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3 | Save your money | I bought this book with my first pregnancy, since it was recommended by my OB at the time, and since I'd heard it touted as THE essential pregnancy book to read. I found a lot of the information in the book to be incredibly frightening, and just stressed me out even more! The only parts I found to be even somewhat "reassuring" where the sections that tell how big the baby is and what is developing. However, like I said earlier, if you want to be scared to death over what can go wrong then you might just want to pick this book up anyways. I would not recommend this book to any of my friends or family. I only gave it three stars because it is jam-packed with information. However I did not find much of it to be of use. If you want a good pregnancy book, there are plenty of others out there, as some of the other reviewers suggested. Despite its popularity, though, I do not think "What to Expect" is one of them. If you must read it, borrow it from the library or a friend-save your money. | 997 | [
"I bought this book with my first pregnancy, since it was recommended by my OB at the time, and since I'd heard it touted as THE essential pregnancy book to read.",
"I found a lot of the information in the book to be incredibly frightening, and just stressed me out even more!",
"The only parts I found to be even somewhat \"reassuring\" where the sections that tell how big the baby is and what is developing.",
"However, like I said earlier, if you want to be scared to death over what can go wrong then you might just want to pick this book up anyways.",
"I would not recommend this book to any of my friends or family.",
"I only gave it three stars because it is jam-packed with information.",
"However I did not find much of it to be of use.",
"If you want a good pregnancy book, there are plenty of others out there, as some of the other reviewers suggested.",
"Despite its popularity, though, I do not think \"What to Expect\" is one of them.",
"If you must read it, borrow it from the library or a friend-save your money."
] |
3 | Victims? | I don't know. Am I really supposed to feel sorry for these girls? Sure, one of them was definately abused as a young teen, but for the most part these girls were not victims of men. They were their own worst enemies. They chose to become high priced call girls. They brag about the perks, the money, the drugs. And then they complain b/c the men didn't have "feelings" for them. Uh, they are call girls. It IS all about sex. It IS all about their sexy bodies. This book is supposed to make us aware of the pitfalls of prostitution. I just see the pitfalls of stupidity. They willingly spent their money on drugs. No one forced them to blow (literally) their money. They weren't beaten/forced into prostitution by sick fathers/boyfriends. They were beautiful young girls who willingly used their bodies to gain entry to celebrities, money, parties, drugs. And now I'm supposed to feel sorry for them? Whatever. It was entertaining reading, but didn't dredge up the sympathy that it was supposed to. | 997 | [
"I don't know.",
"Am I really supposed to feel sorry for these girls?",
"Sure, one of them was definately abused as a young teen, but for the most part these girls were not victims of men.",
"They were their own worst enemies.",
"They chose to become high priced call girls.",
"They brag about the perks, the money, the drugs.",
"And then they complain b/c the men didn't have \"feelings\" for them.",
"Uh, they are call girls.",
"It IS all about sex.",
"It IS all about their sexy bodies.",
"This book is supposed to make us aware of the pitfalls of prostitution.",
"I just see the pitfalls of stupidity.",
"They willingly spent their money on drugs.",
"No one forced them to blow (literally) their money.",
"They weren't beaten/forced into prostitution by sick fathers/boyfriends.",
"They were beautiful young girls who willingly used their bodies to gain entry to celebrities, money, parties, drugs.",
"And now I'm supposed to feel sorry for them?",
"Whatever.",
"It was entertaining reading, but didn't dredge up the sympathy that it was supposed to."
