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2 | Not Very Good | I purchased this book strictly on the recommendations from other Amazon readers. I was looking for a romance story with a fun, vampiric element. I did get the vampiric element, but I found the humour to be a bit underdeveloped and at times very childish. I think there were only three or four parts where I laughed out loud.Plus, romance books based strictly in the first person are confusing and difficult at best. I have only read two to date that are worthy.I have the sequel to this book, and deep inside I am hoping it offers more then this first one did. Interestingly, the author gives thanks to Christine Feehan whose Dark series are the hottest vampire romances on the market. And, although CF's books have been lacking of late, please don't look to this book to offset what you haven't been recieving in a Feehan book.If you are looking for fun vampire romance in the first person then I suggest Mary Janice Davidson's "Undead and Unwed". That book is absolutely hilarious. | 983 | [
"I purchased this book strictly on the recommendations from other Amazon readers.",
"I was looking for a romance story with a fun, vampiric element.",
"I did get the vampiric element, but I found the humour to be a bit underdeveloped and at times very childish.",
"I think there were only three or four parts where I laughed out loud.Plus, romance books based strictly in the first person are confusing and difficult at best.",
"I have only read two to date that are worthy.I have the sequel to this book, and deep inside I am hoping it offers more then this first one did.",
"Interestingly, the author gives thanks to Christine Feehan whose Dark series are the hottest vampire romances on the market.",
"And, although CF's books have been lacking of late, please don't look to this book to offset what you haven't been recieving in a Feehan book.If you are looking for fun vampire romance in the first person then I suggest Mary Janice Davidson's \"Undead and Unwed\".",
"That book is absolutely hilarious."
] |
2 | John! You let me down! | I've been a big Irving fan, pre-GARP. I used to enjoy how he'd defend his earlier work when everyone was singing GARP'S praises. He has since changed his approach, giving GARP credit for allowing him the financial freedom to have the luxury of time to invest in his books, allowing him the latitude to write the books he wants to write leisurely. So, how does he explain this overblown exercise? I became, sadly, bored by the hero's sex life before he had even turned 14. The world that tattoo artists occupy was much better realized in last year's THE ELECTRIC MICHAELANGELO (although I did like the phrase, "sleeping in the needles.") But this is a week I will never get back again. This also reminds of the later books of James Michener, which didn't show any sign of an editor's pencil. Has Irving reached a point where his publishers' feel every word he writes is golden and worthy of inclusion? This may have been a wonderful 200 page book, but it is a lousy one for 800 pages. | 983 | [
"I've been a big Irving fan, pre-GARP.",
"I used to enjoy how he'd defend his earlier work when everyone was singing GARP'S praises.",
"He has since changed his approach, giving GARP credit for allowing him the financial freedom to have the luxury of time to invest in his books, allowing him the latitude to write the books he wants to write leisurely.",
"So, how does he explain this overblown exercise?",
"I became, sadly, bored by the hero's sex life before he had even turned 14.",
"The world that tattoo artists occupy was much better realized in last year's THE ELECTRIC MICHAELANGELO (although I did like the phrase, \"sleeping in the needles.\") But this is a week I will never get back again.",
"This also reminds of the later books of James Michener, which didn't show any sign of an editor's pencil.",
"Has Irving reached a point where his publishers' feel every word he writes is golden and worthy of inclusion?",
"This may have been a wonderful 200 page book, but it is a lousy one for 800 pages."
] |
2 | Very Disappointing | I have been a huge Kay Scarpetta/Patricia Cornwell fan from the beginning. However, this latest book fell flat. The reader never gets any answers to the one murder Scarpetta is supposed to solve, other than who did it and we basically knew that in the beginning. She threw strange plot lines in that not only didn't add to the story but were distracting and created questions that went unanswered. The book never even explained why the killer chose his victims - only why he was going after his "big target." There was an entire chapter devoted to an encounter with Marino and the grieving mother that started to appear to provide the answer as to why the victim was chosen, but again nothing - it was just dropped. The ending was abrupt and left all the sub-plots unresolved. The ending almost seemed as if she got tired of writing and just stopped. Killer caught - book over. I really hope the future books will be like her originals. Otherwise, I'll be moving on to other authors. | 983 | [
"I have been a huge Kay Scarpetta/Patricia Cornwell fan from the beginning.",
"However, this latest book fell flat.",
"The reader never gets any answers to the one murder Scarpetta is supposed to solve, other than who did it and we basically knew that in the beginning.",
"She threw strange plot lines in that not only didn't add to the story but were distracting and created questions that went unanswered.",
"The book never even explained why the killer chose his victims - only why he was going after his \"big target.\" There was an entire chapter devoted to an encounter with Marino and the grieving mother that started to appear to provide the answer as to why the victim was chosen, but again nothing - it was just dropped.",
"The ending was abrupt and left all the sub-plots unresolved.",
"The ending almost seemed as if she got tired of writing and just stopped.",
"Killer caught - book over.",
"I really hope the future books will be like her originals.",
"Otherwise, I'll be moving on to other authors."
] |
2 | Kind of disappointing. | If you look at this book as just a book, it's really not that bad, but as the sequel to Gone With the Wind, it is, in a word, terrible. I think Alexandra Ripley butchered the strong sence and reality of the characters in GWTW. She gave Scarlett morals, honor, a conscience . . . things like that, which are exactly the opposite of what Scarlett's all about. I mean, when you read GWTW, you can't help but think that you want Scarlett to be a good, kind person, but when it comes right down to it, you don't like Scarlett in spite of, but because of her dishonorable ways. That's who she is. I thought "Scarlett: The Sequel to Gone With the Wind" was VERY disappointing. I literally gave me a headache to read it. I kept saying, "Rhett wouldn't say that! Scarlett wouldn't do that! She's too proud! She wouldn't say that!" Alexandra Ripley is a pretty good author, but she should never have even attempted to come close to the absolute marvel of Margaret Mitchell's increadable skill. | 983 | [
"If you look at this book as just a book, it's really not that bad, but as the sequel to Gone With the Wind, it is, in a word, terrible.",
"I think Alexandra Ripley butchered the strong sence and reality of the characters in GWTW.",
"She gave Scarlett morals, honor, a conscience.",
".",
".",
"things like that, which are exactly the opposite of what Scarlett's all about.",
"I mean, when you read GWTW, you can't help but think that you want Scarlett to be a good, kind person, but when it comes right down to it, you don't like Scarlett in spite of, but because of her dishonorable ways.",
"That's who she is.",
"I thought \"Scarlett: The Sequel to Gone With the Wind\" was VERY disappointing.",
"I literally gave me a headache to read it.",
"I kept saying, \"Rhett wouldn't say that!",
"Scarlett wouldn't do that!",
"She's too proud!",
"She wouldn't say that!",
"\" Alexandra Ripley is a pretty good author, but she should never have even attempted to come close to the absolute marvel of Margaret Mitchell's increadable skill."
] |
2 | Convoluted, overhyped mess. | Though Julie Smith does give an invaluable lesson in the minutae of New Orleans social structure, perhaps she should have written a guide book rather than this mess.Skip Langdon, as our intrepid protagonist is almost likable. One is intrigued by her stature, her outsider status both professionally and personally and her personal history. However, Smith's creation seems to make so many mistakes and have such poor judgement that at times her low esteem seems justified. Her constant jealousies are distracting and in the end prove to be extraneous.The multiple points of view add nothing to the plot nor the mood, and when the POV is not Skip's the story's momentum comes to a standstill. The story is full of sidelines and subplots which are then dropped and never brought to conclusion.The final nail in the coffin for me was the two dimensional, not to mention offensively stereotypical depiction of homosexuals.I'm trully surprised this book won any awards let alone the Edgar. | 983 | [
"Though Julie Smith does give an invaluable lesson in the minutae of New Orleans social structure, perhaps she should have written a guide book rather than this mess.Skip Langdon, as our intrepid protagonist is almost likable.",
"One is intrigued by her stature, her outsider status both professionally and personally and her personal history.",
"However, Smith's creation seems to make so many mistakes and have such poor judgement that at times her low esteem seems justified.",
"Her constant jealousies are distracting and in the end prove to be extraneous.The multiple points of view add nothing to the plot nor the mood, and when the POV is not Skip's the story's momentum comes to a standstill.",
"The story is full of sidelines and subplots which are then dropped and never brought to conclusion.The final nail in the coffin for me was the two dimensional, not to mention offensively stereotypical depiction of homosexuals.I'm trully surprised this book won any awards let alone the Edgar."
] |
2 | Terrible Taylor Thermometer | For nearly 30 years, I've used Taylor and other brand thermometers for checking the temperature of baby bird food, which must not be too hot or it will burn their delicate crop tissue - and not too cool to where they won't eat enough. I've only had this waterproof thermometer for about a month and it is already not "dead", but constantly "live" and won't shut off. It's going back on the slow boat to China. It might still be ON if the battery holds out.As others have noted, it is slow compared to other products and other Taylor digital thermometers.The on button was always hard to depress. The readout was ok...no better than any other. I liked the length of it since it fit good inside a mug that is half full. I pray that we can get back to good quality controlled USA made products. I'm so tired of out-of-country JUNK. I try very hard not to buy Chinese or Mexican products, but it's almost unavoidable. If I can do without them, I do. I thought Taylor was US made. Not so! | 983 | [
"For nearly 30 years, I've used Taylor and other brand thermometers for checking the temperature of baby bird food, which must not be too hot or it will burn their delicate crop tissue - and not too cool to where they won't eat enough.",
"I've only had this waterproof thermometer for about a month and it is already not \"dead\", but constantly \"live\" and won't shut off.",
"It's going back on the slow boat to China.",
"It might still be ON if the battery holds out.As others have noted, it is slow compared to other products and other Taylor digital thermometers.The on button was always hard to depress.",
"The readout was ok...no better than any other.",
"I liked the length of it since it fit good inside a mug that is half full.",
"I pray that we can get back to good quality controlled USA made products.",
"I'm so tired of out-of-country JUNK.",
"I try very hard not to buy Chinese or Mexican products, but it's almost unavoidable.",
"If I can do without them, I do.",
"I thought Taylor was US made.",
"Not so!"
] |
2 | DEEP DO DO | Booklist says this book has "non-stop suspense.." I wonder where they found it! "Bone Deep" is a lengthy, ill-plotted, overly complex "thriller", with no thrills. First of all, its heroine, Dr. Iris Lanier, is about as likeable as a skin rash. She is self-pitying, whiny, self-centered and socially inept. Delving into her past only makes her less likeable. There are so many inconsistencies in this plot, and the whole focus on Iris' dig in Guatemala has absolutely no integral part in the plot. Her relationship with her father is about as deep as a bottomless cup of coffee. The Angel Gabriel's character is so unbelievable, it's funny. Also, what about the couple Iris sees while staring at an apartment building across the street? What in the world was that supposed to mean? Her visit with Madame Zora--what a waste.There is so much wrong with this book, that by the time it reaches its preposterous conclusion, you can only ask yourself, "Why did I read this?"Not recommended. | 983 | [
"Booklist says this book has \"non-stop suspense..\" I wonder where they found it!",
"\"Bone Deep\" is a lengthy, ill-plotted, overly complex \"thriller\", with no thrills.",
"First of all, its heroine, Dr.",
"Iris Lanier, is about as likeable as a skin rash.",
"She is self-pitying, whiny, self-centered and socially inept.",
"Delving into her past only makes her less likeable.",
"There are so many inconsistencies in this plot, and the whole focus on Iris' dig in Guatemala has absolutely no integral part in the plot.",
"Her relationship with her father is about as deep as a bottomless cup of coffee.",
"The Angel Gabriel's character is so unbelievable, it's funny.",
"Also, what about the couple Iris sees while staring at an apartment building across the street?",
"What in the world was that supposed to mean?",
"Her visit with Madame Zora--what a waste.There is so much wrong with this book, that by the time it reaches its preposterous conclusion, you can only ask yourself, \"Why did I read this?",
"\"Not recommended."
] |
2 | Most bolts were the wrong size | I had to replace my timing chain cover because it was leaking some antifreeze on my 1996 302 Bronco. I already had the timing cover and water pump off when these bolts came in.The quality of the bolts are great and I am sure they will hold up over time. My problem with them is I only got to use 5 of the 15 bolts supplied with the kit. All the other bolts were about 1/2 too short to grab onto the block.Based on the description, " For Select Ford 289-302 Aluminum Applications", I would think it would fit my Bronco, but apparently not. I gave two stars because I should have contacted the manufacture about whether it would fit or not, but I needed new bolts in a hurry and I couldn't find any info online. These bolts are high quality, so if they fit, they would be awesome, but I have no idea what 302s they fit because they don't fit mine.I'm very disappointed I spent 55 dollars to only use 5 bolts but at least 1 of the bolts I that did work replaced one of my corroded ones. | 983 | [
"I had to replace my timing chain cover because it was leaking some antifreeze on my 1996 302 Bronco.",
"I already had the timing cover and water pump off when these bolts came in.The quality of the bolts are great and I am sure they will hold up over time.",
"My problem with them is I only got to use 5 of the 15 bolts supplied with the kit.",
"All the other bolts were about 1/2 too short to grab onto the block.Based on the description, \" For Select Ford 289-302 Aluminum Applications\", I would think it would fit my Bronco, but apparently not.",
"I gave two stars because I should have contacted the manufacture about whether it would fit or not, but I needed new bolts in a hurry and I couldn't find any info online.",
"These bolts are high quality, so if they fit, they would be awesome, but I have no idea what 302s they fit because they don't fit mine.I'm very disappointed I spent 55 dollars to only use 5 bolts but at least 1 of the bolts I that did work replaced one of my corroded ones."
] |
2 | Early Jack Vance | The following comments are for the short novel House of Iszm.To be frank this novel is not one of Jack Vance's better efforts. It was written in the 1950's, published by Ace and reads like a modest first draft in need of revisions.The author constructs a detailed framework to hang an uninteresting tale of inter-planet stratagems. What really exasperating are the possibilities inherent in the plot that are not developed.The saga is pure space opera; two planets vie to control a third to increase wealth and power. One of the planets is dominated in it's physical and religious aspect by an enormous tree; an idea ripe with possibilities that is discarded after a few tantalizing paragraphs. Fortunately for the reader Vance's extraordinary imagination shines through in spots preventing this book from being a total loss.Fans of Vance should read these early novels to appreciate the maturity in later books. Casual readers should look to later works; this story will disappoint. | 983 | [
"The following comments are for the short novel House of Iszm.To be frank this novel is not one of Jack Vance's better efforts.",
"It was written in the 1950's, published by Ace and reads like a modest first draft in need of revisions.The author constructs a detailed framework to hang an uninteresting tale of inter-planet stratagems.",
"What really exasperating are the possibilities inherent in the plot that are not developed.The saga is pure space opera; two planets vie to control a third to increase wealth and power.",
"One of the planets is dominated in it's physical and religious aspect by an enormous tree; an idea ripe with possibilities that is discarded after a few tantalizing paragraphs.",
"Fortunately for the reader Vance's extraordinary imagination shines through in spots preventing this book from being a total loss.Fans of Vance should read these early novels to appreciate the maturity in later books.",
"Casual readers should look to later works; this story will disappoint."
] |
2 | Cherish this? Seriously? | This was not my favorite book by Lisa Kleypas, to say the least.I was annoyed from the start by the "Sommersby" plotline. Knowing that "Hunter" couldn't really be the actual Hunter, I found him difficult to like since he basically spent all his time lying to her. I also thought that Lara was a rather wooden character and the whole plot just felt contrived.So there really wasn't much to like, and I plodded through it just to see how they would resolve the matter in the end (knowing that it had to turn out better than the movie did, of course!).But even at the end, several questions remained, as some reviewers have pointed out. For example, how "Hunter" would know the details of personal conversations between Lara and her husband is beyond me, and beyond the scope of believability.It wasn't an awful book, but I felt kind of cheated by the plot and its lack of originality, as well as the cookie-cutter characters who exhibited very little depth or realism.Library donation. | 983 | [
"This was not my favorite book by Lisa Kleypas, to say the least.I was annoyed from the start by the \"Sommersby\" plotline.",
"Knowing that \"Hunter\" couldn't really be the actual Hunter, I found him difficult to like since he basically spent all his time lying to her.",
"I also thought that Lara was a rather wooden character and the whole plot just felt contrived.So there really wasn't much to like, and I plodded through it just to see how they would resolve the matter in the end (knowing that it had to turn out better than the movie did, of course!",
").But even at the end, several questions remained, as some reviewers have pointed out.",
"For example, how \"Hunter\" would know the details of personal conversations between Lara and her husband is beyond me, and beyond the scope of believability.It wasn't an awful book, but I felt kind of cheated by the plot and its lack of originality, as well as the cookie-cutter characters who exhibited very little depth or realism.Library donation."
] |
2 | Poor build quality | Bought the tent to replace a smaller tent from another manufacturer, thought that the Coleman name would mean I would get a quality tent. The tent is roomy and well ventilated, however upon setting it up and attaching the rain fly to the first corner, the elastic cord pulled right out - the loop holding the cord to the rain fly was never sewn completely. Not to worry, I thought I would just use my knife to modify the defective loop by cutting a hole in it - worked - attached the cord.But - upon attaching the SECOND corner - SAME THING, the loop failed. What about the THIRD corner you ask? SAME THING! Ok, Fourth corner was different....The loop had ALREADY FAILED and the cord was already GONE, not even in the bag. I know like about everything, these are sewn in China but somebody should have caught that.If this is indicative of the kind of QC Coleman has established, I would steer clear of the brand all together. Now starts the process of returning / warranty - wheeeee! | 983 | [
"Bought the tent to replace a smaller tent from another manufacturer, thought that the Coleman name would mean I would get a quality tent.",
"The tent is roomy and well ventilated, however upon setting it up and attaching the rain fly to the first corner, the elastic cord pulled right out - the loop holding the cord to the rain fly was never sewn completely.",
"Not to worry, I thought I would just use my knife to modify the defective loop by cutting a hole in it - worked - attached the cord.But - upon attaching the SECOND corner - SAME THING, the loop failed.",
"What about the THIRD corner you ask?",
"SAME THING!",
"Ok, Fourth corner was different....The loop had ALREADY FAILED and the cord was already GONE, not even in the bag.",
"I know like about everything, these are sewn in China but somebody should have caught that.If this is indicative of the kind of QC Coleman has established, I would steer clear of the brand all together.",
"Now starts the process of returning / warranty - wheeeee!"
] |
2 | Confused | The director (who is also the screenwriter, so he gets all the blame) has sanitized Ripley to make him more "sympathetic." Tom Ripley is only interesting when he is not sympathetic! The whole homoeroticism was wayyyyyy overplayed in the media; there's nothing here that will make a literate, half-sophisticated person sit up and be shocked or even intrigued. Put Matt Damon in an ................. scene and THEN you have him really trashing his All-American image. The movie completely lost me when Tom supposedly kills Dickie out of frustrated "love" and then in the next scene has him coldly trying to pass himself off as Dickie. Apparently the novel has Tom killing Dickie in cold blood; now THAT would be more interesting. In terms of acting, Gwyneth Paltrow was annoying. Only Cate Blanchett I got excited to seeing whenever she came on screen. I think Minghella needs to stop making these bloated, cinematography-driven allegories and focus on character, character, character. | 983 | [
"The director (who is also the screenwriter, so he gets all the blame) has sanitized Ripley to make him more \"sympathetic.\" Tom Ripley is only interesting when he is not sympathetic!",
"The whole homoeroticism was wayyyyyy overplayed in the media; there's nothing here that will make a literate, half-sophisticated person sit up and be shocked or even intrigued.",
"Put Matt Damon in an ................. scene and THEN you have him really trashing his All-American image.",
"The movie completely lost me when Tom supposedly kills Dickie out of frustrated \"love\" and then in the next scene has him coldly trying to pass himself off as Dickie.",
"Apparently the novel has Tom killing Dickie in cold blood; now THAT would be more interesting.",
"In terms of acting, Gwyneth Paltrow was annoying.",
"Only Cate Blanchett I got excited to seeing whenever she came on screen.",
"I think Minghella needs to stop making these bloated, cinematography-driven allegories and focus on character, character, character."
