Spenco Arch Supports - insoles, orthotics

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I have been using Spenco inserts for over 30 years. There is nothing comparable. They both support yout feet and cushion impsct from jarring activities like running and climbing. Best of all, they are durable. Mine have typically outlasted 3 pair of running shoes. Spenco Rx Arch Cushion (3/4 Length), Women's 11-12 / Men's 10-11

These are OK. I had ordered the Spenco Arch supports with the solid bottoms for my feet and recieved these instead. I gave them a try; they help a little, but if I'mm on my feet more than 2 - 3 hours my feet hurt anyway. I don't recommend these for really busy people or professionals on their feet for extended periods of time.

The product does give adequate arch support but overall the insert is narrow and slides around. You have to always adjust it before putting your foot in the show to make sure its all the way to the back of the shoe. I just wish it fit a lil more snug like the Dr. Sholes that I have (which don't provide as much arch support as these).

I recently bought these arch supports because I have high arches & had been getting foot cramps even when wearing Dr Scholl's arch supports. These were so inexpensive that I decided to try them. Most pleased No more foot cramps. I read that some consumers complained that they slip around in their shoes. I have narrow feet & wear sneakers; the supports do not slip inside.

I had a pair of custom made orthopedic inserts made for me to fit in my dress shoes because of my really high arches. Unfortunately, I lost one of them somewhere. So, not wanting to spend the money yet on ordering a replacement that costs about $200 per insert, I decided to try these. I usually wear size 6 1/2 to size 7 shoes, so I ordered the size 7/8 inserts. They fit in most of my dress shoes, but not all of them. They are a little wide for some of my shoes. I might try trimming them a little. But, in the shoes they do fit it, they are so comfortable! I really like the 3/4 length because they don't make my shoes fit tight like the full length ones. I recommend these inserts! - Spenco Arch Supports - Insoles - Orthotics'

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Spenco Arch Supports - insoles, orthotics

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die - cinematography, richard gere

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MOVIE:

Terrence Malick is one of the greatest filmmakers alive, and after Sergio Leone he is my second favorite director of all time. In his career that spans almost 40 years he has only made four feature length films. What I love about Malick's films is that they are poetry; they break all the conventions of filmmaking. When you sit down to watch a Terrence Malick film you are readying yourself for an experience. The way he examines human nature in every single one of his films is extraordinary. Every one of his films also deals with man's impact on nature and he slowly erases the lines between sanity and insanity. His directorial debut was with Badlands starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek; a haunting story of lovers on the run from the law. His next film is still undoubtedly one of the most moving pieces of cinema ever created, Days Of Heaven.



Days Of Heaven tells the story of Bill (Richard Gere) and Abby (Brooke Adams); two young people in love trying to make ends meet and find work. The two go around pretending to be brother and sister as to protect themselves from the outside world. At the beginning of the film Bill gets in a tussle at the steel mill and accidentally kills his boss. Now Bill, Abby and Linda (Linda Manz) hop a train to go work on a farm to harvest wheat. The story is told through Linda's perspective. Linda is the real sister of Bill and she is barely a teenager. It's interesting that Malick lets the story unfold through the eyes of an innocent child; I think it gives complex situations in the film a simpler point of view. As the story unfolds and they work on the farm Bill finds out that the owner of the farm is dying of a terminal illness. The farmer is played by Sam Shepard in his first major role. Bill hatches a plan for Abby to get the farmer to fall in love with her. That way when he dies he will leave all his assets to her and they will become rich. As can be imagined after a full year passes the farmer is still alive and tensions begin to grow that leads to an inevitable climax.



The number one aspect of this film that garners so much attention is the cinematography. The story goes that Nestor Almendros started the picture but about a fourth of the way through he had to leave due to a prior commitment. Cinematographer Haskell Wexler came in and shot the rest of the picture according to Almendros's standards, but in the end didn't receive any credit on the film. Almendros went on to win the Oscar for Best Cinematography that year. All quarrels aside one can't deny the brilliance of the film's photography. Every frame is crafted with absolute detail that in some cases will give you goose-bumps. They shot most of the film during "magic hour"; that twilight period right before the sun sets. It creates a perfect backlight that if framed correctly can create haunting silhouettes. It seems as if there is always a ring of fire on the horizon that is slowly getting closer, which it in fact does. During the scene of the locust plague a lantern breaks in the wheat fields and the entire farm erupts into flames. It symbolizes rage in the characters as tensions mount, but I don't want to spoil anything for those who want to experience the film for the first time. All in all this film is a visual feast that will stay in your mind's eye.