] |
3 | no title | Very dark, very violent, stylized film, somewhat on the order of "Batman", but no lightness anywhere. Premise is dead man comes back to life to avenge lover's death. Blood and gore and shootings run rampant. Brandon Lee was good - kind've reminded me of Johnny Depp. And the head bad guy was very good, with a marvelously raspy bass voice. But after having seen within a few days "Natural Born Killers", a rescreening of "Robocop" and now this, I cannot help but be struck by our society's penchant for being entertained by gore and bloody violence, in many cases quite sick. I see no difference between this movie gore and the Roman gladiators performing for the populace. Sure, in the arena men died, and all on the screen is make-believe, but the visuals are the same. We are impacted with the same sights and sounds, perhaps worse. Why do human beings find this entertaining? This is not new either; people used to love boxing, seeing a boxer's face get smashed to pulp. Because it's not them? | 997 | [
"Very dark, very violent, stylized film, somewhat on the order of \"Batman\", but no lightness anywhere.",
"Premise is dead man comes back to life to avenge lover's death.",
"Blood and gore and shootings run rampant.",
"Brandon Lee was good - kind've reminded me of Johnny Depp.",
"And the head bad guy was very good, with a marvelously raspy bass voice.",
"But after having seen within a few days \"Natural Born Killers\", a rescreening of \"Robocop\" and now this, I cannot help but be struck by our society's penchant for being entertained by gore and bloody violence, in many cases quite sick.",
"I see no difference between this movie gore and the Roman gladiators performing for the populace.",
"Sure, in the arena men died, and all on the screen is make-believe, but the visuals are the same.",
"We are impacted with the same sights and sounds, perhaps worse.",
"Why do human beings find this entertaining?",
"This is not new either; people used to love boxing, seeing a boxer's face get smashed to pulp.",
"Because it's not them?"
] |
3 | Inside Alexandra | Mark Mathabane spent the first eighteen years of his life living in conditions of unbelievable hardship under the South African apartheid system. Crowded with his family into a squalid dwelling in the township of Alexandra, he spent his childhood battling cold, rats and hunger and with raw sewage pooling just outside the family home. As he grew older and understood the bitter injustice under which his family and community lived, he became motivated to succeed both academically and to improve his increasing tennis skills; always dreaming of winning a tennis scholarship to an American university. He experienced at first hand the draconian pass laws, the institutionalised obstructiveness of petty officials and the fear felt by the black population for the state police and neighbourhood spies.There are graphic accounts of the township riots and the death of so many children which make this a harrowing, though essential, read for anyone interested in the history of the twentieth century. | 997 | [
"Mark Mathabane spent the first eighteen years of his life living in conditions of unbelievable hardship under the South African apartheid system.",
"Crowded with his family into a squalid dwelling in the township of Alexandra, he spent his childhood battling cold, rats and hunger and with raw sewage pooling just outside the family home.",
"As he grew older and understood the bitter injustice under which his family and community lived, he became motivated to succeed both academically and to improve his increasing tennis skills; always dreaming of winning a tennis scholarship to an American university.",
"He experienced at first hand the draconian pass laws, the institutionalised obstructiveness of petty officials and the fear felt by the black population for the state police and neighbourhood spies.There are graphic accounts of the township riots and the death of so many children which make this a harrowing, though essential, read for anyone interested in the history of the twentieth century."
] |
3 | Intriguing... | Well, what can be said that hasn't been mentioned in the other reviews? Pretty much nothing...The photo quality of the videos is very grainy, mostly due to the fact that they were all mostly filmed on low-tech gear (my, how technology has changed in the past few years) except for the video done with Kylie Minogue. The difference is very apparant.Audio quality is fairly interesting as well. I don't know if the problem is on my end, or if it was a manufacturers defect with the encoding on the disk, but the sound (particularly the bass) has a lot of pops to it. I also purchased the God is in the House DVD, and had no problems with that particular audio facet. I also found spots to where the tempos changed mid-play.I would have rated this product lower, but I figured in the fact that the video recording gear came from the Stone Age...All in all, a good purchase still for any Nick Cave fan. Many of these videos are nigh impossible to find anywhere, so if you MUST have them, buy this DVD. | 997 | [
"Well, what can be said that hasn't been mentioned in the other reviews?",
"Pretty much nothing...The photo quality of the videos is very grainy, mostly due to the fact that they were all mostly filmed on low-tech gear (my, how technology has changed in the past few years) except for the video done with Kylie Minogue.",
"The difference is very apparant.Audio quality is fairly interesting as well.",
"I don't know if the problem is on my end, or if it was a manufacturers defect with the encoding on the disk, but the sound (particularly the bass) has a lot of pops to it.",
"I also purchased the God is in the House DVD, and had no problems with that particular audio facet.",
"I also found spots to where the tempos changed mid-play.I would have rated this product lower, but I figured in the fact that the video recording gear came from the Stone Age...All in all, a good purchase still for any Nick Cave fan.",
"Many of these videos are nigh impossible to find anywhere, so if you MUST have them, buy this DVD."
