public List<VgerItemData> getSimpleItems()
  {
    makeConnection();
    items = new ArrayList<VgerItemData>();
    
    if ( getItemIDs() != null && getItemIDs().length != 0 )
    {
      for ( String id : getItemIDs() )
      {
        try
        {
          VgerItemData theItem;
          
          theItem =
              ( VgerItemData ) new JdbcTemplate( ds ).queryForObject( ITEM_QUERY, new Object[]{id}, new VgerItemDataMapper() );
          items.add( theItem );
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
          e.printStackTrace();
        }
      }
    }

    return items;
  }