Since the film is extremely light on dialogue it relies on two major elements. Cinematography being the first thing I discussed and Ennio Morricone's score being the second. Morricone's incredibly dark and foreboding score is a haunting masterpiece. It underscores the human conflicts being depicted in the film and of course has tragedy spelled out plain and simple with the tone right from the beginning. The first time I saw the film I cried because of the subtle power of this Oscar nominated score. The haunting elements of it will resonate with you for quite some time, and honestly this score is the major source of emotion in the film. It accentuates Malick's themes perfectly.



So, what is this film ultimately about? One could spend all their time writing about a Terrence Malick film and every word could be wrong and right at the same time. His films need to be experienced, because it is absolutely impossible to try to describe how his films affect you. In my head I saw this film as an exploration of love and how human nature is a flaw that can allow our emotions to consume our rational side. If you've seen The Thin Red Line, Badlands or The New World then you should have a good idea of what Days Of Heaven will be like. It's a surprisingly short film at only 94 minutes, especially if you compare how long his last two films were. Thanks for sticking with me for this entire review/analysis. I really like to do more than the average critique when it comes to important films like this.



SPECIAL FEATURES:

Audio Commentary:

Since Terrance Malick is the most elusive filmmaker ever (not a single interview ever?) the commentary track features editor Bill Weber, art director Jack Fisk, costume designer Patricia Norris, and casting director Dianne Crittenden. This is a fascinating track that really delves into just how much detail can be found in every single frame of the movie; a must for film enthusiasts.



Audio Interview With Richard Gere:

An interview conducted in 2007 just for this release. Richard Gere examines how he came to doing the movie. He discusses how he really wasn't into film but rather theater. However, he saw Badlands and was immediately interested if Terrence Malick was directing. He does ramble a bit, but he does offer some insight. The fact that it's a 22 minute audio interview set to stills and footage of the movie makes it kind of a bore to sit through.



Video Interview With Sam Shepherd:

This 12 minute interview from 2002 is an interesting look at how Malick got Shepherd into acting. He talks about how he was more into writing at the time, but he decided to do it just for the hell of it.



Video Interview With John Bailey:

Bailey was Nestor Almendros's camera operator and this is by far the most interesting interview on the DVD. It's a 20 minute interview and it is incredibly in depth. He uses a lot of lingo that may go over the head of casual viewers. He explains in detail all the techniques they used and it really opens up a lot. It's a really fascinating interview that uses visual examples throughout as he talks.



Video Interview With Haskell Wexler:

Wexler was the cinematographer who took over for Almendros and in the end received no credit for his work on the film. In this 11 minute interview he explains his relationship with Malick and how he came to take over for Almendros. It's a great first hand account from the man himself.



41-Page Booklet:

The booklet contains an essay by Adrian Martin and a chapter from Nestor Almendros's autobiography.



VIDEO:

When you buy a Criterion DVD you are paying for perfection. This remastered version was supervised and approved by Terrence Malick. The original 1.78:1 aspect ratio is maintained exactly with absolutely zero flaws in the transfer. The new high definition transfer was created from a new 35mm interpositive struck from the 35mm A/B roll original negative. Thousands of instances of dirt and scratches were removed and the resolution is magnificent because they mastered the DVD at the highest bit rate possible. I just wonder when Criterion is going to make the move to Blu-ray?



AUDIO:

A brand new Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track was created for this release. The old track was tossed and this new track was remastered at 24-bits from the original 4.1 magnetic tracks. Every effort possible was implemented to reduce clicks, hiss and crackle. This is fantastic, I love Criterion so much.



BOTTOM LINE:

Days Of Heaven is one of my favorite films of all time and I certainly think it's Malick's best. The film will overwhelm you with its visual power and you certainly won't forget it. Criterion has done a great service by remastering this film and I can only hope that Malick's other films will eventually get the same treatment. Days of Heaven - 10 Films For Photographers - Cinematography - Richard Gere - Migrant Workers'

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1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die - cinematography, richard gere

Complete Surveillance Systems - security camera, logitech

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First of all the SETUP is very easy. The on screen prompts will take you though the steps.

1. Install the software.

2. Plug the master network adapter into the power outlet and plug the Ethernet cable into your router

3. Plug the camera into power outlet and click yes to update firmware (adapters and camera).

NOTE: Do not unplug the camera or the master adapter during the update.



