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2 | oh how my bottom aches | Straight to the point, this film is overrated. Over ambitiousis the best way to describe Andersons work. Boogie Nights would have been perfect if the last half hour had been cut, but with Magnolia he would have needed a pair of garden shears. What exactly was he hoping to achieve here? You never suspect for one moment that the movie will culminate with a reasoned and satisfactory ending. Its messy throughout. I felt itchy just watching it. Am i the only one who squirmed as the cast sang the aimee mann track?Some of the characters and scenarios were interesting, and as ever, William H Macy gave us a watchable portrayal of a man struggling to come to terms with middle age. But its no answer as to how this film ever got the go-ahead.Yes, we all like films like this, films that are different,challenging,thought provoking and over long! But still,i would be lying if i said this was anything more than a pile of over-indulgent porridge. Mr Anderson! Length doesnt signify art! END | 987 | [
"Straight to the point, this film is overrated.",
"Over ambitiousis the best way to describe Andersons work.",
"Boogie Nights would have been perfect if the last half hour had been cut, but with Magnolia he would have needed a pair of garden shears.",
"What exactly was he hoping to achieve here?",
"You never suspect for one moment that the movie will culminate with a reasoned and satisfactory ending.",
"Its messy throughout.",
"I felt itchy just watching it.",
"Am i the only one who squirmed as the cast sang the aimee mann track?",
"Some of the characters and scenarios were interesting, and as ever, William H Macy gave us a watchable portrayal of a man struggling to come to terms with middle age.",
"But its no answer as to how this film ever got the go-ahead.Yes, we all like films like this, films that are different,challenging,thought provoking and over long!",
"But still,i would be lying if i said this was anything more than a pile of over-indulgent porridge.",
"Mr Anderson!",
"Length doesnt signify art!",
"END"
] |
2 | Disappointing purchase | I purchased this about a month ago to replace a Walmart brand screen house that got ruined last fall (my fault for not bringing it in before the first snowfall!) Walmart no longer sells a hexagonal screen house of similar size, or I would have bought the exact same model again. As soon as I took the Wenzel out of the box (no nice carry bag like the Walmart one!), I could feel the flimsiness of the poles. Sure enough, while setting it up, one of the pole tips bent. When I called Wenzel, they would not stand behind their product. After it taking about a week to get through to them on the phone, they told me to disassemble the screen house, and mail them the pole back (at my expense), and then they would decide whether it was "a warranty issue or not". After telling their clerk how disappointed I was at the lack of product support, I hung up, and I guess I will live with a bent pole. Spend your money elsewhere - Wenzel has cheap, flimsy poles, and no customer product support. | 987 | [
"I purchased this about a month ago to replace a Walmart brand screen house that got ruined last fall (my fault for not bringing it in before the first snowfall!",
") Walmart no longer sells a hexagonal screen house of similar size, or I would have bought the exact same model again.",
"As soon as I took the Wenzel out of the box (no nice carry bag like the Walmart one!",
"), I could feel the flimsiness of the poles.",
"Sure enough, while setting it up, one of the pole tips bent.",
"When I called Wenzel, they would not stand behind their product.",
"After it taking about a week to get through to them on the phone, they told me to disassemble the screen house, and mail them the pole back (at my expense), and then they would decide whether it was \"a warranty issue or not\".",
"After telling their clerk how disappointed I was at the lack of product support, I hung up, and I guess I will live with a bent pole.",
"Spend your money elsewhere - Wenzel has cheap, flimsy poles, and no customer product support."
] |
2 | That smell! | Okay. I should have read the description more closely and examined the materials listed. That's on me. But when I took this out of the package, I couldn't believe the vinyl smell. I threw it in the wash with some other laundry and everything in there came out smelling like vinyl. I took the pad out and washed that laundry again, twice, and there was still a faint smell on the clothes but they aired out okay. I washed the pad by itself once more but it still reeked, so I ended up ripping off the vinyl, which came off pretty easily. I washed it again, twice, and aired it out for a day or two. I have since washed it three more times and the smell is pretty much gone. It's an okay pad that you can get to fit the Graco P&P; if you really try, but it doesn't exactly fit like a glove. I would skip this one and just get a good-quality thick pad rather than waterproof.I really like the ABC/TL Care line of products and am pretty surprised that they came out with something like this. | 987 | [
"Okay.",
"I should have read the description more closely and examined the materials listed.",
"That's on me.",
"But when I took this out of the package, I couldn't believe the vinyl smell.",
"I threw it in the wash with some other laundry and everything in there came out smelling like vinyl.",
"I took the pad out and washed that laundry again, twice, and there was still a faint smell on the clothes but they aired out okay.",
"I washed the pad by itself once more but it still reeked, so I ended up ripping off the vinyl, which came off pretty easily.",
"I washed it again, twice, and aired it out for a day or two.",
"I have since washed it three more times and the smell is pretty much gone.",
"It's an okay pad that you can get to fit the Graco P&P; if you really try, but it doesn't exactly fit like a glove.",
"I would skip this one and just get a good-quality thick pad rather than waterproof.I really like the ABC/TL Care line of products and am pretty surprised that they came out with something like this."
] |
2 | Jester's hat please.... | This David Copperfield is given more breaks than any two China Shops with the proverbial BULL !!!Granted he gets his share of treachery as a child, but all the swindling in the world would not teach this fool to run from a madman swinging an Ax.Truly - everything he loves perishes - everyone who is kind to him suffers misey - and it is 500 pages of frustration waiting for the boy to grow a backbone or at least to learn from his mistakes or the mistakes of the many fantastic personalities that surround him.It is confounding to say the least, when a stable boy outwits him out of the life for which he is destined. (or does he?)I feel like a hard hearted wench, but the hardships he endures after the age of 10 are not only deserved they are well earned.And any clever insights gained in the end bring little comfort for having read an excess of 500 pages.Dickens however does great justice to the characters the voices and the personalities of the far ranging characters he invents. | 987 | [
"This David Copperfield is given more breaks than any two China Shops with the proverbial BULL!!!",
"Granted he gets his share of treachery as a child, but all the swindling in the world would not teach this fool to run from a madman swinging an Ax.Truly - everything he loves perishes - everyone who is kind to him suffers misey - and it is 500 pages of frustration waiting for the boy to grow a backbone or at least to learn from his mistakes or the mistakes of the many fantastic personalities that surround him.It is confounding to say the least, when a stable boy outwits him out of the life for which he is destined.",
"(or does he?",
")I feel like a hard hearted wench, but the hardships he endures after the age of 10 are not only deserved they are well earned.And any clever insights gained in the end bring little comfort for having read an excess of 500 pages.Dickens however does great justice to the characters the voices and the personalities of the far ranging characters he invents."
] |
2 | Not worth your three hours | I bought this book because I loved Jane Greene's previous novel, Mr. Maybe. However, I was greatly disappointed by this recent effort. Maybe it's unfair to compare her books, but I am (although i would never admit it to many people) a fan of this "girl looking for love" genre of books, and this was probably one of the most boring ones I've read. Unlike Mr. Maybe, the writing was simply boring and the dialogue was stilted and the plot was predictable from the very beginning. Many other books in this genre are predictable as well but you read to find out how the ending happens. In Bookends, I read it halfway and was so bored by the story and characters that I didn't even want to finish it. I thought a lot of the side stories were unnecessary and didn't really serve a purpose and the character development, wait..what character development. Anyway, if you're going to read a Jane Greene novel, Mr. Maybe is the one to go with. Its funny, sassy, witty, and much more entertaining. | 987 | [
"I bought this book because I loved Jane Greene's previous novel, Mr.",
"Maybe.",
"However, I was greatly disappointed by this recent effort.",
"Maybe it's unfair to compare her books, but I am (although i would never admit it to many people) a fan of this \"girl looking for love\" genre of books, and this was probably one of the most boring ones I've read.",
"Unlike Mr.",
"Maybe, the writing was simply boring and the dialogue was stilted and the plot was predictable from the very beginning.",
"Many other books in this genre are predictable as well but you read to find out how the ending happens.",
"In Bookends, I read it halfway and was so bored by the story and characters that I didn't even want to finish it.",
"I thought a lot of the side stories were unnecessary and didn't really serve a purpose and the character development, wait..what character development.",
"Anyway, if you're going to read a Jane Greene novel, Mr.",
"Maybe is the one to go with.",
"Its funny, sassy, witty, and much more entertaining."
] |
2 | A Boring Nightmare | "The Book of Eli" has many post-apocalyptical antecedents, including "Mad Max" and "The Postman," and not surprisingly there are many similarities among these movies. The Hughes brothers' vision is far more bleak and at the same time far more limited. After a nuclear holocaust, chaos in the form of cannibalism and banditry descend upon the earth, and that's just not an issue for Eli (Denzel Washington), a "walker" who is "traveling West" in order to deliver the world's last Bible to a sanctuary. In his way is a would-be messiah (played by a Dracula-like Gary Oldman) and very bad lighting. The plot is very messy, and the post-apocalyptical world happens to be even more absurd than the world we live in now. The ending is bathetic, and really does draw on for much too long (believe it or not, it's even more of a drawn out ending than that of "The Shawshank Redemption." The movie also stars Denzel Washington so it's bound to be self-righteous, and this movie most certainly is. | 987 | [
"\"The Book of Eli\" has many post-apocalyptical antecedents, including \"Mad Max\" and \"The Postman,\" and not surprisingly there are many similarities among these movies.",
"The Hughes brothers' vision is far more bleak and at the same time far more limited.",
"After a nuclear holocaust, chaos in the form of cannibalism and banditry descend upon the earth, and that's just not an issue for Eli (Denzel Washington), a \"walker\" who is \"traveling West\" in order to deliver the world's last Bible to a sanctuary.",
"In his way is a would-be messiah (played by a Dracula-like Gary Oldman) and very bad lighting.",
"The plot is very messy, and the post-apocalyptical world happens to be even more absurd than the world we live in now.",
"The ending is bathetic, and really does draw on for much too long (believe it or not, it's even more of a drawn out ending than that of \"The Shawshank Redemption.\" The movie also stars Denzel Washington so it's bound to be self-righteous, and this movie most certainly is."
] |
2 | Ouch. | Yes, yes, it is brilliantly witten but the outcomes of the characters absolutely destroyed me. Not a happy ending to speak of...And you become so immersed in the characters. You care so deeply about what happens to them that when their lives come to a conclusion, it feels as though you are suffering as they suffer. And that's just not fair. It's too brutal, devoid of hope, leaves you in utter despair. I sponsor 4 children through World Vision India and this book made me want to fly there immediately and retrieve them all, families included. The horrible thing is, this book is the truth about India. It's what the people have been and are dealing with, trying to live through, it's all true.So if this book makes you want to do something, then by all means do it. Even if that means supporting one child through World Vision India. This book served as a further call to action as no human being should ever be faced with such destruction and indignation. Bless all sentient beings. | 987 | [
"Yes, yes, it is brilliantly witten but the outcomes of the characters absolutely destroyed me.",
"Not a happy ending to speak of...And you become so immersed in the characters.",
"You care so deeply about what happens to them that when their lives come to a conclusion, it feels as though you are suffering as they suffer.",
"And that's just not fair.",
"It's too brutal, devoid of hope, leaves you in utter despair.",
"I sponsor 4 children through World Vision India and this book made me want to fly there immediately and retrieve them all, families included.",
"The horrible thing is, this book is the truth about India.",
"It's what the people have been and are dealing with, trying to live through, it's all true.So if this book makes you want to do something, then by all means do it.",
"Even if that means supporting one child through World Vision India.",
"This book served as a further call to action as no human being should ever be faced with such destruction and indignation.",
"Bless all sentient beings."
] |
2 | sigh | One of the worst collaborative books I have read. The series began with three well written books, and although each book was written by a different author and each had their strengths and weaknesses, they did seem to flow as part of a larger story. However this book is by far the weakest and reads as if the author did not even read the first three books or collaborate on character development and story lines with the other authors. I had to make a decision to quit reading the entire series because of the vapid writing in this book or force myself through it to get to the last two books. The author does not write well as part of a collaborative series. Arbitrary changes to characters and shallow story lines created a book that changes the story line of the entire series, making it challenging for the follow on authors to develop the characters. This series could have been amazing, but because of the poor writhing in the fourth book, I almost cannot bring myself to continue. | 987 | [
"One of the worst collaborative books I have read.",
"The series began with three well written books, and although each book was written by a different author and each had their strengths and weaknesses, they did seem to flow as part of a larger story.",
"However this book is by far the weakest and reads as if the author did not even read the first three books or collaborate on character development and story lines with the other authors.",
"I had to make a decision to quit reading the entire series because of the vapid writing in this book or force myself through it to get to the last two books.",
"The author does not write well as part of a collaborative series.",
"Arbitrary changes to characters and shallow story lines created a book that changes the story line of the entire series, making it challenging for the follow on authors to develop the characters.",
"This series could have been amazing, but because of the poor writhing in the fourth book, I almost cannot bring myself to continue."
] |
2 | Worst Beatles Album? | I don't actually own this album in my colection but with compilation disks, mp3 etc I have heard nearly all the songs. I have to say this is the worst beatles album ever, sorry. I'm not saying It's bad, it's just the Beatles are the best group in the world ever and this realy doesn't do justice to them. I am a fan of all beatles songs, but there first songs are no-where near as good as there later, more mature albums. There are quite a few more maturer songs on this album than on A hard days night, but I find them a little boring and not as easy to listen over and over a hundered times (like I do with all other beatles songs). Unlike old Albums such as Please Please Me, Beatles For sale's songs arn't catchy enough - BFS is an attemt at being more mature but the songs just do not work. If you have all the other Beatles albums and you need to complete your collection, get this, all BIG beatles fans should have it. But get Please Please Me and Anything after Revolver First... | 987 | [
"I don't actually own this album in my colection but with compilation disks, mp3 etc I have heard nearly all the songs.",
"I have to say this is the worst beatles album ever, sorry.",
"I'm not saying It's bad, it's just the Beatles are the best group in the world ever and this realy doesn't do justice to them.",
"I am a fan of all beatles songs, but there first songs are no-where near as good as there later, more mature albums.",
"There are quite a few more maturer songs on this album than on A hard days night, but I find them a little boring and not as easy to listen over and over a hundered times (like I do with all other beatles songs).",
"Unlike old Albums such as Please Please Me, Beatles For sale's songs arn't catchy enough - BFS is an attemt at being more mature but the songs just do not work.",
"If you have all the other Beatles albums and you need to complete your collection, get this, all BIG beatles fans should have it.",
"But get Please Please Me and Anything after Revolver First..."
] |
2 | Lost me early on | My take on this book is, Carol combines the law of attraction with the biblical themes of God and his influence on our lives. So far so good. However, I could not stick with the book after reading Carol's belief that bad things happen to people who have chosen bad things for themselves. I think she is reflecting the law of attraction in this, that everyone makes a choice whether concious or unconcious, but I can't accept that an innocent person, such as a child or baby, could even have that choice. Even adults, who are strong, courageous people, have suffered violent crime or brutal accidents. I believe things do happen for a reason, and people who are seeking will learn and grow somehow despite adversity, without becoming "victims". Unfortunately, although this may not have been the author's intent, this statement came across as so absolute, as if somehow people who have had issues have chosen these situations, that it turned me off to the point that I could not continue. | 987 | [
"My take on this book is, Carol combines the law of attraction with the biblical themes of God and his influence on our lives.",
"So far so good.",
"However, I could not stick with the book after reading Carol's belief that bad things happen to people who have chosen bad things for themselves.",
"I think she is reflecting the law of attraction in this, that everyone makes a choice whether concious or unconcious, but I can't accept that an innocent person, such as a child or baby, could even have that choice.",
"Even adults, who are strong, courageous people, have suffered violent crime or brutal accidents.",
"I believe things do happen for a reason, and people who are seeking will learn and grow somehow despite adversity, without becoming \"victims\".",
"Unfortunately, although this may not have been the author's intent, this statement came across as so absolute, as if somehow people who have had issues have chosen these situations, that it turned me off to the point that I could not continue."
] |
2 | Disappointed | I'm new to Cornwell having first read The Burning Land followed by the beginning of the series, The Last Kingdom and now The Pale Horseman. I listened to these last two on audio.After the first two books I was a fan but The Pale Horseman considerably dampened my ardor. There seemed to be little plot. Instead the story rambled far too long barely sustaining interest or attention.Most frustrating is Uhtred's devotion to the utterly incompetent, double crossing King Alfred. Indeed Uhtred has a proclivity for "loving" the wrong people. He's loyal towards the annoying wife Alfred foisted on him, a woman who despises Uhtred, yet he minimizes the woman whose personality compliments his own. Cornwell tries to rationalize Uhtred's mystifying behavior but none of his reasons carry emotional authenticity or believability. I ended up losing all respect for the warrior champion whom I wanted so much to admire. Very disappointing. Made me want to dope-slap Uhtred and kill Alfred myself. | 987 | [
"I'm new to Cornwell having first read The Burning Land followed by the beginning of the series, The Last Kingdom and now The Pale Horseman.",
"I listened to these last two on audio.After the first two books I was a fan but The Pale Horseman considerably dampened my ardor.",
"There seemed to be little plot.",
"Instead the story rambled far too long barely sustaining interest or attention.Most frustrating is Uhtred's devotion to the utterly incompetent, double crossing King Alfred.",
"Indeed Uhtred has a proclivity for \"loving\" the wrong people.",
"He's loyal towards the annoying wife Alfred foisted on him, a woman who despises Uhtred, yet he minimizes the woman whose personality compliments his own.",
"Cornwell tries to rationalize Uhtred's mystifying behavior but none of his reasons carry emotional authenticity or believability.",
"I ended up losing all respect for the warrior champion whom I wanted so much to admire.",
"Very disappointing.",
"Made me want to dope-slap Uhtred and kill Alfred myself."
] |
2 | A Royal One | "The Royal Tenenbaums" is a movie best appreciated by anyone fascinated, as Wes Anderson obviously is, by just how many different THINGS there are in the world. The film is crammed to the rafters with Stuff, everything from board games to boar's heads. Anderson's packrat mentality helped make "Rushmore" fun to look at, but in "Tenenbaums" it gets the better of him, spilling over and defining his relationship with his characters. There are no human beings in the movie. Yes, actors occupy sets, wear costumes, say lines. Sometimes they smoke cigarettes. But they have no more inner flame than the knick-knacks poised to engulf them. Symmetrical framing, used effectively in "Rushmore", takes on a creepy, compulsive air: in practically every shot, these Glass wanna-bes look like objects carefully arranged on a shelf. Angelica Huston, at least, manages to invest her role with a fluttery vulnerability, but she's operating in a vacuum.Dig out that copy of "Franny and Zooey" instead. | 987 | [
"\"The Royal Tenenbaums\" is a movie best appreciated by anyone fascinated, as Wes Anderson obviously is, by just how many different THINGS there are in the world.",
"The film is crammed to the rafters with Stuff, everything from board games to boar's heads.",
"Anderson's packrat mentality helped make \"Rushmore\" fun to look at, but in \"Tenenbaums\" it gets the better of him, spilling over and defining his relationship with his characters.",
"There are no human beings in the movie.",
"Yes, actors occupy sets, wear costumes, say lines.",
"Sometimes they smoke cigarettes.",
"But they have no more inner flame than the knick-knacks poised to engulf them.",
"Symmetrical framing, used effectively in \"Rushmore\", takes on a creepy, compulsive air: in practically every shot, these Glass wanna-bes look like objects carefully arranged on a shelf.",
"Angelica Huston, at least, manages to invest her role with a fluttery vulnerability, but she's operating in a vacuum.Dig out that copy of \"Franny and Zooey\" instead."
] |
2 | Big Plot Holes? | This movie was OK. I'm still a little confused about the opening scene. It was really awful and then... nothing ever came of it. Two freaky raver guys commit a horrendous crime that seems to "mean" something. Throughout the movie they pop up to chase the main character. That opening scene is never explained or linked to anything else in the movie. I feel like they just threw it in to make the movie "scarier." By the way, this film is not scary at all. It's more like a drama. Luke Wilson, a favorite of mine, was horribly miscast and his character was almost funny, it was so terrible. He did the best he could... but he was playing a dead priest. I, like many people, was drawn to the movie because of Eliza Dushku... and on the cover of the box she looks like the main character. But no, her part was small and random and odd and the movie was mostly about "Cassie" played by Melissa Sagemiller. Her acting was fine, but I was exhausted by the "plot" which is repetitive and silly. | 987 | [
"This movie was OK.",
"I'm still a little confused about the opening scene.",
"It was really awful and then... nothing ever came of it.",
"Two freaky raver guys commit a horrendous crime that seems to \"mean\" something.",
"Throughout the movie they pop up to chase the main character.",
"That opening scene is never explained or linked to anything else in the movie.",
"I feel like they just threw it in to make the movie \"scarier.\" By the way, this film is not scary at all.",
"It's more like a drama.",
"Luke Wilson, a favorite of mine, was horribly miscast and his character was almost funny, it was so terrible.",
"He did the best he could... but he was playing a dead priest.",
"I, like many people, was drawn to the movie because of Eliza Dushku... and on the cover of the box she looks like the main character.",
"But no, her part was small and random and odd and the movie was mostly about \"Cassie\" played by Melissa Sagemiller.",
"Her acting was fine, but I was exhausted by the \"plot\" which is repetitive and silly."