] |
2 | enormous disappointment | I really tried to love this album, but for those that were fans of the brilliant layering and depth of their first album, you will most likely be disappointed. I got past the first song, I thought, "That was kinda cool I guess, a little minimalistic and 'toolish' for me, but I can't wait to see what's next." After "Weak and powerless," the album returned to the slow rhythmic Nu-Metal type sound. Gradually I became more and more irritated as I listened further. It was obvious to me that Maynard had a huge role in the writing process of this album. They sound like a totally different band. When I describe these songs as "slow," I am in no way referring to "3 librasesque" slow songs that the apc fan may be familiar with, but minimalist to the point that the most common sound to emit from your cd player will be silence. The drumming, the little that there was, and of course Maynard's voice are the only saving graces to this otherwise horrible attempt at an artistic vision. | 983 | [
"I really tried to love this album, but for those that were fans of the brilliant layering and depth of their first album, you will most likely be disappointed.",
"I got past the first song, I thought, \"That was kinda cool I guess, a little minimalistic and 'toolish' for me, but I can't wait to see what's next.\" After \"Weak and powerless,\" the album returned to the slow rhythmic Nu-Metal type sound.",
"Gradually I became more and more irritated as I listened further.",
"It was obvious to me that Maynard had a huge role in the writing process of this album.",
"They sound like a totally different band.",
"When I describe these songs as \"slow,\" I am in no way referring to \"3 librasesque\" slow songs that the apc fan may be familiar with, but minimalist to the point that the most common sound to emit from your cd player will be silence.",
"The drumming, the little that there was, and of course Maynard's voice are the only saving graces to this otherwise horrible attempt at an artistic vision."
] |
2 | it was allright... | The reason why I feel that this movie should receive only 2 stars is because all of the groundbreaking facts exposing the Carlyle group and connections to the Bush family that Moore uses were in a documentary made by Alex Jones a year earlier called 9/11 road to tyranny. Moore is a tool, right wing and left wing is horizontal thought. Think vertical, think of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, and the truth of what the government, and its fourth branch, the media, is telling you. We are deciding between to candidates for President that are both skull and bones members, and from very wealthy families. If you think that Fahrenheit 9/11 woke you up, you are still asleep my friend. Moore is raking in millions for this movie, Alex Jones isn't, he put his movie out for free on the internet because he wanted people to know what's going on. Go to www.infowars.com or www.prisonplanet.com to see the truth. Watch 9/11 in Plane Sight, it will change everything... | 983 | [
"The reason why I feel that this movie should receive only 2 stars is because all of the groundbreaking facts exposing the Carlyle group and connections to the Bush family that Moore uses were in a documentary made by Alex Jones a year earlier called 9/11 road to tyranny.",
"Moore is a tool, right wing and left wing is horizontal thought.",
"Think vertical, think of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, and the truth of what the government, and its fourth branch, the media, is telling you.",
"We are deciding between to candidates for President that are both skull and bones members, and from very wealthy families.",
"If you think that Fahrenheit 9/11 woke you up, you are still asleep my friend.",
"Moore is raking in millions for this movie, Alex Jones isn't, he put his movie out for free on the internet because he wanted people to know what's going on.",
"Go to www.infowars.com or www.prisonplanet.com to see the truth.",
"Watch 9/11 in Plane Sight, it will change everything..."
] |
2 | insubstantial confection | **1/2Like the confectionary treat that is its namesake, "Caramel" is a sweet-tasting concoction that leaves you feeling less satiated than undernourished when it's over. Set in and around a beauty parlor in Beirut, Lebanon, the story chronicles the decidedly low-keyed romantic escapades of a group of women (some of them stylists and others customers at the shop), all of whom fall out into neatly differentiated categories like "the non-virginal fiance," (apparently, that's still a concern in that part of the world), "the lonely spinster," "the other woman," "the lesbian," etc.Within its comparatively restricted genre (let`s just call it the "hair emporium movie," for lack of a better term), "Caramel" is less theatrical than "The Salon," but nowhere near as sharp and funny as "Barbershop" or "Steel Magnolias." The actresses are all competent and appealing, but the material is stretched so thin that the movie barely makes it across the finish line before calling it quits. | 983 | [
"**1/2Like the confectionary treat that is its namesake, \"Caramel\" is a sweet-tasting concoction that leaves you feeling less satiated than undernourished when it's over.",
"Set in and around a beauty parlor in Beirut, Lebanon, the story chronicles the decidedly low-keyed romantic escapades of a group of women (some of them stylists and others customers at the shop), all of whom fall out into neatly differentiated categories like \"the non-virginal fiance,\" (apparently, that's still a concern in that part of the world), \"the lonely spinster,\" \"the other woman,\" \"the lesbian,\" etc.Within its comparatively restricted genre (let`s just call it the \"hair emporium movie,\" for lack of a better term), \"Caramel\" is less theatrical than \"The Salon,\" but nowhere near as sharp and funny as \"Barbershop\" or \"Steel Magnolias.\" The actresses are all competent and appealing, but the material is stretched so thin that the movie barely makes it across the finish line before calling it quits."
] |
2 | Dated information? | This book is good but not great, and appears to have lots of dated information. For example, the author cites Nike, Reebok, and Adidas as the brands to look for when buying technical running shoes, but the fact is that these three companies make a lot of "casual" and "retro" shoes, many of which are mixed into their line and sold as "technical" shoes to the unknowing. He also seems to suggest that cotton t-shirts and sweatshirts are fine to run in; if you are seriously training for a marathon, whether it's your first or your fifth, you would be better off with advice that encourages you to wear technical running tops made of technical fabrics (coolmax, dri-fit, etc.). They are much more comfortable, breathable, and moisture-wicking, therefore leaving your body to focus on running efficiently rather than struggling to cool you off.It just seems like there's some not-so-great advice in here, which then made me wonder about the rest of the information he was presenting... | 983 | [
"This book is good but not great, and appears to have lots of dated information.",
"For example, the author cites Nike, Reebok, and Adidas as the brands to look for when buying technical running shoes, but the fact is that these three companies make a lot of \"casual\" and \"retro\" shoes, many of which are mixed into their line and sold as \"technical\" shoes to the unknowing.",
"He also seems to suggest that cotton t-shirts and sweatshirts are fine to run in; if you are seriously training for a marathon, whether it's your first or your fifth, you would be better off with advice that encourages you to wear technical running tops made of technical fabrics (coolmax, dri-fit, etc.).",
"They are much more comfortable, breathable, and moisture-wicking, therefore leaving your body to focus on running efficiently rather than struggling to cool you off.It just seems like there's some not-so-great advice in here, which then made me wonder about the rest of the information he was presenting..."
] |
2 | Confusing Player | The small print on the remote is very difficult to see, especially the dark blue print (on a black remote). The print on the combo player is even worse. I seldom record anything anymore. By the time I decifer the confusing instructions, locate my magnifying glass, rifle past the directions written in Spanish, French, and Italian, and finally find English, I've forgotten what I wanted to do.To view a DVD you must push several different buttons on the remote, none of which are the "DVD" button. If you forget that the remote was previously used to view a VHS, you can push all the buttons you want, but nothing will happen UNTIL you push "DVD". None of the button combinations make sense. You'll be lost if you misplace the instructions or have a bad memory.It isn't possible to record a DVD onto a blank VHS either. Whether this is typical of all combos I don't know, but I think it stinks.Picture quality is fine, as is the sound. I've never had a VHS unravel inside the player. | 983 | [
"The small print on the remote is very difficult to see, especially the dark blue print (on a black remote).",
"The print on the combo player is even worse.",
"I seldom record anything anymore.",
"By the time I decifer the confusing instructions, locate my magnifying glass, rifle past the directions written in Spanish, French, and Italian, and finally find English, I've forgotten what I wanted to do.To view a DVD you must push several different buttons on the remote, none of which are the \"DVD\" button.",
"If you forget that the remote was previously used to view a VHS, you can push all the buttons you want, but nothing will happen UNTIL you push \"DVD\".",
"None of the button combinations make sense.",
"You'll be lost if you misplace the instructions or have a bad memory.It isn't possible to record a DVD onto a blank VHS either.",
"Whether this is typical of all combos I don't know, but I think it stinks.Picture quality is fine, as is the sound.",
"I've never had a VHS unravel inside the player."
] |
2 | Too expensive & Too flimsy | This toy seems to have many features but the features are poorly incorporated and make it difficult for a child to use. I have purchased and have been pleased by other Chicco products but this toy is anything but pleasing. The car is very cute but on closer inspection you can see that it is very flimsy. The car is made for children six months to three years but my average size fourteen month old is almost too big for the car. My son was able to detach the safety bar while he was sitting in the car. The tall handles that and adult uses to push the car bend easily. When the base was attached the car barely rocked. When I tried to push my son in the car we couldn't get very far because the footrests are at an awkward angle, so he would end up trying to stretch his legs and his feet would stop the car. It is also too low and light to use as a walker (when my son tried it tipped over.) Overall, I found that this car tries to do too much. Unfortunately, it does nothing well. | 983 | [
"This toy seems to have many features but the features are poorly incorporated and make it difficult for a child to use.",
"I have purchased and have been pleased by other Chicco products but this toy is anything but pleasing.",
"The car is very cute but on closer inspection you can see that it is very flimsy.",
"The car is made for children six months to three years but my average size fourteen month old is almost too big for the car.",
"My son was able to detach the safety bar while he was sitting in the car.",
"The tall handles that and adult uses to push the car bend easily.",
"When the base was attached the car barely rocked.",
"When I tried to push my son in the car we couldn't get very far because the footrests are at an awkward angle, so he would end up trying to stretch his legs and his feet would stop the car.",
"It is also too low and light to use as a walker (when my son tried it tipped over.) Overall, I found that this car tries to do too much.",
"Unfortunately, it does nothing well."
] |
2 | ... and what happened | i know a band's in trouble when they continually talk about how satisfied they are with the direction that their music is headed (when they're interviewed). i was disappointed with "brighten the corners" but i was even more disappointed with "terror twilight". for those of you that enjoy "terror twilight", i envy you. i wanted to like this record. i still remember the joy that i felt when i discovered "slanted and enchanted", "watery domestic", "crooked rain, crooked rain" and "wowee zowee". i also remember the disappointment that i felt when i listened to "brighten the corners". something seems to have been lost, starting at that point. even though my appreciation for pavement has somewhat lessened, i still found some measure of pleasure while listening to "spit on a stranger". "major leagues", "...and carrot rope" had their moments as well. unfortunately, the best i can say about this work is that it contained one song that i'd look forward to hearing time and again. | 983 | [
"i know a band's in trouble when they continually talk about how satisfied they are with the direction that their music is headed (when they're interviewed).",
"i was disappointed with \"brighten the corners\" but i was even more disappointed with \"terror twilight\".",
"for those of you that enjoy \"terror twilight\", i envy you.",
"i wanted to like this record.",
"i still remember the joy that i felt when i discovered \"slanted and enchanted\", \"watery domestic\", \"crooked rain, crooked rain\" and \"wowee zowee\".",
"i also remember the disappointment that i felt when i listened to \"brighten the corners\".",
"something seems to have been lost, starting at that point.",
"even though my appreciation for pavement has somewhat lessened, i still found some measure of pleasure while listening to \"spit on a stranger\".",
"\"major leagues\", \"...and carrot rope\" had their moments as well.",
"unfortunately, the best i can say about this work is that it contained one song that i'd look forward to hearing time and again."
] |
2 | Nothing too impressive | I agree with a lot of the things that have been said already. While the graphics on the backgrounds and the animations are very good, and the sounds are good as well, the graphics on the characters are somewhat lacking. Character creation is fairly limited and somewhat bad at points (the fact that when you choose an icon for your character, you only get two options, and they are basically the same exact thing, only slightly different colors, was disappointing at best). I think where this game really loses out, though, is gameplay. It's just not fun. It plays like a Windows program, and that's just not exciting. You cannot scroll the screen beyond where your characters are standing, making the view limited. You can't rotate the view, meaning that your characters are often standing in the way of something you are trying to look at. Basically, nothing about the game screams excitement. It's a ho-hum, not really worth buying until maybe it comes down in price kind of game. | 983 | [
"I agree with a lot of the things that have been said already.",
"While the graphics on the backgrounds and the animations are very good, and the sounds are good as well, the graphics on the characters are somewhat lacking.",
"Character creation is fairly limited and somewhat bad at points (the fact that when you choose an icon for your character, you only get two options, and they are basically the same exact thing, only slightly different colors, was disappointing at best).",
"I think where this game really loses out, though, is gameplay.",
"It's just not fun.",
"It plays like a Windows program, and that's just not exciting.",
"You cannot scroll the screen beyond where your characters are standing, making the view limited.",
"You can't rotate the view, meaning that your characters are often standing in the way of something you are trying to look at.",
"Basically, nothing about the game screams excitement.",
"It's a ho-hum, not really worth buying until maybe it comes down in price kind of game."
] |
2 | Crossing Over the 'Line' | A prolonged war picture about the battle for Guadalcanal Island, "The Thin Red Line" hits and misses. Terrence Malick's direction is correlative to nobody else. Characters come and go. Sean Penn thinks he knows a lot about life and death (substantial). Jim Caviezel is one with nature (habitat boy). Nick Nolte is an irate sergeant with really needs to calm down (his veins are full of merit). Woody Harrelson loses his hind end (twinge!). Elias Koteas doesn't like the sergeant (not good). George Clooney, John Travolta and John Cusack make appearances (why?). There are plenty of shots to make any cinematographer jealous. Good acting, but three hours of almost nothing will leave you empty. If you are willing to see how long you can last before you fall asleep, try it out. If you feel like meditating, watch this. If you feel like torturing somebody, watch this. If you feel like doing something fun, get a baseball bat and play Over the Line with a copy of this movie to smash. | 983 | [
"A prolonged war picture about the battle for Guadalcanal Island, \"The Thin Red Line\" hits and misses.",
"Terrence Malick's direction is correlative to nobody else.",
"Characters come and go.",
"Sean Penn thinks he knows a lot about life and death (substantial).",
"Jim Caviezel is one with nature (habitat boy).",
"Nick Nolte is an irate sergeant with really needs to calm down (his veins are full of merit).",
"Woody Harrelson loses his hind end (twinge!",
").",
"Elias Koteas doesn't like the sergeant (not good).",
"George Clooney, John Travolta and John Cusack make appearances (why?",
").",
"There are plenty of shots to make any cinematographer jealous.",
"Good acting, but three hours of almost nothing will leave you empty.",
"If you are willing to see how long you can last before you fall asleep, try it out.",
"If you feel like meditating, watch this.",
"If you feel like torturing somebody, watch this.",
"If you feel like doing something fun, get a baseball bat and play Over the Line with a copy of this movie to smash."
] |
2 | Had it, lost it | I was a big fan of Live from their early work all the way through most of V. After that, the songs seemed to lack musical appeal and lyrical luster. I think that's why all the guys started gaining weight. They were probably depressed that Ed kept getting douchier and douchier.There was a time, however, when they were an awesome band to see perform live. I had a number of bootlegs and saw them in concert. So, I know it. So, when I saw they had released a formal live dvd, I had to buy it (even having youtube to preview it). The band is great. Ed's voice is great. But, the performance is so overshadowed and distracted by Ed's self-congratulatory persona that it is mostly unwatchable. It's too bad, Lakini's Juice, Operation Spirit, Mirror Song... there are a lot of good songs on this dvd. But, they definitely seem more like a band like Ratt playing lots of little venues based solely on former glory. And, certainly, the 180 on the lyrical content of Operation Spirit... sad. | 983 | [
"I was a big fan of Live from their early work all the way through most of V.",
"After that, the songs seemed to lack musical appeal and lyrical luster.",
"I think that's why all the guys started gaining weight.",
"They were probably depressed that Ed kept getting douchier and douchier.There was a time, however, when they were an awesome band to see perform live.",
"I had a number of bootlegs and saw them in concert.",
"So, I know it.",
"So, when I saw they had released a formal live dvd, I had to buy it (even having youtube to preview it).",
"The band is great.",
"Ed's voice is great.",
"But, the performance is so overshadowed and distracted by Ed's self-congratulatory persona that it is mostly unwatchable.",
"It's too bad, Lakini's Juice, Operation Spirit, Mirror Song... there are a lot of good songs on this dvd.",
"But, they definitely seem more like a band like Ratt playing lots of little venues based solely on former glory.",
"And, certainly, the 180 on the lyrical content of Operation Spirit... sad."
] |
2 | Broke after 1 Year | Coffee maker side works well. One gripe is that the carafe design is severely flawed so it's impossible to pour a cup of coffee without spilling everywhere. After 1 year, coffee maker side still works but espresso & frother don't. The pump turns on now and doesn't shut off when we switch on the espresso side and the reservoir that catches drips just fills with water in a matter of seconds and floods the countertop. No espresso or foam can be produced. It's a shame because this machine made an excellent cup of espresso while it worked and we really loved how easy it is to use. The frother was not as powerful as we'd hoped so we had to froth the milk at least twice to get a nice foam for cappuccinos, but in the end they tasted great. My father owns an expensive Gaggia machine and said that the espresso from my Krups actually came out better than his. I just wish it had lasted longer. I'd expected a lot more from a trusted name like Krups and for the price of the machine. | 983 | [
"Coffee maker side works well.",
"One gripe is that the carafe design is severely flawed so it's impossible to pour a cup of coffee without spilling everywhere.",
"After 1 year, coffee maker side still works but espresso & frother don't.",
"The pump turns on now and doesn't shut off when we switch on the espresso side and the reservoir that catches drips just fills with water in a matter of seconds and floods the countertop.",
"No espresso or foam can be produced.",
"It's a shame because this machine made an excellent cup of espresso while it worked and we really loved how easy it is to use.",
"The frother was not as powerful as we'd hoped so we had to froth the milk at least twice to get a nice foam for cappuccinos, but in the end they tasted great.",
"My father owns an expensive Gaggia machine and said that the espresso from my Krups actually came out better than his.",
"I just wish it had lasted longer.",
"I'd expected a lot more from a trusted name like Krups and for the price of the machine."
] |
2 | Disappointing | So, this is yet another coffee table book. See, what it is is that I have a friend who knows I am a NASCAR fan so he didn't know what else to get me for Christmas so he got me 3 NASCAR books. One of them was this one and I was fairly disappointed, mostly due to the fact that the title does not accurately describe the book.See, Daytona Speedweeks is a racing happening. There are a dozen motorsports events, culminating in the Daytona 500. There's a European-style 24 hour race, a motocross event and literally a half-dozen NASCAR races. Check their website!This book, however, focuses primarily on the Daytona 500 (90%) and barely mentions the other non-NASCAR events. In fact, some events it doesn't mention at all. I have no problem with the NASCAR focus, just give the book a different title. This, truly, is a book that you cannot judge by its title.I give this book a "D". The title thing annoyed me but there was nothing here about the history of the speedway or of the race. | 983 | [
"So, this is yet another coffee table book.",
"See, what it is is that I have a friend who knows I am a NASCAR fan so he didn't know what else to get me for Christmas so he got me 3 NASCAR books.",
"One of them was this one and I was fairly disappointed, mostly due to the fact that the title does not accurately describe the book.See, Daytona Speedweeks is a racing happening.",
"There are a dozen motorsports events, culminating in the Daytona 500.",
"There's a European-style 24 hour race, a motocross event and literally a half-dozen NASCAR races.",
"Check their website!",
"This book, however, focuses primarily on the Daytona 500 (90%) and barely mentions the other non-NASCAR events.",
"In fact, some events it doesn't mention at all.",
"I have no problem with the NASCAR focus, just give the book a different title.",
"This, truly, is a book that you cannot judge by its title.I give this book a \"D\".",
"The title thing annoyed me but there was nothing here about the history of the speedway or of the race."
] |
2 | Good ending | Rather than an immediate sequel ( Rocky II, Rocky III,et al ), Before Sunset simmered for nine years, allowingthe director, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy to ageand grow and calcify. I didn't care for Before Sunrise,principally because I flinch at Ethan Hawke's acting,and because it was a dialogue movie without muchmagic in the dialogue.Before Sunset is another dialogue movie --- but thedialogue is absent any particular clarity or distinction,unless your standard is TV situation comedies. Thereis no significant reach in verbal expression or poetry.I would rather listen to and look at Nick and Nora Charlesnine years later - or Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory( My Diner With Andre ) than these two.The chemistry seems contrived and the ongoing referencesto sexual activities removes the sensuality from therelationship. It does end quite well - fading out withoutany momentous denoument - or declaration that we willhave these two to look forward to again somewheredown the road. | 983 | [
"Rather than an immediate sequel ( Rocky II, Rocky III,et al ), Before Sunset simmered for nine years, allowingthe director, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy to ageand grow and calcify.",
"I didn't care for Before Sunrise,principally because I flinch at Ethan Hawke's acting,and because it was a dialogue movie without muchmagic in the dialogue.Before Sunset is another dialogue movie --- but thedialogue is absent any particular clarity or distinction,unless your standard is TV situation comedies.",
"Thereis no significant reach in verbal expression or poetry.I would rather listen to and look at Nick and Nora Charlesnine years later - or Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory( My Diner With Andre ) than these two.The chemistry seems contrived and the ongoing referencesto sexual activities removes the sensuality from therelationship.",
"It does end quite well - fading out withoutany momentous denoument - or declaration that we willhave these two to look forward to again somewheredown the road."