] |
3 | Havoc | This movie is a bit disturbing as it shows teenagers thinking they are smarter than they actually are. These two girls, Allie and Emily, inspite of their upper class upbringing, seek to join a Latin gang. They claim they are bored and are looking for excitement. The problem is they don't realize that the Latin gang plays for keeps and these girls are really nothing more than high school seniors.The film should cause alarm for parents of young girls as this type of behavior, though overdramtatized for the movie, is not too far from the truth. Too many young girls think they can handle the situations live presents but then find things area lot more complicated than they are capable of dealing with.The acting, especially Anne Hathaway, is good. Freddy Rodriguez is a convincing gangster. The story moves reasonably well and the plot is plausible. I think the emotions of the parents were downplayed, but overall this is not a bad movie. But watch it at your own risk as it is quite graphic. | 997 | [
"This movie is a bit disturbing as it shows teenagers thinking they are smarter than they actually are.",
"These two girls, Allie and Emily, inspite of their upper class upbringing, seek to join a Latin gang.",
"They claim they are bored and are looking for excitement.",
"The problem is they don't realize that the Latin gang plays for keeps and these girls are really nothing more than high school seniors.The film should cause alarm for parents of young girls as this type of behavior, though overdramtatized for the movie, is not too far from the truth.",
"Too many young girls think they can handle the situations live presents but then find things area lot more complicated than they are capable of dealing with.The acting, especially Anne Hathaway, is good.",
"Freddy Rodriguez is a convincing gangster.",
"The story moves reasonably well and the plot is plausible.",
"I think the emotions of the parents were downplayed, but overall this is not a bad movie.",
"But watch it at your own risk as it is quite graphic."
] |
3 | I'm very sorry | It's me again. I have another review down there somewhere. I recently reread this book and realized that there were some mistakes in my review.first the characters: Bossk-dead on target. He did not die in Prize Pelt. He dug out I think.Dengar-too wimpy. His character was okay but he wasn't the physical speciman we know from Payback.4-LOM-his appearance in Hard Merchandise makes him out to be just a little flat. He seems to simply tolerate Zuckess rather than be friends with him. At least Jeter tells us why. (The events of Sahdows of the Empire.)Zuckess-too stupid, whiny and not intuitive enough. Nothing els to be said.Boba Fett-close to the target but Crispen, Moran and Montogomery did a better job.IG-88-Yes he did exist and the character was dead on too. IG-88 was created around I think a year and a half to two years after ANH. The THEN part of this book takes place around two and a half years after ANH. Check Ted Edwards Timeline in the excellent Unarthorized Star Wars Compendium. | 997 | [
"It's me again.",
"I have another review down there somewhere.",
"I recently reread this book and realized that there were some mistakes in my review.first the characters: Bossk-dead on target.",
"He did not die in Prize Pelt.",
"He dug out I think.Dengar-too wimpy.",
"His character was okay but he wasn't the physical speciman we know from Payback.4-LOM-his appearance in Hard Merchandise makes him out to be just a little flat.",
"He seems to simply tolerate Zuckess rather than be friends with him.",
"At least Jeter tells us why.",
"(The events of Sahdows of the Empire.)Zuckess-too stupid, whiny and not intuitive enough.",
"Nothing els to be said.Boba Fett-close to the target but Crispen, Moran and Montogomery did a better job.IG-88-Yes he did exist and the character was dead on too.",
"IG-88 was created around I think a year and a half to two years after ANH.",
"The THEN part of this book takes place around two and a half years after ANH.",
"Check Ted Edwards Timeline in the excellent Unarthorized Star Wars Compendium."