] |
2 | A plead from authority. | If you want a good Christian apologetic work, this book isn't it. There is nothing here except big words, insults, and arguments from authority. I don't believe there is a single instance where Ravi Zacharas uses logic or reason to prove any of his points. Atheism leads to immorality - why? - because some guy in a Nazi death chamber said that the gaurds didn't believe in god. Evolution isn't true - why? - because Phillip Johnson said so. And so on.Zacharias needs to read some books on atheism if he wishes to attack it. For one thing, *he doesn't even know what atheism is!!!* He defines atheism as the "dogmatic denial of God" because Paul Edwards and others said so. Of course, he gets absolutely nowhere attacking his straw-man fantasy version of atheism.This book will work only for Christians, because Zacharias goes on and on about how God wants this and it would be great to believe in his God. Things that only a Christian would agree with, without any forethought or proof. | 987 | [
"If you want a good Christian apologetic work, this book isn't it.",
"There is nothing here except big words, insults, and arguments from authority.",
"I don't believe there is a single instance where Ravi Zacharas uses logic or reason to prove any of his points.",
"Atheism leads to immorality - why?",
"- because some guy in a Nazi death chamber said that the gaurds didn't believe in god.",
"Evolution isn't true - why?",
"- because Phillip Johnson said so.",
"And so on.Zacharias needs to read some books on atheism if he wishes to attack it.",
"For one thing, *he doesn't even know what atheism is!!!",
"* He defines atheism as the \"dogmatic denial of God\" because Paul Edwards and others said so.",
"Of course, he gets absolutely nowhere attacking his straw-man fantasy version of atheism.This book will work only for Christians, because Zacharias goes on and on about how God wants this and it would be great to believe in his God.",
"Things that only a Christian would agree with, without any forethought or proof."
] |
2 | Not Quite Believable | It starts out with an interesting enought storyline, but it becomes difficult to believe what motivates Jeff Goldblum's character to continue to want to impersonate this ex-con at sigificant expense and humiliation to himself. A complete stranger who he knows for less than a few minutes. Was penpal Anne Hechte's character that desireable? The job search to become a liquor/deli store clerk or bust, seemed painfully degrading for this sucessful insurance executive who did not seem unhappy with his former life. The policeman who keeps his eye on Goldblum, seemingly knowing what is happening inside him while he undergoes this identity change, was also hard to buy. He had no motivation to do this as it did not appear that a crime was or would be committed. The speech about his only mini identity crisis near the end was a weak excuse for his watching Goldblum.I saw it through because I kept thinking something interesting would happen, a twist somewhere, but it failed to deliver. | 987 | [
"It starts out with an interesting enought storyline, but it becomes difficult to believe what motivates Jeff Goldblum's character to continue to want to impersonate this ex-con at sigificant expense and humiliation to himself.",
"A complete stranger who he knows for less than a few minutes.",
"Was penpal Anne Hechte's character that desireable?",
"The job search to become a liquor/deli store clerk or bust, seemed painfully degrading for this sucessful insurance executive who did not seem unhappy with his former life.",
"The policeman who keeps his eye on Goldblum, seemingly knowing what is happening inside him while he undergoes this identity change, was also hard to buy.",
"He had no motivation to do this as it did not appear that a crime was or would be committed.",
"The speech about his only mini identity crisis near the end was a weak excuse for his watching Goldblum.I saw it through because I kept thinking something interesting would happen, a twist somewhere, but it failed to deliver."
] |
2 | eh | I have been trying to round out my DS collection with the best games out there. I just purchased the original meteos after reading glowing reviews on every review site imaginable. Everything I read gushed at how addictive and fun Meteos is. I am a huge fan of puzzle games so I decided to get it. After a few days of play, I came out very dissappointed. The point to Meteos is to drag pieces to connect groups of three. You may only drag vertically but can form groups either horizontally or vertically. Half the time you are dragging, you ignite Meteos you werent aware you were trying to connect.So I tried an experiment. Frustrated, I quickly ran the stylus up and down without even looking at what I was doing. I immediately began making matches and clearing my screen.This game is overrated by far, and the pieces fall so fast, keeping up is easy at first but impossible to be concious of creating groups of three, they just happen by accident.....I'm going to get Tetris DS instead | 987 | [
"I have been trying to round out my DS collection with the best games out there.",
"I just purchased the original meteos after reading glowing reviews on every review site imaginable.",
"Everything I read gushed at how addictive and fun Meteos is.",
"I am a huge fan of puzzle games so I decided to get it.",
"After a few days of play, I came out very dissappointed.",
"The point to Meteos is to drag pieces to connect groups of three.",
"You may only drag vertically but can form groups either horizontally or vertically.",
"Half the time you are dragging, you ignite Meteos you werent aware you were trying to connect.So I tried an experiment.",
"Frustrated, I quickly ran the stylus up and down without even looking at what I was doing.",
"I immediately began making matches and clearing my screen.This game is overrated by far, and the pieces fall so fast, keeping up is easy at first but impossible to be concious of creating groups of three, they just happen by accident.....I'm going to get Tetris DS instead"
] |
2 | It's Decent at best.... | This CD is decent. And I think the current overall score of 3 is worthy. Not being an Ashanti fan at all, I did give this CD a listen and I found stuff that I liked and also stuff that I definitely didn't like. Items such as, "Sweet Baby", "Rock wit u" and the best song on the disc..."Rain on me" all were good. Mostly all of the other songs were listenable, but I wouldn't want to do it twice. There are some really generic songs on here. In my opinion, where this Ahsanti disc goes wrong is allowing all of these thug sounding guys on her songs. I for one, have had it with singers and rappers working together. It worked with Mary J and Redman, but it need not be on every disc I hear! This CD also had way too many skits that weren't really necessary in my opinion. All in all, it's a semi-decent listen, but don't expect it to be a must have. Ashanti needs an energy boost as does much of R&B with the exception of the neo-soul artists. It's time to start doing things differently. | 987 | [
"This CD is decent.",
"And I think the current overall score of 3 is worthy.",
"Not being an Ashanti fan at all, I did give this CD a listen and I found stuff that I liked and also stuff that I definitely didn't like.",
"Items such as, \"Sweet Baby\", \"Rock wit u\" and the best song on the disc...\"Rain on me\" all were good.",
"Mostly all of the other songs were listenable, but I wouldn't want to do it twice.",
"There are some really generic songs on here.",
"In my opinion, where this Ahsanti disc goes wrong is allowing all of these thug sounding guys on her songs.",
"I for one, have had it with singers and rappers working together.",
"It worked with Mary J and Redman, but it need not be on every disc I hear!",
"This CD also had way too many skits that weren't really necessary in my opinion.",
"All in all, it's a semi-decent listen, but don't expect it to be a must have.",
"Ashanti needs an energy boost as does much of R&B with the exception of the neo-soul artists.",
"It's time to start doing things differently."
] |
2 | A Major Dissapointment | This is a very disappointing album from a talented artist. The set includes two CDs and a poorly edited DVD. For the most part, I doubt that the producers put a whole lot of effort into making this set. The DVD does not include his most popular songs and looks very amateurish. It needs a real editor.The CDs are at least as bad. The instruments override the vocals on most numbers and there is too much verbiage. I got sick of Buffett telling us how much he loves Boston; sing for God's sake...don't talk. Also the electronic tags which identify the song to the track number were mostly wrong...100% wrong on the second CD and partially wrong for the songs at the end of the first CD. When I click on the track showing "Margaritaville", I want to hear that song, not "Respect" (arguably the best song on the album) instead.A previous reviewer commented that Buffett appeared tired and bored. A close look at the band's demeanor in the DVD verifies it.Overall, a major disappointment.Tom | 987 | [
"This is a very disappointing album from a talented artist.",
"The set includes two CDs and a poorly edited DVD.",
"For the most part, I doubt that the producers put a whole lot of effort into making this set.",
"The DVD does not include his most popular songs and looks very amateurish.",
"It needs a real editor.The CDs are at least as bad.",
"The instruments override the vocals on most numbers and there is too much verbiage.",
"I got sick of Buffett telling us how much he loves Boston; sing for God's sake...don't talk.",
"Also the electronic tags which identify the song to the track number were mostly wrong...100% wrong on the second CD and partially wrong for the songs at the end of the first CD.",
"When I click on the track showing \"Margaritaville\", I want to hear that song, not \"Respect\" (arguably the best song on the album) instead.A previous reviewer commented that Buffett appeared tired and bored.",
"A close look at the band's demeanor in the DVD verifies it.Overall, a major disappointment.Tom"
] |
2 | A premise with promise | I didn't feel as if the promise were kept, however. The story is told in flashbacks by the last human on earth, as he lives among our species's successors. The gentle, peaceful people of the new world resemble Eloi without the Morlocks in the shadows. Unfortunately, happy and peaceful people don't make good drama. There was plenty of dramatic potential in the story that led up to that point: in the actions that ended the human world, in the conspiracy leading to those actions, or in the personality capable of them. Instead, the world ends not with a bang or a whimper, but with a cheerful purring sound.Perhaps personalities with clearer strengths and weaknesses could have carried through the low-key action, or vice versa. I could imagine all the same elements being used to tell a similar story, but one that I'd find a lot more engaging. At least this didn't come across like some do, as a story with no ending. Instead, it seems more like an ending with no story.-- wiredweird | 987 | [
"I didn't feel as if the promise were kept, however.",
"The story is told in flashbacks by the last human on earth, as he lives among our species's successors.",
"The gentle, peaceful people of the new world resemble Eloi without the Morlocks in the shadows.",
"Unfortunately, happy and peaceful people don't make good drama.",
"There was plenty of dramatic potential in the story that led up to that point: in the actions that ended the human world, in the conspiracy leading to those actions, or in the personality capable of them.",
"Instead, the world ends not with a bang or a whimper, but with a cheerful purring sound.Perhaps personalities with clearer strengths and weaknesses could have carried through the low-key action, or vice versa.",
"I could imagine all the same elements being used to tell a similar story, but one that I'd find a lot more engaging.",
"At least this didn't come across like some do, as a story with no ending.",
"Instead, it seems more like an ending with no story.-- wiredweird"
] |
2 | What a JOKE! | This is seriously the worst workout DVD ever made. I am so angry that I bought this!!! I would have given it only 1 star, but I'm sure there are women out there who having dance backgrounds and they might think this is a good DVD. I kept waiting for her workout to get better and it just didn't. If I could break it down for you: Tracy Anderson dances around in a basement fitness room (looking totally, utterly bored and trying very hard to look sexy & sultry). She gives you little to no tips on form, no motivation, nothing! You just hear the music and see her dancing around. Good luck trying to copy her moves in your living room. There are SO many other fitness DVD's out there that are better than this. To top it off, Gwyneth Paltrow speaks at the end, and talks about whoknowswhat. Then, Tracy tells you how she came up with all of this nonsensical garbage. GREAT! That will help me look so much better in a bathing suit!UGH! Terrible. What a WASTE of $30. Seriously, don't buy. | 987 | [
"This is seriously the worst workout DVD ever made.",
"I am so angry that I bought this!!!",
"I would have given it only 1 star, but I'm sure there are women out there who having dance backgrounds and they might think this is a good DVD.",
"I kept waiting for her workout to get better and it just didn't.",
"If I could break it down for you: Tracy Anderson dances around in a basement fitness room (looking totally, utterly bored and trying very hard to look sexy & sultry).",
"She gives you little to no tips on form, no motivation, nothing!",
"You just hear the music and see her dancing around.",
"Good luck trying to copy her moves in your living room.",
"There are SO many other fitness DVD's out there that are better than this.",
"To top it off, Gwyneth Paltrow speaks at the end, and talks about whoknowswhat.",
"Then, Tracy tells you how she came up with all of this nonsensical garbage.",
"GREAT!",
"That will help me look so much better in a bathing suit!",
"UGH!",
"Terrible.",
"What a WASTE of $30.",
"Seriously, don't buy."
] |
2 | Toning Segment Inadequate | The aerobic and stretching parts of this video are fine, but the toning segment is not. The abs section is good, and there is a fairly thorough leg section. However, the stretches within the toning portion are extremely rushed, and she moves from exercise to exercise so fast that the people onscreen are already finished a few reps by the time I've figured out which exercise they are doing.Also, she seems to think that push-ups are the ONLY upper body exercise you need, along with a very short and perfunctory lat portion - I had to do my own shoulder, bicep, tricep work with dumbells after I finished - this is NOT the tape to choose if you really want to work your arms.There are some confusing cuts and editing, cheesy, dated music, and some odd camera angles (i.e., a view of the bottom of an exerciser's foot while she's doing leg extensions).Be forewarned that the box copy about it being a thorough workout is exaggerated, and be prepared to add on some of your own arm work. | 987 | [
"The aerobic and stretching parts of this video are fine, but the toning segment is not.",
"The abs section is good, and there is a fairly thorough leg section.",
"However, the stretches within the toning portion are extremely rushed, and she moves from exercise to exercise so fast that the people onscreen are already finished a few reps by the time I've figured out which exercise they are doing.Also, she seems to think that push-ups are the ONLY upper body exercise you need, along with a very short and perfunctory lat portion - I had to do my own shoulder, bicep, tricep work with dumbells after I finished - this is NOT the tape to choose if you really want to work your arms.There are some confusing cuts and editing, cheesy, dated music, and some odd camera angles (i.e., a view of the bottom of an exerciser's foot while she's doing leg extensions).Be forewarned that the box copy about it being a thorough workout is exaggerated, and be prepared to add on some of your own arm work."
] |
2 | Mixed emotion... | My 4 year old daughter got this toy for Christmas. It took me more than 30 minutes to set up the controller. Finally I got it to work. However, the controller stop working after a few games. For instance, on the "Dora" game, my daughter is only able to look for "Tico" and after that the message says "press the white arrow key to keep looking for more friends", but the white arrow key doesn't work. So, the game stops at that point... no way to go back or forward. I am wondering if anybody have the same problem.... I called Fisher Price and press "3" instead of "1" to get a customer service. The customer service was very nice and said that my controller might be an old version, so she sent me another one by UPS without charge. But to my disappointment, the second controller also has the same problem.My daughter did learned something from the games, but it is not challenging enough for a 4 year old. She liked the games for few days and not it is just sitting in the cabinet... | 987 | [
"My 4 year old daughter got this toy for Christmas.",
"It took me more than 30 minutes to set up the controller.",
"Finally I got it to work.",
"However, the controller stop working after a few games.",
"For instance, on the \"Dora\" game, my daughter is only able to look for \"Tico\" and after that the message says \"press the white arrow key to keep looking for more friends\", but the white arrow key doesn't work.",
"So, the game stops at that point... no way to go back or forward.",
"I am wondering if anybody have the same problem.... I called Fisher Price and press \"3\" instead of \"1\" to get a customer service.",
"The customer service was very nice and said that my controller might be an old version, so she sent me another one by UPS without charge.",
"But to my disappointment, the second controller also has the same problem.My daughter did learned something from the games, but it is not challenging enough for a 4 year old.",
"She liked the games for few days and not it is just sitting in the cabinet..."
] |
2 | Hurrah for the bad guys | JLC's engaging use of language kept me reading The Night Manager long after I'd tired of plot and theme that crumbled to nothingness as the pages turned. As an older woman, I clung to Sophie and her vanilla smells and the power attributed to her over Jonathan. The story was interesting for the bad tradecraft and the previous century nonsense with bugs, taps, and intercepted communication, so necessary to the plot, and circumvented in real life. So much could have been done with the "come to Jesus" elements or the raw Canadian inset. How could Pine/Thomas have been given a New Zealand identity with no backfill? Women sprinkled the tale and were morally abandonded by JLC, except for Jeds who was plucked Deus ex Machina to breed horses. Loved the Pamanian interlude, though not as satisfying as in Tailor of Panama. Were it not for some overstated sexual situations, the book would be suitable for analysis by high schoolers for its view of morality in the late twentieth century. | 987 | [
"JLC's engaging use of language kept me reading The Night Manager long after I'd tired of plot and theme that crumbled to nothingness as the pages turned.",
"As an older woman, I clung to Sophie and her vanilla smells and the power attributed to her over Jonathan.",
"The story was interesting for the bad tradecraft and the previous century nonsense with bugs, taps, and intercepted communication, so necessary to the plot, and circumvented in real life.",
"So much could have been done with the \"come to Jesus\" elements or the raw Canadian inset.",
"How could Pine/Thomas have been given a New Zealand identity with no backfill?",
"Women sprinkled the tale and were morally abandonded by JLC, except for Jeds who was plucked Deus ex Machina to breed horses.",
"Loved the Pamanian interlude, though not as satisfying as in Tailor of Panama.",
"Were it not for some overstated sexual situations, the book would be suitable for analysis by high schoolers for its view of morality in the late twentieth century."
] |
2 | You Can't Stay 18 Forever | Bryan Adams was a huge pop star back in the late '80s and early '90s, but this is the album that ultimately derailed his career. Released in 1996, the album marked the birth of the newer, "cooler" Bryan Adams: the one with slicked back hair. The image overhaul unfortunately overshadowed the album, which had its fair share of hits. "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" was the big hit here, and deservedly so. However, the album has just as many misses as hits: "We're Gonna Win" is Adams' sad attempt to create something of a stadium staple. Also, song titles like "The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You" and "(I Wanna Be) Your Underwear" are just creepy from a guy who once told us that everything he did, he did it for us. And that's the main problem with this album: Adams was the "nice guy" of rock and roll for too long. His new image and slickly produced album just don't quite work. Buy his "Best of Me" collection, or "Have You Ever..." as a single, and leave it at that. | 987 | [
"Bryan Adams was a huge pop star back in the late '80s and early '90s, but this is the album that ultimately derailed his career.",
"Released in 1996, the album marked the birth of the newer, \"cooler\" Bryan Adams: the one with slicked back hair.",
"The image overhaul unfortunately overshadowed the album, which had its fair share of hits.",
"\"Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman\" was the big hit here, and deservedly so.",
"However, the album has just as many misses as hits: \"We're Gonna Win\" is Adams' sad attempt to create something of a stadium staple.",
"Also, song titles like \"The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You\" and \"(I Wanna Be) Your Underwear\" are just creepy from a guy who once told us that everything he did, he did it for us.",
"And that's the main problem with this album: Adams was the \"nice guy\" of rock and roll for too long.",
"His new image and slickly produced album just don't quite work.",
"Buy his \"Best of Me\" collection, or \"Have You Ever...\" as a single, and leave it at that."