Wow that was easy. It took less than 15 minutes to get the system up and running.



PICTURE QUALITY

The picture quality is great during daylight hours but not so great at capturing clear pictures of moving objects in total darkness. However in my case I have a flood light with motion detector that comes on when someone enters the area at night making the video bright and clear.



MOTION DETECTION

What I like is that you can draw areas on the actual image from the video camera to trigger recording. In other words you can eliminate false recordings from cars going by or movement outside your property.

You set up each camera individually providing ultimate flexibility in alerts, sensitivity and recording. In addition, once you have created a LogitechAlert account, you can select which cameras triggers an email alert.



EMAIL ALERTS

You set the LogitechAlert account up from the Settings Menu (the gearwheel icon).

From here you can enter several email addresses. I have mine set to send a text to my cell phone (as I don't have a smart phone with email and web access).



Most cell phone providers offers an email address starting with your cell phone number that will be forwarded to you as a text message.

Please look the email address up on your providers web page. I can not put them up due to Amazon posting regulations.



You may get charged for each text by your cell phone provider so make sure to set the Alert Frequency and Motion Filter conservatively (from within the Settings Menu - Alerts-Advanced).

As mentioned above, I have not received one false alarm although my system is still set using the default values.



RECORDING WITH PC TURNED OFF - THIS IS A GREAT FEATURE.

The camera(s) stores all motion triggered activity regardless if you have the PC on or off. To review all recorded activity, start the PC and click the "Enter Playback Mode" icon. A very intuitive calendar and timeline shows up indicating recordings. Point to a time and click on play to see the activity.

UPDATE:

You can review/playback history from only the dedicated PC on your network.

Logitech suggests not loading the software on more than on PC on the network.

If you do, you can only watch live video but review/playback will not work from the other PC's (also unexpected results may occur).



NOTE: You can view the real time images from anywhere on the web with the free Logitech Web Alert Viewer. To get full control with playback via a remote PC you must purchase the Logitech Web and Mobile Commander for an annual fee* of $80 (at the time of this writing).

Unless...

You keep a PC turned on all the time and control it from any PC (or web enabled phone) on the web using Teamviewer or LogMeIn (both are free for private use - you can download the programs from Cnet.com). Then you can access the Logitech Alert Commander interface as you normally do from home.

UPDATE 1: I am using the free version of LogMeIn and it works great. The only disadvantage is that you can not hear audio from the home computer. But you can see the live video feed and use playback along with camera adjustments etc. Actually you can operate your home computer just as if you were sitting in front of it. You can access it from work or anywhere in the world via the internet.

UPDATE 2: I have now used both remote programs for over a month. Logmein appear to be unreliable with respect to video quality. TEAMVIEWER IS THE WINNER (To get perfect video quality: select "View", "Optimize Quality" from the TeamViewer screen on the remote computer).



Cost for leaving your home computer on all the time.

The cost for a 40 Watts consumer** 24 hours per day, 365 days per year = $35/year at $0.10 per kWh.

However, LogMeIn allows you to use "Wake Up On LAN" so you can turn your home computer on from the remote computer (Too much to cover here).



* Come on Logitech!!! Reduce it to a $50 one time fee and sell more systems to happier customers.

** One UPS manufacturer estimates 40 watts power consumption from an entry level desk top with a 20 LCD monitor. Turn the monitor off and bring the cost down even more. Also set the hard drive to turn off if not in use via Windows "Power Options Interface". You may also be able to set the home computer to "Wake up on LAN".



INSTALLATION OF THE CAMERA'S POWER/DATA ADAPTER IN THE ATTIC

First of all I wanted to hide the wire to the camera.

Logitech's instructions show the power/data wire going from the camera to a power outlet on the side of the house.

Consequently a thief can easily unplug the camera.



Solution

Pull an extension cord from a power outlet in the attic (or somewhere else) and connect it to the grey power supply/adapter for the camera.

IT WORKS!!!

I know Logitech Customer Service had told another reviewer "The adapters CANNOT be installed in the attic".

Logitech may be concerned about high attic temperatures present in some climates.

My attic does not get very hot; in addition I mounted the adapter just above the lower perimeter soffit vent where outside air constantly flows in.



The power/data Ethernet cable to the exterior camera (mounted under the roof overhang) is now routed through the soffit to the camera adapter in the attic.