] |
2 | Do you like Sword and Sorcery? | Welcome to a distant world. A world of exciting battles, exotic women, and evil wizards. It's a world of mystical secrets, magical happenings and extraordinary entertainment. David Carradine is Kain, the last survivor of a mighty warrior tribe. Once an exalted warrior-priest, Kain now wanders the planet Ura as a mercenary sword-for-hire. In the small village of Yam-A-Tar, he finds more than a simple village war; he finds two mighty opponents, an oppressed people and the piercing, haunting eyes of a stunningly beautiful sorceress (Socas). Kain becomes embroiled in the treachery and battles, the mighty wizardry and rampant debauchery.Actually this film is a copycat version both FISTFUL OF DOLLARS and YOJIMBO transplanted story of a lone fighter playing both ends against the middle to a mystical kingdom on a planet circling two suns. Lovely leading lady Socas plays the entire film topless.The bottom line is this. If you like Sword and Sorcery you should like this movie... | 983 | [
"Welcome to a distant world.",
"A world of exciting battles, exotic women, and evil wizards.",
"It's a world of mystical secrets, magical happenings and extraordinary entertainment.",
"David Carradine is Kain, the last survivor of a mighty warrior tribe.",
"Once an exalted warrior-priest, Kain now wanders the planet Ura as a mercenary sword-for-hire.",
"In the small village of Yam-A-Tar, he finds more than a simple village war; he finds two mighty opponents, an oppressed people and the piercing, haunting eyes of a stunningly beautiful sorceress (Socas).",
"Kain becomes embroiled in the treachery and battles, the mighty wizardry and rampant debauchery.Actually this film is a copycat version both FISTFUL OF DOLLARS and YOJIMBO transplanted story of a lone fighter playing both ends against the middle to a mystical kingdom on a planet circling two suns.",
"Lovely leading lady Socas plays the entire film topless.The bottom line is this.",
"If you like Sword and Sorcery you should like this movie..."
] |
2 | Close but no Cigar | Hi Everyone,I brought this book after reading comments and rave reviews on Amazon, but you must read what I have to say before your part with your money. If you have knowledge of basic technical analysis this book is not going to teach you anything new. The book is based on intraday trading tactics which are repeated again and again throughout the book. For example Tony makes numerous purchases on stocks that make intraday double bottoms but uses no other analysis to enter the trade, like intraday moving averages or candle stick patterns (is this how you would enter a trade?). The book is wriiten in font size 16, I read the book in 2 days sitting on the train to Cannon Street on my way to work. I think this is a weak title, if your looking for hardcore stuff that'll make you money check out: 'Technical Analysis for the Trading Professional' This will teach you more than you'll ever need. If you require more information on anything please feel free to write to Email me. | 983 | [
"Hi Everyone,I brought this book after reading comments and rave reviews on Amazon, but you must read what I have to say before your part with your money.",
"If you have knowledge of basic technical analysis this book is not going to teach you anything new.",
"The book is based on intraday trading tactics which are repeated again and again throughout the book.",
"For example Tony makes numerous purchases on stocks that make intraday double bottoms but uses no other analysis to enter the trade, like intraday moving averages or candle stick patterns (is this how you would enter a trade?",
").",
"The book is wriiten in font size 16, I read the book in 2 days sitting on the train to Cannon Street on my way to work.",
"I think this is a weak title, if your looking for hardcore stuff that'll make you money check out: 'Technical Analysis for the Trading Professional' This will teach you more than you'll ever need.",
"If you require more information on anything please feel free to write to Email me."
] |
2 | Not Worth The Effort | I bought this to play with my five year-old daughter. I tend to prefer games that can include more than two people, but I thought that this would be good for teaching some simple strategies. Unfortunately, the game is just too boring. While my daughter easily understood the game play, she and I both were done after just finding a couple of each others boats. It just takes too long and doesn't compete with the many entertainment options.As for construction, I will confirm other reviewer comments that the build quality is poor. I remember that in my old game, the pegs would sit firmly in the holes. Now, with a simple move of the board, pegs can fall down, causing you to lose your place. They also don't sit well in the boat pieces. I also received a number of crooked pieces, making them useless.I can't imagine how anyone wouldn't be disappointed by this game. You may get a few good rounds with it, but don't be surprised if it quickly ends up in the closet collecting dust. | 983 | [
"I bought this to play with my five year-old daughter.",
"I tend to prefer games that can include more than two people, but I thought that this would be good for teaching some simple strategies.",
"Unfortunately, the game is just too boring.",
"While my daughter easily understood the game play, she and I both were done after just finding a couple of each others boats.",
"It just takes too long and doesn't compete with the many entertainment options.As for construction, I will confirm other reviewer comments that the build quality is poor.",
"I remember that in my old game, the pegs would sit firmly in the holes.",
"Now, with a simple move of the board, pegs can fall down, causing you to lose your place.",
"They also don't sit well in the boat pieces.",
"I also received a number of crooked pieces, making them useless.I can't imagine how anyone wouldn't be disappointed by this game.",
"You may get a few good rounds with it, but don't be surprised if it quickly ends up in the closet collecting dust."
] |
2 | Misleading and Misunderstood. | First, I must say that I did not finish reading this book, I didn't even get past the first chapter. My friend who is a Christian got ahold of this book, she read it then came storming up to me and in a very rude tone said "I think you should read this!" I began reading it but I found it extremely offensive, I am a Wiccan practitioner and Our one law says "And it harm none, Do what thou wilt" In other words it's against the "law" to harm somebody.The worst you can ever do, unless you believe in harming yourself, is a justice spell. Because of this books misleading content and its misunderstood perspective of Witches my friend now believes that I am going to attack her, that there are evil witches around every corner and that they all wish to eat her alive and such. I dissagree with this book to the furthest extent any Witch or regular person could possibly dissagree with anything. This book is nothing but fire kindling to my way of thinking, for a fire to burn Witches. | 983 | [
"First, I must say that I did not finish reading this book, I didn't even get past the first chapter.",
"My friend who is a Christian got ahold of this book, she read it then came storming up to me and in a very rude tone said \"I think you should read this!",
"\" I began reading it but I found it extremely offensive, I am a Wiccan practitioner and Our one law says \"And it harm none, Do what thou wilt\" In other words it's against the \"law\" to harm somebody.The worst you can ever do, unless you believe in harming yourself, is a justice spell.",
"Because of this books misleading content and its misunderstood perspective of Witches my friend now believes that I am going to attack her, that there are evil witches around every corner and that they all wish to eat her alive and such.",
"I dissagree with this book to the furthest extent any Witch or regular person could possibly dissagree with anything.",
"This book is nothing but fire kindling to my way of thinking, for a fire to burn Witches."
] |
2 | Good read, but . . . | This is a good book to sit by your bedside to read a short chapter before going to sleep. I like this kind of book format; however, some stories will leave you wondering about the sanity of the very authors themselves. For example, there was a reference that the famous "John Wayne" was an active participant at the Alamo. I read the paragraph in which this occurred several times and decided that the author was just making an intellectual joke . . . but I speculate that the reader 100 or so years from now may think that the author was a complete idiot that only learned history from made-for-tv movies. Another author belittled the human cost of the plague in 1300s Europe by stating that it ONLY affected 3 out of 4 people. You may have purchased the book to discover some history, but you are also discovering something about how people interpret history as well. Although this book is easy reading in a short-story format, maybe the bedside table isn't the right place for it? | 983 | [
"This is a good book to sit by your bedside to read a short chapter before going to sleep.",
"I like this kind of book format; however, some stories will leave you wondering about the sanity of the very authors themselves.",
"For example, there was a reference that the famous \"John Wayne\" was an active participant at the Alamo.",
"I read the paragraph in which this occurred several times and decided that the author was just making an intellectual joke.",
".",
".",
"but I speculate that the reader 100 or so years from now may think that the author was a complete idiot that only learned history from made-for-tv movies.",
"Another author belittled the human cost of the plague in 1300s Europe by stating that it ONLY affected 3 out of 4 people.",
"You may have purchased the book to discover some history, but you are also discovering something about how people interpret history as well.",
"Although this book is easy reading in a short-story format, maybe the bedside table isn't the right place for it?"
] |
2 | BETTER BE FAST ON YOUR FEET!!! | I have been running regularly for the past 6 months, so with winter here, I thought I could use a good cardio workout. I already own ULTIMATE PILATES and LIFT WEIGHTS TO LOSE WEIGHT 2 from Kathy Smith, and I truely enjoy them. As for FAT BURNING BREAKTHROUGH, my mistake was not reading all the reviews before purchasing it.I agree with customers who said the step routine was very complicated. I have tried it many times, and still miss quite a few steps. There comes a point where I just can't follow anymore, and my heart rate goes down. The camera angles make it difficult sometimes to see the leg work, and those who don't have a step at home will not always see the lady on the right of their screen who is the only one without a step.I do like the weight lifting and ab section though, which I combine with other workouts or pop in after a run.I would love to find a good and relatively simple cardio workout either from Kathy Smith or another fitness expert. Any suggestions? | 983 | [
"I have been running regularly for the past 6 months, so with winter here, I thought I could use a good cardio workout.",
"I already own ULTIMATE PILATES and LIFT WEIGHTS TO LOSE WEIGHT 2 from Kathy Smith, and I truely enjoy them.",
"As for FAT BURNING BREAKTHROUGH, my mistake was not reading all the reviews before purchasing it.I agree with customers who said the step routine was very complicated.",
"I have tried it many times, and still miss quite a few steps.",
"There comes a point where I just can't follow anymore, and my heart rate goes down.",
"The camera angles make it difficult sometimes to see the leg work, and those who don't have a step at home will not always see the lady on the right of their screen who is the only one without a step.I do like the weight lifting and ab section though, which I combine with other workouts or pop in after a run.I would love to find a good and relatively simple cardio workout either from Kathy Smith or another fitness expert.",
"Any suggestions?"
] |
2 | Not the ending I wanted | I agree with a lot of the negative reviews for this book, and yes, I usually love JG. The romance could have been stronger between the h&h; it did seem at times to be just thrown in to meet the requirement of a romance, still, I was rooting for them. SPOILER ALERT: What I did not like the ending. Granted, it was noble of the character to not want to accept her uncle's fortune considering how he obtained it, but how about replacing the things she lost because of this will (i.e. her car blown up, her business supplies blown up at the warehouse, the loss of her time away from her business, etc.). It was pretty hard for me to swallow, especially since she has to take out a loan for her business. In this economy it seems she would have considered this. Also, while it was thoughtful to donate it all in her mother's name (someone her uncle hated), how about trying to get some of it back to all those people it was taken from? Or at least make an effort. Just my humble opinion. | 983 | [
"I agree with a lot of the negative reviews for this book, and yes, I usually love JG.",
"The romance could have been stronger between the h&h; it did seem at times to be just thrown in to meet the requirement of a romance, still, I was rooting for them.",
"SPOILER ALERT: What I did not like the ending.",
"Granted, it was noble of the character to not want to accept her uncle's fortune considering how he obtained it, but how about replacing the things she lost because of this will (i.e. her car blown up, her business supplies blown up at the warehouse, the loss of her time away from her business, etc.).",
"It was pretty hard for me to swallow, especially since she has to take out a loan for her business.",
"In this economy it seems she would have considered this.",
"Also, while it was thoughtful to donate it all in her mother's name (someone her uncle hated), how about trying to get some of it back to all those people it was taken from?",
"Or at least make an effort.",
"Just my humble opinion."
] |
2 | Just Not Comfortable to Wear | This pedometer will show your step count, your jog or hiking count, your steps per mile, jog per mile, calories burned, total miles traveled, and it can automatically cycle through the data. It also has an auto off to save battery life when your not moving.I was so excited to get this one but when I put it on it was so uncomfortable to wear. The top of the clip is angled a bit towards your body and the very top part is not rounded so it digs in. Also, there are deep ridges that look like they are there for a secure grip when removing the pedometer from your waistline. These ridges dig in when I'm sitting and rub when I'm walking or running.If you wear your pedometer on your belt then your clothing will protect you, but if you wear it on your shorts or if you don't wear a belt this is probably not going to be very comfortable.It's too bad the designers didn't think of comfort when designing the top of the clip because it shows a lot of info and it's a nice compact size. | 983 | [
"This pedometer will show your step count, your jog or hiking count, your steps per mile, jog per mile, calories burned, total miles traveled, and it can automatically cycle through the data.",
"It also has an auto off to save battery life when your not moving.I was so excited to get this one but when I put it on it was so uncomfortable to wear.",
"The top of the clip is angled a bit towards your body and the very top part is not rounded so it digs in.",
"Also, there are deep ridges that look like they are there for a secure grip when removing the pedometer from your waistline.",
"These ridges dig in when I'm sitting and rub when I'm walking or running.If you wear your pedometer on your belt then your clothing will protect you, but if you wear it on your shorts or if you don't wear a belt this is probably not going to be very comfortable.It's too bad the designers didn't think of comfort when designing the top of the clip because it shows a lot of info and it's a nice compact size."
] |
2 | BUYER BEWARE | If you plan to use this car seat for less than one year, then keep it; otherwise you only have a 90 day Evenflo warranty. I purchased this car seat (...) and it didn't last as long as the other seat I used for both of my daughters. When I called the company shortly after purchasing it to find out how to wash it, they told me I couln't. When I called to complain about the seat (...), it could miraculously be washed -- after 2 disgusting years -- by removing the back plate with a screwdriver. The problem now is that the velcro and backing has totally ripped apart, and when I went to remove one of the clips from the seat, it tore a hole in the fabric. If I place it in the washer, I'm sure it will fall apart. Evenflo will NOT replace the cover, but is willing to waive the shipping and handling fee if I purchase a new one. There is no recall on my model, and the customer service was shoddy.Oh yea, and my 2 year old can get out of this one too! I should've bought the Britax. | 983 | [
"If you plan to use this car seat for less than one year, then keep it; otherwise you only have a 90 day Evenflo warranty.",
"I purchased this car seat (...) and it didn't last as long as the other seat I used for both of my daughters.",
"When I called the company shortly after purchasing it to find out how to wash it, they told me I couln't.",
"When I called to complain about the seat (...), it could miraculously be washed -- after 2 disgusting years -- by removing the back plate with a screwdriver.",
"The problem now is that the velcro and backing has totally ripped apart, and when I went to remove one of the clips from the seat, it tore a hole in the fabric.",
"If I place it in the washer, I'm sure it will fall apart.",
"Evenflo will NOT replace the cover, but is willing to waive the shipping and handling fee if I purchase a new one.",
"There is no recall on my model, and the customer service was shoddy.Oh yea, and my 2 year old can get out of this one too!",
"I should've bought the Britax."
] |
2 | Mine are only a little used | I'm thinking the vast majority of these sets were stored loose somewhere, and hauled out, oiled/greased, and roughly boxed. The set I got are pretty scuffed, and the crevices are gummed with what I expect is oil applied to dusty/dirty surfaces. My multi-tool had some fingerprints, as well. However, the blades are in decent shape, and it doesn't look like the tools were actually USED, just kind of scruffy.Like everyone else, I got them in a package deal, and together it's a bargain. However, if I'd bought them at full price and/or intended them as a gift, I would be pretty upset.The tools themselves are decent, and have good heft from the wood. They're not top of the line, but they're better than "Winchester" or other low-end brands.A screaming deal for the above-minimum quality, in the package deal anyway.However I have to give two stars for the sheer fact of selling used or semi-damaged items as new, ESPECIALLY items that are really intended as gifts much of the time. | 983 | [
"I'm thinking the vast majority of these sets were stored loose somewhere, and hauled out, oiled/greased, and roughly boxed.",
"The set I got are pretty scuffed, and the crevices are gummed with what I expect is oil applied to dusty/dirty surfaces.",
"My multi-tool had some fingerprints, as well.",
"However, the blades are in decent shape, and it doesn't look like the tools were actually USED, just kind of scruffy.Like everyone else, I got them in a package deal, and together it's a bargain.",
"However, if I'd bought them at full price and/or intended them as a gift, I would be pretty upset.The tools themselves are decent, and have good heft from the wood.",
"They're not top of the line, but they're better than \"Winchester\" or other low-end brands.A screaming deal for the above-minimum quality, in the package deal anyway.However I have to give two stars for the sheer fact of selling used or semi-damaged items as new, ESPECIALLY items that are really intended as gifts much of the time."
] |
2 | mr boe | While their first album.."hipsway" was a real supprise, their follow upper is the opposite. The magic moments from their first album..."The broken years, the honey thief, ask the lord" which sat the standart and made promises for an exciting and awaited 2nd album. Sad to say, their 2nd album....here under the name.."the rest of Hipsway", is a real disapointment.While their first had quality in all kinds of way, and the aura of magic. This second and last from Hipsway, is a rather sad ending of a band that could, and should go all the way up among the best. The magic is gone, and this one is just another 2nd album flop...........as together with so many other bands that fail to follow up their first.There are of course some moments here.....or mabye i should wish there were some moments here. I loved their first album that was so influenced by the best of british pop, american soul and r'n'b.If i should recomend something here..............buy their first one...Hipsway. | 983 | [
"While their first album..\"hipsway\" was a real supprise, their follow upper is the opposite.",
"The magic moments from their first album...\"The broken years, the honey thief, ask the lord\" which sat the standart and made promises for an exciting and awaited 2nd album.",
"Sad to say, their 2nd album....here under the name..\"the rest of Hipsway\", is a real disapointment.While their first had quality in all kinds of way, and the aura of magic.",
"This second and last from Hipsway, is a rather sad ending of a band that could, and should go all the way up among the best.",
"The magic is gone, and this one is just another 2nd album flop...........as together with so many other bands that fail to follow up their first.There are of course some moments here.....or mabye i should wish there were some moments here.",
"I loved their first album that was so influenced by the best of british pop, american soul and r'n'b.If i should recomend something here..............buy their first one...Hipsway."
] |
2 | Great Book but .... | John Ross did a great job with the facts and history associated with guns in America within his story. It started off somewhat slow but picked up speed quickly. The use of facts to set the tone of the story ran the gamut of happiness, to sadness, and ultimately to anger. This book is a fascinating walk through America's history of gun ownership with an ending that is too plausable to think about.The only drawback to this story is John Ross' seemingly fascination with sex. Using whores, to the rape of a male, to group sex. I would not allow my child to read this book because of what he put into the story and sadly, put this in unnecessarily. John Ross went beyond the need to "add" spice to a story that would have better without the additives. Hence, the reason for two stars. If he would have left most of the filth out of the book, I would give it 5 stars. It is too bad that John Ross did not realize that his story was good enough to stand on its own without the garbage. | 983 | [
"John Ross did a great job with the facts and history associated with guns in America within his story.",
"It started off somewhat slow but picked up speed quickly.",
"The use of facts to set the tone of the story ran the gamut of happiness, to sadness, and ultimately to anger.",
"This book is a fascinating walk through America's history of gun ownership with an ending that is too plausable to think about.The only drawback to this story is John Ross' seemingly fascination with sex.",
"Using whores, to the rape of a male, to group sex.",
"I would not allow my child to read this book because of what he put into the story and sadly, put this in unnecessarily.",
"John Ross went beyond the need to \"add\" spice to a story that would have better without the additives.",
"Hence, the reason for two stars.",
"If he would have left most of the filth out of the book, I would give it 5 stars.",
"It is too bad that John Ross did not realize that his story was good enough to stand on its own without the garbage."
] |
2 | Would be great if it worked! | I bought this print server to use with my macintosh system. The box said it was compatible with OSX. Well--many hours and several calls to tech support and a visit to CompUSA's Apple Store later, the thing still doesn't work. The documentation is in a word, scanty. The instructions for Mac users presume a knowledge base which is not common in the average Mac user. I spent two hours at the CompUSA Apple store working with the Apple professional trying to get the thing to work. The setup requires typing into the Unix terminal--not something most Mac users feel comfortable with. Even the Hawking tech support guy said my unit must be broken--but another unit we opened at CompUSA didn't work either. So...I will probably return this item, although I really don't want to--there isn't anything else like it on the market. That's why I give it two stars instead of one--because apparently some people have gotten it to work, and it is a nicely priced, unique bit of hardware. Sigh. | 983 | [
"I bought this print server to use with my macintosh system.",
"The box said it was compatible with OSX.",
"Well--many hours and several calls to tech support and a visit to CompUSA's Apple Store later, the thing still doesn't work.",
"The documentation is in a word, scanty.",
"The instructions for Mac users presume a knowledge base which is not common in the average Mac user.",
"I spent two hours at the CompUSA Apple store working with the Apple professional trying to get the thing to work.",
"The setup requires typing into the Unix terminal--not something most Mac users feel comfortable with.",
"Even the Hawking tech support guy said my unit must be broken--but another unit we opened at CompUSA didn't work either.",
"So...I will probably return this item, although I really don't want to--there isn't anything else like it on the market.",
"That's why I give it two stars instead of one--because apparently some people have gotten it to work, and it is a nicely priced, unique bit of hardware.",
"Sigh."