] |
3 | Unrealistic | I am a Christian and a Catholic but my faith is not solely based on passion and sufferings. Sure. I know very well that Christ died for me in such unmeasurable pain. But do I really need to see it in a gory kind of way? What's unrealistic is the way the punishment was portrayed- too harsh for a human to endure, I mean physically. We must remember that Christ was 100 % human during that time and subject to physical limitations of a human being. The sufferings were simply portrayed as too unbelievable. Any human subject to that kind of punishment will die sooner from loss of blood, broken bones, and other internal organ damages. Didn't you see how Mary the mother's towel get soaked in so much blood? it looked like you can squeeze it and get a gallon of blood. Simply put, the movie is overly exaggerated. Some members of the Catholic Church said that it was the closest thing to the truth. What truth? What's the basis? If it cannot be 100% true, then it is still a lie- a Hollywood flick. | 997 | [
"I am a Christian and a Catholic but my faith is not solely based on passion and sufferings.",
"Sure.",
"I know very well that Christ died for me in such unmeasurable pain.",
"But do I really need to see it in a gory kind of way?",
"What's unrealistic is the way the punishment was portrayed- too harsh for a human to endure, I mean physically.",
"We must remember that Christ was 100 % human during that time and subject to physical limitations of a human being.",
"The sufferings were simply portrayed as too unbelievable.",
"Any human subject to that kind of punishment will die sooner from loss of blood, broken bones, and other internal organ damages.",
"Didn't you see how Mary the mother's towel get soaked in so much blood?",
"it looked like you can squeeze it and get a gallon of blood.",
"Simply put, the movie is overly exaggerated.",
"Some members of the Catholic Church said that it was the closest thing to the truth.",
"What truth?",
"What's the basis?",
"If it cannot be 100% true, then it is still a lie- a Hollywood flick."
] |
3 | The average R-80 | First I'd like to say that these were my second headphone purchase and I'm a bit disappointed(first was Numark HF125). I've used the r-80 with a CD player, an ipod, and then hooked both up to an amplifier. The difference in quality was noticeable with an amp or even a mixer, probably by 25%. What I've noticed was that the bass wasn't as clean or deep sounding as the cheaper Numark. The Numark did not rattle or distort with the volume at 75% high whereas the Koss R-80 was just the opposite. The vocals were decent though. This is probably better for watching TV or movies.The build feels a bit cheap, but it doesn't break. Outside noise doesn't get fully blocked out but then again, its not an in-ear monitor.What I loved about these headphones were its long telephone-like cord that doesn't tangle. It felt pretty comfy on my head, but i still did feel a bit of pressure after wearing it for more than an hour(I've got a large head), but not to the point where it hurts or annoys me too much. | 997 | [
"First I'd like to say that these were my second headphone purchase and I'm a bit disappointed(first was Numark HF125).",
"I've used the r-80 with a CD player, an ipod, and then hooked both up to an amplifier.",
"The difference in quality was noticeable with an amp or even a mixer, probably by 25%.",
"What I've noticed was that the bass wasn't as clean or deep sounding as the cheaper Numark.",
"The Numark did not rattle or distort with the volume at 75% high whereas the Koss R-80 was just the opposite.",
"The vocals were decent though.",
"This is probably better for watching TV or movies.The build feels a bit cheap, but it doesn't break.",
"Outside noise doesn't get fully blocked out but then again, its not an in-ear monitor.What I loved about these headphones were its long telephone-like cord that doesn't tangle.",
"It felt pretty comfy on my head, but i still did feel a bit of pressure after wearing it for more than an hour(I've got a large head), but not to the point where it hurts or annoys me too much."