Drill a 9/16" (14 mm) hole to allow the Ethernet plug to pass through the soffit. Mount the power adapter over the soffit vent with the power cable coming out at the top as shown in Logitech's instructions.

NOTE: I used a 100 foot grounded heavy duty extension cord plugged into a grounded power outlet. I don't know if using a grounded outlet and grounded extension cord matters because none of the adapters are equipped with grounded plugs. You may not need a heavy duty cord as the camera adapter uses very little power.



PREVENT BLACKOUT DURING POWER OUTAGES USING A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)

I still want the surveillance system to work during power outages or if the power line to the house is cut.

The Manual tell you it will not work if you use a surge protector or UPS.



Solution

I already have the cable modem and the wireless router plugged into an APC BN600R Battery Backup (UPS), so all I had to do was to plug the black Logitech network adapter into the UPS and pull an extension cord from the UPS to the grey Logitech camera adapter. All the equipment is fed from a single UPS.

IT WORKS!!!

The disadvantage is that you have to pull extension cord(s) from the UPS to the camera adapters. In my case it was not a problem because the extension cord would drop down from the attic between the studs in one of the walls to where I have my router.

I am sure you can use a higher capacity UPS as long as ALL your Logitech adapters are connected to it.



SOUND/AUDIO

Out of the box there was no audio from the camera.



Solution

To turn the sound on:

1) Un-mute from the Command screen (slider at the right hand bottom) and

2) Click on Settings (gearwheel icon) and click on the camera name (your camera(s) will be listed by the name you give them during setup "Entry way", "Hall way" etc.)

Then check the box Enable Audio (after accepting the legal notice).



Note: If you have more than one camera, you have to Enable Audio for each one.



GOOD QUALITY PRICE RATIO

Overall I will rate the Logitech 750e a quality system for the money. As an alternative, you can purchase professional systems that will cost thousands of $ but is unlikely that they have the remote access this system has.



Perhaps Logitech have "beefed up" the mounting hardware for the camera. My hardware is rigid and of good quality. Another reviewer had problems with the hardware.

(I tightened and pre-adjusted the holder/adapter and added a drop of Locktite (blue) to the threads prior to installation. It is easier done on the ground as compared to the top of a 15 foot ladder).

UPDATE: The mounting plate is covered with a rubber cover. You have to tighten the holder rod FIRMLY to the base to ensure a rigid mount (or else the camera will wiggle).

Also, one of the cameras would turn freely no matter how hard the thumbscrew was tightened. It turned out that there is a phillips screw hiden inside the short rod which is being clamped by the thumbscrew assembly. The phillips screw was loose. Simply remove the thumbscrew completely to take the assembly apart. Then tighten the phillips screw and put it back together.

Logitech, QA/QC you need to address this issue. This is probably why so many people are complaining about the camera mount.



SUMMARY

- Very easy setup

- Great picture quality in daylight but not in total darkness

- Motion detection is very reliable

- Flexible email alert settings

- Workaround if you don't have a phone with email or web access

- Recording with PC turned off - great feature

- Workaround to avoid paying $80 per year for remote access

- Attic installation of the camera's power adapter

- How to connect "Battery UPS backup"

- How to turn the sound feature on



If you find this review helpful to you please vote by clicking on the YES button below. Logitech Alert 750e Outdoor Master Security System with Night Vision - Wireless Camera - Complete Surveillance Systems - Security Camera - Logitech'

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Complete Surveillance Systems - security camera, logitech

Router Table - router accessories, clamps

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I used this with an all in one clamp I purchased at another store. I was cutting a 1/4 inch dado into 3/4 oak ply. I made test cuts with and without the plate using a 2 1/4 HP Bosch router. I found the cuts with the plate much easier. Installaton was a snap because there were predrilled holes for my router base. Simple product to use, and it make the job a lot easier. Please take into account that I am a beginning woodworker, those with or experience may not need this type of tool, but for me, this worked well, and with little setup. This makes the dado cuts so easy that I am going to forget using a dado blade in my tablesaw. I would highly recommend. Good luck. XRP 8-Inch by 9-Inch Router Plate, Black

I bought the router plate, the wide jaws and the 50" clamp a few months ago, for a particular project requiring lots of dadoes in MDF. The whole system works as advertised, and is well worth the modest cost. A couple of notes--I probably over-tightened the clamp, causing a piece of the cam-lever to break. It hasn't ruined the clamp, but I assume the overall clamping pressure has been diminished. Second, I used a cheap router bit and pushed it so hard that I melted the router plate. That said, I sent a simple email to the manufacturer inquiring about replacement parts (and explaining the problems, even admitting my responsibility), and in less than two hours, the company responded with an offer to replace the parts (no cost). That's customer service.