] |
2 | The Spear Missed Its Mark | I was disappointed by the End of the Spear for one major reason: they avoided the whole reason that Nate Saint and his team went to the tribe. The main reason was not to stop the killing althought they wanted to stop the killing. It was not to change their culture although it needed to be changed before they killed themselves off. It was not to bring better living conditions, health, and clothing although these needed changing. The reason the missionaries risked their lives to go to this tribe was because they sincerely believed that since these people had never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they would never have a chance to believe and have eternal life with God. Their earnestness came from this conviction. Aside one or two vague references to this, the movie missed the point. This is not merely an opinion. Read the primary sources yourself. These include: Through Gates of Spleandor by Elisabeth Elliot, Jungle Pilot by Russel Hitt, and The Dayuma Story by Ethel Wallis | 987 | [
"I was disappointed by the End of the Spear for one major reason: they avoided the whole reason that Nate Saint and his team went to the tribe.",
"The main reason was not to stop the killing althought they wanted to stop the killing.",
"It was not to change their culture although it needed to be changed before they killed themselves off.",
"It was not to bring better living conditions, health, and clothing although these needed changing.",
"The reason the missionaries risked their lives to go to this tribe was because they sincerely believed that since these people had never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they would never have a chance to believe and have eternal life with God.",
"Their earnestness came from this conviction.",
"Aside one or two vague references to this, the movie missed the point.",
"This is not merely an opinion.",
"Read the primary sources yourself.",
"These include: Through Gates of Spleandor by Elisabeth Elliot, Jungle Pilot by Russel Hitt, and The Dayuma Story by Ethel Wallis"
] |
2 | Battlestar Galactica | We like this show, but not all the sex. No plot to it. We don't care about Baltar's sex life or any others. They spend way too much time showing this. If they would make the story more about the journey, and the fight against the cylons, it would improve the series. We loved it when the producers brought in the 2nd Battlestar, but hated the fighting between the commanders. They should bring back a 2nd Battlestar and this time, have them work together to save the fleet. If these writers' would focus more on this instead, they could really bring the show back. As it is, it seems like it is going to tank if the writers do not stop doing all the useless sex and more on a real story. Developing the stealth craft was great, it gave them an edge on the cylons. We stopped watching the show for these reasons, it is getting boring! Sorry. Wonderful job, however, on the graphics. Beautiful photography. Actors and Actresses do a terrific performance.Battlestar Galactica - Season Three | 987 | [
"We like this show, but not all the sex.",
"No plot to it.",
"We don't care about Baltar's sex life or any others.",
"They spend way too much time showing this.",
"If they would make the story more about the journey, and the fight against the cylons, it would improve the series.",
"We loved it when the producers brought in the 2nd Battlestar, but hated the fighting between the commanders.",
"They should bring back a 2nd Battlestar and this time, have them work together to save the fleet.",
"If these writers' would focus more on this instead, they could really bring the show back.",
"As it is, it seems like it is going to tank if the writers do not stop doing all the useless sex and more on a real story.",
"Developing the stealth craft was great, it gave them an edge on the cylons.",
"We stopped watching the show for these reasons, it is getting boring!",
"Sorry.",
"Wonderful job, however, on the graphics.",
"Beautiful photography.",
"Actors and Actresses do a terrific performance.Battlestar Galactica - Season Three"
] |
2 | Don't Bother! | Unfortunately very poorly organized and highly repetitive. By continually repeating already learned steps, the author makes a straightforward subject appear needlessly complex.Full of descriptions like:"'String DriverPropertyInfo.name' -- This is the name of the property."It's one thing to be a great programmer, entirely different to be a teacher, able to present concepts in a clear, concise, and well-organized manner. You can learn JDBC from this book, but you'll have to fight the writing to do so.It's unclear who the book's target audience is, since much is presented too simply for the experienced, but much is too difficult for the novice. It even includes introductory sections "About Java" and "Database Fundamentals". I wouldn't want to attempt this book without being thoroughly versed in both.It's even difficult to use as a reference since the sections aren't clearly separated and it's hard to go back and find anything.I really wanted to like this book. I really can't. | 987 | [
"Unfortunately very poorly organized and highly repetitive.",
"By continually repeating already learned steps, the author makes a straightforward subject appear needlessly complex.Full of descriptions like:\"'String DriverPropertyInfo.name' -- This is the name of the property.\"It's one thing to be a great programmer, entirely different to be a teacher, able to present concepts in a clear, concise, and well-organized manner.",
"You can learn JDBC from this book, but you'll have to fight the writing to do so.It's unclear who the book's target audience is, since much is presented too simply for the experienced, but much is too difficult for the novice.",
"It even includes introductory sections \"About Java\" and \"Database Fundamentals\".",
"I wouldn't want to attempt this book without being thoroughly versed in both.It's even difficult to use as a reference since the sections aren't clearly separated and it's hard to go back and find anything.I really wanted to like this book.",
"I really can't."
] |
2 | Jumps in logic | The author, like many writings on religion, seems to use ceratin passages to back up her own opinion and discount passages that don't suit her agenda. I admit my own biases come into play here as well. I found some definite leaps in judgment. For example, when discussing choice, she uses the fact that God had plans for Jeremiah before he was born to assert that God chooses to create every person (though she begins the chapter talking about how God us gave free will- which should logically extend to the will to have sex). Not only does she therefore allege that we are all equal in stature to Jeremiah such that text that refers specifically to him should apply to us all, but she is basically saying that God plans rapes and other situations where pregnancy may result. To quote Dr. Paul D. Simmons, "To argue that God either causes or permits rape and incest and consequent pregnancy, or that God causes every hideous anomaly, is to say blaspemous and heretical things about God." | 987 | [
"The author, like many writings on religion, seems to use ceratin passages to back up her own opinion and discount passages that don't suit her agenda.",
"I admit my own biases come into play here as well.",
"I found some definite leaps in judgment.",
"For example, when discussing choice, she uses the fact that God had plans for Jeremiah before he was born to assert that God chooses to create every person (though she begins the chapter talking about how God us gave free will- which should logically extend to the will to have sex).",
"Not only does she therefore allege that we are all equal in stature to Jeremiah such that text that refers specifically to him should apply to us all, but she is basically saying that God plans rapes and other situations where pregnancy may result.",
"To quote Dr.",
"Paul D.",
"Simmons, \"To argue that God either causes or permits rape and incest and consequent pregnancy, or that God causes every hideous anomaly, is to say blaspemous and heretical things about God.\""
] |
2 | Kind of Redundant | I was kind of disappointed with Getting Started: Clicker Training for Dogs. It is a very thin book, I don't believe it was worth the money I paid for it. I had previously read Pryor's other book, "Reaching the Animal Mind", which I would highly recommend, but since that book was not specifically about dogs, I ordered this book thinking it would give some tips on using clicker training for specific dog behavior. I have to say I didn't read anything that I hadn't read from "Reaching the Animal Mind" and found it too simple to be of any help to me in applying to solve my dog training problems. I also ordered "Don't Shoot the Dog" by the same author and was more than pleased with that book. I guess if you have never trained your dog and your dog is a puppy, or doesn't have any problems and you just want to teach it some tricks then this book is a good intro, but if you get the two other books I mentioned, the "Getting Started" book contains no new info and is a waste of money. | 987 | [
"I was kind of disappointed with Getting Started: Clicker Training for Dogs.",
"It is a very thin book, I don't believe it was worth the money I paid for it.",
"I had previously read Pryor's other book, \"Reaching the Animal Mind\", which I would highly recommend, but since that book was not specifically about dogs, I ordered this book thinking it would give some tips on using clicker training for specific dog behavior.",
"I have to say I didn't read anything that I hadn't read from \"Reaching the Animal Mind\" and found it too simple to be of any help to me in applying to solve my dog training problems.",
"I also ordered \"Don't Shoot the Dog\" by the same author and was more than pleased with that book.",
"I guess if you have never trained your dog and your dog is a puppy, or doesn't have any problems and you just want to teach it some tricks then this book is a good intro, but if you get the two other books I mentioned, the \"Getting Started\" book contains no new info and is a waste of money."
] |
2 | Not very useful | If you're interested in tips on how to approach buyers and sell photographs, then this book will have some interesting insights for you. However, if you're simply interested in taking better pictures then you will find very little of interest. The book is sparsely illustrated (no color photographs at all and very few b&w), and there is very little useful technical information.Certainly Ms. McCartney has had many varied experiences, but there is not enough material here to create an interesting book; she discusses the many places that she has visited (an impressive list), but fails to discuss any particular area in any meaningful depth.If you want advice on selling stock photos to XYZ company then this might be the book for you. If you want to improve your photography skills or are looking for artistic inspiration/guidance then you'll be disappointed. Much more highly recommended in National Geographic Photography Field Guide, which contains everything that this book lacks. | 987 | [
"If you're interested in tips on how to approach buyers and sell photographs, then this book will have some interesting insights for you.",
"However, if you're simply interested in taking better pictures then you will find very little of interest.",
"The book is sparsely illustrated (no color photographs at all and very few b&w), and there is very little useful technical information.Certainly Ms.",
"McCartney has had many varied experiences, but there is not enough material here to create an interesting book; she discusses the many places that she has visited (an impressive list), but fails to discuss any particular area in any meaningful depth.If you want advice on selling stock photos to XYZ company then this might be the book for you.",
"If you want to improve your photography skills or are looking for artistic inspiration/guidance then you'll be disappointed.",
"Much more highly recommended in National Geographic Photography Field Guide, which contains everything that this book lacks."
] |
2 | Been there, done that... | The repetition in this book started geting funny after the first four hundred pages or so. Every time one of the village boys encountered a serving-maid, I'd say along with them, "Wish ____ was here, he knew how to talk to girls!"I'll bet the book could have been shorter without all the deja vu events, not to mention the neverending journey to Tar Valon, or wherever they were going. Jordan has good ideas, but that's some massive overwriting. And there was nothing original about the characters. Lan's the usual strong-silent type who falls in love with a woman he can't have. Rand et al are the innocents loose in the big dangerous world, discovering their talents. The villain (or villains) is never developed either.What settled it for me was the glossary, where the main clans of the Trollocs were named. The names are fancy misspellings of Devil (Dha'vol), Goblin (Ghob'blun), Golem, Demon, Banshee and other fantastic creatures. Great puns. Ha ha. Terry Pratchett did it better. | 987 | [
"The repetition in this book started geting funny after the first four hundred pages or so.",
"Every time one of the village boys encountered a serving-maid, I'd say along with them, \"Wish ____ was here, he knew how to talk to girls!",
"\"I'll bet the book could have been shorter without all the deja vu events, not to mention the neverending journey to Tar Valon, or wherever they were going.",
"Jordan has good ideas, but that's some massive overwriting.",
"And there was nothing original about the characters.",
"Lan's the usual strong-silent type who falls in love with a woman he can't have.",
"Rand et al are the innocents loose in the big dangerous world, discovering their talents.",
"The villain (or villains) is never developed either.What settled it for me was the glossary, where the main clans of the Trollocs were named.",
"The names are fancy misspellings of Devil (Dha'vol), Goblin (Ghob'blun), Golem, Demon, Banshee and other fantastic creatures.",
"Great puns.",
"Ha ha.",
"Terry Pratchett did it better."
] |
2 | ...uneven | Rented this one the other day. It does have a few laugh out loud funny moments....but they are kinda few and far inbetween. It's worth checking out anyway. One of the funniest things about this movie is one of the supporting charactors. There is a girl that Pedro takes to the dance, and later Napoleon starts to date...its one of the daughters from that icky Meg Ryan movie where Meg plays a drunk and her husband is a pilot and he is trying to hold the family together, etc. Forgot the name of it. Oh yeah, its called "When a man loves a women." Anyway, one of the little girls in that movie, one that Meg kicks around when she is drunk, is in this movie, and of coarse has grown up a bit since then. See if you can recognize her.If you liked something like "Welcome to the dollhouse" then you might like this one. There is just a lot of really random crazy stuff happening in it. The dance sequence at the student council presentations is crazee...probably the highlight of the movie. | 987 | [
"Rented this one the other day.",
"It does have a few laugh out loud funny moments....but they are kinda few and far inbetween.",
"It's worth checking out anyway.",
"One of the funniest things about this movie is one of the supporting charactors.",
"There is a girl that Pedro takes to the dance, and later Napoleon starts to date...its one of the daughters from that icky Meg Ryan movie where Meg plays a drunk and her husband is a pilot and he is trying to hold the family together, etc.",
"Forgot the name of it.",
"Oh yeah, its called \"When a man loves a women.\" Anyway, one of the little girls in that movie, one that Meg kicks around when she is drunk, is in this movie, and of coarse has grown up a bit since then.",
"See if you can recognize her.If you liked something like \"Welcome to the dollhouse\" then you might like this one.",
"There is just a lot of really random crazy stuff happening in it.",
"The dance sequence at the student council presentations is crazee...probably the highlight of the movie."
] |
2 | Not worth the money | I just got this in the mail today. I was thrilled and excited to put it in, especially after all the great reviews.One word to sum it up: eh.The first few minutes of the DVD is all introductory stuff. Almost like you're watching the previews waiting for it to start, but it's part of the video. So that made it even shorter than the description because it was just people talking. Not really many characters.The Put Down the Duckie song gets 2 stars. The rest of the footage doesn't even get any stars. Yes there are a few random old-school skits. But when I say a few, I mean VERY few. Like, 2? And I would think they could have chosen better ones...I watched the whole thing, sort of with out emotion, and then it abruptly was over. And you're watching like "It's OVER? That's IT?"If it was longer, or less money, I would have given it more stars. But for $12, there was definitely not enough quality footage and not nearly enough material to make it worth it.I am sorry I bought this. | 987 | [
"I just got this in the mail today.",
"I was thrilled and excited to put it in, especially after all the great reviews.One word to sum it up: eh.The first few minutes of the DVD is all introductory stuff.",
"Almost like you're watching the previews waiting for it to start, but it's part of the video.",
"So that made it even shorter than the description because it was just people talking.",
"Not really many characters.The Put Down the Duckie song gets 2 stars.",
"The rest of the footage doesn't even get any stars.",
"Yes there are a few random old-school skits.",
"But when I say a few, I mean VERY few.",
"Like, 2?",
"And I would think they could have chosen better ones...I watched the whole thing, sort of with out emotion, and then it abruptly was over.",
"And you're watching like \"It's OVER?",
"That's IT?",
"\"If it was longer, or less money, I would have given it more stars.",
"But for $12, there was definitely not enough quality footage and not nearly enough material to make it worth it.I am sorry I bought this."
] |
2 | Disappointed Pugni fan | I agree with almost everything the Pugni lover says about this video-- but he only takes off one star for poor video quality. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how nicely a black-clad dancer is performing against a black background with poor (1982!) Soviet recording facilities. And I would point to the same DVD as that reviewer for the best "Pas de Quartre"-- Nina Ananiashvili's 2 vol. International Stars set. But I would also point out that some of the selections on this flawed View Video production are on that same set: for example, Satanella and the Flower Festival at Genzano (better danced, as well as recorded, in my view). Also, the well-recorded Kultur DVD "Kirov Classics" includes the wonderful Pugni pas de six (Markitenka). In short, although there is not as much Pugni available as we would like (how about a full-length Esmeralda?), one doesn't have to be spoiled to pass on View Video, which is laced with marketing for their other offerings like "Massage Your Mate." | 987 | [
"I agree with almost everything the Pugni lover says about this video-- but he only takes off one star for poor video quality.",
"Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how nicely a black-clad dancer is performing against a black background with poor (1982!",
") Soviet recording facilities.",
"And I would point to the same DVD as that reviewer for the best \"Pas de Quartre\"-- Nina Ananiashvili's 2 vol.",
"International Stars set.",
"But I would also point out that some of the selections on this flawed View Video production are on that same set: for example, Satanella and the Flower Festival at Genzano (better danced, as well as recorded, in my view).",
"Also, the well-recorded Kultur DVD \"Kirov Classics\" includes the wonderful Pugni pas de six (Markitenka).",
"In short, although there is not as much Pugni available as we would like (how about a full-length Esmeralda?",
"), one doesn't have to be spoiled to pass on View Video, which is laced with marketing for their other offerings like \"Massage Your Mate.\""
] |
2 | Dated and overgeneralizing | I suppose any book that attempts to sort everyone into categories by class is going to be guilty of generalizing and sterotyping. It would be easier to understand the charaterizations if they weren't so terribly dated now - while the copyright is 1983, based on the TV shows cited I suspect the ideas might be a bit earlier. There are things that mention answering machines and microwaves, and it's hard to remember what I thought about them when they were first showing up; and of course all sorts of fashions in houses, clothes and so on have shifted the markers. But much is based on occupations, and given the depth of the changes in the job market as blue-collar jobs went overseas and white collar workers were replaced by computers, there are quite a few observations that just don't make sense any more.However, it's still fairly interesting reading. 25 years ago, I'd probably have given 4 stars - the author does do a certain amount of sneering and superiority that is grating. | 987 | [
"I suppose any book that attempts to sort everyone into categories by class is going to be guilty of generalizing and sterotyping.",
"It would be easier to understand the charaterizations if they weren't so terribly dated now - while the copyright is 1983, based on the TV shows cited I suspect the ideas might be a bit earlier.",
"There are things that mention answering machines and microwaves, and it's hard to remember what I thought about them when they were first showing up; and of course all sorts of fashions in houses, clothes and so on have shifted the markers.",
"But much is based on occupations, and given the depth of the changes in the job market as blue-collar jobs went overseas and white collar workers were replaced by computers, there are quite a few observations that just don't make sense any more.However, it's still fairly interesting reading.",
"25 years ago, I'd probably have given 4 stars - the author does do a certain amount of sneering and superiority that is grating."
] |
2 | A Belly Flop into Concrete | This was my first Follet book, and I was somewhat excited to get my hands on it. I had heard of Ken Follet's books, and they seemed to enjoy a wide following.In "Hornet Flight", the setting in WW2 Denmark, the characters are well developed and the descriptions are well balanced between the detail and pace. Follet also keeps a reasonable level of tension thoughout the book.And then you reach the middle to the end. What would have been a difficult book even for someone of Follet's skills turns to unadulterated tragedy. The ending is predictable and a disaster, a thorough disappointment after a reasonably good build-up. It seemed shallow and without any real thought or climax. The delay of the flight, (this is after the two main characters slaved and scraped to repair the plane right under the Germans' noses), because of a dance performance was ...well....bad.Despite Follet's obvious skills as a writer, this book can't be among his best work. I would not reccommend it at all. | 987 | [
"This was my first Follet book, and I was somewhat excited to get my hands on it.",
"I had heard of Ken Follet's books, and they seemed to enjoy a wide following.In \"Hornet Flight\", the setting in WW2 Denmark, the characters are well developed and the descriptions are well balanced between the detail and pace.",
"Follet also keeps a reasonable level of tension thoughout the book.And then you reach the middle to the end.",
"What would have been a difficult book even for someone of Follet's skills turns to unadulterated tragedy.",
"The ending is predictable and a disaster, a thorough disappointment after a reasonably good build-up.",
"It seemed shallow and without any real thought or climax.",
"The delay of the flight, (this is after the two main characters slaved and scraped to repair the plane right under the Germans' noses), because of a dance performance was ...well....bad.Despite Follet's obvious skills as a writer, this book can't be among his best work.",
"I would not reccommend it at all."
] |
2 | not worth it | Out of 5 Cr's I only got about one. Cd worth for my money. This box-set seems to have been assembled by the corporate music industry intent on homogeneity and filler. Better to buy selected albums issued in her life-time.Some songs poorly chosen ike a short version of Bravo le Clown when the full version was one of her classics. Like-wise a rushed version of Mon Legionnaire which was made to be a slow song of devotion.Thankfully there are no winded ones done in a recording studio since she loved singing to a live audience.She had an ear for a true melody and then she put heart and soul into it. Eternelle is a complilation of one after another of her classics. I can only suppose being an instition demanded new repotoires and there were not enough talented and original song-writers to keep up with her public. The French would have loved any thing she did which is probably the cause and they tend to have a homogeneous taste in music of which she was an out-standing exception. | 987 | [
"Out of 5 Cr's I only got about one.",
"Cd worth for my money.",
"This box-set seems to have been assembled by the corporate music industry intent on homogeneity and filler.",
"Better to buy selected albums issued in her life-time.Some songs poorly chosen ike a short version of Bravo le Clown when the full version was one of her classics.",
"Like-wise a rushed version of Mon Legionnaire which was made to be a slow song of devotion.Thankfully there are no winded ones done in a recording studio since she loved singing to a live audience.She had an ear for a true melody and then she put heart and soul into it.",
"Eternelle is a complilation of one after another of her classics.",
"I can only suppose being an instition demanded new repotoires and there were not enough talented and original song-writers to keep up with her public.",
"The French would have loved any thing she did which is probably the cause and they tend to have a homogeneous taste in music of which she was an out-standing exception."
] |
2 | What a disappointment! | I was so excited when I heard Christina Aguilera was releasing a Christmas CD! I own her debut album, and I was impressed with her singing abilities, so I decided to try her Christmas CD. I looked at the track listing on this site, where I purchased the CD, and it looked quite promising, so I purchased it.The disapointment began when I realized the tracks posted do not match up to those on the actual CD (for example, I was expecting "Silent Night," because it was listed on the website, but somehow is not on the CD itself.)I decided to listen to it anyway, and was shocked to hear how much pop was incorperated into the traditional Christmas carols! As a teenager, I do like pop in certain contexts, but Christmas carols such as "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" are not not, in my opinion, an appropriate context. I believe this could have been a much better CD, given Ms. Aguilera's obvious talent, and it was a sore disappointment to me.My advice: save your money. It's not worth it. | 987 | [
"I was so excited when I heard Christina Aguilera was releasing a Christmas CD!",
"I own her debut album, and I was impressed with her singing abilities, so I decided to try her Christmas CD.",
"I looked at the track listing on this site, where I purchased the CD, and it looked quite promising, so I purchased it.The disapointment began when I realized the tracks posted do not match up to those on the actual CD (for example, I was expecting \"Silent Night,\" because it was listed on the website, but somehow is not on the CD itself.)I decided to listen to it anyway, and was shocked to hear how much pop was incorperated into the traditional Christmas carols!",
"As a teenager, I do like pop in certain contexts, but Christmas carols such as \"Hark the Herald Angels Sing\" are not not, in my opinion, an appropriate context.",
"I believe this could have been a much better CD, given Ms.",
"Aguilera's obvious talent, and it was a sore disappointment to me.My advice: save your money.",
"It's not worth it."