] |
3 | On 2nd Set | Arrived from Amazon, plugged it in, and immediately smelled some burning smell. Was able to select game but within a minute, electronics stopped working so must have shorted out. Amazon was great with the exchange, UPS picked up defective the next day and received new Arachnid one day later. Have only played for a couple hours but new set is working fine. Not a big fan of heckler but can easily turn off. Volume is very loud but adjustable (or can turn off). Scoring is bright and easy to read. Although I didn't see other reviews with this issue - I have run into some non-counts when I changed to next player (and darts stuck). It would be great if selecting games were a bit more intuitive than G1, G3, G5... but there are a few default games with their own buttons (basic cricket, 301). To play other than the few defaults, you need to refer to your manual when toggling through options. For price - seems like a good board but if more serious, may want to go for their more expensive model | 997 | [
"Arrived from Amazon, plugged it in, and immediately smelled some burning smell.",
"Was able to select game but within a minute, electronics stopped working so must have shorted out.",
"Amazon was great with the exchange, UPS picked up defective the next day and received new Arachnid one day later.",
"Have only played for a couple hours but new set is working fine.",
"Not a big fan of heckler but can easily turn off.",
"Volume is very loud but adjustable (or can turn off).",
"Scoring is bright and easy to read.",
"Although I didn't see other reviews with this issue - I have run into some non-counts when I changed to next player (and darts stuck).",
"It would be great if selecting games were a bit more intuitive than G1, G3, G5... but there are a few default games with their own buttons (basic cricket, 301).",
"To play other than the few defaults, you need to refer to your manual when toggling through options.",
"For price - seems like a good board but if more serious, may want to go for their more expensive model"
] |
3 | Guilty Pleasures | I recently heard about L.K. Hamilton and decided to buy the first book in her series. I love Christine Feehan and one of her fans also recommended Ms. Hamilton. I started reading Guilty Pleasures and found it very exciting and fast paced but at the end of the book it was like the feeling you get after you've stood in line for a roller coaster that is supposed to be the best in the world,you get on, go down the first big drop and huge loop and then thats it and you get off thinking well that was o.k. but it could have been much better. I was also very disappointed because the cover states the book is "a heady mix of romance and horror". I am a big romance fan and this book only hinted at romance and most of the time she seemed to want to stay as far away as she could from any romantic developments. I bought this book thinking it would be more satisfying to romance fans and was disappointed but if you like horror and adventure it's a great book and Ms. Hamilton is an excellent writer. | 997 | [
"I recently heard about L.K. Hamilton and decided to buy the first book in her series.",
"I love Christine Feehan and one of her fans also recommended Ms.",
"Hamilton.",
"I started reading Guilty Pleasures and found it very exciting and fast paced but at the end of the book it was like the feeling you get after you've stood in line for a roller coaster that is supposed to be the best in the world,you get on, go down the first big drop and huge loop and then thats it and you get off thinking well that was o.k. but it could have been much better.",
"I was also very disappointed because the cover states the book is \"a heady mix of romance and horror\".",
"I am a big romance fan and this book only hinted at romance and most of the time she seemed to want to stay as far away as she could from any romantic developments.",
"I bought this book thinking it would be more satisfying to romance fans and was disappointed but if you like horror and adventure it's a great book and Ms.",
"Hamilton is an excellent writer."
] |
3 | So far so good | Cholodin seems to be working well for my 17 yr old Shep mix. She started with the excessive circling, pacing, and dazed moments about a year ago. I started this supplement about 2 months ago and she does not seem to be advancing in her Cognitive Disorder. In fact some days she is better than before. I did not start her on the recommended loading dose in fear of the side effects, so I chose to use 1/2 the recommended daily dose for 2 weeks and then upped her dose to the daily amount. I had used Anipryl for a month prior to this, but due to the cost of this med. for such a large dog I decided to try Cholodin. Grant you I did not have her on Anipryl nearly long enough to see long term effects, but I did not notice a change or a deteriation in her congnitive state from switching to Cholodin. She is not getting any worse at this point and this is good. I would recommend trying Cholodin for early signs of Canine Cognitive Disorder... I don't know how well it will work for advanced stages. | 997 | [
"Cholodin seems to be working well for my 17 yr old Shep mix.",
"She started with the excessive circling, pacing, and dazed moments about a year ago.",
"I started this supplement about 2 months ago and she does not seem to be advancing in her Cognitive Disorder.",
"In fact some days she is better than before.",
"I did not start her on the recommended loading dose in fear of the side effects, so I chose to use 1/2 the recommended daily dose for 2 weeks and then upped her dose to the daily amount.",
"I had used Anipryl for a month prior to this, but due to the cost of this med.",
"for such a large dog I decided to try Cholodin.",
"Grant you I did not have her on Anipryl nearly long enough to see long term effects, but I did not notice a change or a deteriation in her congnitive state from switching to Cholodin.",
"She is not getting any worse at this point and this is good.",
"I would recommend trying Cholodin for early signs of Canine Cognitive Disorder... I don't know how well it will work for advanced stages."