Great product, and a great company that stands behind its product.

I've used the 50" clamp for a year, and recently purchased the plates. They are a two piece plastic molding, and while the molding is a little rough the plastic is strong. This type of plastic slides ok but it binds up on the track a bit if the angle of the track isn't exactly normal to the surface. A bit of wax on the track and the plate really improved the sliding action. You could use a teflon or silicone spray but it could interfere with the future finish of the wood. With a bit of cleanup of the casting flash and a bit of wax lubrication of the track it works quite smoothly, and I turn to this system quite often even though I have a large cabinet saw with a 50" fence and a large router table. It is less physically demanding to cut large panels with this guide than with a cabinet saw.



There are other systems on the market that work better but they cost a lot. This one is inexpensive. Just make sure you have good blades/bits that track straight and wax the track, and it will work well.

the router and circular saw slide are hard to attach to the saw in particular. both do not slide on the rail with out forcing them which results in a bad cut or rout job. would not buy these again or recommend them to anyone.

First, none of the many pre-drilled holes fit my very common Porter Cable router. Second, although there is a hole for a screw to attach it to the T-track in the clamp, one is not provided. But thirdly and most frustratingly, the slot in the plastic for the clamp's track to go through is too tight so it gets stuck. I twice got my router halfway through the piece and simply could not budge it any farther. I threw the damn thing away, another $20 wasted.

I don't normally write reviews, but the router plate, and it's sibling, the saw plate are really worthless. The clamp itself works well, but the cheaply made plastic plates will not slide at all on the clamp bar. This could be weather dependent, since my garage is quite cool, but the plates should slide regardless of the temperature. If you take the plate out of the track (gliding only on a portion of the track) then it will slide, but what good is that since it would be easy to cut crooked, if you didn't keep pressure on the clamp side.



Believe me, using your saw or router directly against the clamp bar will work better than using one of these lousy plates. I paid $63.00 for these two plates (including shipping), and this was one of the worst things I've ever bought.

The router plate easily replaced the existing base on my Bosch router. The router plate worked smoothly and without incident on the Emerson router guide. The Emerson guide was a challenge to my patience, but that is a different review. I was apprehensive about using this tool, and did prepare by vacuuming and blowing down the track before and after use. I understand that other people had difficulty using this product but I did not. - Router Table - Clamps - Router Accessories'

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Router Table - router accessories, clamps

Fishing Equipment

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This is the first fishing reel I paid $100+ and it is worth every cent. I used to buy the typical $20+ fishing reels at Walmart saying to myself why the heck would anyone pay several times this price for a reel? After using these cheap reels for a few years, they started falling apart, not to mention the line getting tangled frequently. The drag on the cheaper reels also gave me a headache as you turn, turn, and turn the drag to adjust it and its on too heavy or light with little room in between. I finally made the plunge and bought two of the 2500 series mainly for trout and smaller fish. The moment I opened the box and started turning the handle on the Stradic, I was amazed. I asked myself how can a reel be so smooth? The price on Amazon for the 2500 series is $128 with free ship and no tax. They go for 159.99 plus tax at the local sporting goods stores. The reel also comes with an extra identical aluminum spool. It also has a repairable drag clicker should it ever wear out.



When you compare the stats for this reel with even the lower end Shimanos like the Saros, the Stradic is a winner. It is lighter, retrieves more inches of line per turn, and probably has the best drag in its class and size. It offers 15 lbs of drag in a reel under 10oz and 34 inches of line per turn thanks to its high gear ratio.



When I used to open my cheap reels to oil them and I remember seeing the ball bearings. If you can see ball bearings, sand and dirt can also go inside it easily. When I removed the handle of Stradic, I could not see the ball bearings because they are sealed. The drag is also sealed and water tight. The maintainace port on the reel is another great feature. You unscrew it and place a few drops of oil and screw it back on. This reel was made for fresh and salt water. Despite the small size of this reel, it was also made to handle braid line. I heard of other people fishing with this reel size with 20 lbs braid on this reel and catching 20+lbs fish with no problems thanks to its great drag.



I know from my bicycling experience that Shimano is well known for its quality gears in the bicycling world and I now know that they are just as good in their fishing reels.