] |
2 | Overrated | In 1968, Van Morrison, teamed with a collection of local jazz musicians and spent two days in a New York City recording studio to record Astral Weeks. The lack of time invested in the project and the jazz section's unfamiliarity with Morrison and rock music are fairly evident. The tracks, eight of them taking up forty-seven minutes, start out mildly pretty but sprawl out for a generous multitude of time with little development. Occasionally Morrison's brawny vocals will rise up and draw in the musical pap bacl from dullness, but never enough to save blatherers like "Madame George," "Ballerina" and "Beside You." The spring-ish title song and the passionate "The Way Young Lovers Do" are Astral Week's only thoroughly enjoyable moments. Morrison's lyrics are vastly overrated. They are occasionally sweet, but too predictably sentimental to be very striking. This overrated album sounds like what might have been a mildly enjoyable work stuck in its earliest, roughest demo stages. | 987 | [
"In 1968, Van Morrison, teamed with a collection of local jazz musicians and spent two days in a New York City recording studio to record Astral Weeks.",
"The lack of time invested in the project and the jazz section's unfamiliarity with Morrison and rock music are fairly evident.",
"The tracks, eight of them taking up forty-seven minutes, start out mildly pretty but sprawl out for a generous multitude of time with little development.",
"Occasionally Morrison's brawny vocals will rise up and draw in the musical pap bacl from dullness, but never enough to save blatherers like \"Madame George,\" \"Ballerina\" and \"Beside You.\" The spring-ish title song and the passionate \"The Way Young Lovers Do\" are Astral Week's only thoroughly enjoyable moments.",
"Morrison's lyrics are vastly overrated.",
"They are occasionally sweet, but too predictably sentimental to be very striking.",
"This overrated album sounds like what might have been a mildly enjoyable work stuck in its earliest, roughest demo stages."
] |
2 | Long winded indeed! | As usual, M. Lerner has wonderful ideas. But he hits you over the head with them in "Spirit Matters". So, one, this reader, begins to wonder about the author's aim? Does he practise what he preaches or does he preach to hear himself preach? Does this spirituality on-the-page rise from authentic practise? Are these words full or empty?It's hard to know. I have read several of Mr. Lerner's other books, notably "Jewish Renewal". There, and here too, after overcoming the sea-sickness his prose style begets, I have to wonder: Is his focus on selflessless real? Does He find God in everyone he meets, as he suggests? Something about the tone of tenacity and endless loquacity in "Spirit Matters" has the quality of protesting too much. Lerner is exhaustive, yes, fine: but the writer is equally: Exhausting. Closing this book, I wondered: Does he walk the talk? Or does he just talk (and talk...)?I'd give this book 1 star except that the ideas, however wordily conveyed, are good ideas. | 987 | [
"As usual, M.",
"Lerner has wonderful ideas.",
"But he hits you over the head with them in \"Spirit Matters\".",
"So, one, this reader, begins to wonder about the author's aim?",
"Does he practise what he preaches or does he preach to hear himself preach?",
"Does this spirituality on-the-page rise from authentic practise?",
"Are these words full or empty?",
"It's hard to know.",
"I have read several of Mr.",
"Lerner's other books, notably \"Jewish Renewal\".",
"There, and here too, after overcoming the sea-sickness his prose style begets, I have to wonder: Is his focus on selflessless real?",
"Does He find God in everyone he meets, as he suggests?",
"Something about the tone of tenacity and endless loquacity in \"Spirit Matters\" has the quality of protesting too much.",
"Lerner is exhaustive, yes, fine: but the writer is equally: Exhausting.",
"Closing this book, I wondered: Does he walk the talk?",
"Or does he just talk (and talk...)?",
"I'd give this book 1 star except that the ideas, however wordily conveyed, are good ideas."
] |
2 | Mindless Human Nationalism | Immediately finishing this book, I actually thought I had enjoyed. I later realized that I had succumbed to a pathetic form of hero worship that the book expounds fully. Some credit should be given for the creation of the "Psychlo" species, but the book and the author disgust me to no end. First of all, the book is entirely too long, it is not a "saga" as Hubbard claims because the book is too intellectually sterile to deserve such a title. The book praises humanity and the supposed "triumph" of the human spirit incessently, and by the end of the book the reader finds himself simultaneously revolted and bored. Moreover, the author is predictable and the great majority of alien species have little depth. At the end, the alien civilizations follow the human example and adopt a democratic system, as if that has proved even marginally effective. Please, save yourself valuable time and read Asimov or Clarke, just read anything instead of this trash. A tremendous disappointment. | 987 | [
"Immediately finishing this book, I actually thought I had enjoyed.",
"I later realized that I had succumbed to a pathetic form of hero worship that the book expounds fully.",
"Some credit should be given for the creation of the \"Psychlo\" species, but the book and the author disgust me to no end.",
"First of all, the book is entirely too long, it is not a \"saga\" as Hubbard claims because the book is too intellectually sterile to deserve such a title.",
"The book praises humanity and the supposed \"triumph\" of the human spirit incessently, and by the end of the book the reader finds himself simultaneously revolted and bored.",
"Moreover, the author is predictable and the great majority of alien species have little depth.",
"At the end, the alien civilizations follow the human example and adopt a democratic system, as if that has proved even marginally effective.",
"Please, save yourself valuable time and read Asimov or Clarke, just read anything instead of this trash.",
"A tremendous disappointment."
] |
2 | Not as good as the others | I have seen all the Paranormal Activity movies and this movie isn't as good as the other at all. This one never scared me one bit. I just liked the girl in the movie. She very cute, but everything else I hated. The demon Toby isn't as much part of the movie as this one. It seems like he taking a back seat and letting others do the killings.I should had watched this movie I felt. I didn't even know it was coming out in the theaters until one day I saw a poster for it, while I was there for a different movie. There wasn't any marketing down for this movie and maybe it was because it wasn't close to being good. I remember seeing Paranormal Activity 3 commercial everyday until it finally showed in the theaters, they kept on showing the commercial afterwards. But tfor the 4th one, I don't even remember seeing a single commercial for it!Everyone that actually liked the past PA movies, should stay faraway from this one...unless you like me and find the girl in the movie cute. lol | 987 | [
"I have seen all the Paranormal Activity movies and this movie isn't as good as the other at all.",
"This one never scared me one bit.",
"I just liked the girl in the movie.",
"She very cute, but everything else I hated.",
"The demon Toby isn't as much part of the movie as this one.",
"It seems like he taking a back seat and letting others do the killings.I should had watched this movie I felt.",
"I didn't even know it was coming out in the theaters until one day I saw a poster for it, while I was there for a different movie.",
"There wasn't any marketing down for this movie and maybe it was because it wasn't close to being good.",
"I remember seeing Paranormal Activity 3 commercial everyday until it finally showed in the theaters, they kept on showing the commercial afterwards.",
"But tfor the 4th one, I don't even remember seeing a single commercial for it!",
"Everyone that actually liked the past PA movies, should stay faraway from this one...unless you like me and find the girl in the movie cute.",
"lol"
] |
2 | Not what I expected | I purchased this book for my husband's mother to give to our children. This book was not what I was expecting. I've purchased other "grandparent journals" in the past and this one just wasn't as good. It looks almost like a baby book or a story book. There aren't very many questions for the grandparents and the questions that there are aren't really worthy of having them spend so much time on it. I want them to enjoy filling it out as much as my kids will enjoy reading it, even when they get older. I did purchase two other books, "A Grandparent's Legacy: Your Life Story in You Own Words" and "Memories for My Grandchild." I would definitely recommend these books. Unfortunately it's going to cost me to return these books because it is not "Amazon's error", so I'm going to just hang on to them. I'm embarassed to give them to the grandparents, so I'm ordering more of the "Grandparent's Legacy: Your Life Story in Your Own Words" to give to them. I hope this helps future buyers. | 987 | [
"I purchased this book for my husband's mother to give to our children.",
"This book was not what I was expecting.",
"I've purchased other \"grandparent journals\" in the past and this one just wasn't as good.",
"It looks almost like a baby book or a story book.",
"There aren't very many questions for the grandparents and the questions that there are aren't really worthy of having them spend so much time on it.",
"I want them to enjoy filling it out as much as my kids will enjoy reading it, even when they get older.",
"I did purchase two other books, \"A Grandparent's Legacy: Your Life Story in You Own Words\" and \"Memories for My Grandchild.\" I would definitely recommend these books.",
"Unfortunately it's going to cost me to return these books because it is not \"Amazon's error\", so I'm going to just hang on to them.",
"I'm embarassed to give them to the grandparents, so I'm ordering more of the \"Grandparent's Legacy: Your Life Story in Your Own Words\" to give to them.",
"I hope this helps future buyers."
] |
2 | Disappointed in it | I got this to use at a park as a "booth" for a craft fair. I set it up in my backyard ahead of time to see how difficult it would be to set-up and test it out. It went up easily with two people assembling and I was pleased with the looks. It was breezy when it was set-up, but it did alright in the breeze. However, overnight we got some rain and since the roof is flat it collected water making it too heavy and the poles bent--tent collapsed. Needless to say, it is not very sturdy in a shower. If the roof was slopped, it would have been ok.The item is worthless for what we intended because we got it for protection of products at the park event. We get showers sometimes so to have a product that fails to shed water rather than hold it on top only to collapse the tent is not useful.The gazebo looks great and would be fine for a temporary use of it in nice weather. It won't handle a wet day.Mine is junk unless I can purchase replacement poles for the ones that were all bent up. | 987 | [
"I got this to use at a park as a \"booth\" for a craft fair.",
"I set it up in my backyard ahead of time to see how difficult it would be to set-up and test it out.",
"It went up easily with two people assembling and I was pleased with the looks.",
"It was breezy when it was set-up, but it did alright in the breeze.",
"However, overnight we got some rain and since the roof is flat it collected water making it too heavy and the poles bent--tent collapsed.",
"Needless to say, it is not very sturdy in a shower.",
"If the roof was slopped, it would have been ok.The item is worthless for what we intended because we got it for protection of products at the park event.",
"We get showers sometimes so to have a product that fails to shed water rather than hold it on top only to collapse the tent is not useful.The gazebo looks great and would be fine for a temporary use of it in nice weather.",
"It won't handle a wet day.Mine is junk unless I can purchase replacement poles for the ones that were all bent up."
] |
2 | Buyer Beware | Pros: Many features and a low price.Cons: You get what you pay for.We purchased this product because it seemed to have the most "bang-for-the-buck." Combo color inkjet printer, copier, flatbed scanner, fax machine for $80 (on sale) at Staples. Seemed too good to be true.Well...it was. The print heads have to be cleaned every few days - it takes about 5 minutes to finish - else the output is crummy. This is a real pain, especially when you are in a rush to print something out. Never had any problems with any of the HP products (2 laserjets and 1 inkjet) that I have owned over the past 15 years.Once the printer heads are clean, the overall performance of the MFC-5100C is adequate. The scanner resolution/quality is nothing the write home about and the printer output is not outstanding (even when set to the highest quality) but is ok for most of our needs.Now would I purchase this unit if I had to do it all over again? Probably not. I'd probably spend more money and buy an HP. | 987 | [
"Pros: Many features and a low price.Cons: You get what you pay for.We purchased this product because it seemed to have the most \"bang-for-the-buck.\" Combo color inkjet printer, copier, flatbed scanner, fax machine for $80 (on sale) at Staples.",
"Seemed too good to be true.Well...it was.",
"The print heads have to be cleaned every few days - it takes about 5 minutes to finish - else the output is crummy.",
"This is a real pain, especially when you are in a rush to print something out.",
"Never had any problems with any of the HP products (2 laserjets and 1 inkjet) that I have owned over the past 15 years.Once the printer heads are clean, the overall performance of the MFC-5100C is adequate.",
"The scanner resolution/quality is nothing the write home about and the printer output is not outstanding (even when set to the highest quality) but is ok for most of our needs.Now would I purchase this unit if I had to do it all over again?",
"Probably not.",
"I'd probably spend more money and buy an HP."
] |
2 | Real JUNK food for dogs | The title claims that there are 50 vet approved recipes here which would lead one to believe that the recipes are healthy, right? Wrong. I don't know a single vet that would recommend these recipes to any dog owner.I'm a professional dog trainer who cooks for my own dogs. I'm very concerned about their nutritional needs and have become familiar with what's good and what's not so good for dogs. This recipe book is LOADED with not-so-good recipes for your dog. As a once in a while snack or treat, I suppose it's okay, but even then, I wouldn't feed my dog many of the recipes in this book. It's mostly junk food and the recipes call for items that aren't good for dogs, such as corn.I highly recommend The Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health For Dogs and Cats by Andi Brown and Barker's Grub by Rudy Edalati over this one. Both of these books offer healthy, wholesome recipes for meals, snacks and supplements that will provide your precious pets with the nutrition they need. | 987 | [
"The title claims that there are 50 vet approved recipes here which would lead one to believe that the recipes are healthy, right?",
"Wrong.",
"I don't know a single vet that would recommend these recipes to any dog owner.I'm a professional dog trainer who cooks for my own dogs.",
"I'm very concerned about their nutritional needs and have become familiar with what's good and what's not so good for dogs.",
"This recipe book is LOADED with not-so-good recipes for your dog.",
"As a once in a while snack or treat, I suppose it's okay, but even then, I wouldn't feed my dog many of the recipes in this book.",
"It's mostly junk food and the recipes call for items that aren't good for dogs, such as corn.I highly recommend The Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health For Dogs and Cats by Andi Brown and Barker's Grub by Rudy Edalati over this one.",
"Both of these books offer healthy, wholesome recipes for meals, snacks and supplements that will provide your precious pets with the nutrition they need."
] |
2 | The Ultimate? - Please! | I'm a licensed healthcare professional specializing in eating disorders, including obesity and I took an interest in what Dr. Phil would say that was helpful for such a misunderstood problem.After reviewing the book, I kept looking for something definitive that would give a new slant about a very old problem. The result was not much different than an obese patient of mine heard from her physician after he weighed her. He said, "Have you ever tried eating less and exercising more? That's the ultimate?Even though we would all like it to be this simple, it is not.What I have found that is truly helpful for my patients is "The Pathway" by Laurel Mellin. This book and method helps people learn how to self-nurture and set effective limits that cause all excesses to fade away: overeating, overworking, overdrinking and others. This method is not a quick fix, but it has substantiated results of merit and there's still nothing to compare it to, and that includes Dr. Phil's new book. | 987 | [
"I'm a licensed healthcare professional specializing in eating disorders, including obesity and I took an interest in what Dr.",
"Phil would say that was helpful for such a misunderstood problem.After reviewing the book, I kept looking for something definitive that would give a new slant about a very old problem.",
"The result was not much different than an obese patient of mine heard from her physician after he weighed her.",
"He said, \"Have you ever tried eating less and exercising more?",
"That's the ultimate?",
"Even though we would all like it to be this simple, it is not.What I have found that is truly helpful for my patients is \"The Pathway\" by Laurel Mellin.",
"This book and method helps people learn how to self-nurture and set effective limits that cause all excesses to fade away: overeating, overworking, overdrinking and others.",
"This method is not a quick fix, but it has substantiated results of merit and there's still nothing to compare it to, and that includes Dr.",
"Phil's new book."
] |
2 | Its very testy | I got this camera in March. It's my second digital camera, I lost my first one, but had been thinking about getting a new one for awhile. I have been very disappointed with the testiness of this camera. First off, I had it as a bar and someone dropped about 5 drops of a drink on it and the zoom function refused to work. Eventually that cleared up. Then, I brought the camera to the beach and the lens would not stay open-- the camera would read "access, please power on and power off". Apparently you are not supposed to expose the camera to sand. My old camera was at the beach 6 times a summer and never had an issue. I took the camera to the repair shop and after a $25 estimate was told that it would take $125 to fix a $175 camera. Frustrated, I took a can of forced air and managed to clear the sand out of the lens. If I had to do it again, I would not buy this camera. I have had nothing but problems. The picture quality is a bit better, but its not the pain it has caused me. | 987 | [
"I got this camera in March.",
"It's my second digital camera, I lost my first one, but had been thinking about getting a new one for awhile.",
"I have been very disappointed with the testiness of this camera.",
"First off, I had it as a bar and someone dropped about 5 drops of a drink on it and the zoom function refused to work.",
"Eventually that cleared up.",
"Then, I brought the camera to the beach and the lens would not stay open-- the camera would read \"access, please power on and power off\".",
"Apparently you are not supposed to expose the camera to sand.",
"My old camera was at the beach 6 times a summer and never had an issue.",
"I took the camera to the repair shop and after a $25 estimate was told that it would take $125 to fix a $175 camera.",
"Frustrated, I took a can of forced air and managed to clear the sand out of the lens.",
"If I had to do it again, I would not buy this camera.",
"I have had nothing but problems.",
"The picture quality is a bit better, but its not the pain it has caused me."
] |
2 | You've heard it all before | If you've just heard Joel Wallach's message through the "Dead Doctors Don't Lie" audio cassette some MLMer probably gave to you, don't bother with this video, for a few reasons.First one, being no one in their right mind would take nutritional advice from an overweight, bald man who is very sloppy in his apperance. You get a much better visual from listening on your home stereo.Secondly, I don't think Wallach will ever change his lecture. I've heard Wallach speak on several different occasions, and he uses the same jokes and same stories each time for the most part. Not to say his message isn't a good one. It is, but change it up a little for Pete's sake. How boring must that be for him to say the same speech 200+ times a year?If you're new to the world of alternative medicine, this video can be valuable, but I just can't see how anyone would feel confidence about Wallach's message when you're looking directly at a visual of him. Better to stick with the cassettes and CDs. | 987 | [
"If you've just heard Joel Wallach's message through the \"Dead Doctors Don't Lie\" audio cassette some MLMer probably gave to you, don't bother with this video, for a few reasons.First one, being no one in their right mind would take nutritional advice from an overweight, bald man who is very sloppy in his apperance.",
"You get a much better visual from listening on your home stereo.Secondly, I don't think Wallach will ever change his lecture.",
"I've heard Wallach speak on several different occasions, and he uses the same jokes and same stories each time for the most part.",
"Not to say his message isn't a good one.",
"It is, but change it up a little for Pete's sake.",
"How boring must that be for him to say the same speech 200+ times a year?",
"If you're new to the world of alternative medicine, this video can be valuable, but I just can't see how anyone would feel confidence about Wallach's message when you're looking directly at a visual of him.",
"Better to stick with the cassettes and CDs."
] |
2 | Not worth it.............. | I bought this same one from Target last year for my daughters room. When it is on, it does what it is supposed to do, so I guess that is good. However as others have mentioned there is a "start" button feature which is really annoying and I will never buy another one even similiar to it again. You have to set it to low or high, whichever you want, and then you need to push down this start button. Since the mist doesn't start coming right away it was hard to know if for sure the thing was even turned on or not. This was particularly troubling in the night when I was trying to do this in the dark so as not to disturb my child. It is virtually impossible to know if it is on or not.....you literally have to wait for the unit to warm up the water enough to start the steam feature....which can take several minutes. I prefer to just use one that you turn on, and know it is on. So in my opinion even though this unit does work, the annoying qualities of it make it not worth it..... | 987 | [
"I bought this same one from Target last year for my daughters room.",
"When it is on, it does what it is supposed to do, so I guess that is good.",
"However as others have mentioned there is a \"start\" button feature which is really annoying and I will never buy another one even similiar to it again.",
"You have to set it to low or high, whichever you want, and then you need to push down this start button.",
"Since the mist doesn't start coming right away it was hard to know if for sure the thing was even turned on or not.",
"This was particularly troubling in the night when I was trying to do this in the dark so as not to disturb my child.",
"It is virtually impossible to know if it is on or not.....you literally have to wait for the unit to warm up the water enough to start the steam feature....which can take several minutes.",
"I prefer to just use one that you turn on, and know it is on.",
"So in my opinion even though this unit does work, the annoying qualities of it make it not worth it....."