] |
2 | Who are these people? | I am an avid Nip/Tuck fan and have all the seasons on DVD. I have been really sad that this will be the last season, but after seeing the season premiere, it might be for the best. This was the worse Nip/Tuck episode I have ever seen. Who is this evil Liz and these OLD, tired, worn out doctors? Who is this new actress playing Teddy? Why does Teddy's character go from a mysterious wild child to a woman who wears $150,000 earrings?This episode had hardly any substance... just smidgens of Christian and Liz fighting, Sean having trouble sleeping, Matt not knowing what he wants to do with his life, etc. The tiny bit of drama with Sean and sleeping pills in the last fifteen seconds is nothing compared to Kimber being kidnapped by the Carver, Matt finding out Ava was a man, or Gina being f***ed off a balcony.This episode was nothing like Nip/Tuck normally is, and this time it was not a good thing. I'll watch the whole season, but here's hoping it gets better from here on out. | 983 | [
"I am an avid Nip/Tuck fan and have all the seasons on DVD.",
"I have been really sad that this will be the last season, but after seeing the season premiere, it might be for the best.",
"This was the worse Nip/Tuck episode I have ever seen.",
"Who is this evil Liz and these OLD, tired, worn out doctors?",
"Who is this new actress playing Teddy?",
"Why does Teddy's character go from a mysterious wild child to a woman who wears $150,000 earrings?",
"This episode had hardly any substance... just smidgens of Christian and Liz fighting, Sean having trouble sleeping, Matt not knowing what he wants to do with his life, etc.",
"The tiny bit of drama with Sean and sleeping pills in the last fifteen seconds is nothing compared to Kimber being kidnapped by the Carver, Matt finding out Ava was a man, or Gina being f***ed off a balcony.This episode was nothing like Nip/Tuck normally is, and this time it was not a good thing.",
"I'll watch the whole season, but here's hoping it gets better from here on out."
] |
2 | Not really a good tank | This is how you teach your children how to NOT care for fish properly: Buy them a 1g Mini Bow. Undergravel filtration sounds great, right? Maybe you're thinking that the filter intake is under the gravel, circulating the muck out of there and through a filter. This is not the case. This undergravel "filter" is simply a plastic grate that allow the poo to settle down to the bottom and not be disturbed so easily.Anyway, the poo is only removed from the water when you manually pour it out. And good luck with that too, because as soon as you start moving things around in the tank, all that poop starts swirling around! It will be a little difficult for you to save some of the clean top water for your water change, now that there's poop swirling!Besides all that, a 1g really isn't big enough for any fish, unless you intend on keep a very unhappy betta or something. Research proper fish care, and get something that has a proper filter on it. It makes your job a little easier. | 983 | [
"This is how you teach your children how to NOT care for fish properly: Buy them a 1g Mini Bow.",
"Undergravel filtration sounds great, right?",
"Maybe you're thinking that the filter intake is under the gravel, circulating the muck out of there and through a filter.",
"This is not the case.",
"This undergravel \"filter\" is simply a plastic grate that allow the poo to settle down to the bottom and not be disturbed so easily.Anyway, the poo is only removed from the water when you manually pour it out.",
"And good luck with that too, because as soon as you start moving things around in the tank, all that poop starts swirling around!",
"It will be a little difficult for you to save some of the clean top water for your water change, now that there's poop swirling!",
"Besides all that, a 1g really isn't big enough for any fish, unless you intend on keep a very unhappy betta or something.",
"Research proper fish care, and get something that has a proper filter on it.",
"It makes your job a little easier."
] |
2 | Lets be realistic | Lets be realistic all around shall we?Firstly, if you are 30 years old and expected to grow more than 1 or 2 inches from doing the techniques in this book, you are out of your mind.From what I have discerned this book is designed to manipulate the current structure of your body so you appear taller.There are several easy techniques you can do for free or for small cost.Yoga or Pilates is a very good way of stretching out your spinal cord, strengthening the associated tissues, and improving posture. All of which could translate into an inch or 2 of apparent height.Proper hydration could result in an apparent increase in height. When we wake up in the morning we are actually a little shorter than when we laid down because the water in the spinal cord is no longer there.Very diminutive height is caused largely in part by genetics and life style, or sometimes as a result of HGH deficiencies, I recommend you consult your doctor and leave the hair-brained books on the shelf. | 983 | [
"Lets be realistic all around shall we?",
"Firstly, if you are 30 years old and expected to grow more than 1 or 2 inches from doing the techniques in this book, you are out of your mind.From what I have discerned this book is designed to manipulate the current structure of your body so you appear taller.There are several easy techniques you can do for free or for small cost.Yoga or Pilates is a very good way of stretching out your spinal cord, strengthening the associated tissues, and improving posture.",
"All of which could translate into an inch or 2 of apparent height.Proper hydration could result in an apparent increase in height.",
"When we wake up in the morning we are actually a little shorter than when we laid down because the water in the spinal cord is no longer there.Very diminutive height is caused largely in part by genetics and life style, or sometimes as a result of HGH deficiencies, I recommend you consult your doctor and leave the hair-brained books on the shelf."
] |
2 | Potential spoilers! | This book really blew it for me when Lola took the time to pluck her eyebrows and apply makeup while on a deserted island. You've got to be kidding me. And then not too long after that scene, she complains because Max makes her leave behind her toothbrush and designer wallet to hide their identity from the drug lords. Was this supposed to be funny? It wouldn't be so bad if Max didn't go on and on about how 'brave' she was. Please. Brave and courgous she was not. Lola Carlyle didn't do anything more special then the rest of us would've done in that situation. For crying out loud she hyperventilated while escaping. Of all times.*SPOILER* Yes she did give Max a chance at a relationship. Knowing that he could leave at any time and may never return. So when the time comes are we supposed to have pity for her when she leaves him and tells him she can't be with him? She knew this all along. Yes it's what makes the love story in this book. But I wished it wasn't done this way. | 983 | [
"This book really blew it for me when Lola took the time to pluck her eyebrows and apply makeup while on a deserted island.",
"You've got to be kidding me.",
"And then not too long after that scene, she complains because Max makes her leave behind her toothbrush and designer wallet to hide their identity from the drug lords.",
"Was this supposed to be funny?",
"It wouldn't be so bad if Max didn't go on and on about how 'brave' she was.",
"Please.",
"Brave and courgous she was not.",
"Lola Carlyle didn't do anything more special then the rest of us would've done in that situation.",
"For crying out loud she hyperventilated while escaping.",
"Of all times.*SPOILER* Yes she did give Max a chance at a relationship.",
"Knowing that he could leave at any time and may never return.",
"So when the time comes are we supposed to have pity for her when she leaves him and tells him she can't be with him?",
"She knew this all along.",
"Yes it's what makes the love story in this book.",
"But I wished it wasn't done this way."
] |
2 | Nothing Special | No one is expecting much out of a film like this, you go and watch it for some actions scenes and hot girls in skin tight costumes trying to be [...]. That's fine I get that. Problem is GI Joe is just trying way too hard to be cool, the action scenes are far too over the top and require CGI for almost every single second of them, and you start to wonder why they just didn't render the whole film like it and save a lot of money. Even the dialog comes across as forced, you can tell that the actors are cringing on the inside with each syllable of nonsense they must mutter, even down to squeezing in some of the catch phrases such as "knowing is half the battle", "GO Joe!" and "Real American hero".If I didn't know any better I would say that this is a live action Team America, finish watching the Paris scene and tell me I'm wrong, I dare you.At the end of the day the movie does do what is set out to do. A minor distraction that is forgotten quickly, a B-Movie with a budget. | 983 | [
"No one is expecting much out of a film like this, you go and watch it for some actions scenes and hot girls in skin tight costumes trying to be [...].",
"That's fine I get that.",
"Problem is GI Joe is just trying way too hard to be cool, the action scenes are far too over the top and require CGI for almost every single second of them, and you start to wonder why they just didn't render the whole film like it and save a lot of money.",
"Even the dialog comes across as forced, you can tell that the actors are cringing on the inside with each syllable of nonsense they must mutter, even down to squeezing in some of the catch phrases such as \"knowing is half the battle\", \"GO Joe!",
"\" and \"Real American hero\".If I didn't know any better I would say that this is a live action Team America, finish watching the Paris scene and tell me I'm wrong, I dare you.At the end of the day the movie does do what is set out to do.",
"A minor distraction that is forgotten quickly, a B-Movie with a budget."
] |
2 | Disappointed | Usually when you purchase an item like this one, you receive a manual or owner's guide that gives detailed instructions on how to use it. This is not the case with the Sansa c250 mp3 player. I have had to hunt for information on the Internet just to get things done. Information that's missing:1. Albums folder: what is its function, how can I populate it?2. MTP mode: the only reason I know about this "mode" is because I found out about it on a few sites that have help forums. I don't know what MTP stands for, and the message "USB connected MTP" does not show up when I go into Auto-detect mode and then connect the c250 to the PC.3. How about telling the user what MTP nd MSC mean? It would be nice to be told this stuff, especially if you're new to devices like these.4. Where are the instructions for creating playlists?The owner's manual for my toaster oven is the size of a small book in comparison, surely SanDisk could have come up with a more detailed instruction manual. | 983 | [
"Usually when you purchase an item like this one, you receive a manual or owner's guide that gives detailed instructions on how to use it.",
"This is not the case with the Sansa c250 mp3 player.",
"I have had to hunt for information on the Internet just to get things done.",
"Information that's missing:1.",
"Albums folder: what is its function, how can I populate it?",
"2.",
"MTP mode: the only reason I know about this \"mode\" is because I found out about it on a few sites that have help forums.",
"I don't know what MTP stands for, and the message \"USB connected MTP\" does not show up when I go into Auto-detect mode and then connect the c250 to the PC.3. How about telling the user what MTP nd MSC mean?",
"It would be nice to be told this stuff, especially if you're new to devices like these.4. Where are the instructions for creating playlists?",
"The owner's manual for my toaster oven is the size of a small book in comparison, surely SanDisk could have come up with a more detailed instruction manual."
] |
2 | Well, where to start.... | It happens always the same with a lot of great metal / rock (or other genres) muisicians: they manage to produce two or three masterpieces (in the case of Ronnie, HOLY DIVER and THE LAST IN LINE) and then, all of a sudden, all the magic is gone. But, like they are really gifted musicians, they manage to release strong and sometimes sucessful albums.This is the case for Dio. He lost his "magic" a long time ago, but his perseverance in playing the sytle he loves and his authenticy (no to mention his amazing voice) granted him a loyal following (including me).As for KILLING THE DRAGON, it's same old stuff all over again, but there are sme annoying fillers here that I could not believe.Other trouble is his obsession with dragons, magic, light, stars, etc, etc.. HIs lyrics are becoming just a joke, repetitive, empty. In HOLY DIVER and Sabbath's Heaven adn Hell, for example, he could be a little more ecletic in the lyrics department. Now all he writes about is RPG subject... | 983 | [
"It happens always the same with a lot of great metal / rock (or other genres) muisicians: they manage to produce two or three masterpieces (in the case of Ronnie, HOLY DIVER and THE LAST IN LINE) and then, all of a sudden, all the magic is gone.",
"But, like they are really gifted musicians, they manage to release strong and sometimes sucessful albums.This is the case for Dio.",
"He lost his \"magic\" a long time ago, but his perseverance in playing the sytle he loves and his authenticy (no to mention his amazing voice) granted him a loyal following (including me).As for KILLING THE DRAGON, it's same old stuff all over again, but there are sme annoying fillers here that I could not believe.Other trouble is his obsession with dragons, magic, light, stars, etc, etc..",
"HIs lyrics are becoming just a joke, repetitive, empty.",
"In HOLY DIVER and Sabbath's Heaven adn Hell, for example, he could be a little more ecletic in the lyrics department.",
"Now all he writes about is RPG subject..."
] |
2 | Suicide blonde | Physical beauty, articulate - but often meaningless - speech, and blonde hair do not compensate for such nuggets of anti-wisdom as: "Liberals have been wrong about everything in the last half century." Surprise news flash! A conservative being shocking and sensationalistic! Wow! How novel.For starters, liberals were right about pollution in Houston decades before the GOP there would admit anything!To spend money on this book which is just as easy to skim through, then wipe with at your local library (which wouldn't exist without "liberals") is a horrible and unjustified utilization of these pages.Sinking hard-earned money (middle class liberals, read "harder") into this book is not nearly as appealing as muting the TV and watching the author move in silence. Beauty becomes beast quite quickly in this era of bigot-worship.On the up side, she looks a heck of a lot better than O-Reilley and at least seems to have more brain power.Ahhh, if only she could utilize it better. | 983 | [
"Physical beauty, articulate - but often meaningless - speech, and blonde hair do not compensate for such nuggets of anti-wisdom as: \"Liberals have been wrong about everything in the last half century.\" Surprise news flash!",
"A conservative being shocking and sensationalistic!",
"Wow!",
"How novel.For starters, liberals were right about pollution in Houston decades before the GOP there would admit anything!",
"To spend money on this book which is just as easy to skim through, then wipe with at your local library (which wouldn't exist without \"liberals\") is a horrible and unjustified utilization of these pages.Sinking hard-earned money (middle class liberals, read \"harder\") into this book is not nearly as appealing as muting the TV and watching the author move in silence.",
"Beauty becomes beast quite quickly in this era of bigot-worship.On the up side, she looks a heck of a lot better than O-Reilley and at least seems to have more brain power.Ahhh, if only she could utilize it better."
] |
2 | Not much substance | Although I'm sure Keegan has studied war thoroughly, I must agree with two previous reviewers about 1) his questionable belief that famine and disease are insignificant problems (maybe for us residents of the developed world) and 2) the blatantly Eurocentric view of war (albeit the few references to China, Japan, and Genghis Khan). AIDS and malaria, poverty and hunger continue to kill millions of people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Also, while Keegan states that "it is poor states that mainly cause war" he makes no mention of the involvement (historical, political, or economic) of wealthier nations in those wars.But more importantly, though this may be an entertaining read, WAR AND OUR WORLD actually tells little about the nature of war, its origins, its transformations, and its possible future. 74 pages is just too short to even introduce a topic as wide in scope as war, and Keegan doesn't come close to providing a sturdy framework for a brief discussion of it. | 983 | [
"Although I'm sure Keegan has studied war thoroughly, I must agree with two previous reviewers about 1) his questionable belief that famine and disease are insignificant problems (maybe for us residents of the developed world) and 2) the blatantly Eurocentric view of war (albeit the few references to China, Japan, and Genghis Khan).",
"AIDS and malaria, poverty and hunger continue to kill millions of people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.",
"Also, while Keegan states that \"it is poor states that mainly cause war\" he makes no mention of the involvement (historical, political, or economic) of wealthier nations in those wars.But more importantly, though this may be an entertaining read, WAR AND OUR WORLD actually tells little about the nature of war, its origins, its transformations, and its possible future.",
"74 pages is just too short to even introduce a topic as wide in scope as war, and Keegan doesn't come close to providing a sturdy framework for a brief discussion of it."
] |
2 | not my cup of tea | Patricia Barber is an artist I only know from CD recordings so I can only judge her latest CD on the basis of my listening and my own prejudices. I have not seen her perform live, so the review is based only on listening to Modern Cool.Eight out of twelve songs are Paticia Barber's own compositions, so we get a real flavor of her music. The other four are familier songs that Peggy Lee and others popularized a number of years ago.The CD has a dark feeling, for me, and does not make me push the repeat button. After a couple of listenings I removed the CD and set it aside and will try it again later, but I doubt that it will become one of my jazz standards. I think Patricia Barber does a nice job on the standards but her own compositions are too quirky for my tastes, and leave me an uncomfortable listener. However, I am the first to admit, when I heard Miles Davis play years ago, I did not like what I heard, and it took multiple listenings for me to really enjoy his work. | 983 | [
"Patricia Barber is an artist I only know from CD recordings so I can only judge her latest CD on the basis of my listening and my own prejudices.",
"I have not seen her perform live, so the review is based only on listening to Modern Cool.Eight out of twelve songs are Paticia Barber's own compositions, so we get a real flavor of her music.",
"The other four are familier songs that Peggy Lee and others popularized a number of years ago.The CD has a dark feeling, for me, and does not make me push the repeat button.",
"After a couple of listenings I removed the CD and set it aside and will try it again later, but I doubt that it will become one of my jazz standards.",
"I think Patricia Barber does a nice job on the standards but her own compositions are too quirky for my tastes, and leave me an uncomfortable listener.",
"However, I am the first to admit, when I heard Miles Davis play years ago, I did not like what I heard, and it took multiple listenings for me to really enjoy his work."
] |
2 | A below average album | After listening to the Joe Budden album twice I was dissappointed with it more than anything. I didnt like the intro but when #1 came on I thought that was a hot track. After that Pump it Up came on and after hearing it so much its still on fire. I had to skip Pusha Man but I came back to it later. You Ain't Gotta Go Home was catchy and infectious as ever and Walk With Me was...nah I wasn't feeling it. She Wanna Know and Survivor were okay but Fire with Busta on it... that was a hot track! Ma Ma Ma was a song that either you like or you dont and I did'nt like it. The album started getting better with Calm Down. Because after that we got blessed with Focus which is the best track on the album and Give Me Reason which is a pretty good track. Stand Up Nucca, 10 Mins,and Real Life In Rap were all hot tracks but why did Porno Star have to be on here?Anyway, there are a handful of great songs on here but the cons outweigh the pros and you end up having a below average album. | 983 | [
"After listening to the Joe Budden album twice I was dissappointed with it more than anything.",
"I didnt like the intro but when #1 came on I thought that was a hot track.",
"After that Pump it Up came on and after hearing it so much its still on fire.",
"I had to skip Pusha Man but I came back to it later.",
"You Ain't Gotta Go Home was catchy and infectious as ever and Walk With Me was...nah I wasn't feeling it.",
"She Wanna Know and Survivor were okay but Fire with Busta on it... that was a hot track!",
"Ma Ma Ma was a song that either you like or you dont and I did'nt like it.",
"The album started getting better with Calm Down.",
"Because after that we got blessed with Focus which is the best track on the album and Give Me Reason which is a pretty good track.",
"Stand Up Nucca, 10 Mins,and Real Life In Rap were all hot tracks but why did Porno Star have to be on here?",
"Anyway, there are a handful of great songs on here but the cons outweigh the pros and you end up having a below average album."
] |
2 | Shoddy writing | Any expectations I had of Rowling were fully let down by this sixth installment. Maybe she was trying a new writing style, or maybe she was preoccupied, but this book is a disappointment to me.. and I'm normally a HUGE fan. Harry seems even more isolated from everyone. All the characters seem to be lacking all their usual traits that we've grown to love. And you'd think that after losing Sirius, Harry would feel angrier, or at least turn to Lupin, being his father's last surviving friend. Readers are still left with unanswered questions about the Evans, the Potters, and about Neville. We want to know how Voldemort was thrice defied by Alice and Frank, and by Lily and James. We want to know about the OotP has been up to, now that they're not guarding the Prophecy. We want to know more of Dumbledore's background. The book leaves readers wondering if Rowling accidentally Apparated and left her imagination and writing skills behind. Hoping for a MUCH better book next time! | 983 | [
"Any expectations I had of Rowling were fully let down by this sixth installment.",
"Maybe she was trying a new writing style, or maybe she was preoccupied, but this book is a disappointment to me..",
"and I'm normally a HUGE fan.",
"Harry seems even more isolated from everyone.",
"All the characters seem to be lacking all their usual traits that we've grown to love.",
"And you'd think that after losing Sirius, Harry would feel angrier, or at least turn to Lupin, being his father's last surviving friend.",
"Readers are still left with unanswered questions about the Evans, the Potters, and about Neville.",
"We want to know how Voldemort was thrice defied by Alice and Frank, and by Lily and James.",
"We want to know about the OotP has been up to, now that they're not guarding the Prophecy.",
"We want to know more of Dumbledore's background.",
"The book leaves readers wondering if Rowling accidentally Apparated and left her imagination and writing skills behind.",
"Hoping for a MUCH better book next time!"
