bath, they say.
The idea behind submerging the muscles in icy water, sometimes referred to as cryotherapy, is to reduce swelling and the associated stiffness and soreness that comes with working the muscles hard.
The trend started in elite level sport, but it is becoming increasingly popular amongst amateur athletes too.
Comedian Eddie Izzard, who last year ran 43 marathons in 51 days to raise money for charity, said his daily ice baths were a necessary evil to stop his "legs inflating to twice the size of an elephant".
In the studies that the Cochrane team looked at, participants were asked to get into a bath or container of cold water after running, cycling or resistance training.
In most trials, participants spent between five and 24 minutes in water that was 10-15C, although in some cases much colder temperatures were used or participants were asked to get in and out of the water a number of times.
Lead researcher Dr Chris Bleakley, of the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, said: "We found some evidence that immersing yourself in cold water after exercise can reduce muscle soreness, but only compared to resting or doing nothing."
But there were too few studies that compared cold baths with other interventions to say that it is the best strategy for sore limbs.
And safety concerns remain unanswered.
Dr Bleakley said: "It is important to consider that cold water immersion induces a degree of shock on the body.
"We need to be sure that people aren't doing anything harmful, especially if they are exposing themselves to very cold water for long periods."
Leonie Dawson, professional adviser to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: "This isn't advisable for everyone. If someone had an underlying heart condition then the shock could be damaging.
"And for anybody with Raynaud's - a problem of the circulation - it would have a devastating effect on them."
She said it would also be important to ensure that the water was clean for hygiene reasons: "Some rugby clubs have a wheelie bin filled with cold water that the players will use one after the other, even if they have open cuts and injuries from the playing field."
She said, generally, applying something cool on the skin to reduce pain and swelling was safe.
"It makes up part of the PRICE guidelines - Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation - for managing soft tissue injury.
"But it is worth remembering that some of those gel ice packs you can get go down to temperatures of minus 20 and if you go to sleep with them on you can get a rather nasty ice burn."
2012年2月13日星期一
Fairbanks man 'plants' palm trees
Evidently nobody told Ricky Blevins you can't have palm trees in Fairbanks, in the winter no less. But that's precisely what Blevins did, and it's helped brighten many a Fairbanksan's day this cold, dreary winter.
The 48-year-old Blevins is the guy who "planted" the two palm trees that sit on the bank of the Chena River near University Avenue. They are visible as you drive over the University Avenue bridge, sticking out like a pair of sore thumbs in Blevins' big, snow-covered yard next to Noyes Slough.
Of course, with bright, yellow LED lights running up the trunks of the trees and green lights wrapped around the leaves on top, they are hard to miss.
"We've had total strangers pull into the driveway to take pictures," Blevins said. "We've got people coming in on snowmachines driving around in circles trying to figure out what they are."
In the summer, Blevins watched boaters stop, get out of their boats, walk up to the trees and rap on them with their knuckles to see if they were real.
The trees aren't real, of course, but they look so life-like it's hard to tell from a distance. Blevins, a sheet metal worker at Holiday-Parks, Inc., built the palm trees in June as a wedding present for his bride, Kelley.
"We were supposed to get married in Arizona but that fell through, so I brought a little bit of the lake-front property back with me," Ricky explained.
The trees, made of sheet metal, served as a backdrop for their solstice wedding, complete with a sandy beach that Blevins trucked in.
"I was only going to leave them up a couple weeks but everybody convinced me to leave them up a little longer," Blevins said. "When it got dark I decided to light them up.
"I've heard a lot of different comments," he said. "I've had people offer to buy them."
The trees are 16 feet tall and each one has five big, green leaves trees bolted to the top. There were six leaves, but he removed a leaf from each tree when he put the lights on in November because he didn't have enough lights to cover six leaves.
The trees are built in three five-foot sections that bolt together. The trees can be disassembled into three sections that nest together.
"I originally made these to ship to our house in Arizona," Blevins said. "After the wedding, I was going to ship them down and plant them in our yard in Arizona."
But the trees were so popular Blevins decided to leave them where they are. He added the lights in November.
It took Blevins, a lifelong Fairbanksan, about a week to build the trees. He used pictures on the Internet and studied palm trees in the yard of his wife's home in Arizona to help guide him. He used elbows to create the distinctive bend in the trunk of the trees.
"Being an Alaskan, I don't have a lot of experience with palm trees," Blevins said. "I was going for a generic palm tree. This is my image of a palm tree.
"Everybody tells me I should put coconuts on them," he said with a laugh.