] |
2 | okay, they lost me here | Radiohead delivers amnesiac as a follow-up to the much anticipated yet somewhat misunderstood Kid A. From here, it should become clear that leftovers are leftovers for a reason. In Ryan Adam's recent three albums of 2005, his plan was to release all music from one session and make not one album but three. The result. Fillers. Radiohead, however, made a remarkably experimental album in Kid A, and while by no means their best, remains severely underrated. Anesiac is almost the opposite. It was created from unreleased sessions from Kid A, and while a few songs such as "I Might Be Wrong," "Pact," and "Hunting Bears" remain true to form, most of these should have remained sessions. Sorry guys, bravo to the max for absolutely everything prior, but I can't really get into this one. I hated Kid A at first, kept retrying until I loved it, but I'm afraid that its just not working with this one. I'll give it an extra star for its three decent songs and for it being made by radiohead. | 987 | [
"Radiohead delivers amnesiac as a follow-up to the much anticipated yet somewhat misunderstood Kid A.",
"From here, it should become clear that leftovers are leftovers for a reason.",
"In Ryan Adam's recent three albums of 2005, his plan was to release all music from one session and make not one album but three.",
"The result.",
"Fillers.",
"Radiohead, however, made a remarkably experimental album in Kid A, and while by no means their best, remains severely underrated.",
"Anesiac is almost the opposite.",
"It was created from unreleased sessions from Kid A, and while a few songs such as \"I Might Be Wrong,\" \"Pact,\" and \"Hunting Bears\" remain true to form, most of these should have remained sessions.",
"Sorry guys, bravo to the max for absolutely everything prior, but I can't really get into this one.",
"I hated Kid A at first, kept retrying until I loved it, but I'm afraid that its just not working with this one.",
"I'll give it an extra star for its three decent songs and for it being made by radiohead."
] |
2 | Okay, they lost me here | Radiohead delivers amnesiac as a follow-up to the much anticipated yet somewhat misunderstood Kid A. From here, it should become clear that leftovers are leftovers for a reason. In Ryan Adam's recent three albums of 2005, his plan was to release all music from one session and make not one album but three. The result. Fillers. Radiohead, however, made a remarkably experimental album in Kid A, and while by no means their best, remains severely underrated. Anesiac is almost the opposite. It was created from unreleased sessions from Kid A, and while a few songs such as "I Might Be Wrong," "Pact," and "Hunting Bears" remain true to form, most of these should have remained sessions. Sorry guys, bravo to the max for absolutely everything prior, but I can't really get into this one. I hated Kid A at first, kept retrying until I loved it, but I'm afraid that its just not working with this one. I'll give it an extra star for its three decent songs and for it being made by radiohead. | 987 | [
"Radiohead delivers amnesiac as a follow-up to the much anticipated yet somewhat misunderstood Kid A.",
"From here, it should become clear that leftovers are leftovers for a reason.",
"In Ryan Adam's recent three albums of 2005, his plan was to release all music from one session and make not one album but three.",
"The result.",
"Fillers.",
"Radiohead, however, made a remarkably experimental album in Kid A, and while by no means their best, remains severely underrated.",
"Anesiac is almost the opposite.",
"It was created from unreleased sessions from Kid A, and while a few songs such as \"I Might Be Wrong,\" \"Pact,\" and \"Hunting Bears\" remain true to form, most of these should have remained sessions.",
"Sorry guys, bravo to the max for absolutely everything prior, but I can't really get into this one.",
"I hated Kid A at first, kept retrying until I loved it, but I'm afraid that its just not working with this one.",
"I'll give it an extra star for its three decent songs and for it being made by radiohead."
] |
2 | Good voices | I gave it an extra star because it was interesting and mildly (very mildly) pleasant. This is the most boring thing I've ever sat though, and I only watched an hour and 20 minutes of it. To hell with it. I bet it was influenced by Wagner, I read that Verdi was, more's the pity. (Besides being an anti-Semitic homophobic megalomaniac who couldn't write good music, Wagner was a cad and an idiot.) In an hour and 20 minutes, there were only 2 tunes, one of which (what one reviewer called the veil song) I didn't even like. I have the Italian version on CD and thought I liked it (so what happened?), I only bought this (and wasted a ransom) because I wanted to see it enacted and I wanted to know the story. I should have read the libretto. This thing just goes drearily on eternally with nothing but plot to keep your interest or entertain you. Maybe when I read the story (which I'll do while I decide what to do with this DVD) I'll find out why Carlos and Rodrigue both needed shaves. | 987 | [
"I gave it an extra star because it was interesting and mildly (very mildly) pleasant.",
"This is the most boring thing I've ever sat though, and I only watched an hour and 20 minutes of it.",
"To hell with it.",
"I bet it was influenced by Wagner, I read that Verdi was, more's the pity.",
"(Besides being an anti-Semitic homophobic megalomaniac who couldn't write good music, Wagner was a cad and an idiot.) In an hour and 20 minutes, there were only 2 tunes, one of which (what one reviewer called the veil song) I didn't even like.",
"I have the Italian version on CD and thought I liked it (so what happened?",
"), I only bought this (and wasted a ransom) because I wanted to see it enacted and I wanted to know the story.",
"I should have read the libretto.",
"This thing just goes drearily on eternally with nothing but plot to keep your interest or entertain you.",
"Maybe when I read the story (which I'll do while I decide what to do with this DVD) I'll find out why Carlos and Rodrigue both needed shaves."
] |
2 | doesn't last very long | As the initial reviewer stated, the biggest issue with this product is its durability, or lack thereof.With the Nylabone brand name on it and a price approaching $10 you might be under the impression that this will last quite awhile. I timed how long it took my dog to eat the largest one they make (the one shaped like a fist). It took him 11 minutes to leisurely eat and about 2 minutes to 'clean up' the mess. If he were actually hungry he probably could have done it a few minutes faster. So, almost a dollar a minute for this product when viewed as an entertainment/chew toy product. It's possible to get them for about half price from some of the amazon vendors but this only makes sense when buying large quantities due to the expense of shipping on small orders from them.I was hoping this might last awhile and be better for him than the 'plastic' Nylabone products which exit the dog in solid chunks (eww!).My dog thoroughly enjoyed this but at these prices I can't justify it. | 987 | [
"As the initial reviewer stated, the biggest issue with this product is its durability, or lack thereof.With the Nylabone brand name on it and a price approaching $10 you might be under the impression that this will last quite awhile.",
"I timed how long it took my dog to eat the largest one they make (the one shaped like a fist).",
"It took him 11 minutes to leisurely eat and about 2 minutes to 'clean up' the mess.",
"If he were actually hungry he probably could have done it a few minutes faster.",
"So, almost a dollar a minute for this product when viewed as an entertainment/chew toy product.",
"It's possible to get them for about half price from some of the amazon vendors but this only makes sense when buying large quantities due to the expense of shipping on small orders from them.I was hoping this might last awhile and be better for him than the 'plastic' Nylabone products which exit the dog in solid chunks (eww!",
").My dog thoroughly enjoyed this but at these prices I can't justify it."
] |
2 | lacked focus and depth | I love thieves and rogue chars so I thought I would love this book. I was a fan of the first 3 books in the Elminster Series and I don't like short stories so Elminster in Hell wasn't my style but that was forgivable. This book had a habit of going ADD on story lines of chars that didn't matter, the thief daughter wasn't wrote about near enough and what chapters one did get about her were generally cluttered with parts about characters not her or action scenes that gave no depth of personality. The book started off strong enough that I was to invested not to finish it but the last half was a chore with little reward. It was interesting to note that a naked woman made an appearance somewhere in almost every chapter in some nonchalant way. Overall, not a terrible book but it would of been better served if it focused on the daughter more. I hope to read more about her in the future but this book isn't one I'd seriously recommend to anyone but the most die hard Elminster fans. | 987 | [
"I love thieves and rogue chars so I thought I would love this book.",
"I was a fan of the first 3 books in the Elminster Series and I don't like short stories so Elminster in Hell wasn't my style but that was forgivable.",
"This book had a habit of going ADD on story lines of chars that didn't matter, the thief daughter wasn't wrote about near enough and what chapters one did get about her were generally cluttered with parts about characters not her or action scenes that gave no depth of personality.",
"The book started off strong enough that I was to invested not to finish it but the last half was a chore with little reward.",
"It was interesting to note that a naked woman made an appearance somewhere in almost every chapter in some nonchalant way.",
"Overall, not a terrible book but it would of been better served if it focused on the daughter more.",
"I hope to read more about her in the future but this book isn't one I'd seriously recommend to anyone but the most die hard Elminster fans."
] |
2 | if you're into fighting... | that's pretty much the majority of the game - fighting. I just wish the game creators would get a bit more creative. Sure, Spider-Man is a superhero who fights evil, but Spider-Man is also a character with an incredible set of skills one could apply toward problem solving challenges. Yes, this is a mother talking. My 9-year old loves Spider-Man. Is it so hard to put just a bit more role-model type stuff into these games? That doesn't mean it's not going to be "cool" anymore.Not far into the game, the bosses become a bit ridiculous to beat where it's not a matter of skill but a matter of how long can your hands manage from totally cramping up because you've performed the same moves for ten minutes straight now. To me, that's lazy programming. Let's just crank out these games... kids are mindless anyway and won't notice it's the same violent crap just wrapped in a different package over and over again.The graphics are great. And if you're into mindless stuff, this should do. | 987 | [
"that's pretty much the majority of the game - fighting.",
"I just wish the game creators would get a bit more creative.",
"Sure, Spider-Man is a superhero who fights evil, but Spider-Man is also a character with an incredible set of skills one could apply toward problem solving challenges.",
"Yes, this is a mother talking.",
"My 9-year old loves Spider-Man.",
"Is it so hard to put just a bit more role-model type stuff into these games?",
"That doesn't mean it's not going to be \"cool\" anymore.Not far into the game, the bosses become a bit ridiculous to beat where it's not a matter of skill but a matter of how long can your hands manage from totally cramping up because you've performed the same moves for ten minutes straight now.",
"To me, that's lazy programming.",
"Let's just crank out these games... kids are mindless anyway and won't notice it's the same violent crap just wrapped in a different package over and over again.The graphics are great.",
"And if you're into mindless stuff, this should do."
] |
2 | Audio problems | Love both movies & have not seen in years. Much unresolved trouble with the blu ray so cannot watch it.Cannot hear the DTS Master Audio 2.0 sound track in the Blu Ray "Grumpy Old Men."I can hear audio just fine for any other Blu Ray DTS MA or Dolby True HD & any DVD.My equipment is Panasonic DMP BD 80 Blu Ray player & Pioneer Sc 05 AVR.My AVR is set to automatically detect the audio format; Dolby True HD, DTS Master Audio, Dolby 5.1, Mono, Stereo, etc. It does do this & when playing the movie in question it does display: " DTS Master Audio." But, no sound. I tried the Spanish & the French track & they play just fine but they are not DTS Master Audio. 2nd movie audio plays just fine & but it is DTS Master Audio 5.1.I already sent the movie back to Amazon for an exchange & the replacement has the same problem. I emailed WB Home entertainment & didn't get a reply.Warner Home VideoP.O. Box 30620Tampa, FL 33630-0620E-mail address: whv@b3custserv.com.Phone Number: (800) 364-6928 | 987 | [
"Love both movies & have not seen in years.",
"Much unresolved trouble with the blu ray so cannot watch it.Cannot hear the DTS Master Audio 2.0 sound track in the Blu Ray \"Grumpy Old Men.\"I can hear audio just fine for any other Blu Ray DTS MA or Dolby True HD & any DVD.My equipment is Panasonic DMP BD 80 Blu Ray player & Pioneer Sc 05 AVR.My AVR is set to automatically detect the audio format; Dolby True HD, DTS Master Audio, Dolby 5.1, Mono, Stereo, etc.",
"It does do this & when playing the movie in question it does display: \" DTS Master Audio.\" But, no sound.",
"I tried the Spanish & the French track & they play just fine but they are not DTS Master Audio.",
"2nd movie audio plays just fine & but it is DTS Master Audio 5.1.I already sent the movie back to Amazon for an exchange & the replacement has the same problem.",
"I emailed WB Home entertainment & didn't get a reply.Warner Home VideoP.O. Box 30620Tampa, FL 33630-0620E-mail address: whv@b3custserv.com.Phone Number: (800) 364-6928"
] |
2 | cheap plastic base | I had an Oster Blender that worked great for 30 years. When it died, I thought I could do no wrong in purchasing another Oster brand. I purchased the beehive for its 500/600 watt ice crushing/smoothie making ability. $56.00 is a little pricey and I thought I was purchasing a good quality item. The glass jar and the chrome base seem to be good quality materials. However, the blender jar base(part that holds blade/rubber ring) is of very thin cheap plastic. It broke after just a few uses. Of course the store would not take it back after 60 days.Luckily I had not thrown out the old Oster blender. I took the old glass jar base (good heavy plastic)and it fit the new Oster.Another problem with this blender: The plastic part on the chrome base that holds the jar base is also of cheap thin plastic. Cheap plastic attached to a heavy chrome base doesn't make good engineering sense to me. I keep waiting for it to break.Come on, Oster, put good quality materials into your products!!!! | 987 | [
"I had an Oster Blender that worked great for 30 years.",
"When it died, I thought I could do no wrong in purchasing another Oster brand.",
"I purchased the beehive for its 500/600 watt ice crushing/smoothie making ability.",
"$56.00 is a little pricey and I thought I was purchasing a good quality item.",
"The glass jar and the chrome base seem to be good quality materials.",
"However, the blender jar base(part that holds blade/rubber ring) is of very thin cheap plastic.",
"It broke after just a few uses.",
"Of course the store would not take it back after 60 days.Luckily I had not thrown out the old Oster blender.",
"I took the old glass jar base (good heavy plastic)and it fit the new Oster.Another problem with this blender: The plastic part on the chrome base that holds the jar base is also of cheap thin plastic.",
"Cheap plastic attached to a heavy chrome base doesn't make good engineering sense to me.",
"I keep waiting for it to break.Come on, Oster, put good quality materials into your products!!!",
"!"
] |
2 | Horrible | This is one of the worst games I've ever played. The RPG element is almost non-existant. The RTS element is incredibly dumbed down -- just build a few soldiers, a few archers, a few spellcasters, and a few artillery, and attack, and that sums out every campaign mission and online game you'll ever play. The story is ridiculous, it's a copy of Starcraft/Brood War almost to the letter -- you start as good guy, good guy turns bad, you play as formerly good bad guy, then you beat the bad guy who commands the formerly good bad guy. Every creature you face talks trash to you right before you kill it, along the lines of "you fool, you DARE challenge me!" Every single time. Just about every cutscene involves some idiot getting tricked into joining the bad guys, like in Brood War except even dumber.If Blizzard hadn't built up so much goodwill with Warcraft 2, Starcraft and Diablo, this game would have been in the bargain bin after two weeks. 0/10 and may god have mercy on your soul. | 987 | [
"This is one of the worst games I've ever played.",
"The RPG element is almost non-existant.",
"The RTS element is incredibly dumbed down -- just build a few soldiers, a few archers, a few spellcasters, and a few artillery, and attack, and that sums out every campaign mission and online game you'll ever play.",
"The story is ridiculous, it's a copy of Starcraft/Brood War almost to the letter -- you start as good guy, good guy turns bad, you play as formerly good bad guy, then you beat the bad guy who commands the formerly good bad guy.",
"Every creature you face talks trash to you right before you kill it, along the lines of \"you fool, you DARE challenge me!",
"\" Every single time.",
"Just about every cutscene involves some idiot getting tricked into joining the bad guys, like in Brood War except even dumber.If Blizzard hadn't built up so much goodwill with Warcraft 2, Starcraft and Diablo, this game would have been in the bargain bin after two weeks.",
"0/10 and may god have mercy on your soul."
] |
2 | book for kids | The whole story is about a garden that was an emptylot filled with garbage and infested with rats until a little girl planted a bean seed and gave a few people hope on life. Like this guy Curtis that believes if was to plant a tomato garden he could win back Leticia's heart. The entire storie is about people trying to do their best in life, with the hope of a garden?I think the strength of the book is mostly about how people found a better way to live or interact with others alot better than they did before the little girl started the garden. I believe the main weakness was how a 16 year old girl wanted to kill herself all because she was a young mom and was'nt truly accepted.My overall impression of this book was unsatisfying, boring. It just wasn't my kind of book I'm not into stories about people's lives and how a garden affects them in life situations.I would recommend this book to a 12 year old girl thats into nature type of stuff, It struck me as a little girls book. | 987 | [
"The whole story is about a garden that was an emptylot filled with garbage and infested with rats until a little girl planted a bean seed and gave a few people hope on life.",
"Like this guy Curtis that believes if was to plant a tomato garden he could win back Leticia's heart.",
"The entire storie is about people trying to do their best in life, with the hope of a garden?",
"I think the strength of the book is mostly about how people found a better way to live or interact with others alot better than they did before the little girl started the garden.",
"I believe the main weakness was how a 16 year old girl wanted to kill herself all because she was a young mom and was'nt truly accepted.My overall impression of this book was unsatisfying, boring.",
"It just wasn't my kind of book I'm not into stories about people's lives and how a garden affects them in life situations.I would recommend this book to a 12 year old girl thats into nature type of stuff, It struck me as a little girls book."
] |
2 | Sex Sex and more Sex | Started this book and was really into it. It starts off with Neal the main character going to the video store to turn some in late at night in LA. He hears a woman scream who is nude and being tortured by a maniac. He shoots the maniac saving the woman and she gives him a bracelet with magical powers to leave your body and enter anothers. She gets killed anyway because the maniac wasn,t dead as thought and kills her at her home. The story continues going well and just wondering what will happen now. Then he meets a young girl in a restarant who is a waitress and she finds out about the bracelet. Neal now goes on a adventure with this girl even though he had a girlfriend at home. Now for about a hundred and fifty pages its nothing but sex. Then to top it off hes girlfriend at home ends up liking the idea of his new girl joining in there sex games. So now he has the two of them for sex. Storyline was great but if I wanted a porno book I would have got one. Very disappointed. | 987 | [
"Started this book and was really into it.",
"It starts off with Neal the main character going to the video store to turn some in late at night in LA.",
"He hears a woman scream who is nude and being tortured by a maniac.",
"He shoots the maniac saving the woman and she gives him a bracelet with magical powers to leave your body and enter anothers.",
"She gets killed anyway because the maniac wasn,t dead as thought and kills her at her home.",
"The story continues going well and just wondering what will happen now.",
"Then he meets a young girl in a restarant who is a waitress and she finds out about the bracelet.",
"Neal now goes on a adventure with this girl even though he had a girlfriend at home.",
"Now for about a hundred and fifty pages its nothing but sex.",
"Then to top it off hes girlfriend at home ends up liking the idea of his new girl joining in there sex games.",
"So now he has the two of them for sex.",
"Storyline was great but if I wanted a porno book I would have got one.",
"Very disappointed."
] |
2 | Mixed feelings | I took two consecutive 1st year 1-semester calculus courses and I used this book for both. I have mixed feelings about it, because I have been lucky to be taught by good professors who gave good lectures, so I used my class notes. However, I inevitably missed a few lectures, and had to study from the book. A terrifying experience. Was it my fault, being not used to the author's style ? Anyway, I think that one example per case is not enough, and stuying the series chapter was difficult. The author definitely and absolutely fails to emphasise what is important, he writes just as much about some obscure application than about the main points of the principle. There are simply not enough examples for the important concepts. Also, there is some theory, confusing most students, without being enough for a mathematics major. I just started using Calculus: One and Several Variables by Salas/ Hille/ Etgen. I wish I had it in 1st year. Anyway, even 2 stars is generous for Stewart's. | 987 | [
"I took two consecutive 1st year 1-semester calculus courses and I used this book for both.",
"I have mixed feelings about it, because I have been lucky to be taught by good professors who gave good lectures, so I used my class notes.",
"However, I inevitably missed a few lectures, and had to study from the book.",
"A terrifying experience.",
"Was it my fault, being not used to the author's style?",
"Anyway, I think that one example per case is not enough, and stuying the series chapter was difficult.",
"The author definitely and absolutely fails to emphasise what is important, he writes just as much about some obscure application than about the main points of the principle.",
"There are simply not enough examples for the important concepts.",
"Also, there is some theory, confusing most students, without being enough for a mathematics major.",
"I just started using Calculus: One and Several Variables by Salas/ Hille/ Etgen.",
"I wish I had it in 1st year.",
"Anyway, even 2 stars is generous for Stewart's."