] |
2 | Top-heavy Umbrella | I have used this umbrella for almost one year in tropical Florida. As advertised, the umbrella comes in two pieces which must screwed together. The top piece is really too heavy for the supporting bottom piece. The fittings are solid-looking brass, but appearances can be deceiving. When the two pieces are screwed together, the umbrella is not straight because of the weight of the top. I am using the umbrella with the companion Oxford umbrella base and a glass/aluminum table. It was very difficult for two people to set up the umbrella because of its large size and weight. It has proved impossible to align the umbrella so that it stands straight. The bottom shaft is straight, but the weight of the top causes it to lean no matter how it is positioned. The polyester fabric has held up well under the Florida sun, but I cannot recommend this product because it is inherently unstable and may tip over. It could and probably would do considerable damage to anything in its path. | 983 | [
"I have used this umbrella for almost one year in tropical Florida.",
"As advertised, the umbrella comes in two pieces which must screwed together.",
"The top piece is really too heavy for the supporting bottom piece.",
"The fittings are solid-looking brass, but appearances can be deceiving.",
"When the two pieces are screwed together, the umbrella is not straight because of the weight of the top.",
"I am using the umbrella with the companion Oxford umbrella base and a glass/aluminum table.",
"It was very difficult for two people to set up the umbrella because of its large size and weight.",
"It has proved impossible to align the umbrella so that it stands straight.",
"The bottom shaft is straight, but the weight of the top causes it to lean no matter how it is positioned.",
"The polyester fabric has held up well under the Florida sun, but I cannot recommend this product because it is inherently unstable and may tip over.",
"It could and probably would do considerable damage to anything in its path."
] |
2 | brooding and smutty | Byrd has done an excellent job of putting the French Revolution into the context of the American Revolution. I enjoyed the perspectives of the impressionable young Short and his master Jefferson on the situation in Paris leading up to the Revolution. However, this book never quite takes flight, and Byrd devolves into sordid descriptions of Jefferson's and Short's daliances with married women. The reader is shortchanged by the suggestion that the complexities of these men is driven by their lewd behavior. The smuttiness does not end here. Byrd chronicles the seedy side of Paris through the exploits of Jefferson's slave James. James's ineveitable request of emancipation is driven by his desire to participate in the circus-like excess of Paris, much to my disappointment. Although I learned much about the hypocrisy of Jefferson, the burden of reading this book far outweighed the lessons of this great man. The plot never quite develops and the dialogue is very inconsistent. | 983 | [
"Byrd has done an excellent job of putting the French Revolution into the context of the American Revolution.",
"I enjoyed the perspectives of the impressionable young Short and his master Jefferson on the situation in Paris leading up to the Revolution.",
"However, this book never quite takes flight, and Byrd devolves into sordid descriptions of Jefferson's and Short's daliances with married women.",
"The reader is shortchanged by the suggestion that the complexities of these men is driven by their lewd behavior.",
"The smuttiness does not end here.",
"Byrd chronicles the seedy side of Paris through the exploits of Jefferson's slave James.",
"James's ineveitable request of emancipation is driven by his desire to participate in the circus-like excess of Paris, much to my disappointment.",
"Although I learned much about the hypocrisy of Jefferson, the burden of reading this book far outweighed the lessons of this great man.",
"The plot never quite develops and the dialogue is very inconsistent."
] |
2 | I was really disapointed... | Well, I wish I could say that I absolutely loved this CD and listen to it all the time, but I can't. When I ordered this CD I was so excited, because I really do appreciate everything Alanis Morissette does. I'd heard a few of her songs on the radio once or twice and loved them.Ok well here is the problem I have with it: All of the lyrics in each of the songs seem to be so negative. I never noticed it before I bought the CD but once I owned the CD and listened to each song a few times in a row I realized that they are all about something negative. Or at least most of them are. I am the type of person who appreciates meaningful lyrics, but these are not meaningful to me. They are all a bit depressing, really. I love Alanis' voice and I think it is very uniquely beautiful, but I am just disappointed in what she is singing ABOUT. It's not the worst I've come across, but I really wouldn't recommend buying this CD unless you are into the depressing, angry lyrics.~Peace out~ | 983 | [
"Well, I wish I could say that I absolutely loved this CD and listen to it all the time, but I can't.",
"When I ordered this CD I was so excited, because I really do appreciate everything Alanis Morissette does.",
"I'd heard a few of her songs on the radio once or twice and loved them.Ok well here is the problem I have with it: All of the lyrics in each of the songs seem to be so negative.",
"I never noticed it before I bought the CD but once I owned the CD and listened to each song a few times in a row I realized that they are all about something negative.",
"Or at least most of them are.",
"I am the type of person who appreciates meaningful lyrics, but these are not meaningful to me.",
"They are all a bit depressing, really.",
"I love Alanis' voice and I think it is very uniquely beautiful, but I am just disappointed in what she is singing ABOUT.",
"It's not the worst I've come across, but I really wouldn't recommend buying this CD unless you are into the depressing, angry lyrics.~Peace out~"
] |
2 | Less is less | Who is too timid to enter a room naked when they are the only person in the room? Who aims a boat at a buoy in the middle of a bay, and then lets go of the steering wheel 5 seconds before hitting it? Who goes to Sitka from New York for the weekend, and believes they will be back for a morning appointment on Monday? These are examples of the leaps of logic expected from viewers of this rubbish.Weak writing, poor character development, and a useless Bonus feature of a self serving narrative by the writers of The Proposal, left me bewildered and disappointed.There are huge holes in the script, making the characters seem quite clueless. I get the feeling that all the nice things that are being said about this version of the movie and the 2 disc deluxe version are being left by members of Disney's PR department, because The Proposal is a stinker. Skip it. If you are a die hard fan of the stars, rent it somewhere cheap. Don't spend more than a buck, or you will feel cheated. | 983 | [
"Who is too timid to enter a room naked when they are the only person in the room?",
"Who aims a boat at a buoy in the middle of a bay, and then lets go of the steering wheel 5 seconds before hitting it?",
"Who goes to Sitka from New York for the weekend, and believes they will be back for a morning appointment on Monday?",
"These are examples of the leaps of logic expected from viewers of this rubbish.Weak writing, poor character development, and a useless Bonus feature of a self serving narrative by the writers of The Proposal, left me bewildered and disappointed.There are huge holes in the script, making the characters seem quite clueless.",
"I get the feeling that all the nice things that are being said about this version of the movie and the 2 disc deluxe version are being left by members of Disney's PR department, because The Proposal is a stinker.",
"Skip it.",
"If you are a die hard fan of the stars, rent it somewhere cheap.",
"Don't spend more than a buck, or you will feel cheated."
] |
2 | Broken Needles Inevitable | This is sold as an adequate 1/4 inch quilting foot for my machine - the Brother CS-6000i.I loved this foot when I put it on my machine, and it does help create accurate 1/4 seems. Then I noticed the needle hole does not line up with the default needle placement of the machine. (Seems odd, no?) I said to myself, "Self, remember to change the needle position IMMEDIATELY when you turn on your machine again." Of course I didn't and the second time I went to use it, I ended up with a broken needle. To me, a foot that results in a broken needle if I don't remember to change my needle position each and every time I turn on my machine, is not a adequate foot for the machine.Look - this needle is great for quilting even 1/4 inch seems. But I doubt I'll use it too many more times. I don't want to buy needles every single time I forget to change my needle position before dropping it. I would love a foot that is made for the left-default needle position. Sadly, I can't find one... | 983 | [
"This is sold as an adequate 1/4 inch quilting foot for my machine - the Brother CS-6000i.I loved this foot when I put it on my machine, and it does help create accurate 1/4 seems.",
"Then I noticed the needle hole does not line up with the default needle placement of the machine.",
"(Seems odd, no?",
") I said to myself, \"Self, remember to change the needle position IMMEDIATELY when you turn on your machine again.\" Of course I didn't and the second time I went to use it, I ended up with a broken needle.",
"To me, a foot that results in a broken needle if I don't remember to change my needle position each and every time I turn on my machine, is not a adequate foot for the machine.Look - this needle is great for quilting even 1/4 inch seems.",
"But I doubt I'll use it too many more times.",
"I don't want to buy needles every single time I forget to change my needle position before dropping it.",
"I would love a foot that is made for the left-default needle position.",
"Sadly, I can't find one..."
] |
2 | Great sound output, but... | The amp is great, and fills the room with sound. I can hook up everything I have, and room to spare. Except for one thing, I would rate this at five stars, however, the system is only as good as it's weakest component, which happens to be the DVD player. I had it for a month and one day the DVD player would not power up. I bought the system at Best Buy, and they were happy to replace the ENTIRE SYSTEM, but not just the DVD player. So I took it all apart and hauled it all back in to them and got a new system, hooked it all back up...well, another month passed and the exact same problem, this time the system swallowed two brand new DVD's with no way to get them out. The response was, again, to bring in the entire system and they will replace it. What a bother, running all the wires, hooking and unhooking everything, etc. If I could just get the DVD player replaced it would be better. Anyway, buy with caution and make sure you get the extended warranty from your retailer. | 983 | [
"The amp is great, and fills the room with sound.",
"I can hook up everything I have, and room to spare.",
"Except for one thing, I would rate this at five stars, however, the system is only as good as it's weakest component, which happens to be the DVD player.",
"I had it for a month and one day the DVD player would not power up.",
"I bought the system at Best Buy, and they were happy to replace the ENTIRE SYSTEM, but not just the DVD player.",
"So I took it all apart and hauled it all back in to them and got a new system, hooked it all back up...well, another month passed and the exact same problem, this time the system swallowed two brand new DVD's with no way to get them out.",
"The response was, again, to bring in the entire system and they will replace it.",
"What a bother, running all the wires, hooking and unhooking everything, etc.",
"If I could just get the DVD player replaced it would be better.",
"Anyway, buy with caution and make sure you get the extended warranty from your retailer."
] |
2 | Disappointed Irving Fan | I have been a fan of John Irving's novels for some time. However, I was recently disappointed with this novel. Irving's characters, most often New Englanders living in prep-school towns have always been humorous, quirky and awkwardly loveable for their flaws. In this novel, Irving unfortunately recycles many of these character types, ultimately selecting a self-absorbed female novelist who is, not only surrounded by an extended family of writers (tiresome in itself), and feels the need to extend her lame autobiographical experiences into her own writing. The plots and sub-plots of this novel are weak. With the dearest intent, I sincerely hope that Mr. Irving has not run out of ideas. Although I finished all 500-some pages; I am regretful to say that the three parts could've been compressed into a mere 300 or so. In addition, I was irritated with the amount of circular (and boring) narrative that surrounded the often sex-crazed (but not shocking) and shallow characters. | 983 | [
"I have been a fan of John Irving's novels for some time.",
"However, I was recently disappointed with this novel.",
"Irving's characters, most often New Englanders living in prep-school towns have always been humorous, quirky and awkwardly loveable for their flaws.",
"In this novel, Irving unfortunately recycles many of these character types, ultimately selecting a self-absorbed female novelist who is, not only surrounded by an extended family of writers (tiresome in itself), and feels the need to extend her lame autobiographical experiences into her own writing.",
"The plots and sub-plots of this novel are weak.",
"With the dearest intent, I sincerely hope that Mr.",
"Irving has not run out of ideas.",
"Although I finished all 500-some pages; I am regretful to say that the three parts could've been compressed into a mere 300 or so.",
"In addition, I was irritated with the amount of circular (and boring) narrative that surrounded the often sex-crazed (but not shocking) and shallow characters."
] |
2 | Publisher Stumbles | What an appalling mistake Penguin Press made in scheduling these stoner boys on C-Span! The audience, bemused but uncomfortable, asked few questions.The story of two guys blundering into Iraq in the early days of the war and sponging their way about the country is not without interest. But the narrative is deliberately rendered in post-adolescent slacker talk. What was the publisher's purpose? Dumb and Dumber channeling Hope and Crosby on The Road to Iraq?They come off as a two-man wrecking machine. One incident: A poor shopkeeper demands they buy a newspaper they'd been thumbing through. They repeatedly refuse, enjoying the confrontation as if they were back in Southie. Can you say Ugly American occupiers?There will be many personal narratives coming out of this war. The one classic that captures the horror, the stupidity, and the humanity of it hasn't yet appeared. But Babylon by Bus, whose title was lifted from an old Bob Marley album, already is the low water mark. | 983 | [
"What an appalling mistake Penguin Press made in scheduling these stoner boys on C-Span!",
"The audience, bemused but uncomfortable, asked few questions.The story of two guys blundering into Iraq in the early days of the war and sponging their way about the country is not without interest.",
"But the narrative is deliberately rendered in post-adolescent slacker talk.",
"What was the publisher's purpose?",
"Dumb and Dumber channeling Hope and Crosby on The Road to Iraq?",
"They come off as a two-man wrecking machine.",
"One incident: A poor shopkeeper demands they buy a newspaper they'd been thumbing through.",
"They repeatedly refuse, enjoying the confrontation as if they were back in Southie.",
"Can you say Ugly American occupiers?",
"There will be many personal narratives coming out of this war.",
"The one classic that captures the horror, the stupidity, and the humanity of it hasn't yet appeared.",
"But Babylon by Bus, whose title was lifted from an old Bob Marley album, already is the low water mark."
] |
2 | Kindle version has problems | As is so often the case with books that were originally physical, this Kindle version has a lot of little problems. Bad editing is less upsetting when eBooks are offered for bargain prices, but this book is not. For the price they are asking, a human should have read this cover to cover and fixed the problems.There are minor OCR problems in every chapter, but the most egregious occur where genetic crosses are explained. For example, in Chapter 9, everywhere that an F2 cross is described, you'll see something like this:"(1/4AA + '/2Aa + 114aa)"That should read (1/4AA + 1/2Aa + 1/4aa).Sure, I can puzzle it out without any struggle, but I shouldn't have to. Once you add in many other common OCR errors, like "F," for "F1", "Fz" for "F2", and "as" for "aa", some sections become a real pain to read.The content of this book is great, but I tire of getting ripped off by publishers that won't edit their Kindle editions with the same care that they would give to a physical book. | 983 | [
"As is so often the case with books that were originally physical, this Kindle version has a lot of little problems.",
"Bad editing is less upsetting when eBooks are offered for bargain prices, but this book is not.",
"For the price they are asking, a human should have read this cover to cover and fixed the problems.There are minor OCR problems in every chapter, but the most egregious occur where genetic crosses are explained.",
"For example, in Chapter 9, everywhere that an F2 cross is described, you'll see something like this:\"(1/4AA + '/2Aa + 114aa)\"That should read (1/4AA + 1/2Aa + 1/4aa).Sure, I can puzzle it out without any struggle, but I shouldn't have to.",
"Once you add in many other common OCR errors, like \"F,\" for \"F1\", \"Fz\" for \"F2\", and \"as\" for \"aa\", some sections become a real pain to read.The content of this book is great, but I tire of getting ripped off by publishers that won't edit their Kindle editions with the same care that they would give to a physical book."
] |
2 | Access is "iffy" | I've owned previous versions of this product, and I enjoyed using them. I found switching CDs a little annoying though, and welcomed the idea of one disk, with most of the art stored online, without taking up space on my computer.The art is wonderful; my real complaint with the program is the website access. All too often, I find myself in the middle of designing something when suddenly an object cannot download. There appears a blurb from the manufacturer telling you to try again later. Sometimes "later" is just a few moments later, other times it can be quite a while. Also, I find that the thumbnails are a little slow appearing, making scrolling through the art time consuming. I would give this product a much higher rating if it wasn't for this unreliability. I like the PrintShop, but I just bought Version 20 Deluxe, to be installed when I install my larger hard drive. I haven't installed it yet; I'm reading reviews here to see if anything else sounds more promising. | 983 | [
"I've owned previous versions of this product, and I enjoyed using them.",
"I found switching CDs a little annoying though, and welcomed the idea of one disk, with most of the art stored online, without taking up space on my computer.The art is wonderful; my real complaint with the program is the website access.",
"All too often, I find myself in the middle of designing something when suddenly an object cannot download.",
"There appears a blurb from the manufacturer telling you to try again later.",
"Sometimes \"later\" is just a few moments later, other times it can be quite a while.",
"Also, I find that the thumbnails are a little slow appearing, making scrolling through the art time consuming.",
"I would give this product a much higher rating if it wasn't for this unreliability.",
"I like the PrintShop, but I just bought Version 20 Deluxe, to be installed when I install my larger hard drive.",
"I haven't installed it yet; I'm reading reviews here to see if anything else sounds more promising."
] |
2 | Good but not great | This book has a good message, but unfortunately the language is stilted and the illustrations are amateurish.I can think of other books, especially Dom Deluise's "Charlie the Caterpillar" with almost the same message and a much better presentation. While children do need to be taught to see beyond appearances, I think the author could have used a little subtle editing to pair down the text so that it flows instead of chugs along. Also, while children do enjoy cartoonish characters in their books, there's no reason why they can't be good quality art -- see Eric Carle or Steven Kellogg for excellent examples of fine illustrations.This is the first of the Sommer-time books I've seen, and I wouldn't go out of my way to see the others if they're of the same quality. Teaching values and morals is an excellent goal, but that goal shouldn't be achieved at the cost of the story. Check your local library or bookstore for better books if you want to teach your kids how to behave. | 983 | [
"This book has a good message, but unfortunately the language is stilted and the illustrations are amateurish.I can think of other books, especially Dom Deluise's \"Charlie the Caterpillar\" with almost the same message and a much better presentation.",
"While children do need to be taught to see beyond appearances, I think the author could have used a little subtle editing to pair down the text so that it flows instead of chugs along.",
"Also, while children do enjoy cartoonish characters in their books, there's no reason why they can't be good quality art -- see Eric Carle or Steven Kellogg for excellent examples of fine illustrations.This is the first of the Sommer-time books I've seen, and I wouldn't go out of my way to see the others if they're of the same quality.",
"Teaching values and morals is an excellent goal, but that goal shouldn't be achieved at the cost of the story.",
"Check your local library or bookstore for better books if you want to teach your kids how to behave."
] |
2 | Is this even Diana Palmer? | I was so excited to get this trilogy. To say I was disappointed is a gross understatement. I've heard that sometime publishers will publish books written by other authors under a well-known writer's name to generate sales. After reading this lastest effort by Ms. Palmer, I believe it may be true. Where are the rough, arrogant, hard-as-nails, angst-ridden, passionate cowboys I've come to expect from the Long, Tall Texan series?? When those guys fell, they fought tooth and nail, and they fell hard. There was no passion, which is very untypical of Diana Palmer, no depth to the stories, and the character development was weak. If I truly believed Ms. Palmer wrote this trilogy, I would never say these things because she really is a fabulous writer and the only one whom I will even read in the genre.Ms. Palmer, if you did write these stories, and the change is so dramatic because someone told you this is what women want in men these days, don't believe it. I want the men back | 983 | [
"I was so excited to get this trilogy.",
"To say I was disappointed is a gross understatement.",
"I've heard that sometime publishers will publish books written by other authors under a well-known writer's name to generate sales.",
"After reading this lastest effort by Ms.",
"Palmer, I believe it may be true.",
"Where are the rough, arrogant, hard-as-nails, angst-ridden, passionate cowboys I've come to expect from the Long, Tall Texan series??",
"When those guys fell, they fought tooth and nail, and they fell hard.",
"There was no passion, which is very untypical of Diana Palmer, no depth to the stories, and the character development was weak.",
"If I truly believed Ms.",
"Palmer wrote this trilogy, I would never say these things because she really is a fabulous writer and the only one whom I will even read in the genre.Ms.",
"Palmer, if you did write these stories, and the change is so dramatic because someone told you this is what women want in men these days, don't believe it.",
"I want the men back"
] |
2 | There's better for PC users. | If you're a Mac user, this is a great product. It works wonderfully.However, if you're a PC user, there are better products to use. I'll give it to Apple; the design of this product and the very intuitive UI are very strong points. In fact, those were what won me over in the first place. I brought it home, and tried to get it to work for several hours (8-10) without progress. I kept getting errors, and eventually called Apple's tech support, which were VERY professional and helpful. Turns out, though, that the iPod didn't work with my firewire card. So I bought the one they recommended, and still ran into problems. So I brought it back to the store and exchanged it for the Creative Zen, 20 GB USB 2.0 version, and it's way better. The sound has less noise, the battery life is almost DOUBLE the iPod's, and has almost all the features of the iPod (it's also got more space).So, in short, for PC users, the Creative Zens are so much better, if a little more lacking in style. | 983 | [
"If you're a Mac user, this is a great product.",
"It works wonderfully.However, if you're a PC user, there are better products to use.",
"I'll give it to Apple; the design of this product and the very intuitive UI are very strong points.",
"In fact, those were what won me over in the first place.",
"I brought it home, and tried to get it to work for several hours (8-10) without progress.",
"I kept getting errors, and eventually called Apple's tech support, which were VERY professional and helpful.",
"Turns out, though, that the iPod didn't work with my firewire card.",
"So I bought the one they recommended, and still ran into problems.",
"So I brought it back to the store and exchanged it for the Creative Zen, 20 GB USB 2.0 version, and it's way better.",
"The sound has less noise, the battery life is almost DOUBLE the iPod's, and has almost all the features of the iPod (it's also got more space).So, in short, for PC users, the Creative Zens are so much better, if a little more lacking in style."