] |
3 | 1 Book, Not 2 | What is essentially 1 books in 1, this appears to be a fairly competent book written by Diana Hagee that the publisher was afraid wouldn't sell. So, they tacked on a series of ramblings by Ms. Hagee's more famous husband, John, and tried to promote the book as a comprehensive treatment of what men and women are looking for in a mate. John's section is really unfocused and does not give much insight for men. However, Diana's section is very organized and provides excellent instruction for both men and women. Using as an outline the top 10 things a woman wants in a man, based on surveys conducted at the Hagee's church, Diana provides practical advice about how women can foster these characteristics in their husbands as well as in themselves. Though feminist will not appreciate the advice and God's promises are at times turned into prosperity thinking, the relational advice is a great reminder to those recently married, as well as those who have been working at marriage for many years. | 997 | [
"What is essentially 1 books in 1, this appears to be a fairly competent book written by Diana Hagee that the publisher was afraid wouldn't sell.",
"So, they tacked on a series of ramblings by Ms.",
"Hagee's more famous husband, John, and tried to promote the book as a comprehensive treatment of what men and women are looking for in a mate.",
"John's section is really unfocused and does not give much insight for men.",
"However, Diana's section is very organized and provides excellent instruction for both men and women.",
"Using as an outline the top 10 things a woman wants in a man, based on surveys conducted at the Hagee's church, Diana provides practical advice about how women can foster these characteristics in their husbands as well as in themselves.",
"Though feminist will not appreciate the advice and God's promises are at times turned into prosperity thinking, the relational advice is a great reminder to those recently married, as well as those who have been working at marriage for many years."
] |
3 | Now IS Forever | I bought this movie when Hollywood Videos was going out of business. Never heard of most of the actors. Popped in the DVD one night when I could not sleep. Even though for most adults the plot and ending will seem obvious, it is captivating like going down a lazy river that you know well but still enjoy. I think it would be a good movie for teens despite the R rating, it has all positive messages. I am jaded so it didn't strike me in the heart like it would my teen girls. It nice to see something that doesn't have the usual storylines and carries a sweet message of hope. It was interesting seeing the Native American Indian viewpoints played out. I did not like the not so obvious western religious undertones and heavy handed messages. Still was quite beautifully filmed. One of the good lessons is Now is Forever, your actions will have consequences for the rest of your life,(and maybe even after) so think about what you do. I really loved the soundtrack and will buy it when I find it. | 997 | [
"I bought this movie when Hollywood Videos was going out of business.",
"Never heard of most of the actors.",
"Popped in the DVD one night when I could not sleep.",
"Even though for most adults the plot and ending will seem obvious, it is captivating like going down a lazy river that you know well but still enjoy.",
"I think it would be a good movie for teens despite the R rating, it has all positive messages.",
"I am jaded so it didn't strike me in the heart like it would my teen girls.",
"It nice to see something that doesn't have the usual storylines and carries a sweet message of hope.",
"It was interesting seeing the Native American Indian viewpoints played out.",
"I did not like the not so obvious western religious undertones and heavy handed messages.",
"Still was quite beautifully filmed.",
"One of the good lessons is Now is Forever, your actions will have consequences for the rest of your life,(and maybe even after) so think about what you do.",
"I really loved the soundtrack and will buy it when I find it."
] |
3 | Zombies! | This is not a bad two discs set for the price.Here we get:Bride of Re-Animator (R, 1990, 96 minutes)Beyond Re-Animator (R, 2003, 95 minutes)Return of the Living Dead 3 (R, 1993, 97 minutes)Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis (R, 2005, 88 minutes)Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave (R, 2005, 86 minutes)Night of the Living Dead 2D (R, 2006, 80 minutes)I'm a big Zombie fan and this collection has two great movies, one decent movie and three below-average flicks. Bride of Re-Animator is the best out of the six, but once again we get the R rated version and not the uncut version. The same goes for it's lackluster sequel, Beyond Re-Animator. The underrated Return of the Living Dead 3 is the Rated R version instead of the uncut version that had came out on VHS years ago. The other three zombie flicks are low-budget sequels/remakes that are times painful to watch. I would only recommend those three for die-hard fans of both series as you might want to add them to your collection. | 997 | [
"This is not a bad two discs set for the price.Here we get:Bride of Re-Animator (R, 1990, 96 minutes)Beyond Re-Animator (R, 2003, 95 minutes)Return of the Living Dead 3 (R, 1993, 97 minutes)Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis (R, 2005, 88 minutes)Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave (R, 2005, 86 minutes)Night of the Living Dead 2D (R, 2006, 80 minutes)I'm a big Zombie fan and this collection has two great movies, one decent movie and three below-average flicks.",
"Bride of Re-Animator is the best out of the six, but once again we get the R rated version and not the uncut version.",
"The same goes for it's lackluster sequel, Beyond Re-Animator.",
"The underrated Return of the Living Dead 3 is the Rated R version instead of the uncut version that had came out on VHS years ago.",
"The other three zombie flicks are low-budget sequels/remakes that are times painful to watch.",
"I would only recommend those three for die-hard fans of both series as you might want to add them to your collection."