] |
2 | Not what I hoped | While the Wii is still hard to find, I bring mine over to play with friends on a pretty regular basis and hoped this would be perfect. But I have an easier time using a generic bag made for a laptop.For a bag that is specifically designed to easily & conveniently transport the Wii, this was poorly designed. Had it been just a little bit larger with a few extra pockets for a second Remote + Nunchuk and games, I would easily rate this a 4 or 5*. But it isn't, so I can't.UPSIDE -- It DOES fit most things if you're willing to work at it and toss a lot in the main compartment with the console, but I can do that in most laptop bags. And the padding is nice.DOWNSIDE -- I would have preferred 2 additional pockets for Controllers/Nunchuks, a pocket or wallet-style slots for a handful of game disks, and maybe a dedicated place for the sensor bar.Look for a better bag or settle for using a generic tote bag you already have because this design doesn't offer much. I missed opportunity. | 987 | [
"While the Wii is still hard to find, I bring mine over to play with friends on a pretty regular basis and hoped this would be perfect.",
"But I have an easier time using a generic bag made for a laptop.For a bag that is specifically designed to easily & conveniently transport the Wii, this was poorly designed.",
"Had it been just a little bit larger with a few extra pockets for a second Remote + Nunchuk and games, I would easily rate this a 4 or 5*.",
"But it isn't, so I can't.UPSIDE -- It DOES fit most things if you're willing to work at it and toss a lot in the main compartment with the console, but I can do that in most laptop bags.",
"And the padding is nice.DOWNSIDE -- I would have preferred 2 additional pockets for Controllers/Nunchuks, a pocket or wallet-style slots for a handful of game disks, and maybe a dedicated place for the sensor bar.Look for a better bag or settle for using a generic tote bag you already have because this design doesn't offer much.",
"I missed opportunity."
] |
2 | Plants never thrived. | My husband got me addicted to peppers, so most of what we have grown in our garden over the last few years are pepper plants - cayennes, bells, jalapenos, sweet bananas, hot bananas, etc. This year we tried habaneros, and ordered them online because our local Home Depot & Lowe's didn't carry them. The were shipped quickly and with care - no complaints there! We planted them at the same time in March that we did the rest of our garden, including jalapenos & cayennes in the same raised bed. The jalapenos & cayenne plants went crazy and just stopped producing fruit a couple weeks ago. The habanero plants have been seemingly on a timewarp - they didn't grow at all (at ALL) for at least two months, and have grown EXTREMELY slowly since - i.e., when I received the plants, they were about 4" tall and they're now about 10" tall. I contacted the seller for advice in May and got a reply stating "they're hard to grow."I'll look harder for a local grower next year and see how it goes. | 987 | [
"My husband got me addicted to peppers, so most of what we have grown in our garden over the last few years are pepper plants - cayennes, bells, jalapenos, sweet bananas, hot bananas, etc.",
"This year we tried habaneros, and ordered them online because our local Home Depot & Lowe's didn't carry them.",
"The were shipped quickly and with care - no complaints there!",
"We planted them at the same time in March that we did the rest of our garden, including jalapenos & cayennes in the same raised bed.",
"The jalapenos & cayenne plants went crazy and just stopped producing fruit a couple weeks ago.",
"The habanero plants have been seemingly on a timewarp - they didn't grow at all (at ALL) for at least two months, and have grown EXTREMELY slowly since - i.e., when I received the plants, they were about 4\" tall and they're now about 10\" tall.",
"I contacted the seller for advice in May and got a reply stating \"they're hard to grow.\"I'll look harder for a local grower next year and see how it goes."
] |
2 | Not quite right | Had this rack for 5 years and just sold it at a garage sale for 50$. Well built and sturdy, but way too heavy and awkward. Even though made for 4 bikes, 2 mountain bikes nearly filled it. Mountain bikes frames, especially those with full suspension do not fit well at all. Three bikes was a chore to cram on with pedals and handle bars interfering with each other. Requires bungees to secure the bikes from swinging and handle bars from turning and banging into each other. The rubber supports for the bikes were difficult to fit the tight frame of suspension over. Many comments about the hitch bolt. The reason there is a bolt on the hitch and not a pin is to tighten the rack so it doesn't wiggle around in the receiver. I had the Thule lock on the hitch bolt which worked well although it is hard to get to in the tight spaces between the bumper and the receiver. Storage of the rack when not on the car is also awkward as it is very heavy and ungainly to hang or set against a wall. | 987 | [
"Had this rack for 5 years and just sold it at a garage sale for 50$.",
"Well built and sturdy, but way too heavy and awkward.",
"Even though made for 4 bikes, 2 mountain bikes nearly filled it.",
"Mountain bikes frames, especially those with full suspension do not fit well at all.",
"Three bikes was a chore to cram on with pedals and handle bars interfering with each other.",
"Requires bungees to secure the bikes from swinging and handle bars from turning and banging into each other.",
"The rubber supports for the bikes were difficult to fit the tight frame of suspension over.",
"Many comments about the hitch bolt.",
"The reason there is a bolt on the hitch and not a pin is to tighten the rack so it doesn't wiggle around in the receiver.",
"I had the Thule lock on the hitch bolt which worked well although it is hard to get to in the tight spaces between the bumper and the receiver.",
"Storage of the rack when not on the car is also awkward as it is very heavy and ungainly to hang or set against a wall."
] |
2 | Nope | short cord, trebly, hearing-reducing sound, and an ever-breaking, annoying unraveling thin cord that will drive most men insane. Maybe all ear buds suck like this except sony.I guess I had no idea how great sony was until I had to buy some replacements. Some complain about sony's ergonomic design and comfort. These people are mostly uncivilized fools who don't understand how anything works and with no functioning nerve endings. If you like ear buds for music rather than the constant annoying distraction of their existence I'd recommend those, not that I have any but the old ones I broke and are no longer made.Otherwise, silence or background noise is far preferable than these phone's tendency to constantly remind you that you are wearing them and you wasted your money on them.I think J stands for junior, so this is fine for kids who don't know any better and have no money and hear too well as it is, but not really good for you. You deserve better than that.The fit is fine. | 987 | [
"short cord, trebly, hearing-reducing sound, and an ever-breaking, annoying unraveling thin cord that will drive most men insane.",
"Maybe all ear buds suck like this except sony.I guess I had no idea how great sony was until I had to buy some replacements.",
"Some complain about sony's ergonomic design and comfort.",
"These people are mostly uncivilized fools who don't understand how anything works and with no functioning nerve endings.",
"If you like ear buds for music rather than the constant annoying distraction of their existence I'd recommend those, not that I have any but the old ones I broke and are no longer made.Otherwise, silence or background noise is far preferable than these phone's tendency to constantly remind you that you are wearing them and you wasted your money on them.I think J stands for junior, so this is fine for kids who don't know any better and have no money and hear too well as it is, but not really good for you.",
"You deserve better than that.The fit is fine."
] |
2 | What? Why? | I couldn't believe it when I saw this thing at the book store! This book is ridiculous from beginning to end.Let's start with the title: "The Nice Girl's Guide to Sensational Sex". Really? For real? You're serious? Is this from the people who brought us "Loose 60 pounds in 10 days on the Twinkie diet"? or from the team who brought us "Mink Coats for Animal Activists" Oh! Oh! Lemme guess it's from the publishers of "Healing the Dead". What group of people was the author targeting?In reality, this gem is too conservative to yield results for women trying to spice things up, and far too risqué for say...you're average Mormon 'nice girl.' The result is neither cold nor warm, here nor there. It's extremely cheesy and about as awkward as having a sex talk at 13 with your father.I predict that in the future (like in 50 years), this kind of book will be a kitsch collector's item. That's the only reason I bought it. It's just too funny. So I give it 2 stars just because it's funny. | 987 | [
"I couldn't believe it when I saw this thing at the book store!",
"This book is ridiculous from beginning to end.Let's start with the title: \"The Nice Girl's Guide to Sensational Sex\".",
"Really?",
"For real?",
"You're serious?",
"Is this from the people who brought us \"Loose 60 pounds in 10 days on the Twinkie diet\"?",
"or from the team who brought us \"Mink Coats for Animal Activists\" Oh!",
"Oh!",
"Lemme guess it's from the publishers of \"Healing the Dead\".",
"What group of people was the author targeting?",
"In reality, this gem is too conservative to yield results for women trying to spice things up, and far too risqué for say...you're average Mormon 'nice girl.' The result is neither cold nor warm, here nor there.",
"It's extremely cheesy and about as awkward as having a sex talk at 13 with your father.I predict that in the future (like in 50 years), this kind of book will be a kitsch collector's item.",
"That's the only reason I bought it.",
"It's just too funny.",
"So I give it 2 stars just because it's funny."
] |
2 | Not worth your time | This book is just hard to read -- period. One would think that a biography on Ringo would be like himself -- fun. Instead, Clayson wrote a book on an interesting subject and made it as much fun to read as the collected works of Milton. Maybe Clayson is embarrassed that a writer of his "caliber" is churning out books on Ringo, instead of writing the great British novel, and wants the reader to suffer along with him. God knows he seems more intent on showing the reader how smart he is, rather than informing and entertaining us.Clayson also seems focused on Pete Best, who I guess gave him an interview (Ringo would not). Finally, there are many sloppy factual errors in the book. The one error I found most ridiculous was Clayson's saying that there was trumpet on Helter Skelter. A trumpet? Is he sure there wasn't a fiddle and banjo on that one too?One of the few interesting things about the book is a picture of Ringo as Elton John tries to kiss him. His expression is priceless. | 987 | [
"This book is just hard to read -- period.",
"One would think that a biography on Ringo would be like himself -- fun.",
"Instead, Clayson wrote a book on an interesting subject and made it as much fun to read as the collected works of Milton.",
"Maybe Clayson is embarrassed that a writer of his \"caliber\" is churning out books on Ringo, instead of writing the great British novel, and wants the reader to suffer along with him.",
"God knows he seems more intent on showing the reader how smart he is, rather than informing and entertaining us.Clayson also seems focused on Pete Best, who I guess gave him an interview (Ringo would not).",
"Finally, there are many sloppy factual errors in the book.",
"The one error I found most ridiculous was Clayson's saying that there was trumpet on Helter Skelter.",
"A trumpet?",
"Is he sure there wasn't a fiddle and banjo on that one too?",
"One of the few interesting things about the book is a picture of Ringo as Elton John tries to kiss him.",
"His expression is priceless."
] |
2 | Widescreen? | This is a miniseries made for TV movie that aired on TV in the 1980's. The original production format is the standard "square" 1.33:1 ratio. And this sci-fi movie series is very good. But please tell me, because I am confused, how is a movie that that was filmed in the 1.33:1 ratio get released as a widescreen ratio?This is physically impossible. And the only thing I see that they did was chop off the original top and bottom of the movie frames, and make it appear as though it is widecreen. And with this, we lose some of the original production frame. To me this is stupid. I love and only buy widesreen format films unless the original movie was filmed in the 1.33:1 ratio. And the reason for this is because I want all of the original frame that was filmed by the film maker weither it is 1.33:1 or 2.35:1, etc.To me this is definitely a deal breaker to chop off some of the original frame to make it look as though it was a widescreen. For this reason, I will not buy this film. | 987 | [
"This is a miniseries made for TV movie that aired on TV in the 1980's.",
"The original production format is the standard \"square\" 1.33:1 ratio.",
"And this sci-fi movie series is very good.",
"But please tell me, because I am confused, how is a movie that that was filmed in the 1.33:1 ratio get released as a widescreen ratio?",
"This is physically impossible.",
"And the only thing I see that they did was chop off the original top and bottom of the movie frames, and make it appear as though it is widecreen.",
"And with this, we lose some of the original production frame.",
"To me this is stupid.",
"I love and only buy widesreen format films unless the original movie was filmed in the 1.33:1 ratio.",
"And the reason for this is because I want all of the original frame that was filmed by the film maker weither it is 1.33:1 or 2.35:1, etc.To me this is definitely a deal breaker to chop off some of the original frame to make it look as though it was a widescreen.",
"For this reason, I will not buy this film."
] |
2 | Unsatisfactory | I've been a big fan of Philippa Gregory and I'd looked forward to reading her new novel. But I have to say this is a total disappointment.1) Unsatisfactory ending: The story ended when it got interesting. (When Anne began to threaten her status.) Where's the beef? How can you talk about Katherine's life without her divorce or the painful process leading to the divorce?2) Weak and contradictory charactor development. Her description of Katherine's personality/charactor in this novel and that in Other Bolyne Girl do not really match. I didn't feel the Queen in "Constant..." and the Queen in "The Other..." are the same person. Katherine in "The Other" was totally in love with Henry but Katherine in "Constant" was a very calculative woman who married him b/c of his status.3) Lack of continuity: Except for Henry, Katherine and other minor charactors, no major charactors in "The Other..." appeared in "Constant."I hope her next novel will be much better than this. It's got to be. | 987 | [
"I've been a big fan of Philippa Gregory and I'd looked forward to reading her new novel.",
"But I have to say this is a total disappointment.1) Unsatisfactory ending: The story ended when it got interesting.",
"(When Anne began to threaten her status.) Where's the beef?",
"How can you talk about Katherine's life without her divorce or the painful process leading to the divorce?",
"2) Weak and contradictory charactor development.",
"Her description of Katherine's personality/charactor in this novel and that in Other Bolyne Girl do not really match.",
"I didn't feel the Queen in \"Constant...\" and the Queen in \"The Other...\" are the same person.",
"Katherine in \"The Other\" was totally in love with Henry but Katherine in \"Constant\" was a very calculative woman who married him b/c of his status.3) Lack of continuity: Except for Henry, Katherine and other minor charactors, no major charactors in \"The Other...\" appeared in \"Constant.\"I hope her next novel will be much better than this.",
"It's got to be."
] |
2 | Not for everyone | I would like to warn potential buyers that this book is not for everyone. I purchased this book online, hoping to find a healthy way of eating, and hoping to lose 10 pounds in the process. I read the entire book (I also purched the vegetarian cookbook, although I eat fish and chicken), and it seems that the plan is very healthy, but it would not work for me for several reasons. I am 24, and I do not make the kind of money one needs to live on this sort of diet (free-range animals and organic fruits and vegetables). I also do not eat eggs, which makes following the diet impossible. Does anyone who works 40 hours a week really have time to cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day? Basically, after having read about exactly how unhealthy and destructive my eating habits/lifestyle are, all I am left with is the feeling that the only solution to dying young is to quit my job so that I can spend all day thinking about what I'm going to eat for the next week. Very frustrating. | 987 | [
"I would like to warn potential buyers that this book is not for everyone.",
"I purchased this book online, hoping to find a healthy way of eating, and hoping to lose 10 pounds in the process.",
"I read the entire book (I also purched the vegetarian cookbook, although I eat fish and chicken), and it seems that the plan is very healthy, but it would not work for me for several reasons.",
"I am 24, and I do not make the kind of money one needs to live on this sort of diet (free-range animals and organic fruits and vegetables).",
"I also do not eat eggs, which makes following the diet impossible.",
"Does anyone who works 40 hours a week really have time to cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day?",
"Basically, after having read about exactly how unhealthy and destructive my eating habits/lifestyle are, all I am left with is the feeling that the only solution to dying young is to quit my job so that I can spend all day thinking about what I'm going to eat for the next week.",
"Very frustrating."
] |
2 | Sitting in my chair | Sitting in my chair, I saw a sunny spot on the carpet. I resisted moving for several minutes, and the spot shifted its position slightly.That's when the slender woman entered my line of vision. She was wearing a yellow plastic raincoat and pink Chuck Taylor high-top sneakers that sounded like Philly Joe Jones doing some inspired brushwork during "Night in Tunisia" (the Verve version, not the Bluenote).She asked me if I liked her with our without breasts, and I said simply "Yes", remembering that I needed to sautee the chicken breasts for dinner, add a little soy sauce, and vaccuum the carpet.When I looked up again the woman was gone. I looked back at the sunny spot, but it had started raining outside, and sounded like the rain drumming on the pith helmets of the Manchurian expedition stranded in Hangchow in the bleak autumn of 1939, when many of the soldiers were forced to unwrap their leggings and wring them out for drinking water and nourishment.(Continue for 600 pages.) | 987 | [
"Sitting in my chair, I saw a sunny spot on the carpet.",
"I resisted moving for several minutes, and the spot shifted its position slightly.That's when the slender woman entered my line of vision.",
"She was wearing a yellow plastic raincoat and pink Chuck Taylor high-top sneakers that sounded like Philly Joe Jones doing some inspired brushwork during \"Night in Tunisia\" (the Verve version, not the Bluenote).She asked me if I liked her with our without breasts, and I said simply \"Yes\", remembering that I needed to sautee the chicken breasts for dinner, add a little soy sauce, and vaccuum the carpet.When I looked up again the woman was gone.",
"I looked back at the sunny spot, but it had started raining outside, and sounded like the rain drumming on the pith helmets of the Manchurian expedition stranded in Hangchow in the bleak autumn of 1939, when many of the soldiers were forced to unwrap their leggings and wring them out for drinking water and nourishment.(Continue for 600 pages.)"
] |
2 | Shes no McCafferty | Its been a while since I've read fantasy (used to 24/7 it seemed) but someone who knew my interest in alternative histories thought I might like this. Well, at first I did, even tho the main character was arrogant and boring. But then it became a long drawn out description of the trainings, and of the relationship between the captain and his dragon. The fact that he called him 'my dear' and gave him trinkets and jewels to please him, and coddled him like a pet gave me a very uncomfortable feeling. Theres even one scene where the dragon is discovering puberty, a scene I really didn't need to visualize. This isn't like any dragon I ever read about. Its not until the final third that anything actually happens, and then its just more of the same. Nothing really happens in this book, there are no interesting premises of how dragons would have changed the battle. Just wooden characters, and spoiled simpering dragons. Think I'll go reread my old McCafferty paperbacks as a remedy. | 987 | [
"Its been a while since I've read fantasy (used to 24/7 it seemed) but someone who knew my interest in alternative histories thought I might like this.",
"Well, at first I did, even tho the main character was arrogant and boring.",
"But then it became a long drawn out description of the trainings, and of the relationship between the captain and his dragon.",
"The fact that he called him 'my dear' and gave him trinkets and jewels to please him, and coddled him like a pet gave me a very uncomfortable feeling.",
"Theres even one scene where the dragon is discovering puberty, a scene I really didn't need to visualize.",
"This isn't like any dragon I ever read about.",
"Its not until the final third that anything actually happens, and then its just more of the same.",
"Nothing really happens in this book, there are no interesting premises of how dragons would have changed the battle.",
"Just wooden characters, and spoiled simpering dragons.",
"Think I'll go reread my old McCafferty paperbacks as a remedy."
] |
2 | Problematic | My office has been using this photocopier for about a year now. It's in a 24/7 pharmacy so it's being used constantly. I give it the two stars for being able to keep up with our demands, the speed is acceptable.During the past year it's developed numerous problems. The machine has displayed system error messages on about 3 occasions and I had to call Sharp support and type in their secret button combinations to get it fixed. Sharp witholds troubleshooting information from their customers in order to benefit and secure their tech support department.Sharp gave us a refurbished replacement unit and it eventually started having the same problems. Now the machine makes a loud humming noise after every copy, though I suppose you can get used to the noise after a few months.The toner cartridge has also leaked inside the machine a few times, causing a big mess we had to vacuum up.It's come time to replace this guy. I'll be trying a different manufacturer, perhaps Brother or Canon. | 987 | [
"My office has been using this photocopier for about a year now.",
"It's in a 24/7 pharmacy so it's being used constantly.",
"I give it the two stars for being able to keep up with our demands, the speed is acceptable.During the past year it's developed numerous problems.",
"The machine has displayed system error messages on about 3 occasions and I had to call Sharp support and type in their secret button combinations to get it fixed.",
"Sharp witholds troubleshooting information from their customers in order to benefit and secure their tech support department.Sharp gave us a refurbished replacement unit and it eventually started having the same problems.",
"Now the machine makes a loud humming noise after every copy, though I suppose you can get used to the noise after a few months.The toner cartridge has also leaked inside the machine a few times, causing a big mess we had to vacuum up.It's come time to replace this guy.",
"I'll be trying a different manufacturer, perhaps Brother or Canon."
] |
2 | Disappointing | Clearly attempting to appeal to both fans of the old VHS and newcomers, Disney didn't fully succeed with this DVD. They added several new songs to the beginning and end of the original footage and a narrator in between every song. It absolutely detracts from the original experience by nature, and it doesn't help that the new content isn't really of the same quality as the original stuff.I suppose I wouldn't tell fans of the VHS not to buy this, but be aware that it is not the same. It would have been really nice if they added an option to play just the original video, uncut.For anyone just looking for a decent holiday sing-along, this would probably be a great choice, and in that context I give it 4 stars. The 11 original songs are classic, and I'm guessing from a newbie perspective the new songs and narrator wouldn't be offensive (like they are to me, haha). The load of commercials at the beginning are annoying to skip through though, since it won't allow the menu button. | 987 | [
"Clearly attempting to appeal to both fans of the old VHS and newcomers, Disney didn't fully succeed with this DVD.",
"They added several new songs to the beginning and end of the original footage and a narrator in between every song.",
"It absolutely detracts from the original experience by nature, and it doesn't help that the new content isn't really of the same quality as the original stuff.I suppose I wouldn't tell fans of the VHS not to buy this, but be aware that it is not the same.",
"It would have been really nice if they added an option to play just the original video, uncut.For anyone just looking for a decent holiday sing-along, this would probably be a great choice, and in that context I give it 4 stars.",
"The 11 original songs are classic, and I'm guessing from a newbie perspective the new songs and narrator wouldn't be offensive (like they are to me, haha).",
"The load of commercials at the beginning are annoying to skip through though, since it won't allow the menu button."