Just ordered the 5000 size (has 25 lbs of drag!) from Amazon for higher line capacity for ocean surf fishing. Stradic 4000 FI Spinning Reel

Just put my second Stradic 2500 FI to use with fluro. Just as the first, it works fine. I was thinking of spending the extra $$ for the new, highly rated lightweight reel that they brought out. But, given the unavilability of it at much if any discount, the lack of a free extra spool included, and the fact that on rods that the Stradic FI balances well, the lighter reel wouldn't. It weighs as much or less than the small 1000s for light-ultra-light rods.



Considering the price of Stradic FI being sold by Amazon itself, $130, no tax, no shipping, it can't be beaten. Are there better, quieter, smoother??? Sure, but look at the prices......unless you're a tournament pro and make 3000 casts on average per day fishing fast, this is the best deal, best build quality, etc.

I primarily surf cast with metal spoons and jigs for spanish mackeral, bluefish and red fish. My line of choice is braid. The Stradic series from Shimano is the ONLY reel I have found that consistently handles braid perfectly. I use a 9 foot steelhead rod and a Stradic 5000 FI loaded with 15 pound Power Pro. I have tried almost every brand of high end spinning reels on the market. The Shimano Stradic FI series is the finest reel I have ever casts.

I've always been a baitcast man. I had tried a spinning reel years ago and didn't care for it, but decided to give it another chance. I picked this reel based on reviews and because I wanted decent quality. That was several months ago. I strung it up with some 20# braided line and tried it out catfishing off our dock at Lake Livingston. The first fish I caught on it was a 20+ lb blue cat so the reel got a pretty good workout.



It didn't take long to get the hang of casting it and man, does it work great with braided line. I love the strength and durability of braided but it can be tough to use on a baitcast reel. Once you get that stuff backlashed you might as well break out the knife. The Stradic 4000FI handles it great. Maybe any spinning reel would do the same but this one has the guts to reel in bigger fish without even flinching.



This isn't the only "big fish" reel I have. I have ABU 6500 and 7000 reels that have a lot of muscle. But they do not have the finesse of the Stradic.



I liked it well enough that I put another one on my Christmas wish list and my BW put one under the tree for me. I'll probably always favor my old baitcast reels for panfish,etc., but when I go after the big ones it will be with the Stradic.

I bought a few of these after my fishing buddy has been using his Stradic reels for nearly 20 years now. After going through his reels they are like new again. I want a reel that will last and great features to keep my braided line from twisting on reel. I could not be happier with product and the only brand I will buy for spinng or bait casting reels.

In his review, Dagre says he has trouble with the bail on his 4000. If he will make sure the roller on the bail is at the closest point to the rod he won"t have this problem. Shimano has a narrow area where the bail may be flipped without resistance. If the line roller is at any other point but at the top, the bail will not flip. If you force it you can damage the reel. Hope this helps! I have owned 2 4000's and I think you can't buy a better reel for the money.

This is a great reel! I used it the other day with a new rod I made. It retrieved the fish smoothly and the drag was perfect. The first time I have bought a reel of this quality and it won't be the last. Disappointed the box had a tear and a part for spooling line was missing. However, the reel quality is fantastic.'

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Fishing Equipment

Nail Biting Solutions

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This product definitely has helped my three year old break the thumb sucking habit, but it should be used cautiously. The first time I put it on her thumbs, I painted the entire nail. She complained all day about the "yuckies" whenever her thumb accidently touched her lips (for example when she was eating her snack using her fingers). At bedtime, she stuck her thumb in her mouth and got a full taste which caused her to gag and throw up several times. (This is the simplified version of the story! You really don't want all the details of the hour long ordeal!) Of course, this product is not designed to come off easily (the instructions say to apply every TWO DAYS!) so I had to figure out how to get her through the night. I finally used nail polish remover to try to remove the product from her thumbs. I'm not sure if it worked, or if my daughter was just too traumatized to put her thumb in her mouth after that, but she didn't gag or throw up again. Now, I do still use the product but I only apply a very small amount to the tip of her thumb nail. As a side note, while preventing her from sucking her thumb, it also has effected her eating habits. Any time she eats anything with her fingers and gets a tast of the Mavala Stop product, she decides that she no longer likes that particular food! So, if you plan to use this on a young child, you might want to start out applying a minimal amount to the tip of the thumbnail, and be aware that the effects may be more far-reaching than you intend. Mavala Stop - Helps Cure Nail Biting and Thumb Sucking, 0.3-Fluid Ounce

This product is amazing. I've been biting my nails for more than 15 years (I'm almost 22), and I managed to stop completely in three weeks.