His 25-year-old daughter, Courtney, painted the trunks and leaves.
"I took her to the store to buy spray paint and said we need brown and green," Blevins said. "She started grabbing all these different greens and browns and blacks and tans. I was getting nervous."
When he got home, Blevins laid the trees out on sawhorses and let her go to work.
"I said, 'I can't watch,'" he said.
The trees "turned out great," Blevins said. "She used like six different shades of green and four different shades of brown with some black and tan mixed in."
Blevins dug holes to plant the trees in the ground, and so far he hasn't had any problem with passing moose trying to reach up and eat the leaves.
The palm trees have provided a psychological boost for both Rick and Kelley during the long, cold, dark winter.
"I told him in the summer we should hang a hammock in between them," Kelley said.
The 48-year-old Blevins is the guy who "planted" the two palm trees that sit on the bank of the Chena River near University Avenue. They are visible as you drive over the University Avenue bridge, sticking out like a pair of sore thumbs in Blevins' big, snow-covered yard next to Noyes Slough.
Of course, with bright, yellow LED lights running up the trunks of the trees and green lights wrapped around the leaves on top, they are hard to miss.
"We've had total strangers pull into the driveway to take pictures," Blevins said. "We've got people coming in on snowmachines driving around in circles trying to figure out what they are."
In the summer, Blevins watched boaters stop, get out of their boats, walk up to the trees and rap on them with their knuckles to see if they were real.
The trees aren't real, of course, but they look so life-like it's hard to tell from a distance. Blevins, a sheet metal worker at Holiday-Parks, Inc., built the palm trees in June as a wedding present for his bride, Kelley.
"We were supposed to get married in Arizona but that fell through, so I brought a little bit of the lake-front property back with me," Ricky explained.
The trees, made of sheet metal, served as a backdrop for their solstice wedding, complete with a sandy beach that Blevins trucked in.
"I was only going to leave them up a couple weeks but everybody convinced me to leave them up a little longer," Blevins said. "When it got dark I decided to light them up.
"I've heard a lot of different comments," he said. "I've had people offer to buy them."
The trees are 16 feet tall and each one has five big, green leaves trees bolted to the top. There were six leaves, but he removed a leaf from each tree when he put the lights on in November because he didn't have enough lights to cover six leaves.
The trees are built in three five-foot sections that bolt together. The trees can be disassembled into three sections that nest together.
"I originally made these to ship to our house in Arizona," Blevins said. "After the wedding, I was going to ship them down and plant them in our yard in Arizona."
But the trees were so popular Blevins decided to leave them where they are. He added the lights in November.
It took Blevins, a lifelong Fairbanksan, about a week to build the trees. He used pictures on the Internet and studied palm trees in the yard of his wife's home in Arizona to help guide him. He used elbows to create the distinctive bend in the trunk of the trees.
"Being an Alaskan, I don't have a lot of experience with palm trees," Blevins said. "I was going for a generic palm tree. This is my image of a palm tree.
"Everybody tells me I should put coconuts on them," he said with a laugh.
His 25-year-old daughter, Courtney, painted the trunks and leaves.
"I took her to the store to buy spray paint and said we need brown and green," Blevins said. "She started grabbing all these different greens and browns and blacks and tans. I was getting nervous."
When he got home, Blevins laid the trees out on sawhorses and let her go to work.
"I said, 'I can't watch,'" he said.
The trees "turned out great," Blevins said. "She used like six different shades of green and four different shades of brown with some black and tan mixed in."
Blevins dug holes to plant the trees in the ground, and so far he hasn't had any problem with passing moose trying to reach up and eat the leaves.
The palm trees have provided a psychological boost for both Rick and Kelley during the long, cold, dark winter.
"I told him in the summer we should hang a hammock in between them," Kelley said.
2012年2月12日星期日
Want to prevent a cold? Wash those hands
Got the sniffles? Feeling congested? Well, there are several ways to get some relief from the common cold and to avoid getting one in the first place.
The common cold, according to WebMD, is a group of symptoms in the upper respiratory tract caused by any of a number of different viruses that can enter the body through the nose and the mouth. Cold viruses are easily spread when you touch someone or something, such as a doorknob or a keyboard, that has been infected with the virus.
The first signs of a cold can vary but usually include sneezing, a scratchy throat, a runny nose or a stuffed-up nose. According to WebMD, colds come on gradually and last about a week.
Megan Doughty, a pharmacist at USave Pharmacy in Grand Island, said there are a variety of over-the-counter medications to treat the symptoms of a cold.