] |
2 | Great beginning, awful ending | I've read 4 books by Ms. Foley so far (Pirate Prince, Princess, Lord of Ice, and The Duke). The first three were great - especially Princess and Lord of Ice (5 stars for sure) but The Duke was pretty disappointing. The book started out good but by the time I got near the end of the book, I didn't want Robert and Belinda stay together. I wanted a happy ending for Belinda but wanted Robert to be miserable for the way he treated her. I realize that the times made it difficult for him - being the ever "noble" Duke and all but I just thought so little of him by the end that the ending left me feeling mad. Even his dueling ("risking his life") was not really for Belinda - it was more tied into his "idea" of who he was - what he should do. I have all of Ms. Foley's other books and am still looking forward to reading them but I'm sorry that I read The Duke. The only reason I'm giving the book 2 stars is because it is a Galean Foley book and the first half of the book was good. | 983 | [
"I've read 4 books by Ms.",
"Foley so far (Pirate Prince, Princess, Lord of Ice, and The Duke).",
"The first three were great - especially Princess and Lord of Ice (5 stars for sure) but The Duke was pretty disappointing.",
"The book started out good but by the time I got near the end of the book, I didn't want Robert and Belinda stay together.",
"I wanted a happy ending for Belinda but wanted Robert to be miserable for the way he treated her.",
"I realize that the times made it difficult for him - being the ever \"noble\" Duke and all but I just thought so little of him by the end that the ending left me feeling mad.",
"Even his dueling (\"risking his life\") was not really for Belinda - it was more tied into his \"idea\" of who he was - what he should do.",
"I have all of Ms.",
"Foley's other books and am still looking forward to reading them but I'm sorry that I read The Duke.",
"The only reason I'm giving the book 2 stars is because it is a Galean Foley book and the first half of the book was good."
] |
2 | Prostituted Potential | I picked up "Woman in the Dunes" with a rather high expectancy, I put it down feeling somewhat robbed. The weakness of this novel does not derive from the unique plot, but rather the way it prostitutes itself, allowing such bland descriptions. Kafka, one of my favorite authors and one cited as similiar to Abe, has been accused of a journalistic style. However, it is not his style - which is endlessly inventive and consuming - but rather his word choice that is so. Abe, on the other hand, is simply banal, monotonous (I couldn't count the many passsages speaking of spit and sand, come on no matter how diffrently you say it, its still spit and sand) and non-descriptive. Think diffrently, just look over the first chapter.Also, I found the erotic elements of the story to be pretensious, shallow, and that dreaded of all words, "cheesy." Perhaps it is not so bad, it is simply its potential that has driven it into the ground. Such a brilliant narrative deserves its due credit. | 983 | [
"I picked up \"Woman in the Dunes\" with a rather high expectancy, I put it down feeling somewhat robbed.",
"The weakness of this novel does not derive from the unique plot, but rather the way it prostitutes itself, allowing such bland descriptions.",
"Kafka, one of my favorite authors and one cited as similiar to Abe, has been accused of a journalistic style.",
"However, it is not his style - which is endlessly inventive and consuming - but rather his word choice that is so.",
"Abe, on the other hand, is simply banal, monotonous (I couldn't count the many passsages speaking of spit and sand, come on no matter how diffrently you say it, its still spit and sand) and non-descriptive.",
"Think diffrently, just look over the first chapter.Also, I found the erotic elements of the story to be pretensious, shallow, and that dreaded of all words, \"cheesy.\" Perhaps it is not so bad, it is simply its potential that has driven it into the ground.",
"Such a brilliant narrative deserves its due credit."
] |
2 | Not well done at all | A good idea, but handled wrong. Much of it isn't very believable, and I've read some pretty far-out stuff that was made believable by skilled authors. The characters are definitely cardboard cutouts, as many other reviewers have stated. I'm not even sure the author had a clear idea who they were. (You get the idea that Lloyd Simcoe is generally reserved/timid in the beginning of the book, but then later on he walks out on a press conference, unflustered, saying something like, "That's it. I'm outta here." I think I laughed out loud at that.) The dialogue is just sad, and there's very little action. The writing is pretty terrible too, with cliches littered here and there---and a decent editor was certainly called for.I thought the concept was good. But, as I said, the execution was poor. I would have liked to have seen how everyday citizens reacted to their future visions, and how they tried to change them or help them come to fruition. Less pseudoscience, more fiction. | 983 | [
"A good idea, but handled wrong.",
"Much of it isn't very believable, and I've read some pretty far-out stuff that was made believable by skilled authors.",
"The characters are definitely cardboard cutouts, as many other reviewers have stated.",
"I'm not even sure the author had a clear idea who they were.",
"(You get the idea that Lloyd Simcoe is generally reserved/timid in the beginning of the book, but then later on he walks out on a press conference, unflustered, saying something like, \"That's it.",
"I'm outta here.\" I think I laughed out loud at that.) The dialogue is just sad, and there's very little action.",
"The writing is pretty terrible too, with cliches littered here and there---and a decent editor was certainly called for.I thought the concept was good.",
"But, as I said, the execution was poor.",
"I would have liked to have seen how everyday citizens reacted to their future visions, and how they tried to change them or help them come to fruition.",
"Less pseudoscience, more fiction."
] |
2 | No critical analysis | My main criticism of this book is that it reads like it was written by a marketer pushing a brand. There is absolutely no criticism of Iverson's behavior - every fault or misstep is spun in a way to glorify AI. This book has enough material to be good, but it fails in the analysis of AI and his character.Don't get me wrong - I am not an AI hater. I think he's an interesting and compelling enough figure to deserve a biography, but that bio should not try to excuse every one of AI's faults. A good biography might have discussed them, and possibly tried to paint a picture of the man Allen Iverson might yet someday still become. This book squarely tries to place blame for every one of Iverson's travails on society and the authority figures surrounding him.The book just refuses to strike a balance that Iverson's troubles are partly caused by the circumstances he grew up with and partly of his own creation. It glorifies every poor choice as a refusal to become "whitewashed". | 983 | [
"My main criticism of this book is that it reads like it was written by a marketer pushing a brand.",
"There is absolutely no criticism of Iverson's behavior - every fault or misstep is spun in a way to glorify AI.",
"This book has enough material to be good, but it fails in the analysis of AI and his character.Don't get me wrong - I am not an AI hater.",
"I think he's an interesting and compelling enough figure to deserve a biography, but that bio should not try to excuse every one of AI's faults.",
"A good biography might have discussed them, and possibly tried to paint a picture of the man Allen Iverson might yet someday still become.",
"This book squarely tries to place blame for every one of Iverson's travails on society and the authority figures surrounding him.The book just refuses to strike a balance that Iverson's troubles are partly caused by the circumstances he grew up with and partly of his own creation.",
"It glorifies every poor choice as a refusal to become \"whitewashed\"."
] |
2 | Good, but there is better | First of all I must say I dont own halo 2, infact i dont even own a xbox (i have better things to do with $150). However I did play this at my friends house who owns it and the xbox. First of all we played the copertive story mode, it sucked. We got bored after 10 min. and then we played his little brother's v-smile (yeah that thing on the annoying commerical). That was more fun than this game. A little later I got bored and I decided to give halo another try, so i hit the single player story mode. It was fun for about 10 minutes, but then I got bored again. The levels all seem kindof the same, with the same plot for each -- kill everything that moves, then find your way through a maze of hallways and doors. On the positive side, the graphics are amazing (for a console anyway), and the AI is decent for once. If you have a good computer, check out half life or doom 3, they kick the heck out of this game. And if you have a ps2, get gta san andreas, now thats a good game. | 983 | [
"First of all I must say I dont own halo 2, infact i dont even own a xbox (i have better things to do with $150).",
"However I did play this at my friends house who owns it and the xbox.",
"First of all we played the copertive story mode, it sucked.",
"We got bored after 10 min.",
"and then we played his little brother's v-smile (yeah that thing on the annoying commerical).",
"That was more fun than this game.",
"A little later I got bored and I decided to give halo another try, so i hit the single player story mode.",
"It was fun for about 10 minutes, but then I got bored again.",
"The levels all seem kindof the same, with the same plot for each -- kill everything that moves, then find your way through a maze of hallways and doors.",
"On the positive side, the graphics are amazing (for a console anyway), and the AI is decent for once.",
"If you have a good computer, check out half life or doom 3, they kick the heck out of this game.",
"And if you have a ps2, get gta san andreas, now thats a good game."
] |
2 | More isn't always better | I got this as a replacement for my girlfriend. It has a lot of nice features, but (unfortunately) we're considering taking it back... The biggest problem is that the buttons are too small and too close together. The snooze, while bigger than the rest, is in a corner that can be hard to hit if the clock is not faced a certain direction. That's bearable, but the rest of the 5-6 buttons are tiny little circles all in a tight row. The off button is in the middle of the row and I have yet to hit it without pushing at least a few others in the process.Similarily, the buttons to set the clock/alarm are positioned so that it is difficult to change the alarm time with one hand.Finally, the "Tender Wake-Up System" is nice, but whenever I push snooze or off the volume goes up to full for a fraction of a second. Just long enough to really annoy me.Overall the clock is just... annoying. We'll probably keep it and we'll probably get used to it, but I certainly wouldn't buy it again. | 983 | [
"I got this as a replacement for my girlfriend.",
"It has a lot of nice features, but (unfortunately) we're considering taking it back... The biggest problem is that the buttons are too small and too close together.",
"The snooze, while bigger than the rest, is in a corner that can be hard to hit if the clock is not faced a certain direction.",
"That's bearable, but the rest of the 5-6 buttons are tiny little circles all in a tight row.",
"The off button is in the middle of the row and I have yet to hit it without pushing at least a few others in the process.Similarily, the buttons to set the clock/alarm are positioned so that it is difficult to change the alarm time with one hand.Finally, the \"Tender Wake-Up System\" is nice, but whenever I push snooze or off the volume goes up to full for a fraction of a second.",
"Just long enough to really annoy me.Overall the clock is just... annoying.",
"We'll probably keep it and we'll probably get used to it, but I certainly wouldn't buy it again."
] |
2 | Issues | Where is the QA department? Looked great at first. We hooked it up in our apartment and enjoyed good movies. We then threw away the box. It always seems the day after you dispose of the box, that the problems kick in. First: A vertical green line seems to appear after 15 minutes of the set being turned on. The line is to the right of center and stretches from the top to the bottom of the screen. Second: The audio 'pops' loudly every few minutes. Most people play their audio through a separate receiver and would never notice the poor amplification unit in the TV. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. I guess the thing is still on warranty, so one of these days I will get around to reporting the problem to Amazon, the fulfiller or to Olevia. However, I am one of those busy people who doesn't have time for things that don't work out of the box. I am sure that if these two issues were resolved, I would be very happy with this unit, but like I said, who has the time? | 983 | [
"Where is the QA department?",
"Looked great at first.",
"We hooked it up in our apartment and enjoyed good movies.",
"We then threw away the box.",
"It always seems the day after you dispose of the box, that the problems kick in.",
"First: A vertical green line seems to appear after 15 minutes of the set being turned on.",
"The line is to the right of center and stretches from the top to the bottom of the screen.",
"Second: The audio 'pops' loudly every few minutes.",
"Most people play their audio through a separate receiver and would never notice the poor amplification unit in the TV.",
"Unfortunately, I am not one of those people.",
"I guess the thing is still on warranty, so one of these days I will get around to reporting the problem to Amazon, the fulfiller or to Olevia.",
"However, I am one of those busy people who doesn't have time for things that don't work out of the box.",
"I am sure that if these two issues were resolved, I would be very happy with this unit, but like I said, who has the time?"
] |
2 | Platinum Force not so great. | After my very old hand-me-down Electrolux quit, I began shopping for a new vacuum. With a new long haired puppy in the house, I wanted one with strong suction power. I did some research online and decided upon the Dirt Devil Platinum Force. I could hardly wait to get it home. It only took a second to assemble and I tested it out. It was so hard to push and pull--much harder than I was used to, but it seemed to really have strong suction. The box claimed it had more suction power than any other upright, and it seemed to. I was thrilled with all the dog hair and dirt it picked up and decided to empty the canister. I noticed dog hair and dust all over the outside of the dirt canister! I knew that was a serious problem, and one that I could not ignore. I had decided to live with how hard it was to operate, but I could not live with particles escaping from the vacuum. I disassembled it and boxed it up. I got a full refund and now I am searching for a good vacuum once again. | 983 | [
"After my very old hand-me-down Electrolux quit, I began shopping for a new vacuum.",
"With a new long haired puppy in the house, I wanted one with strong suction power.",
"I did some research online and decided upon the Dirt Devil Platinum Force.",
"I could hardly wait to get it home.",
"It only took a second to assemble and I tested it out.",
"It was so hard to push and pull--much harder than I was used to, but it seemed to really have strong suction.",
"The box claimed it had more suction power than any other upright, and it seemed to.",
"I was thrilled with all the dog hair and dirt it picked up and decided to empty the canister.",
"I noticed dog hair and dust all over the outside of the dirt canister!",
"I knew that was a serious problem, and one that I could not ignore.",
"I had decided to live with how hard it was to operate, but I could not live with particles escaping from the vacuum.",
"I disassembled it and boxed it up.",
"I got a full refund and now I am searching for a good vacuum once again."
] |
2 | average movie | this movie certainly had a lot to offer but came out short. if you're going to make a adult-themed movie, then go for it. having sex scenes with everyone fully clothed does nothing for the movie. it's not my main complaint or major concern, but it is more distracting than anything. i doubt if teenagers are that organized or can keep a secret especially with all the business, money and backstabbing that was going on. their business would of collapsed long before it did. and it would not only be the kids that noticed high buck jewerly and clothes on them. i really don't think the leguizamo character would really have the caring and feelings he did. i didn't think much of the acting or characters played. and yes, common sense giving teenagers drugs and alcohol will come back to haunt you. nothing really happened, which i'm sure is a relief to the characters. if this movie would have been made in any other nonpolitically correct decade, it might have been done differently. | 983 | [
"this movie certainly had a lot to offer but came out short.",
"if you're going to make a adult-themed movie, then go for it.",
"having sex scenes with everyone fully clothed does nothing for the movie.",
"it's not my main complaint or major concern, but it is more distracting than anything.",
"i doubt if teenagers are that organized or can keep a secret especially with all the business, money and backstabbing that was going on.",
"their business would of collapsed long before it did.",
"and it would not only be the kids that noticed high buck jewerly and clothes on them.",
"i really don't think the leguizamo character would really have the caring and feelings he did.",
"i didn't think much of the acting or characters played.",
"and yes, common sense giving teenagers drugs and alcohol will come back to haunt you.",
"nothing really happened, which i'm sure is a relief to the characters.",
"if this movie would have been made in any other nonpolitically correct decade, it might have been done differently."
] |
2 | The puzzles are hard to create | I've tried to create my own puzzles but the steps are too many and too confusing. This must really be for professionals. The first steps are easy. But after writing the quote and the author and title and pressing okay, I'm lost. In the help section there are many instructions, but none are step by step or frame by frame which would make it easier to follow. Also,all of the icons don't appear. They sent me a second cd because of glitches in the first one. But, I'm not faring any better with this one. I won't send it back because the game edition on this one plays better than the one I previously bought. I wish they would come up with another game edition, with new puzzles. But, I don't think I'll ever get the hang of making my own. Almost a waste of money, but the response and service from the company is tops. However seeing the difficulty with the Enigmacross, I would think twice about the Crossdown Maker, especially considering its price unless you are a professional. | 983 | [
"I've tried to create my own puzzles but the steps are too many and too confusing.",
"This must really be for professionals.",
"The first steps are easy.",
"But after writing the quote and the author and title and pressing okay, I'm lost.",
"In the help section there are many instructions, but none are step by step or frame by frame which would make it easier to follow.",
"Also,all of the icons don't appear.",
"They sent me a second cd because of glitches in the first one.",
"But, I'm not faring any better with this one.",
"I won't send it back because the game edition on this one plays better than the one I previously bought.",
"I wish they would come up with another game edition, with new puzzles.",
"But, I don't think I'll ever get the hang of making my own.",
"Almost a waste of money, but the response and service from the company is tops.",
"However seeing the difficulty with the Enigmacross, I would think twice about the Crossdown Maker, especially considering its price unless you are a professional."
] |
2 | Very poor DVD player | I bought this DVD player to pair with my Toshiba 42RV530U (Which I love). It is a sleek, sexy looking DVD player. That concludes anything positive in this review. The player frequently pauses during playback, creates distortion or stuttering the picture, and occasionally freezes and will not respond at all! The only option is to reboot the player, which is very frustrating when in the middle of a film. It's caused me much embarrassment when watching movies with friends. I wondered if the problem was with me using older, possibly scratched disks. That ended when I put in a brand new copy of Kill Bill and experienced the same issues. I also wondered if it was a heat issue, and so I put the player by itself with longer cables to give it plenty of room to breath. The player still crashed during playback. Frankly, this is the worst piece of consumer electronics I've ever had the misfortune to purchase. If it wasn't too late, I would return it.Stay away from this DVD player! | 983 | [
"I bought this DVD player to pair with my Toshiba 42RV530U (Which I love).",
"It is a sleek, sexy looking DVD player.",
"That concludes anything positive in this review.",
"The player frequently pauses during playback, creates distortion or stuttering the picture, and occasionally freezes and will not respond at all!",
"The only option is to reboot the player, which is very frustrating when in the middle of a film.",
"It's caused me much embarrassment when watching movies with friends.",
"I wondered if the problem was with me using older, possibly scratched disks.",
"That ended when I put in a brand new copy of Kill Bill and experienced the same issues.",
"I also wondered if it was a heat issue, and so I put the player by itself with longer cables to give it plenty of room to breath.",
"The player still crashed during playback.",
"Frankly, this is the worst piece of consumer electronics I've ever had the misfortune to purchase.",
"If it wasn't too late, I would return it.Stay away from this DVD player!"
] |
2 | WHAT ABOUT THE GOLD COAST | I have read many of these AIA Guides and I normally love them, but this one is a huge disappointment, honestly it is the worst I have come across. The buildings chosen are bewildering, I mean how many hideous 50's style buildings does Long Island have? When I think of Long Island architecture I think of Oheka or Planting Fields or Old Westbury, the grand Gilded Age mansions so beautifully described in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, not some tract home in Levittown. I really would not recommend this book to anyone, the American Institute of Architects should be ashamed of this incomplete, lazy guide, they are so much better at these kind of books, if you want a great AIA guide, look at the one on Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, New York, and Detroit, now those are great guides to be proud of, it really makes you wonder about the quality of architects on Long Island..frankly their idea of what constitutes architecture worthy of being in an AIA guide is just totally perplexing. | 983 | [
"I have read many of these AIA Guides and I normally love them, but this one is a huge disappointment, honestly it is the worst I have come across.",
"The buildings chosen are bewildering, I mean how many hideous 50's style buildings does Long Island have?",
"When I think of Long Island architecture I think of Oheka or Planting Fields or Old Westbury, the grand Gilded Age mansions so beautifully described in Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, not some tract home in Levittown.",
"I really would not recommend this book to anyone, the American Institute of Architects should be ashamed of this incomplete, lazy guide, they are so much better at these kind of books, if you want a great AIA guide, look at the one on Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, New York, and Detroit, now those are great guides to be proud of, it really makes you wonder about the quality of architects on Long Island..frankly their idea of what constitutes architecture worthy of being in an AIA guide is just totally perplexing."