Mainly, I had to become aware of what I was physically doing so I could stop doing it. Because of the horrible, bitter, lingering taste of Mavala Stop, I gradually became aware of what I was doing and could consciously think about my actions. It forced me to be conscious of my bad habit. Secondly, the nasty taste removed any enjoyment or stress relief I got from biting my nails since it was so incredibly unpleasant. I became very wary, very quickly. This combination of factors made it possible for me to stop, which I thought I could never do.



The taste is really horrible. It's like acetone (nail polish remover), bitter, rotten wood, and some sort of fish put together. It has a very chemical taste with a sweet undertone that makes for a horrible experience. The taste is also very durable and lingering. If you licked a nail painted with Mavala Stop, it would take a few minutes to get the taste out. The taste was so bad, in my opinion, that getting it off of my teeth, lips, and tongue when I slipped up stopped whatever I was doing or thinking about. It's very, very gross. Two coats of polish will last for more than one full week before rubbing off. It can help to freshen it up during the week to keep the taste at full unpleasantness.



It ruined finger foods for me during the time I used it. My fingers periodically touched my lips while I was eating, and the nasty taste would rub off slightly. This made me lick my lips a lot to remove the taste quicker-- it's easier to get it over with quickly than to try to avoid it on your lips--which made them lose moisture and chap badly. So you should also buy some lip balm at the same time. If you touch a nail with a fingertip, it will rub off there, too, and from there can transfer to coffee cups, pencils, hors d'oeuvres, etc. Wash your hands before you eat anything that might touch them.



There were no English directions packaged with the product. I don't think this is a problem, since the directions are pretty much obvious (Shake. Paint nails. Gag at taste) but it might be a concern for some people. A great deal of other languages were represented in the instruction pamphlet, including German, Portugese, Spanish, French, and a number of Asian languages.



Mavala Stop has a shine comparable to clear nail polish, but not as shiny as premium or ultra-shine clear nail polish. Your nails will probably not look natural, but if that's a concern, you could probably lie and say it's just a nice, buffed manicure. It could easily be worn over nail polish and would probably work like an extra protective topcoat. The shiny quality rubs out over time. At the end of a week it will be duller and more matte, but also less effective.



The bottle holds roughly the same amount as a regular bottle of nail polish, but Mavala Stop seems to be of a slightly thinner consistency. I recommend carrying the bottle with you in a pocket or purse so that if you must do something to your nails, it can at least be a touch-up. Washing your hands seems to dull it out more quickly, and removes some of the taste, but not all, by far. It does not wash out with water and soap, but the power is reduced.



The only reason you would fail with this product is if you can't bring yourself to enforce it. You have to make sure you put it on and touch it up. The temptation of not putting it on or letting it wear off quickly is certainly there. I would advise getting someone else involved who will scold you or remind you about it.



I would recommend this product to anyone. The price is worth it as it works very well. I am very pleased with the result.'

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This review is written by a former hospital administrator of just under 2 decades. I have been studying health and nutrition for more than decade. I became very interested in alternative medicine when a family member was diagnosed with kidney cancer and the allopathic doctors (traditional MD's) could give no reason for the tumor.



If you have not read one of Dr. Weil's books before, I think you will enjoy his writing style. His tone is very conversational, you feel as though you are talking to a friend while you are reading his books, this one included. Dr. Weil has a gift for taking a dry and complicated subject and explaining it in a manner that anyone can understand. The purpose of this book is NOT to stop aging, but rather to prevent or minimize the impact of age-related disease, to learn how to live long and well, and to age gracefully.



He subdivides his book as follows:



PART ONE: The Science and Philosophy of Healthy Aging

1. Immortality

2. Shangri-Las and Fountains of Youth

3. Antiaging Medicine

4. Why We Age

5. The Denial of Aging

6. The Value of Aging

7. Interlude: Jenny



PART TWO: How to Age Gracefully

8. Body I: The Ounce of Prevention

9. Body II: The Anti-inflammatory Diet

10. Body III: Supplements

11. Body IV: Physical Activity

12. Body V: Rest and Sleep

13. Body VI: Touch and Sex

14. Mind I: Stress

15. Mind II: Thoughts, Emotions, and Attitudes

16. Mind III: Memory

17. Spirit I: Unchanging Essence

18. Spirit II: Legacy



A TWELEVE PROGRAM FOR HEALTHY AGING

Appendix A: The Anti-inflammatory Diet

Appendix B: Suggested Readings, Resources and Supplies



The doctor does a wonderful job of explaining why and how we age. Even without an educational background in the sciences I was able to comprehend advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and how they cross link (form abnormal bonds) to adjacent protein strands leading to inflammatory and autoimmune responses. If you have been reading much about nutrition or health lately you know that inflammation is the new "hot topic" in medicine linked to almost everything. According to Cardiologists inflammation is more important in determining heart health than cholesterol. After reading Dr. Weil's explanation of inflammatory response this concept now makes much more sense to me.