For someone who has a runny nose or watery eyes, there are medications with an antihistamine. Those with congested nasal passages need a decongestant and people with mucus in their chest should go with an expectorant such as Mucinex. Cough drops are also good for people who have sore, itchy throats, she said.
There are medications available that can treat one or all of these symptoms.
In the last month, Doughty said, there have been a lot of colds going around and customers at the pharmecy have complained of sore throats and congestion.
The No. 1 preventive measure when it comes to avoiding a cold is hand washing. Doughty said antibacterial gels are also good for killing cold germs.
Covering your mouth when you cough or your nose when you sneeze also helps prevent the spread of viruses, she said.
Taking Vitamin C and zinc supplements hasn't been proven as a way to prevent colds, but it doesn't hurt either, she said.
Cold symptoms are often confused with flu symptoms. The flu usually hangs around for two to five days and includes a sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and congestion. Influenza is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. Complications from colds are relatively minor, but a severe case of flu can be life-threatening, according to WebMD.
Doughty said she hasn't seen many flu cases this year, but hand-washing is also a good way to prevent the spread of flu viruses.
Judy Ruzicka, co-owner of Natural Food Products in Grand Island, said there are a number of homeopathic ways to treat cold symptoms as well.
Vitamin C and immune booster supplements can help target symptoms and organic fruit juices can also boost the immune system, Ruzicka said. Aronia berry juice has a high orac value, which can help kill free radicals that collect in the body. The darker the juice, the higher orac value it contains, she said.
For people with sinus problems, Ruzicka suggests the Neti pot to naturally cleanse the sinuses and help with decongestion. The pots are to be used with warm purified water that can be combined with sea salt or oregano oil to help kill bacteria and viruses, she said.
Xylitol natural sugar comes in a nasal spray and Colloidol silver, which comes in a spray as well, and can be used to help kill germs. Both are natural alternatives to over-the-counter medications, Ruzicka said.
"Of course, there are the old standbys of washing your hands and staying away from places where people are sick," she said.
The common cold, according to WebMD, is a group of symptoms in the upper respiratory tract caused by any of a number of different viruses that can enter the body through the nose and the mouth. Cold viruses are easily spread when you touch someone or something, such as a doorknob or a keyboard, that has been infected with the virus.
The first signs of a cold can vary but usually include sneezing, a scratchy throat, a runny nose or a stuffed-up nose. According to WebMD, colds come on gradually and last about a week.
Megan Doughty, a pharmacist at USave Pharmacy in Grand Island, said there are a variety of over-the-counter medications to treat the symptoms of a cold.
For someone who has a runny nose or watery eyes, there are medications with an antihistamine. Those with congested nasal passages need a decongestant and people with mucus in their chest should go with an expectorant such as Mucinex. Cough drops are also good for people who have sore, itchy throats, she said.
There are medications available that can treat one or all of these symptoms.
In the last month, Doughty said, there have been a lot of colds going around and customers at the pharmecy have complained of sore throats and congestion.
The No. 1 preventive measure when it comes to avoiding a cold is hand washing. Doughty said antibacterial gels are also good for killing cold germs.
Covering your mouth when you cough or your nose when you sneeze also helps prevent the spread of viruses, she said.
Taking Vitamin C and zinc supplements hasn't been proven as a way to prevent colds, but it doesn't hurt either, she said.
Cold symptoms are often confused with flu symptoms. The flu usually hangs around for two to five days and includes a sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and congestion. Influenza is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. Complications from colds are relatively minor, but a severe case of flu can be life-threatening, according to WebMD.
Doughty said she hasn't seen many flu cases this year, but hand-washing is also a good way to prevent the spread of flu viruses.
Judy Ruzicka, co-owner of Natural Food Products in Grand Island, said there are a number of homeopathic ways to treat cold symptoms as well.
Vitamin C and immune booster supplements can help target symptoms and organic fruit juices can also boost the immune system, Ruzicka said. Aronia berry juice has a high orac value, which can help kill free radicals that collect in the body. The darker the juice, the higher orac value it contains, she said.
For people with sinus problems, Ruzicka suggests the Neti pot to naturally cleanse the sinuses and help with decongestion. The pots are to be used with warm purified water that can be combined with sea salt or oregano oil to help kill bacteria and viruses, she said.
Xylitol natural sugar comes in a nasal spray and Colloidol silver, which comes in a spray as well, and can be used to help kill germs. Both are natural alternatives to over-the-counter medications, Ruzicka said.
"Of course, there are the old standbys of washing your hands and staying away from places where people are sick," she said.
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