] |
2 | Not Pell's Best | First of all, I bought this disc after buying two other discs by the Dave Pell Octet (I Had the Craziest Dream and Jazz Goes Dancing/Campus Hop). Those two are superb featuring some of the best west coast jazz of the 50's - I highly recommed them. My expectation for this disc was more of the same since it has essentially the same personnel (Pell, Fagerquist, Previn et. al.) but it was no where near as good. The arrangements just aren't as interesting and in fact there's really only 1 or 2 swinging tunes in the whole set. The rest plod along like a funeral march. Maybe because it was earlier, I'm not sure but the charts are very anemic and lack any kind of oomph! The second disc in this two-fer, the Katz LP reissue - is OK and features some nice stuff but not enough to make me want to play it again and again. It also suffers from some lifeless arranging which is a shame given that Jimmy Raney plays on a few of the tunes and he's such a hard swinging guitarist. Keep looking! | 987 | [
"First of all, I bought this disc after buying two other discs by the Dave Pell Octet (I Had the Craziest Dream and Jazz Goes Dancing/Campus Hop).",
"Those two are superb featuring some of the best west coast jazz of the 50's - I highly recommed them.",
"My expectation for this disc was more of the same since it has essentially the same personnel (Pell, Fagerquist, Previn et.",
"al.) but it was no where near as good.",
"The arrangements just aren't as interesting and in fact there's really only 1 or 2 swinging tunes in the whole set.",
"The rest plod along like a funeral march.",
"Maybe because it was earlier, I'm not sure but the charts are very anemic and lack any kind of oomph!",
"The second disc in this two-fer, the Katz LP reissue - is OK and features some nice stuff but not enough to make me want to play it again and again.",
"It also suffers from some lifeless arranging which is a shame given that Jimmy Raney plays on a few of the tunes and he's such a hard swinging guitarist.",
"Keep looking!"
] |
2 | Works inconsistently! | The motion detector on this system is not very good. Even if my cats spend a fairly long time in the tray doing their business, the motion detector only trips the scooper sometimes (the light blinks while they're in the tray, indicating that the motion sensor knows they are there, but once they've gone it's supposed to keep blinking until the poop has dried and it auto-scoops. Instead it stops blinking when the cats leave the tray and it never scoops). It has gone for days not detecting the cats, then might work once. In the meantime, the tray has gotten full of poop. When it does work, it's pretty good, but after 2 weeks (with 2 cats) it stinks! And I've had to scoop out the poop at least every 4th day to keep it from getting overly full (it has a very small 'reservoir' for the old poop).I'm not impressed. I don't have to scoop every day, but I do have to push the button myself to make it work, so it isn't useful for the long weekends away I'd hoped it would be great for. | 987 | [
"The motion detector on this system is not very good.",
"Even if my cats spend a fairly long time in the tray doing their business, the motion detector only trips the scooper sometimes (the light blinks while they're in the tray, indicating that the motion sensor knows they are there, but once they've gone it's supposed to keep blinking until the poop has dried and it auto-scoops.",
"Instead it stops blinking when the cats leave the tray and it never scoops).",
"It has gone for days not detecting the cats, then might work once.",
"In the meantime, the tray has gotten full of poop.",
"When it does work, it's pretty good, but after 2 weeks (with 2 cats) it stinks!",
"And I've had to scoop out the poop at least every 4th day to keep it from getting overly full (it has a very small 'reservoir' for the old poop).I'm not impressed.",
"I don't have to scoop every day, but I do have to push the button myself to make it work, so it isn't useful for the long weekends away I'd hoped it would be great for."
] |
2 | DVD door broken from start | Purchased this unit refurbished online, which I won't do again. Doubt any repair had gone on at all. From the start the DVD door would not open with the remote or the button on the unit. You could hear the motor trying, the machine just showed ERR across the front of the screen. Called JVC, they talked me through a reprogram, which of course did nothing, then suggested I take it in for repair! Yeah, right. While moving the unit around I could hear something rattling, so I unscrewed the side and shook it out, a broken chunk of plastic and a plastic dial, I would imagine the DVD door opening mechanism. Good thing it had been refurbished, eh? On the plus side, the VCR side worked fine, good picture and sound. Did not try recording. The remote was nice, thorough yet easy to use, and worked great with the TV. I was considering trying the unit again until reading all these reviews. Those of you that got well functioning units, it sounds like you got lucky. I'm looking elsewhere. | 987 | [
"Purchased this unit refurbished online, which I won't do again.",
"Doubt any repair had gone on at all.",
"From the start the DVD door would not open with the remote or the button on the unit.",
"You could hear the motor trying, the machine just showed ERR across the front of the screen.",
"Called JVC, they talked me through a reprogram, which of course did nothing, then suggested I take it in for repair!",
"Yeah, right.",
"While moving the unit around I could hear something rattling, so I unscrewed the side and shook it out, a broken chunk of plastic and a plastic dial, I would imagine the DVD door opening mechanism.",
"Good thing it had been refurbished, eh?",
"On the plus side, the VCR side worked fine, good picture and sound.",
"Did not try recording.",
"The remote was nice, thorough yet easy to use, and worked great with the TV.",
"I was considering trying the unit again until reading all these reviews.",
"Those of you that got well functioning units, it sounds like you got lucky.",
"I'm looking elsewhere."
] |
2 | underwhelmed for the price | I bought the HDR-HC1E the first weekend it was on sale as i wanted to update my old camcorder and thought this HD model woud be terrific. I was really excited to get it. However after a few months I'm quite disappointed with the performace for the $. Seriously consider the Panasonics (at a third less for the top line model) IMHO.The picture is grainy and the low light level performance terrible. And i find with a 5 yo kid so many occasions are indoors...ballet concert, kindergarten parade etc etc, all the sorts of events i use the camera for.We also just went on holidays and it's heavy and large compared to some new camcorders, which i wouldn't mind if the picture quality was first rate.I also found very frustrating the lack of information to help me get the best from this particular model camcorder. There's really nothing i can find. *Maybe* that would help.I would urge you if considering to go to a shop and compare models side by side first. I just took Sony's word...... | 987 | [
"I bought the HDR-HC1E the first weekend it was on sale as i wanted to update my old camcorder and thought this HD model woud be terrific.",
"I was really excited to get it.",
"However after a few months I'm quite disappointed with the performace for the $.",
"Seriously consider the Panasonics (at a third less for the top line model) IMHO.The picture is grainy and the low light level performance terrible.",
"And i find with a 5 yo kid so many occasions are indoors...ballet concert, kindergarten parade etc etc, all the sorts of events i use the camera for.We also just went on holidays and it's heavy and large compared to some new camcorders, which i wouldn't mind if the picture quality was first rate.I also found very frustrating the lack of information to help me get the best from this particular model camcorder.",
"There's really nothing i can find.",
"*Maybe* that would help.I would urge you if considering to go to a shop and compare models side by side first.",
"I just took Sony's word......"
] |
2 | strangefolk loses its way | For anyone who knew Strangefolk back in the 1990's: approach this record (and this incarnation of the band) with caution.Reid Genauer is gone, replaced with a new singer/guitarist who sounds like a classic-rock karaoke singer and brays like an injured mountain goat. The magic of the original Strangefolk lineup came from Reid's thoughtful songwriting and soulful singing, Jon Trafton's inventive guitar, and the band's tight grooves. Now Reid is gone. Trafton doesn't show much of the fire that he once had. On the plus side, the band can still kick a groove and Luke Smith remains the best drummer in the genre. But without a compelling story to tell or even a heartfelt emotion to convey, this new Strangefolk has become just another neo-hippie jam band on the fraternity circuit.Bottom line: If you were into the band for the grooves then this record will probably suit you. If you were into them for the songs, you'll have better luck with Reid Genauer's post-Strangefolk solo work. | 987 | [
"For anyone who knew Strangefolk back in the 1990's: approach this record (and this incarnation of the band) with caution.Reid Genauer is gone, replaced with a new singer/guitarist who sounds like a classic-rock karaoke singer and brays like an injured mountain goat.",
"The magic of the original Strangefolk lineup came from Reid's thoughtful songwriting and soulful singing, Jon Trafton's inventive guitar, and the band's tight grooves.",
"Now Reid is gone.",
"Trafton doesn't show much of the fire that he once had.",
"On the plus side, the band can still kick a groove and Luke Smith remains the best drummer in the genre.",
"But without a compelling story to tell or even a heartfelt emotion to convey, this new Strangefolk has become just another neo-hippie jam band on the fraternity circuit.Bottom line: If you were into the band for the grooves then this record will probably suit you.",
"If you were into them for the songs, you'll have better luck with Reid Genauer's post-Strangefolk solo work."
] |
2 | Disappointing Dexter | Love, love the Showtime series, which prompted my reading the books.First Dexter book - great.This second one: I'm going to chalk it up to the stereotypical disappointing sophomore effort. I hope. Haven't yet moved on to the third book in the series, which may get Mr. Lindsay back on track.Dearly Devoted Dexter requires the reader to suspend belief too, too far. It's as if the LE characters are entirely free agents within their county and federal organizations, and have nothing else to do but work on this case in which one agent knows the killer but for whatever stupid reason, chooses not to share the identity with others. Not to mention all four characters agree for a stupid, unsupported reason not to alert target victims to their upcoming demise.And the little sidebar with young Cody as a possible pre-pubescent psychopath for Dexter to raise up in the Right Harry Path? Too much.There's enough witty prose to earn the two stars, otherwise it's merely Drearily Dismal Dreck. | 987 | [
"Love, love the Showtime series, which prompted my reading the books.First Dexter book - great.This second one: I'm going to chalk it up to the stereotypical disappointing sophomore effort.",
"I hope.",
"Haven't yet moved on to the third book in the series, which may get Mr.",
"Lindsay back on track.Dearly Devoted Dexter requires the reader to suspend belief too, too far.",
"It's as if the LE characters are entirely free agents within their county and federal organizations, and have nothing else to do but work on this case in which one agent knows the killer but for whatever stupid reason, chooses not to share the identity with others.",
"Not to mention all four characters agree for a stupid, unsupported reason not to alert target victims to their upcoming demise.And the little sidebar with young Cody as a possible pre-pubescent psychopath for Dexter to raise up in the Right Harry Path?",
"Too much.There's enough witty prose to earn the two stars, otherwise it's merely Drearily Dismal Dreck."
] |
2 | Nostalgia and mush | I was terribly excited to pick up a novelization of one of my favorite AD&D adventures from once upon a time. Aside from the nostalgia of being reminded of the excitement and fun you had when you originally played this adventure there is nothing notable about this book. The characters are flat and underdeveloped stock archetypes with no surprises at all for an experienced reader. The moody loner who is feared by the world and responds by withdrawing into his own little hostile mind. The quirky and troublesome female who is at first a burden to our hero, but who eventually shows him how to love. It's a sad comment on the quality of character development and storyline when you discover that a sentient fur coat is the most interesting element of the entire book.So, if you've been away from role-playing for a long while and would like to take a little nostalgic trip down memory lane this book will serve that purpose. But if you're looking for some good fantasy, keep searching. | 987 | [
"I was terribly excited to pick up a novelization of one of my favorite AD&D adventures from once upon a time.",
"Aside from the nostalgia of being reminded of the excitement and fun you had when you originally played this adventure there is nothing notable about this book.",
"The characters are flat and underdeveloped stock archetypes with no surprises at all for an experienced reader.",
"The moody loner who is feared by the world and responds by withdrawing into his own little hostile mind.",
"The quirky and troublesome female who is at first a burden to our hero, but who eventually shows him how to love.",
"It's a sad comment on the quality of character development and storyline when you discover that a sentient fur coat is the most interesting element of the entire book.So, if you've been away from role-playing for a long while and would like to take a little nostalgic trip down memory lane this book will serve that purpose.",
"But if you're looking for some good fantasy, keep searching."
] |
2 | Not worth the money | I bought this for my 16 month old because of the 3 in 1 combination. As a rocker he loves it although it doesn't rock very much. As far as pushing him with the handle, thats a joke. First of all the steering wheel is controlled by the kid so if he turns it just slightly you're running into the grass. My arms are so sore from trying to keep it on the sidewalk. Also the pin that keeps the handle up jiggles out so I had to keep pushing it back in. I must have stopped four times in 15 minutes just to put the pin back in. Also since the pin comes out so easily, my son likes to sit behind the bike and pull the pin right out- in which case the handle then cracks him on the head! The foot rests are also terrible. They don't stay locked in place and when they come unlocked my son's feet get stuck under the bike which then makes it tip. The foot rests aren't very big to start with and he has a hard time fitting his feet on them in the first place. Overall I would say avoid this toy. | 987 | [
"I bought this for my 16 month old because of the 3 in 1 combination.",
"As a rocker he loves it although it doesn't rock very much.",
"As far as pushing him with the handle, thats a joke.",
"First of all the steering wheel is controlled by the kid so if he turns it just slightly you're running into the grass.",
"My arms are so sore from trying to keep it on the sidewalk.",
"Also the pin that keeps the handle up jiggles out so I had to keep pushing it back in.",
"I must have stopped four times in 15 minutes just to put the pin back in.",
"Also since the pin comes out so easily, my son likes to sit behind the bike and pull the pin right out- in which case the handle then cracks him on the head!",
"The foot rests are also terrible.",
"They don't stay locked in place and when they come unlocked my son's feet get stuck under the bike which then makes it tip.",
"The foot rests aren't very big to start with and he has a hard time fitting his feet on them in the first place.",
"Overall I would say avoid this toy."
] |
2 | Uninspired | By riding the wave of Japanese and Spanish horror flicks over the last three years, I guess I've irreparably damaged myself. I'm permanently soured on American-made horror movies. Cabin Fever is no exception. Though its indie status and nice camerawork are alluring, it trots out the old Hollywood cliches like a champ (kids rent cabin in woods, are divided by an invading "evil"--been there, done that). Its humor seems out of place, too. I apologize, BUT ARE THERE ANY U.S. DIRECTORS OUT THERE PAYING ATTENTION TO PEOPLE LIKE KIYOSHI KUROSAWA OR JUAME BALAGUERO? Bring on the Pang Brothers, please. By the way, anyone thinking the New Wave of Asian horror is kaputt, check out "The Uninvited" 2003 with Park Shin Yang and Jeon Ji Hyun. Nice little psychological creeper, with a breathtaking, slo-mo high-rise suicide scene. Absolutely brain-chilling. I guess maybe someday there will be another American horror movie that does the job--but Cabin Fever isn't one of them by any stretch. | 987 | [
"By riding the wave of Japanese and Spanish horror flicks over the last three years, I guess I've irreparably damaged myself.",
"I'm permanently soured on American-made horror movies.",
"Cabin Fever is no exception.",
"Though its indie status and nice camerawork are alluring, it trots out the old Hollywood cliches like a champ (kids rent cabin in woods, are divided by an invading \"evil\"--been there, done that).",
"Its humor seems out of place, too.",
"I apologize, BUT ARE THERE ANY U.S. DIRECTORS OUT THERE PAYING ATTENTION TO PEOPLE LIKE KIYOSHI KUROSAWA OR JUAME BALAGUERO?",
"Bring on the Pang Brothers, please.",
"By the way, anyone thinking the New Wave of Asian horror is kaputt, check out \"The Uninvited\" 2003 with Park Shin Yang and Jeon Ji Hyun.",
"Nice little psychological creeper, with a breathtaking, slo-mo high-rise suicide scene.",
"Absolutely brain-chilling.",
"I guess maybe someday there will be another American horror movie that does the job--but Cabin Fever isn't one of them by any stretch."
] |
2 | I don't get it....kind of. | It took me forever to finish this book. I am the type of person who finishes every book I start, no matter what. I am not sure how long it would take if you tried to read this book in one sitting (the audio book says it is over 30 hours), but either way it's about 10 hours too long. For the length of this book, there is really no action. I like sex as much as the next person and like it in the books I read, but come on; there seemed to be so much sex between the two main characters that was so out of context that it was borderline ridiculous. I loved the concept of the book..."time travel" during a period when it would have been technologically impossible. I realize even today it is not possible, but having time travel when TV's were not even invented yet was an excellent idea. Especially since there was no equipment involved. Even though I gave it two stars, I am going to read the next one because I love the premise. I can see why people would love this book, just not me! | 987 | [
"It took me forever to finish this book.",
"I am the type of person who finishes every book I start, no matter what.",
"I am not sure how long it would take if you tried to read this book in one sitting (the audio book says it is over 30 hours), but either way it's about 10 hours too long.",
"For the length of this book, there is really no action.",
"I like sex as much as the next person and like it in the books I read, but come on; there seemed to be so much sex between the two main characters that was so out of context that it was borderline ridiculous.",
"I loved the concept of the book...\"time travel\" during a period when it would have been technologically impossible.",
"I realize even today it is not possible, but having time travel when TV's were not even invented yet was an excellent idea.",
"Especially since there was no equipment involved.",
"Even though I gave it two stars, I am going to read the next one because I love the premise.",
"I can see why people would love this book, just not me!"
] |
2 | Definate artifact problems | OK, before you think I'm crazy for giving this player a 2, read the article at the link below. This player has definate artifact problems, especially with dark reds (candelight, campfire scenes, etc). These artifacts don't occur when I watch HDTV through my tuner. Jagged edges and pixlization occur in all of the movies I've watched so far. Although this particular player has not been reviewed at the site below, several other Sony models have, and almost all of them have severe problems with their progressive scanning (you'll also find this in reviews of other Sony DVD players). I guess Sony is still having problems with this.The sound through the player is great though - comes through my Sony receiver great. Other gripes are that the AC chord is not detachable and the player doesn't come with an HDMI cable. I would recommend looking at other players before buying this questionable model.http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_7_4/dvd-benchmark-part-5-progressive-10-2000.html | 987 | [
"OK, before you think I'm crazy for giving this player a 2, read the article at the link below.",
"This player has definate artifact problems, especially with dark reds (candelight, campfire scenes, etc).",
"These artifacts don't occur when I watch HDTV through my tuner.",
"Jagged edges and pixlization occur in all of the movies I've watched so far.",
"Although this particular player has not been reviewed at the site below, several other Sony models have, and almost all of them have severe problems with their progressive scanning (you'll also find this in reviews of other Sony DVD players).",
"I guess Sony is still having problems with this.The sound through the player is great though - comes through my Sony receiver great.",
"Other gripes are that the AC chord is not detachable and the player doesn't come with an HDMI cable.",
"I would recommend looking at other players before buying this questionable model.http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_7_4/dvd-benchmark-part-5-progressive-10-2000.html"
] |
2 | Not easy! | I should have listened to the other reviews complaining about the lack of power.What it really boils down to (IMO) is that the valve is poorly designed. It relies on the grate to be perfectly tight in order to prevent backflow. Gotta check that grate before every water change!! Even when the valve is working, it is very difficult to start via any of the three common methods.Another major flaw is the lack of an angle at the input end. I find there is no effective suction until the entire oval is pressed against the gravel surface, which is difficult when there is no angle.Lastly, the large diameter hose pulls water way too quickly. The combination of no angle with large hose turns this is a rapid siphon. This leaves me rushing to clean what I can before the bucket is full.Perhaps I got spoiled with my old Fluval vac, but its smaller hose gave me plenty of time to dig around and loosen detris. Too bad they don't make a longer one. My hunt for a good 24" gravel vac continues. | 987 | [
"I should have listened to the other reviews complaining about the lack of power.What it really boils down to (IMO) is that the valve is poorly designed.",
"It relies on the grate to be perfectly tight in order to prevent backflow.",
"Gotta check that grate before every water change!!",
"Even when the valve is working, it is very difficult to start via any of the three common methods.Another major flaw is the lack of an angle at the input end.",
"I find there is no effective suction until the entire oval is pressed against the gravel surface, which is difficult when there is no angle.Lastly, the large diameter hose pulls water way too quickly.",
"The combination of no angle with large hose turns this is a rapid siphon.",
"This leaves me rushing to clean what I can before the bucket is full.Perhaps I got spoiled with my old Fluval vac, but its smaller hose gave me plenty of time to dig around and loosen detris.",
"Too bad they don't make a longer one.",
"My hunt for a good 24\" gravel vac continues."