] |
3 | HOUSE OF DRACULA | After watching this one several times, I realized its many faults. While the story and performances are not too shabby, all of the monsters are too rushed.It is a terrible shame that Chaney's Wolfman didn't do anything or kill anyone in his two scenes as the werewolf. The whole movie is pretty much set around Dracula who wants a "cure" for vampirism. The "Jekyll/Hyde" sequence with Dr. Edelmann(Stevens) is clever and the most exciting part in the film. As with HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, Glen Strange's Monster came to life in the ending, and it was mainly footage from GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN( which I admit was well put into the film!). The conclusion was too rushed and wasn't at all as fun as the ending of FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN. A more creative way should have been used to destroy the Monster. Despite its many faults, you shouldn't view HOUSE OF DRACULA as a critic, analyzing every little fault, but it should be seen as a fun horror movie and should be enjoyed as a fun experience! | 997 | [
"After watching this one several times, I realized its many faults.",
"While the story and performances are not too shabby, all of the monsters are too rushed.It is a terrible shame that Chaney's Wolfman didn't do anything or kill anyone in his two scenes as the werewolf.",
"The whole movie is pretty much set around Dracula who wants a \"cure\" for vampirism.",
"The \"Jekyll/Hyde\" sequence with Dr.",
"Edelmann(Stevens) is clever and the most exciting part in the film.",
"As with HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, Glen Strange's Monster came to life in the ending, and it was mainly footage from GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN( which I admit was well put into the film!",
").",
"The conclusion was too rushed and wasn't at all as fun as the ending of FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN.",
"A more creative way should have been used to destroy the Monster.",
"Despite its many faults, you shouldn't view HOUSE OF DRACULA as a critic, analyzing every little fault, but it should be seen as a fun horror movie and should be enjoyed as a fun experience!"
] |
3 | A quest | Continuing the series of books in the universe of the League of Peoples, "Trapped" centers on a group of friends living on a post-apocalyptic Earth, which is under the control of the temperamental Spark Lords. Phil and his fellow teachers at a third-rate private school find themselves involved in a quest to save one of their students from a powerful entity whose intentions are unknown, but it certainly can't be good, what with all the dead bodies in its wake. All is not what it seems with the Spark Lords, because they have knowledge of this entity but they won't share, but then, Phil and his friends aren't what they seem either. Gardner's vibrant style is here, but it comes out muted. And as the book progresses, the plot feels more and more contrived. I like how elements of sword-and-sorcery fantasy were blended with science fiction, and Gardner's sense of humor is always great, but overall "Trapped" isn't as great as his other books. Still worth reading, but just don't expect much. | 997 | [
"Continuing the series of books in the universe of the League of Peoples, \"Trapped\" centers on a group of friends living on a post-apocalyptic Earth, which is under the control of the temperamental Spark Lords.",
"Phil and his fellow teachers at a third-rate private school find themselves involved in a quest to save one of their students from a powerful entity whose intentions are unknown, but it certainly can't be good, what with all the dead bodies in its wake.",
"All is not what it seems with the Spark Lords, because they have knowledge of this entity but they won't share, but then, Phil and his friends aren't what they seem either.",
"Gardner's vibrant style is here, but it comes out muted.",
"And as the book progresses, the plot feels more and more contrived.",
"I like how elements of sword-and-sorcery fantasy were blended with science fiction, and Gardner's sense of humor is always great, but overall \"Trapped\" isn't as great as his other books.",
"Still worth reading, but just don't expect much."