] |
2 | A priest, a nun, a beezlebub | TERROR PACK is a little set of fright films that are of little consequence. These indie-made trifles are best left to the hardcore gore fans. Amateurish acting, bad scripts and cheap special effects make this one a "no-go" for sure!BLOOD BATH 4 MOVIE PACKis a small collection of shudder cinema sure to shock!SYNOPSES:"Hellinger" - A priest makes a deal with Satan and is transformed into Hellinger, a blood-thirsty demon."Holy Terror" - The spirit of a demon-possessed nun forced to do Satan's bidding returns to life and brings hellfire to a house-warming party."Insaniac" - An amnesiac placed under hypnosis has terrifying visions that may be clues to why she's ill..Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.(2.1) Hellinger (1997) - Solomon Cobbitt/Shana Sosin/James M. O'Donoghue(2.4) Holy Terror (2002) - Beverly Lynne/Charlie David/Jennifer Amanda Morgan(3.7) Insaniac (2002) - Robin Garrels/Chris Grega/John Specht | 983 | [
"TERROR PACK is a little set of fright films that are of little consequence.",
"These indie-made trifles are best left to the hardcore gore fans.",
"Amateurish acting, bad scripts and cheap special effects make this one a \"no-go\" for sure!",
"BLOOD BATH 4 MOVIE PACKis a small collection of shudder cinema sure to shock!",
"SYNOPSES:\"Hellinger\" - A priest makes a deal with Satan and is transformed into Hellinger, a blood-thirsty demon.\"Holy Terror\" - The spirit of a demon-possessed nun forced to do Satan's bidding returns to life and brings hellfire to a house-warming party.\"Insaniac\" - An amnesiac placed under hypnosis has terrifying visions that may be clues to why she's ill..Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.(2.1) Hellinger (1997) - Solomon Cobbitt/Shana Sosin/James M.",
"O'Donoghue(2.4) Holy Terror (2002) - Beverly Lynne/Charlie David/Jennifer Amanda Morgan(3.7) Insaniac (2002) - Robin Garrels/Chris Grega/John Specht"
] |
2 | COWARD'S THEATRE SONGS | Sometimes musical artists should NOT attempt cross-over albums. I am a huge fan of Jessye Norman, Leontyne Price and Joan Sutherland, but their ventures into "popular" music were, at best, misguided and, at worst, heavy-handed and pretentious. Although Ian Bostridge does not embarrass himself, there is no question that he should stick to more "serious" music and leave musical comedy to other singers.The theatre songs of Noel Coward take a very different kind of approach than Bostridge gives them. They need an actor who happens to be singing. Except for a very few of the songs on this CD (written by Coward for operettas instead of musical comedies) Bostridge's approach is absolutely without any character. All of these numbers are impeccably sung by Bostridge, but none of them are ever really acted. Coward's songs MUST be acted whether they were written in a comic or sentimental vein. The result is another misfired cross-over album in what otherwise is a splendid career. | 983 | [
"Sometimes musical artists should NOT attempt cross-over albums.",
"I am a huge fan of Jessye Norman, Leontyne Price and Joan Sutherland, but their ventures into \"popular\" music were, at best, misguided and, at worst, heavy-handed and pretentious.",
"Although Ian Bostridge does not embarrass himself, there is no question that he should stick to more \"serious\" music and leave musical comedy to other singers.The theatre songs of Noel Coward take a very different kind of approach than Bostridge gives them.",
"They need an actor who happens to be singing.",
"Except for a very few of the songs on this CD (written by Coward for operettas instead of musical comedies) Bostridge's approach is absolutely without any character.",
"All of these numbers are impeccably sung by Bostridge, but none of them are ever really acted.",
"Coward's songs MUST be acted whether they were written in a comic or sentimental vein.",
"The result is another misfired cross-over album in what otherwise is a splendid career."
] |
2 | Cute, but not a great company | My 4-year old loves it for about 2 minutes each day. It's not very "fun" until you can release the butterflies, since the container just sits there, but it's still a good learning experience.However, I had an issue with the company from which you have to order the caterpillars. My voucher said it costs $3 for processing of the larvae, but I was charged $5. And then instead of the 5 larvae I was supposed to get, I got 2. How much fuss does one want to make over a $3/$5 charge? I have enough on my plate to waste time going back-and-forth with the company. My initial contact with them received a quick response asking for order clarification, and then I never heard from them again. It's not a lot of money so I'm not losing sleep over it, but I imagine how much extra they can make ripping off lots of people a dollar here, a dollar there, a caterpillar here, a caterpillar there. I don't think it's a good company, and I wouldn't do business with them again on principal alone. | 983 | [
"My 4-year old loves it for about 2 minutes each day.",
"It's not very \"fun\" until you can release the butterflies, since the container just sits there, but it's still a good learning experience.However, I had an issue with the company from which you have to order the caterpillars.",
"My voucher said it costs $3 for processing of the larvae, but I was charged $5.",
"And then instead of the 5 larvae I was supposed to get, I got 2.",
"How much fuss does one want to make over a $3/$5 charge?",
"I have enough on my plate to waste time going back-and-forth with the company.",
"My initial contact with them received a quick response asking for order clarification, and then I never heard from them again.",
"It's not a lot of money so I'm not losing sleep over it, but I imagine how much extra they can make ripping off lots of people a dollar here, a dollar there, a caterpillar here, a caterpillar there.",
"I don't think it's a good company, and I wouldn't do business with them again on principal alone."
] |
2 | Poorly written... | First of all I am wondering if the author even bothered to get this book edited. It had sooooo many grammatical errors it was ridiculous! Run on sentences, fragments, incomplete sentences, broken sentences and other stuff that was overlooked in the editing process if there WAS an editing process. The story line was very cheesy. She basically took one under developed story line and dragged it out for about 28 chapters. Some of the things said were soooo repetitive I found myself thinking "gosh can we finally ever move on to the next part of the story?". Anyway, I was still able to read the book and be satisfied with the ending though. I am a crazy hopeless romantic at heart so I thought it was cool when it ended although it was extremely predictable. Anyway overall I would not recommend this book to a friend, but I believe whether you like it or not is all about perception and what you personally like. Just because I thought it was somewhat crappy doesn't mean you will. | 983 | [
"First of all I am wondering if the author even bothered to get this book edited.",
"It had sooooo many grammatical errors it was ridiculous!",
"Run on sentences, fragments, incomplete sentences, broken sentences and other stuff that was overlooked in the editing process if there WAS an editing process.",
"The story line was very cheesy.",
"She basically took one under developed story line and dragged it out for about 28 chapters.",
"Some of the things said were soooo repetitive I found myself thinking \"gosh can we finally ever move on to the next part of the story?",
"\".",
"Anyway, I was still able to read the book and be satisfied with the ending though.",
"I am a crazy hopeless romantic at heart so I thought it was cool when it ended although it was extremely predictable.",
"Anyway overall I would not recommend this book to a friend, but I believe whether you like it or not is all about perception and what you personally like.",
"Just because I thought it was somewhat crappy doesn't mean you will."
] |
2 | Paint Corroded a few months | I bought the similar WM2455h. There is a design defect in the detergent drawer that allows overflow to run out the back of the drawer and down the side of the machine. The detergent drawer looks like it should catch any overflow, but it obviously didn't. The result is that within a year, the paint has corroded from bleach tricking down the side.Customer service was said that it was my problem for not cleaning the bleach up right away, but when I explained that bleach is clear and the design allowed the bleach to leak out from behind the drawer and wasn't obvious, he simply reiterated his position that paint corrosion is not a mechanical defect covered by their warranty. His suggestion was that I buy some touch up paint and paint it myself.His attitude alone was worth me never buying an LG product again. He was unwilling or unable to connect me with a supervisor and seemed too eager to argue.Goodbye, LG, we had a promising start, but this relationship isn't working out. | 983 | [
"I bought the similar WM2455h.",
"There is a design defect in the detergent drawer that allows overflow to run out the back of the drawer and down the side of the machine.",
"The detergent drawer looks like it should catch any overflow, but it obviously didn't.",
"The result is that within a year, the paint has corroded from bleach tricking down the side.Customer service was said that it was my problem for not cleaning the bleach up right away, but when I explained that bleach is clear and the design allowed the bleach to leak out from behind the drawer and wasn't obvious, he simply reiterated his position that paint corrosion is not a mechanical defect covered by their warranty.",
"His suggestion was that I buy some touch up paint and paint it myself.His attitude alone was worth me never buying an LG product again.",
"He was unwilling or unable to connect me with a supervisor and seemed too eager to argue.Goodbye, LG, we had a promising start, but this relationship isn't working out."
] |
2 | only half of what you need... | This book has many basic quilting tips and a decent system for executing the photo quilts...but...if you want to convert one of your own photos into a quilt, you have to buy a computer program . The last chapter titled "How to Make Your Own Quilted Photo Patterns" consists of just three pages and ends with a sales pitch for the software. If you have any sort of background in art, as I do, you may find the book rather elementary, especially the last chapter. But in the end it's the "product" pushing I have a problem with because not only is there software for sale but many other things you could find for a more reasonable price elsewhere...like the "distance viewer"...it's just a front door peephole you can get at your local hardware store. Actually, if you have a decent knowledge of sewing and quilting, and have a little background in art, you could use a cross-stitch pattern maker program that converts photos into charts to come up with your own quilted photo pattern. | 983 | [
"This book has many basic quilting tips and a decent system for executing the photo quilts...but...if you want to convert one of your own photos into a quilt, you have to buy a computer program.",
"The last chapter titled \"How to Make Your Own Quilted Photo Patterns\" consists of just three pages and ends with a sales pitch for the software.",
"If you have any sort of background in art, as I do, you may find the book rather elementary, especially the last chapter.",
"But in the end it's the \"product\" pushing I have a problem with because not only is there software for sale but many other things you could find for a more reasonable price elsewhere...like the \"distance viewer\"...it's just a front door peephole you can get at your local hardware store.",
"Actually, if you have a decent knowledge of sewing and quilting, and have a little background in art, you could use a cross-stitch pattern maker program that converts photos into charts to come up with your own quilted photo pattern."
] |
2 | Alright, I guess | I dunno what to say...I guess the correct words would be to get the Use your Illusion I, then get Use your Illusion II. There's so many hits on both of them, and 12 songs out of 30 just won't cut it. There's so many they forgot on here. Let's see...Dust n' bones, Don't damn me, others from the first one. And from the second one...14 years (maybe they have it) Shotgun Blues, Breakdown, Pretty Tied up, Locomotive, Estranged, You could be mine, So fine. The first one they didn't do so bad, but the second one was left to hang with only 3 hits. So, I suggest that you get the two regular albums instead of this. Believe me, you'll feel alot better about yourself and your money's worth. I know it's two instead of one, but there's so many classics they forgot to put on here. So, do yourself a favor. I got the two before this thing ever came out, and I don't think I'll buy it because I already have all of the hits. Trust me on this one. Buy the two originals. You'll feel better. | 983 | [
"I dunno what to say...I guess the correct words would be to get the Use your Illusion I, then get Use your Illusion II.",
"There's so many hits on both of them, and 12 songs out of 30 just won't cut it.",
"There's so many they forgot on here.",
"Let's see...Dust n' bones, Don't damn me, others from the first one.",
"And from the second one...14 years (maybe they have it) Shotgun Blues, Breakdown, Pretty Tied up, Locomotive, Estranged, You could be mine, So fine.",
"The first one they didn't do so bad, but the second one was left to hang with only 3 hits.",
"So, I suggest that you get the two regular albums instead of this.",
"Believe me, you'll feel alot better about yourself and your money's worth.",
"I know it's two instead of one, but there's so many classics they forgot to put on here.",
"So, do yourself a favor.",
"I got the two before this thing ever came out, and I don't think I'll buy it because I already have all of the hits.",
"Trust me on this one.",
"Buy the two originals.",
"You'll feel better."
] |
2 | More is not More | I bought this book based on the comments by previous reviewers. And though it might serve as a reference for me in the future, I was rather disappointed.Perhaps my expectations were also shaped by programming books I have used and loved in the past, but I thought this one was way to verbose - straying FAR off topic (for example: the "real" definition of the internet, basic Dreamweaver MX - which felt way too much like a proprietary plug for Macromedia), and taking much more space than necessary to explain and demonstrate ColdFusion tags.In short, I found this book too little for too much: too little information for the price and difficulty of finding it. In this case, less would definitely have been more.For the beginning web developer, this might be a great book, but if you've already got a reasonably good handle on web app development, then I will have to disagree with a previous reviewer and say that perhaps another book would be a better use of your time and money. | 983 | [
"I bought this book based on the comments by previous reviewers.",
"And though it might serve as a reference for me in the future, I was rather disappointed.Perhaps my expectations were also shaped by programming books I have used and loved in the past, but I thought this one was way to verbose - straying FAR off topic (for example: the \"real\" definition of the internet, basic Dreamweaver MX - which felt way too much like a proprietary plug for Macromedia), and taking much more space than necessary to explain and demonstrate ColdFusion tags.In short, I found this book too little for too much: too little information for the price and difficulty of finding it.",
"In this case, less would definitely have been more.For the beginning web developer, this might be a great book, but if you've already got a reasonably good handle on web app development, then I will have to disagree with a previous reviewer and say that perhaps another book would be a better use of your time and money."
] |
2 | Not flying... | This release is mostly well-recorded, but, well, the Airplane was not what it had been anymore. More rock-oriented than before and sometimes going nowhere (nowhere interesting, at least), the band sounds loud but flat, unimaginative, and, to make matters worse, the vocals are not in tune AT ALL. Grace's voice was not the same, it sounds ragged (notably on "White Rabbit") and Kaukonen's guitar is all over, but not to good results.It is obvious that Dryden (a very, very, really very good drummer) was not suitable for the band anymore. Subtelty was just vanishing and the band ended being just a monotonous band.The cd jacket features one of the most beautiful band photos, taken at golden times, by the way. Jorma's liner notes do not say much.Well, I do not recommend this, as you can guess.(For those lookinf for Airplane live recordings, I recommend , of course, "Blessed Its Pointed Little Head", "Fillmore East 1968" and the concert at Monterey Pop Festival (in that order). | 983 | [
"This release is mostly well-recorded, but, well, the Airplane was not what it had been anymore.",
"More rock-oriented than before and sometimes going nowhere (nowhere interesting, at least), the band sounds loud but flat, unimaginative, and, to make matters worse, the vocals are not in tune AT ALL.",
"Grace's voice was not the same, it sounds ragged (notably on \"White Rabbit\") and Kaukonen's guitar is all over, but not to good results.It is obvious that Dryden (a very, very, really very good drummer) was not suitable for the band anymore.",
"Subtelty was just vanishing and the band ended being just a monotonous band.The cd jacket features one of the most beautiful band photos, taken at golden times, by the way.",
"Jorma's liner notes do not say much.Well, I do not recommend this, as you can guess.(For those lookinf for Airplane live recordings, I recommend , of course, \"Blessed Its Pointed Little Head\", \"Fillmore East 1968\" and the concert at Monterey Pop Festival (in that order)."
] |
2 | Where's the Candor? | I didn't expect much from this book, but I still expected much more than I got. I'm a New Yorker who voted for Senator Clinton because I agreed with her politics. I have always been of the opinion that her husband is a heroic adulterer, but that this part of his life was not a reason to vote against - let alone impeach - him. (If we got rid of adulterous politicians, the Capitol building would be mostly empty of them.)I bought the book based on news reports that, in it, Senator Clinted was "remarkably candid," but, instead, she plays it safe, pulls her punches, and presents a view of her marriage that is not very believable. I believe that Senator Clinton is a highly intelligent woman, and no highly intelligent woman could believe that the former President has been a mostly faithful husband, who briefly strayed with Ms. Lewinsky.It all makes for a dull read. I guess we'll have to wait for her to be out of politics and divorced before we get some real candor out of her. | 983 | [
"I didn't expect much from this book, but I still expected much more than I got.",
"I'm a New Yorker who voted for Senator Clinton because I agreed with her politics.",
"I have always been of the opinion that her husband is a heroic adulterer, but that this part of his life was not a reason to vote against - let alone impeach - him.",
"(If we got rid of adulterous politicians, the Capitol building would be mostly empty of them.)I bought the book based on news reports that, in it, Senator Clinted was \"remarkably candid,\" but, instead, she plays it safe, pulls her punches, and presents a view of her marriage that is not very believable.",
"I believe that Senator Clinton is a highly intelligent woman, and no highly intelligent woman could believe that the former President has been a mostly faithful husband, who briefly strayed with Ms.",
"Lewinsky.It all makes for a dull read.",
"I guess we'll have to wait for her to be out of politics and divorced before we get some real candor out of her."
] |
2 | Where's the Candor? | I didn't expect much from this book, but I still expected much more than I got. I'm a New Yorker who voted for Senator Clinton because I agreed with her politics. I have always been of the opinion that her husband is a heroic adulterer, but that this part of his life was not a reason to vote against - let alone impeach - him. (If we got rid of adulterous politicians, the Capitol building would be mostly empty of them.)I bought the book based on news reports that, in it, Senator Clinton was "remarkably candid," but, instead, she plays it safe, pulls her punches, and presents a view of her marriage that is not very believable. I believe that Senator Clinton is a highly intelligent woman, and no highly intelligent woman could believe that the former President has been a mostly faithful husband, who briefly strayed with Ms. Lewinsky.It all makes for a dull read. I guess we'll have to wait for her to be out of politics and divorced before we get some real candor out of her. | 983 | [
"I didn't expect much from this book, but I still expected much more than I got.",
"I'm a New Yorker who voted for Senator Clinton because I agreed with her politics.",
"I have always been of the opinion that her husband is a heroic adulterer, but that this part of his life was not a reason to vote against - let alone impeach - him.",
"(If we got rid of adulterous politicians, the Capitol building would be mostly empty of them.)I bought the book based on news reports that, in it, Senator Clinton was \"remarkably candid,\" but, instead, she plays it safe, pulls her punches, and presents a view of her marriage that is not very believable.",
"I believe that Senator Clinton is a highly intelligent woman, and no highly intelligent woman could believe that the former President has been a mostly faithful husband, who briefly strayed with Ms.",
"Lewinsky.It all makes for a dull read.",
"I guess we'll have to wait for her to be out of politics and divorced before we get some real candor out of her."
] |
2 | Fall from greatness | Just like every other Incubus fan out there, I anticipated the new album for a very long time. From what I can tell, I'm not alone when I say I am very disappointed. I bought the cd the day it came out and I've tried to listen to it and get in to it but it just never happened. I put 2 songs from the cd on to my iTunes and took the cd and sold it to a second spin cd store for 3 bucks. In a nutshell...Incubus went from one of the most creative and innovative rock bands out there to the sounds of many of the watered-down, so called "rock" bands you hear on radio today....such as Jet, The Strokes, The Vines, and the Hives...all of which suck. Save your money and just turn on the radio if you really wanna hear this crap. Incubus pulled a Pearl Jam and I'm not buying it. Save your money and go buy the new Breaking Benjamin, Flaw, Edgewater, Seven Wiser, Thornley, Lo-Pro, or Strata (July 27). Hopefully this is a stage and Incubus will return to greatness on their next effort. | 983 | [
"Just like every other Incubus fan out there, I anticipated the new album for a very long time.",
"From what I can tell, I'm not alone when I say I am very disappointed.",
"I bought the cd the day it came out and I've tried to listen to it and get in to it but it just never happened.",
"I put 2 songs from the cd on to my iTunes and took the cd and sold it to a second spin cd store for 3 bucks.",
"In a nutshell...Incubus went from one of the most creative and innovative rock bands out there to the sounds of many of the watered-down, so called \"rock\" bands you hear on radio today....such as Jet, The Strokes, The Vines, and the Hives...all of which suck.",
"Save your money and just turn on the radio if you really wanna hear this crap.",
"Incubus pulled a Pearl Jam and I'm not buying it.",
"Save your money and go buy the new Breaking Benjamin, Flaw, Edgewater, Seven Wiser, Thornley, Lo-Pro, or Strata (July 27).",
"Hopefully this is a stage and Incubus will return to greatness on their next effort."
] |
2 | 28 Movie Executives Later | Aside from a few very well done scenes this film was no good. A few scenes do not make a good film. I am not sure how with more money it is possible to screw up the sequel to what is arguably the best zombie film ever made but they did it.Zombie films are not for everyone. You know you are a true fan of zombie films if you were excited for this sequel. I was amongst the few hopefuls. I was let down. Mostly the film and more importantly the zombies did not have the raw, visceral, jacked, amped on speed and crack intensity the zombies from the first film did. This film just relied on shaky camera work mostly. And darkness. A lot of darkness.Forget the plot. All I need say was that there was a star zombie and a nuclear zombie family. A zombie film with family values. The plot went no where and did not propel the story anywhere except to Paris. A small chopper can not go from London to Paris. Suspension of disbelief is one thing but common.Skip it till DVD. Wait for cable. | 983 | [
"Aside from a few very well done scenes this film was no good.",
"A few scenes do not make a good film.",
"I am not sure how with more money it is possible to screw up the sequel to what is arguably the best zombie film ever made but they did it.Zombie films are not for everyone.",
"You know you are a true fan of zombie films if you were excited for this sequel.",
"I was amongst the few hopefuls.",
"I was let down.",
"Mostly the film and more importantly the zombies did not have the raw, visceral, jacked, amped on speed and crack intensity the zombies from the first film did.",
"This film just relied on shaky camera work mostly.",
"And darkness.",
"A lot of darkness.Forget the plot.",
"All I need say was that there was a star zombie and a nuclear zombie family.",
"A zombie film with family values.",
"The plot went no where and did not propel the story anywhere except to Paris.",
"A small chopper can not go from London to Paris.",
"Suspension of disbelief is one thing but common.Skip it till DVD.",
"Wait for cable."