] |
2 | Silly | I read romance, so I must necessarily and regularly suspend my disbelief of romance heroines' (and heroes') actions. But the actions of Dorsey, the heroine in How to Trap a Tycoon, made me want to throw this book against the wall. Dorsey is supposed to be a serious academic, committed to her college and her career. Yet, Dorsey allows her editor to guilt her into playing "dress up" and go on a book tour which could ruin her reputation. When she gives in, I lost all respect for her.And the hero! He's dumb enough to sleep with Dorsey and then not recognize her because she wears a tight dress and a lot of makeup.Bevarly almost made up for her characterization with some funny lines -- the only reason this book didn't hit my wall. However, this book doesn't match My Man Pendleton in wit. (If you want to read a good Bevarly book, I suggest finding My Man Pendleton.)On a side note, as I have spent a lot of time in the Michigan Avenue Borders, I was happy to see it appear in print. | 987 | [
"I read romance, so I must necessarily and regularly suspend my disbelief of romance heroines' (and heroes') actions.",
"But the actions of Dorsey, the heroine in How to Trap a Tycoon, made me want to throw this book against the wall.",
"Dorsey is supposed to be a serious academic, committed to her college and her career.",
"Yet, Dorsey allows her editor to guilt her into playing \"dress up\" and go on a book tour which could ruin her reputation.",
"When she gives in, I lost all respect for her.And the hero!",
"He's dumb enough to sleep with Dorsey and then not recognize her because she wears a tight dress and a lot of makeup.Bevarly almost made up for her characterization with some funny lines -- the only reason this book didn't hit my wall.",
"However, this book doesn't match My Man Pendleton in wit.",
"(If you want to read a good Bevarly book, I suggest finding My Man Pendleton.)On a side note, as I have spent a lot of time in the Michigan Avenue Borders, I was happy to see it appear in print."
] |
2 | not worth is | I bought this item and went by the image, which says 12 pack on the image and pack of 24 in the writing. This is not the case, as most of their other items say, the image shows how many in the box and the writing shows how many boxes there are. Well, there is 24 boxes but only 4 soups in each, not 12. I called customer services who said you are right, it does say that but its not there fault, they only know what the company tells them and its been 3weeks and the same image is still up for customers. I bought other items through the new grocery, and most images show the number of items in the box and the wording shows how many boxes, so don't buy this item thinking your getting 12 in each because customer service will make you feel like its your fault and have no consideration for their false advertising. if this isnt bad enough, the soups are small with almost nothing in them for a cup a soup. Just be cautious with what you buy here, if they dont know whats in them either. | 987 | [
"I bought this item and went by the image, which says 12 pack on the image and pack of 24 in the writing.",
"This is not the case, as most of their other items say, the image shows how many in the box and the writing shows how many boxes there are.",
"Well, there is 24 boxes but only 4 soups in each, not 12.",
"I called customer services who said you are right, it does say that but its not there fault, they only know what the company tells them and its been 3weeks and the same image is still up for customers.",
"I bought other items through the new grocery, and most images show the number of items in the box and the wording shows how many boxes, so don't buy this item thinking your getting 12 in each because customer service will make you feel like its your fault and have no consideration for their false advertising.",
"if this isnt bad enough, the soups are small with almost nothing in them for a cup a soup.",
"Just be cautious with what you buy here, if they dont know whats in them either."
] |
2 | "Alive" is brain dead! | This movie started off interesting enough. A man murders the gang that raped his girlfriend and is placed in the electric chair. When the voltage fails to kill him, he is given the option to live or to be fried again. He chooses life. Enter storyline #2. He is put into what seems to be a "Cube" type experiment: locked in a metal room with a psychotic man who claims to have also escaped The Chair. It appears some government scientists are testing how long it will take these two to kill each other. But that's not it. Enter storyline #3. A beautiful woman appears to the men. It seems she is the host for an alien entity that her father contracted from eating a baboon that visited a spaceship in the jungle (Oh, how I wish I were making that up!). The remainder of the film is a mess of Hell images, Kung-fu showdowns with cloned super-soldiers, and random shootings that make no earthly sense. Someone should have read the script for "Alive" and pronounced this film D.O.A. instead. | 987 | [
"This movie started off interesting enough.",
"A man murders the gang that raped his girlfriend and is placed in the electric chair.",
"When the voltage fails to kill him, he is given the option to live or to be fried again.",
"He chooses life.",
"Enter storyline #2.",
"He is put into what seems to be a \"Cube\" type experiment: locked in a metal room with a psychotic man who claims to have also escaped The Chair.",
"It appears some government scientists are testing how long it will take these two to kill each other.",
"But that's not it.",
"Enter storyline #3.",
"A beautiful woman appears to the men.",
"It seems she is the host for an alien entity that her father contracted from eating a baboon that visited a spaceship in the jungle (Oh, how I wish I were making that up!",
").",
"The remainder of the film is a mess of Hell images, Kung-fu showdowns with cloned super-soldiers, and random shootings that make no earthly sense.",
"Someone should have read the script for \"Alive\" and pronounced this film D.O.A. instead."
] |
2 | Missing vital components | As a new subscriber to the organic food movement but needing more information on it, I bought this book because I thought it would by my primary "source" on it. Wrong. I expected page after page of sound and detailed arguments where the author would SHOW the reader the benefits of organic food. Instead what I got was 4 page chapters where the author only tells the reader why it's better, and does so with minimal evidence. It goes into way too much detail on the legal and commercial history of the movement leaving out a thorough analysis and comparison of the real value of organic food, that it's not processed like conventional food is. Showing this process through illustrative righting and contrasting with organic food, perhaps doing a commidity chain analysis on several food items, needs to be the centerpiece of such a book and it is simply missing. For those more interested in the evolution of organic food and looking for contemporary resources on it, this is their book. | 987 | [
"As a new subscriber to the organic food movement but needing more information on it, I bought this book because I thought it would by my primary \"source\" on it.",
"Wrong.",
"I expected page after page of sound and detailed arguments where the author would SHOW the reader the benefits of organic food.",
"Instead what I got was 4 page chapters where the author only tells the reader why it's better, and does so with minimal evidence.",
"It goes into way too much detail on the legal and commercial history of the movement leaving out a thorough analysis and comparison of the real value of organic food, that it's not processed like conventional food is.",
"Showing this process through illustrative righting and contrasting with organic food, perhaps doing a commidity chain analysis on several food items, needs to be the centerpiece of such a book and it is simply missing.",
"For those more interested in the evolution of organic food and looking for contemporary resources on it, this is their book."
] |
2 | Wild Ride | Sherry Rogers probably has some nuggets of information in this mess of a book. She apparently doesn't work with an editor, and writing simple declarative sentences is not her strong suit. The book isn't indexed, she gives so many suggestions for patented products to use, but never summarizes at the end of chapters. She repeats herself endlessly. But you really have to dig for specific information, take notes or something. None of the reviewers of this book reported actually applying her suggestions and benefiting from them, so we have no way of knowing if the stuff works. She also seems to suggest that religious faith is a requirement for her guidelines to work, along with somehow dumping any negative emotional patterns you may have. People seem to be impressed that she has an M.D. degree and cites references. She's also a macrobiotics advocate, which is fine, but macrobioticists usually indicate that you can recover from your chronic problems by simply following the diet. | 987 | [
"Sherry Rogers probably has some nuggets of information in this mess of a book.",
"She apparently doesn't work with an editor, and writing simple declarative sentences is not her strong suit.",
"The book isn't indexed, she gives so many suggestions for patented products to use, but never summarizes at the end of chapters.",
"She repeats herself endlessly.",
"But you really have to dig for specific information, take notes or something.",
"None of the reviewers of this book reported actually applying her suggestions and benefiting from them, so we have no way of knowing if the stuff works.",
"She also seems to suggest that religious faith is a requirement for her guidelines to work, along with somehow dumping any negative emotional patterns you may have.",
"People seem to be impressed that she has an M.D. degree and cites references.",
"She's also a macrobiotics advocate, which is fine, but macrobioticists usually indicate that you can recover from your chronic problems by simply following the diet."
] |
2 | NOT worth the wait... | As a fan of Tina McElroy Ansa, I anxiously awaited the arrival of this book for at least 2 1/2 years during which time she changed not only the title of the book (It was originally suppose to be titled "And You Should Know Better") but also changed publishers. When the book was finally released, I had to have been one of first people in line to buy it and I must say that I was EXTREMELY disappointed. I did not feel the depth from these charachters that was so easily detected in her past 3 novels, and the story itself simply was not at all intriguing. Though it took Mrs. Ansa several years to follow up her last release, this novel was written as though it took only a few weeks, perhaps due to the fact that she and her husband were working on a screenplay for one of her earlier novels. If you've never read any of T.M. Ansa's work before, PLEASE don't let this novel be the gauge by which you judge her writing ability. I just hope that she is able to redeem herself after this. | 987 | [
"As a fan of Tina McElroy Ansa, I anxiously awaited the arrival of this book for at least 2 1/2 years during which time she changed not only the title of the book (It was originally suppose to be titled \"And You Should Know Better\") but also changed publishers.",
"When the book was finally released, I had to have been one of first people in line to buy it and I must say that I was EXTREMELY disappointed.",
"I did not feel the depth from these charachters that was so easily detected in her past 3 novels, and the story itself simply was not at all intriguing.",
"Though it took Mrs.",
"Ansa several years to follow up her last release, this novel was written as though it took only a few weeks, perhaps due to the fact that she and her husband were working on a screenplay for one of her earlier novels.",
"If you've never read any of T.M. Ansa's work before, PLEASE don't let this novel be the gauge by which you judge her writing ability.",
"I just hope that she is able to redeem herself after this."
] |
2 | It wasn't about education | I wish I could have given this book more stars. I admire Chomsky on many different levels and I was very excited to see this book. I am a teacher as is my husband and we feel there are a lot of anti-teacher, anti-public education, anti-students, etc. attitudes facing us, and we feel many are instigated by the corporate attack on the U.S. We thought, "Great! If there is anyone who can break these issues down and do them justice, it's Chomsky." Unfortunately, like the previous reviews stated, he relied on what he knows best which, as always, is well-argued and very peruasive. Yet, education in the U.S. didn't really fit into the big picture. We are disappointed that we bought a book that we have read before (a pastiche of earlier books). I am very let down that there was no exploration of the current state of education. Any analysis of U.S. education would have been nice. The title is deceptive and I am hurt that he didn't write about an issue that hits close to home for me. | 987 | [
"I wish I could have given this book more stars.",
"I admire Chomsky on many different levels and I was very excited to see this book.",
"I am a teacher as is my husband and we feel there are a lot of anti-teacher, anti-public education, anti-students, etc.",
"attitudes facing us, and we feel many are instigated by the corporate attack on the U.S. We thought, \"Great!",
"If there is anyone who can break these issues down and do them justice, it's Chomsky.\" Unfortunately, like the previous reviews stated, he relied on what he knows best which, as always, is well-argued and very peruasive.",
"Yet, education in the U.S. didn't really fit into the big picture.",
"We are disappointed that we bought a book that we have read before (a pastiche of earlier books).",
"I am very let down that there was no exploration of the current state of education.",
"Any analysis of U.S. education would have been nice.",
"The title is deceptive and I am hurt that he didn't write about an issue that hits close to home for me."
] |
2 | Big Disappointment | The grounds are good, but the plastic bin that they drop into sprays fine grounds all over the palce when you pull it out, even very gently, due to static electricity (noted in another review). We find if we wait a few minutes after each round of grinding, the spray of grounds is somewhat less dramatic, but still very messy. Fundamental design flaw, Capresso.Frankly, we dread grinding coffee beans due to the mess it makes. We wind up spreading out newspaper under the unit to catch all the tiny grounds that spray out.I contacted Capresso about this via their website. Their customer support had no sugegstions or remedy, no static-resistant replacement cup, basically they were unhelpful and surprisingly unsympathetic. "All grinders have that problem" was their attitude.It's a shame, because we are devoted to our MT-500 coffee maker, which makes outstanding coffee. But this burr grinder is a big disappointment. I do not expect we will buy another Capresso grinder anytime soon. | 987 | [
"The grounds are good, but the plastic bin that they drop into sprays fine grounds all over the palce when you pull it out, even very gently, due to static electricity (noted in another review).",
"We find if we wait a few minutes after each round of grinding, the spray of grounds is somewhat less dramatic, but still very messy.",
"Fundamental design flaw, Capresso.Frankly, we dread grinding coffee beans due to the mess it makes.",
"We wind up spreading out newspaper under the unit to catch all the tiny grounds that spray out.I contacted Capresso about this via their website.",
"Their customer support had no sugegstions or remedy, no static-resistant replacement cup, basically they were unhelpful and surprisingly unsympathetic.",
"\"All grinders have that problem\" was their attitude.It's a shame, because we are devoted to our MT-500 coffee maker, which makes outstanding coffee.",
"But this burr grinder is a big disappointment.",
"I do not expect we will buy another Capresso grinder anytime soon."
] |
2 | Somehow Unsatisfying | This book left me wanting. I hear a lot of rhetoric all the time about the positive aspects of ADD so I wanted some guidance on maximizing mine, and finding a good professional niche that would finally pull things together for me. This wasn't it.It is really just a collection of stories about people who have found unusual work. But almost all of the individuals "fell" into their solution. So the message is hang out until something falls into your lap? Not helpful.Other stories involved people who had advantages often not available to an ADD adult who has little money or education due to lack of treament -- due to little money -- due to lack of treatment -- due to little money....I would have liked to see more practical examples, showing why the solution was well suited for the particular ADD type, and how success was acheived step by step so that I can see some clear possibilities and, most importantly, realistic options as an ADD'er.Kudos for the positive approach though! | 987 | [
"This book left me wanting.",
"I hear a lot of rhetoric all the time about the positive aspects of ADD so I wanted some guidance on maximizing mine, and finding a good professional niche that would finally pull things together for me.",
"This wasn't it.It is really just a collection of stories about people who have found unusual work.",
"But almost all of the individuals \"fell\" into their solution.",
"So the message is hang out until something falls into your lap?",
"Not helpful.Other stories involved people who had advantages often not available to an ADD adult who has little money or education due to lack of treament -- due to little money -- due to lack of treatment -- due to little money....I would have liked to see more practical examples, showing why the solution was well suited for the particular ADD type, and how success was acheived step by step so that I can see some clear possibilities and, most importantly, realistic options as an ADD'er.Kudos for the positive approach though!"
] |
2 | Misses the Mark | A collection of three novellas by three different authors - perhaps to be enjoyed by those who most like their Christianity in a nice neat little box? Somewhat silly and unrealistic but with some interesting details, all with strong evangelical fundamentalist undertones and characters who are mighty quick to don their cloak of righteousness. Misunderstandings and bickering abound, and the "feminine love interest" in two of the stories actually strikes out physically. I struggled with the rigidity and hostility. There is little gentleness or grace - but rather there IS a high level of spoon-fed "belief."So, perhaps I should just avoid "Christian Romance" entirely? Well, if there had been any hint on the cover of this collection, I might have done exactly that. But I did bother to read these (bother being the key word?) and would instead refer the gentle reader to the fiction of Frederick Buechner, Jan Karon and Philip Gulley. For me this collection missed the mark.Mamalinda | 987 | [
"A collection of three novellas by three different authors - perhaps to be enjoyed by those who most like their Christianity in a nice neat little box?",
"Somewhat silly and unrealistic but with some interesting details, all with strong evangelical fundamentalist undertones and characters who are mighty quick to don their cloak of righteousness.",
"Misunderstandings and bickering abound, and the \"feminine love interest\" in two of the stories actually strikes out physically.",
"I struggled with the rigidity and hostility.",
"There is little gentleness or grace - but rather there IS a high level of spoon-fed \"belief.\"So, perhaps I should just avoid \"Christian Romance\" entirely?",
"Well, if there had been any hint on the cover of this collection, I might have done exactly that.",
"But I did bother to read these (bother being the key word?",
") and would instead refer the gentle reader to the fiction of Frederick Buechner, Jan Karon and Philip Gulley.",
"For me this collection missed the mark.Mamalinda"
] |
2 | Don't waste your time... | What a major disappointment this movie was. It's just a bunch of horrifying images with little to no character developement. Was I supposed to care about these women or just watch them all die and hope I find the death scenes enjoyable? And exactly how many centuries would it take for humans to become bat like is beyond me, but I don't think it would have happened just yet. And how strong are these things? They can take down large game and wolves but a 110 pound woman can take out 4 of them at the same time? Whatever. The deleted scenes are horrible and deserved to be deleted, maybe they should have deleted the whole movie. I gave it 2 stars just because the movie was somewhat watchable until the end. What the hell was that anyway? If it would have ended with the dream getaway I would have said it was a bad movie, but the actual ending made me dislike it even more. I say you should waste less of your time and get the Cave instead. I even liked Dog Soliders, what happened? | 986 | [
"What a major disappointment this movie was.",
"It's just a bunch of horrifying images with little to no character developement.",
"Was I supposed to care about these women or just watch them all die and hope I find the death scenes enjoyable?",
"And exactly how many centuries would it take for humans to become bat like is beyond me, but I don't think it would have happened just yet.",
"And how strong are these things?",
"They can take down large game and wolves but a 110 pound woman can take out 4 of them at the same time?",
"Whatever.",
"The deleted scenes are horrible and deserved to be deleted, maybe they should have deleted the whole movie.",
"I gave it 2 stars just because the movie was somewhat watchable until the end.",
"What the hell was that anyway?",
"If it would have ended with the dream getaway I would have said it was a bad movie, but the actual ending made me dislike it even more.",
"I say you should waste less of your time and get the Cave instead.",
"I even liked Dog Soliders, what happened?"
] |
2 | Trying... | The first word that came to mind while thinking of this film was 'odious' but I'll do it a bit of a service and say it's merely *trying.* I watched it on Amazon instant (I like the service but keep in mind I am no hard-core cinephile, my concern is the story alone, not so much the technology) and made it through to the end.I felt rather ragged afterwards. The character of Milton left perhaps the biggest impression on me - he looked and sounded and acted like a Muppet, particularly Beaker. That was a very trying element in this film. I felt like I was watching a strange permutation of James Thurber's The Catbird Seat, told in a backwards way from some unimportant background characters.The protagonist didn't feel like a protagonist. The only really wonderful piece of acting was that of Mr. Lumberg, whose dry, grueling "that would be great," stole the show. It was grotesque and hilarious.Otherwise, this was a legitimately unsatisfying film. I don't plan on watching it again. | 986 | [
"The first word that came to mind while thinking of this film was 'odious' but I'll do it a bit of a service and say it's merely *trying.* I watched it on Amazon instant (I like the service but keep in mind I am no hard-core cinephile, my concern is the story alone, not so much the technology) and made it through to the end.I felt rather ragged afterwards.",
"The character of Milton left perhaps the biggest impression on me - he looked and sounded and acted like a Muppet, particularly Beaker.",
"That was a very trying element in this film.",
"I felt like I was watching a strange permutation of James Thurber's The Catbird Seat, told in a backwards way from some unimportant background characters.The protagonist didn't feel like a protagonist.",
"The only really wonderful piece of acting was that of Mr.",
"Lumberg, whose dry, grueling \"that would be great,\" stole the show.",
"It was grotesque and hilarious.Otherwise, this was a legitimately unsatisfying film.",
"I don't plan on watching it again."
] |
2 | Airy Fairy Ending | I found the movie to be a bit too melodramatic. The first two women suffered from the claustrophobic pressures of their societies. But Meryl Streep's character I didn't get. I could not understand why she was so miserable unless it was over the loss of happiness she used to have with her AIDS-ridden ex-lover Richard. He did nothing to ease her pity for him and almost blamed her for being selfish in missing the happiness they shared instead of allowing him to die in peace. Ungrateful, if you ask me.In the end, Julianne Moore's character creates a sort of closure for all those involved, but I certainly have not seen the results of that closure. I'm still confused. What was resolved, if anything was resolved at all? The theme of the movie went along the right dramatic lines but the ending just fizzed away. Performances were rightfully brilliant but story line just a bit too airy fairy for me. Not a heavy drama, but not a light drama either. Watch it if you have the patience. | 986 | [
"I found the movie to be a bit too melodramatic.",
"The first two women suffered from the claustrophobic pressures of their societies.",
"But Meryl Streep's character I didn't get.",
"I could not understand why she was so miserable unless it was over the loss of happiness she used to have with her AIDS-ridden ex-lover Richard.",
"He did nothing to ease her pity for him and almost blamed her for being selfish in missing the happiness they shared instead of allowing him to die in peace.",
"Ungrateful, if you ask me.In the end, Julianne Moore's character creates a sort of closure for all those involved, but I certainly have not seen the results of that closure.",
"I'm still confused.",
"What was resolved, if anything was resolved at all?",
"The theme of the movie went along the right dramatic lines but the ending just fizzed away.",
"Performances were rightfully brilliant but story line just a bit too airy fairy for me.",
"Not a heavy drama, but not a light drama either.",
"Watch it if you have the patience."
] |
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