Dr. Weil explains in great detail which nutrients the body requires to function properly and how to incorporate them into your life. He also goes into much detail about dietary suggestions. These are pretty much what you would expect, but he does a thorough job of explaining why he is making these recommendations, which I personally find very helpful.



The doctor also goes into great detail regarding his recommendations for physical activity and how this should change as we age. The concept of a pool disinfected without chlorine was new to me, and one that I was very happy to know is an option.



If you want to age gracefully, but feel as though you need more information, this is a wonderful book on the subject. I highly recommend this book to baby boomers looking for information on how to minimize or eliminate the impact of disease in our lives as we grow older. Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Well-Being

My wife and I bought three books recently to help re-charge our health and fitness motivation. They were: Slow Burn by Fredrick Hahn, and then two books recommended by a health guru friend, Joe X by Avery Hunicutt, and this book, Healthy Aging by Andrew Weil. To make a long story short we gave thumbs-down to the Slow Burn workout (too painful) and thumbs-up to the Joe X workout(something we enjoy doing). As for Healthy Aging, with some embarrassment, I highly recommend this book. I say with embarrasment because, while I had never read any of Dr. Weil's previous books, I used to think he was some kind of a new-age nut & berry quack. I'm guilty of judging books by their cover; not used to associating a portly, bearded, bald guy with fitness. I was wrong and now publicly appologize for my pig-headedness. He may eat nuts and berries, but he's definitely not a quack, and now I wouldn't be surprised if he out lives all of us.



The book is much more grounded on hard science than I expected. And though there is a good amount of science in the book, there is nothing to fear. Dr. Weil has an engaging and polished writing style. He not only makes it easy for the lay person to follow along, but he makes medical research an interesting story, an enjoyable read. I now understand why his books have become so popular: he knows how to communicate. The first hint that my opinion of him was all wet was his discussion of the battle going on behind the scenes between the hard core medical researchers and the "fountain of youth" profiteers (my term, not his). I expected the author to side with those that believed the aging process could at least be suspended if not reversed. To my surprise he did not. In fact the underlying theme of the entire book is that people are making a mistake if they lead their lives as if life extension and age reversing technology are upon us. He makes a strong technical case and almost a desperate plea to not succumb to the snake oil. His recommendation is to forget about anti-aging schemes and avoid obscesing about life extension. Instead he says to focus on preventing or minimizing the impact of age-related disease and how to age gracefully. It may not be the message we want to hear but I suspect it is the more correct choice. In any case, I found Dr. Weil's telling of the political battle taking place fascinating, and it makes it easier to understand what's going on with the sensationalizing headlines and sales pitches I see in the popular press and TV.



I next expected the book to be all generalities with few specifics my wife and I could actually do to help us "age gracefully." I was wrong again. The second half of the book is filled with actionable specifics, much having to do with diet, but many other non-diet matters as well. Some times he would get very specific, e.g. not just any olive oil but what kind of olive oil, that kind of thing. Throughout the book I was impressed by how the author always gave both sides of an argument in seemingly unbiased fashion before giving his recommendation and why. And I learned quite a few things I didn't know. One small example: I've noted how popular press diet doctors have steered folks away from carrots because of their higher glycemic index number. Dr. Weil explains why this doesn't make a lot of sense (better to make choices based on glycemic load number, not glycemic index number).



Finally, there is another underlying theme in this book that I think has a lot of merit: Dr. Weil puts much faith (based on science of course) in the concept of minimizing and managing inflammation in the body. As always he explains what it is, why it happens, the good, the bad, and then why he recommends what he does with regard to diet, medication, and exercise. My wife and I also now understand why our guru friend recommended the two books he did, as they are very complimentary. For all I know we are the last two people that had never read an Andrew Weil book, and all this is old news to you. If not, order yourself a copy or get to the library now.'

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