] |
2 | Nashville Pop | Well this is what happens when a brilliant independent artist is produced by a factory-made country star. Just as formulated and generic as one can get. That's country music Nashville style.Keep in mind that this is Lori's first outing with co-writers (as if she ever needed one). I have a feeling that Faith Hill threw Lori into the whole Nashville scene (considering she covered some of Lori's best work and ruined it) or maybe it's Lori's manager. Either way Nashville doesn't fit Lori and Lori doesn't fit in.These songs are a bit too catchy, a bit too overproduced. I will say there are a couple of standouts; 'Your Next Lover' and 'Witness To Your Life' that remind me of Lori before she attempted to go pop-country. Back when she was playing coffee shops and writing all of her own music and lyrics.I am happy this will bring to fans to Lori. I just hope they purchase her better work, namely 'The Kitchen Tapes'. Lets hope Lori doesn't fall too far down the major-label hole. | 983 | [
"Well this is what happens when a brilliant independent artist is produced by a factory-made country star.",
"Just as formulated and generic as one can get.",
"That's country music Nashville style.Keep in mind that this is Lori's first outing with co-writers (as if she ever needed one).",
"I have a feeling that Faith Hill threw Lori into the whole Nashville scene (considering she covered some of Lori's best work and ruined it) or maybe it's Lori's manager.",
"Either way Nashville doesn't fit Lori and Lori doesn't fit in.These songs are a bit too catchy, a bit too overproduced.",
"I will say there are a couple of standouts; 'Your Next Lover' and 'Witness To Your Life' that remind me of Lori before she attempted to go pop-country.",
"Back when she was playing coffee shops and writing all of her own music and lyrics.I am happy this will bring to fans to Lori.",
"I just hope they purchase her better work, namely 'The Kitchen Tapes'.",
"Lets hope Lori doesn't fall too far down the major-label hole."
] |
2 | Ow... | The controls for this game are better than the previous, the story elements are good, the scripts and subquests are good. However, the battling is just too difficult for me. You're often fighting three to four guys at once, as soon as one's beat, another takes it's place. It's all I can do just to stay alive, living from one heal to the next. Either my hp is lousy or my defense is lousy, my thumb will be sore for hours. I got to the third level before I was begging for mercy and quit. I am not up to this level of challenge, if there was an easier mode or ways of boosting your life expectancy.Also, there are bonuses called "Jack-anisms" where Jack must complete a series of goofy maneuvers to accomplish a goal. This is achieved by you executing a series of response commands quickly. If you get even one wrong you either fail the event in loss of points and are skipped to the next level, or are forced to do it over again until you get it right. This just isn't fun anymore. | 983 | [
"The controls for this game are better than the previous, the story elements are good, the scripts and subquests are good.",
"However, the battling is just too difficult for me.",
"You're often fighting three to four guys at once, as soon as one's beat, another takes it's place.",
"It's all I can do just to stay alive, living from one heal to the next.",
"Either my hp is lousy or my defense is lousy, my thumb will be sore for hours.",
"I got to the third level before I was begging for mercy and quit.",
"I am not up to this level of challenge, if there was an easier mode or ways of boosting your life expectancy.Also, there are bonuses called \"Jack-anisms\" where Jack must complete a series of goofy maneuvers to accomplish a goal.",
"This is achieved by you executing a series of response commands quickly.",
"If you get even one wrong you either fail the event in loss of points and are skipped to the next level, or are forced to do it over again until you get it right.",
"This just isn't fun anymore."
] |
2 | DVD and CD problems | I received the book and found that the DVD audio and video were not in sync. The CD would not open on my computer as it couldn't see anything in the drive. The disc did play on an old audio device I have so I knew the file was there. Thinking the discs were defective, I sent the book back for another copy with total cooperation from Amazon. Unfortunately, the exchange copy discs presented the same problems. Amazon could not help me, though they gave it it a good try; we agreed that exchanging my copy for a new one again would likely lead to the same problem again and that the defects in the discs were out of their control. I called the publishing company and did not find them to be helpful. I found this frustrating and disappointing, as I am left with a defective product with no recourse. I had been looking forward to getting the book/DVD/CD for months, fully expecting my previous experiences with McKenna's products to be repeated. This time was unpleasantly different. | 983 | [
"I received the book and found that the DVD audio and video were not in sync.",
"The CD would not open on my computer as it couldn't see anything in the drive.",
"The disc did play on an old audio device I have so I knew the file was there.",
"Thinking the discs were defective, I sent the book back for another copy with total cooperation from Amazon.",
"Unfortunately, the exchange copy discs presented the same problems.",
"Amazon could not help me, though they gave it it a good try; we agreed that exchanging my copy for a new one again would likely lead to the same problem again and that the defects in the discs were out of their control.",
"I called the publishing company and did not find them to be helpful.",
"I found this frustrating and disappointing, as I am left with a defective product with no recourse.",
"I had been looking forward to getting the book/DVD/CD for months, fully expecting my previous experiences with McKenna's products to be repeated.",
"This time was unpleasantly different."
] |
2 | Christmas muzak ... | With Boney M.'s big selling Christmas album from 1981, producer Frank Farian recorded six new Christmas songs with Liz Mitchell and Reggie Tsiboe (who'd replaced dancer Bobby Farrell in 1982) in the summer of 1984; they were, however, only released at the time on a South African LP, but when Boney M. had split up in 1986, Farian wanted to keep the kettle boiling and dug out these disappointingly mediocre recordings, remixed the whole 1981 album but two songs, and released the whole mess in November 1986. And the result is awful! In 1992, this album was re-issued, and apart from "Mary's Boy Child" being treated with an unoriginal remix, "Silent Night" is also featured with a previously unreleased verse; this is also the only reason that this CD would be worth getting (if you're a fan like I am). I can strongly recommand you to get the original "Christmas Album" instead (it is available on CD) when you want to get in a Christmas mood, this CD sounds as supermarket muzak. | 983 | [
"With Boney M.'s big selling Christmas album from 1981, producer Frank Farian recorded six new Christmas songs with Liz Mitchell and Reggie Tsiboe (who'd replaced dancer Bobby Farrell in 1982) in the summer of 1984; they were, however, only released at the time on a South African LP, but when Boney M.",
"had split up in 1986, Farian wanted to keep the kettle boiling and dug out these disappointingly mediocre recordings, remixed the whole 1981 album but two songs, and released the whole mess in November 1986.",
"And the result is awful!",
"In 1992, this album was re-issued, and apart from \"Mary's Boy Child\" being treated with an unoriginal remix, \"Silent Night\" is also featured with a previously unreleased verse; this is also the only reason that this CD would be worth getting (if you're a fan like I am).",
"I can strongly recommand you to get the original \"Christmas Album\" instead (it is available on CD) when you want to get in a Christmas mood, this CD sounds as supermarket muzak."
] |
2 | Wait a few months ... | The bottom line here: I've been playing this game for just over three weeks here, and it's the buggiest piece of computer software I've used in probably ten years. It's fun when it works. But almost every system in the game is, somehow, broken. Missions don't work (in several ways). XP awards don't work (once again, in several ways). Badges, a feature mentioned in the manual, don't seem to exist. Items disappear from inventory and from bank accounts. Player corpses disappear. Monsters and players suffer frequent rubberbanding. Framerates in the cities can be horrendously low (think 1 frame per several seconds). Frequent crashes to desktop. Frequent "Connection to SWG Lost" messages. And it's actually getting _more_ difficult to connect to the game in the first place.*sigh*Don't make the mistake I did and pay to beta-test this game. Wait a few months. When they've had time to finish it, I think it'll be great. Until then, it's just frustrating, frustrating, frustrating. | 983 | [
"The bottom line here: I've been playing this game for just over three weeks here, and it's the buggiest piece of computer software I've used in probably ten years.",
"It's fun when it works.",
"But almost every system in the game is, somehow, broken.",
"Missions don't work (in several ways).",
"XP awards don't work (once again, in several ways).",
"Badges, a feature mentioned in the manual, don't seem to exist.",
"Items disappear from inventory and from bank accounts.",
"Player corpses disappear.",
"Monsters and players suffer frequent rubberbanding.",
"Framerates in the cities can be horrendously low (think 1 frame per several seconds).",
"Frequent crashes to desktop.",
"Frequent \"Connection to SWG Lost\" messages.",
"And it's actually getting _more_ difficult to connect to the game in the first place.*sigh*Don't make the mistake I did and pay to beta-test this game.",
"Wait a few months.",
"When they've had time to finish it, I think it'll be great.",
"Until then, it's just frustrating, frustrating, frustrating."
] |
2 | Ok but nothing exceptional | Although this is rather a 'fun' read it does not provide a compelling reason to follow a macrobiotic diet, after you have finished the book. The author appears to be committed to the macrobiotic diet to a lesser extent than I expected, given that she was writing a book on the topic. Her admissions to still indulging in french fries and other junk food, while at the same time extolling the virtues of giving macrobiotics your all seems contradictory to say the least. Sure, we all fall of the wagon (whatever that means for each of us) at times but Ms. Porter's descriptions of forbidden cravings and lapses seemed a lot more than that.I was also dismayed to read that all the nightshade plants are forbidden on this diet, including tomatoes and potatoes. No way could I commit to that.Not the worst dietary book I've read but certainly not the best. Try it from the library first, before investing in a copy for yourself, if you are seriously looking for answers re: macrobiotics. | 983 | [
"Although this is rather a 'fun' read it does not provide a compelling reason to follow a macrobiotic diet, after you have finished the book.",
"The author appears to be committed to the macrobiotic diet to a lesser extent than I expected, given that she was writing a book on the topic.",
"Her admissions to still indulging in french fries and other junk food, while at the same time extolling the virtues of giving macrobiotics your all seems contradictory to say the least.",
"Sure, we all fall of the wagon (whatever that means for each of us) at times but Ms.",
"Porter's descriptions of forbidden cravings and lapses seemed a lot more than that.I was also dismayed to read that all the nightshade plants are forbidden on this diet, including tomatoes and potatoes.",
"No way could I commit to that.Not the worst dietary book I've read but certainly not the best.",
"Try it from the library first, before investing in a copy for yourself, if you are seriously looking for answers re: macrobiotics."
] |
2 | Great art, bad story | I have been out of comics for a long time and have recently rediscovered them with great excitement...as I'm older certain aspects have taken on a much greater importance mainly Story, story, story. For me at least, gone are the days where all I need was amazing art of my favorite super heros jumping from building to building. Writing has taken on a new importance SO with that being said you have to consider what is more important to you in a comic book/graphic novel the writing or the art.If all you want is amazing art this book is perfect for you, Jim Lee is at his best and I love seeing his Batman as well as the plethora of other characters. But the story in short, was boring, uninteresting and way too crowded. As another reviewer mentioned it seems that all the interaction with the other villains and heros is so Jim can draw all them for us. I would have been just as happy with a coffee table book filled with Jim Lee images....cuz really that is all this really is. | 983 | [
"I have been out of comics for a long time and have recently rediscovered them with great excitement...as I'm older certain aspects have taken on a much greater importance mainly Story, story, story.",
"For me at least, gone are the days where all I need was amazing art of my favorite super heros jumping from building to building.",
"Writing has taken on a new importance SO with that being said you have to consider what is more important to you in a comic book/graphic novel the writing or the art.If all you want is amazing art this book is perfect for you, Jim Lee is at his best and I love seeing his Batman as well as the plethora of other characters.",
"But the story in short, was boring, uninteresting and way too crowded.",
"As another reviewer mentioned it seems that all the interaction with the other villains and heros is so Jim can draw all them for us.",
"I would have been just as happy with a coffee table book filled with Jim Lee images....cuz really that is all this really is."
] |
2 | a...coffee coaster | Anarchy online is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game set on a fictional planet in the distant future. It has an evolving storyline that uses the classic rebels verses the establishment theme. There is no magic in the game. The traditional magic element is replaced by almost equally mystical use of nano-technology. Players can assume the roles of spies, soldiers, doctors, nano-technologists and other various futuristic professions.The graphics are lovely and it has fabulous sound effects. There are no zones (ala Everquest) except for entering apartments, cities and quests. THe interface is... usable...The only problem is that the entire experience left me cold. This game is so lovely that it was almost sterile. Where is its heart and soul?If you love the future and need a switch from the previous MMORPG's on the market try this game. I, in the meantime, will sadly set my coffee cup down on my new...coffee coaster and wait for the next big thing.Singerspell | 983 | [
"Anarchy online is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game set on a fictional planet in the distant future.",
"It has an evolving storyline that uses the classic rebels verses the establishment theme.",
"There is no magic in the game.",
"The traditional magic element is replaced by almost equally mystical use of nano-technology.",
"Players can assume the roles of spies, soldiers, doctors, nano-technologists and other various futuristic professions.The graphics are lovely and it has fabulous sound effects.",
"There are no zones (ala Everquest) except for entering apartments, cities and quests.",
"THe interface is... usable...The only problem is that the entire experience left me cold.",
"This game is so lovely that it was almost sterile.",
"Where is its heart and soul?",
"If you love the future and need a switch from the previous MMORPG's on the market try this game.",
"I, in the meantime, will sadly set my coffee cup down on my new...coffee coaster and wait for the next big thing.Singerspell"
] |
2 | Not for running. | I wore these yesterday for the first and last time. I bought these headphones in hopes that they would stay in or at least near my ears when running. They didn't last one minute.They are very light, but at the same time very flimsy. The over-ear design does nothing in the way of supporting the buds in you ears like I had hoped.The buds are set at an awkward angle and found myself having a hard time, even when stationary, keeping them in or on my ears.As far as sound, holding them on my ears they sounded terrific albeit very uncomfortable. Holding them in place also pretty much defeats the purpose of having headphones. Another thing to be noted, the volume control on the cord is a terrible idea. The volume pod itself probably weighs as much as the headphones. Unless the volume control is secured somehow it is very problematic doing any sort of activity.These are probably what to expect out of a $10 set of headphones.Comfort: 1/10Sound: 6/10Design: 2/10Cost-benefit: 3/10 | 983 | [
"I wore these yesterday for the first and last time.",
"I bought these headphones in hopes that they would stay in or at least near my ears when running.",
"They didn't last one minute.They are very light, but at the same time very flimsy.",
"The over-ear design does nothing in the way of supporting the buds in you ears like I had hoped.The buds are set at an awkward angle and found myself having a hard time, even when stationary, keeping them in or on my ears.As far as sound, holding them on my ears they sounded terrific albeit very uncomfortable.",
"Holding them in place also pretty much defeats the purpose of having headphones.",
"Another thing to be noted, the volume control on the cord is a terrible idea.",
"The volume pod itself probably weighs as much as the headphones.",
"Unless the volume control is secured somehow it is very problematic doing any sort of activity.These are probably what to expect out of a $10 set of headphones.Comfort: 1/10Sound: 6/10Design: 2/10Cost-benefit: 3/10"
] |
2 | Disappointed!! ..Again. | Mr. Millington is a hoot. His short jags on his own foibles and on life with his German girlfriend, Margret, and their 2 kids are some of the funniest humor pieces I've read in the last few years. Unfortunately, all these appear on his blog, http://www.milmillington.com/, "Things my girlfriend and I have Argued About" (also the name of his first novel). I read his first novel in June '04 and was disappointed. I just finished this, his second novel, and was disappointed. Again. While there are flashes of his blog's off-the-deep-end screeches, both novels tend toward being screeds. He is obviously a talent worth paying attention to. It just seems the novel form constricts him. Perhaps, the way to go would be a collection of short stories. Mr. Millington's novel-writing is enjoyable, a lion in a circus. I prefer the excitement of the jungle, where he'd be closer to his nature. Read some of his blog postings to see what could have been...and maybe will be in his next book. | 983 | [
"Mr.",
"Millington is a hoot.",
"His short jags on his own foibles and on life with his German girlfriend, Margret, and their 2 kids are some of the funniest humor pieces I've read in the last few years.",
"Unfortunately, all these appear on his blog, http://www.milmillington.com/, \"Things my girlfriend and I have Argued About\" (also the name of his first novel).",
"I read his first novel in June '04 and was disappointed.",
"I just finished this, his second novel, and was disappointed.",
"Again.",
"While there are flashes of his blog's off-the-deep-end screeches, both novels tend toward being screeds.",
"He is obviously a talent worth paying attention to.",
"It just seems the novel form constricts him.",
"Perhaps, the way to go would be a collection of short stories.",
"Mr.",
"Millington's novel-writing is enjoyable, a lion in a circus.",
"I prefer the excitement of the jungle, where he'd be closer to his nature.",
"Read some of his blog postings to see what could have been...and maybe will be in his next book."
] |
2 | Muddled ending disapoints | The good: The basic plot line is interesting- a man who has just been killed by the electric chair has his finger print turn up at a murder scene. The writing itself is good. The main character Kay Scarpetta and an old professor of hers are well `fleshed out'.The bad: Other characters are not well `fleshed out'. The plot never fully explains itself. Is the book about figuring out how a dead criminal could commit crimes - or is it about Scarpetta - redeeming herself in the eyes of everyone around her - after developing an anti-social workaholic tendency after the death of a loved one? The latter seems to be the path the author choose - leaving some of the twist in the plot unresolved. Though others in the story have made Scarpetta out to be the villain (on many different levels - as a family member, as a friend and as a professional) in the end her `goodness' is redeemed. How the bad guys in the story turn out seems to be unimportant - which I found to be a major flaw. | 982 | [
"The good: The basic plot line is interesting- a man who has just been killed by the electric chair has his finger print turn up at a murder scene.",
"The writing itself is good.",
"The main character Kay Scarpetta and an old professor of hers are well `fleshed out'.The bad: Other characters are not well `fleshed out'.",
"The plot never fully explains itself.",
"Is the book about figuring out how a dead criminal could commit crimes - or is it about Scarpetta - redeeming herself in the eyes of everyone around her - after developing an anti-social workaholic tendency after the death of a loved one?",
"The latter seems to be the path the author choose - leaving some of the twist in the plot unresolved.",
"Though others in the story have made Scarpetta out to be the villain (on many different levels - as a family member, as a friend and as a professional) in the end her `goodness' is redeemed.",
"How the bad guys in the story turn out seems to be unimportant - which I found to be a major flaw."
] |
2 | THE SPACE STATION IS FALLING | In this sequel to the original Stratos 4 anime, our four heroines are finally able to take a breather from the constant bombardment of Earth by alien space seeds. Uh, let me correct that, no rest is given when one of the Comet Blaster orbiting satellites is hit by a piece of space debris. There's no way for it to be saved and it's too big to burn up in the atmosphere so it must be destroyed before it hits the Earth. As two Comet Blasters man a desperate mission to rescue the space stations crew, Shizuha, Ayamo, Mikaze, and Karin set out to vaporize it.The two episodes on this dvd really didn't do much for me. They did not extend the story of the original series or bring anything new to the show. Instead of meteors, we have a space station. It was a little funny but I think that Stratos 4 is pretty much played out. Unless you take it in a different direction and get away from the whole meteor blasting business. This is kinda like a skimpy dessert after the main course. | 982 | [
"In this sequel to the original Stratos 4 anime, our four heroines are finally able to take a breather from the constant bombardment of Earth by alien space seeds.",
"Uh, let me correct that, no rest is given when one of the Comet Blaster orbiting satellites is hit by a piece of space debris.",
"There's no way for it to be saved and it's too big to burn up in the atmosphere so it must be destroyed before it hits the Earth.",
"As two Comet Blasters man a desperate mission to rescue the space stations crew, Shizuha, Ayamo, Mikaze, and Karin set out to vaporize it.The two episodes on this dvd really didn't do much for me.",
"They did not extend the story of the original series or bring anything new to the show.",
"Instead of meteors, we have a space station.",
"It was a little funny but I think that Stratos 4 is pretty much played out.",
"Unless you take it in a different direction and get away from the whole meteor blasting business.",
"This is kinda like a skimpy dessert after the main course."
] |
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