] |
3 | IsLaNd ReViEw | Island was a all right book. I did not like this book because this book had no magic like wand or wizards and no real exciting parts in it. I did like this book because it had a good meaning to it and it uses life skill's in it.It uses life skills like courage, and responsibility. The reason I gave it a *** is because it was kind of dull and then when the big storm came it was kind of exciting.I would recommended this book to only people that like survival books and people that like to really really read. Out of 4 people in my reading group 2 out of 4 liked this book and the others did not like this book. [I was told] not to be mean but next time you write a book like island, you should get better people to put on the book like me and some of my friends.Anyways your book was pretty good and my friend ... told me that your 2nd and 3rd book of island was better, so I might read the others and do another report on them. If you read my report, thanks. That's the end of my report thanks. | 997 | [
"Island was a all right book.",
"I did not like this book because this book had no magic like wand or wizards and no real exciting parts in it.",
"I did like this book because it had a good meaning to it and it uses life skill's in it.It uses life skills like courage, and responsibility.",
"The reason I gave it a *** is because it was kind of dull and then when the big storm came it was kind of exciting.I would recommended this book to only people that like survival books and people that like to really really read.",
"Out of 4 people in my reading group 2 out of 4 liked this book and the others did not like this book.",
"[I was told] not to be mean but next time you write a book like island, you should get better people to put on the book like me and some of my friends.Anyways your book was pretty good and my friend ... told me that your 2nd and 3rd book of island was better, so I might read the others and do another report on them.",
"If you read my report, thanks.",
"That's the end of my report thanks."
] |
3 | A Rush Job | I was so anxious to see these albums released in CD form. I figured they would be remixed and remastered up to CD quality. Even though I really like Gary Lewis and The Playboys' music, I was really disappointed. It sounds like they recorded them right off the old vinyl--thin sounding with all the instruments on one side and all the vocals on the other. It seems to me it was a rush job just to get it released before Christmas '99.The saving grace of the CD is the inclusion of BOTH flip sides of "This Diamond Ring"--"Hard to Find" and "Tijuana Wedding." These have been mixed into stereo for the first time, and if the rest of the CD sounded as good as these tracks, I would be a happy camper. If you want to hear better CD quality sound, get the re-released "Everybody Loves A Clown/She's Just My Style," or "Legendary Masters Series." Maybe they could re-release this CD again doing it right the next time, and maybe even adding the rarity "Malibu Run." EMI Records: I hope you're listening. | 997 | [
"I was so anxious to see these albums released in CD form.",
"I figured they would be remixed and remastered up to CD quality.",
"Even though I really like Gary Lewis and The Playboys' music, I was really disappointed.",
"It sounds like they recorded them right off the old vinyl--thin sounding with all the instruments on one side and all the vocals on the other.",
"It seems to me it was a rush job just to get it released before Christmas '99.The saving grace of the CD is the inclusion of BOTH flip sides of \"This Diamond Ring\"--\"Hard to Find\" and \"Tijuana Wedding.\" These have been mixed into stereo for the first time, and if the rest of the CD sounded as good as these tracks, I would be a happy camper.",
"If you want to hear better CD quality sound, get the re-released \"Everybody Loves A Clown/She's Just My Style,\" or \"Legendary Masters Series.\" Maybe they could re-release this CD again doing it right the next time, and maybe even adding the rarity \"Malibu Run.\" EMI Records: I hope you're listening."
] |
3 | pittsburg? | this is the classic football book, on a par with jim bouton's "ball four." it should be enjoyable for any football fan, but fans of the 4-time super bowl winners should be especially appreciative of this chronicle of the team written during the year of franco's "immaculate reception." it is extraordinarily funny and informative, eye-opening even. this being said, it was no pleasure trying to struggle through all the mistakes that were made, either by the author or by this current publisher, the university of pittsburgh press (i am inclined to blame the publisher.) this is the 30th anniversary edition for pete's sake. can't you get it right after 30 years? it is so bad that the publisher even misspells the city in which it is located, pittsburgh pennsylvania has an "h" folks. you're not in kansas anymore.but if you can get past the fact that you might have to read several sentences, maybe even paragraphs, an extra time or two to be sure what the author means, this is one great story. | 997 | [
"this is the classic football book, on a par with jim bouton's \"ball four.\" it should be enjoyable for any football fan, but fans of the 4-time super bowl winners should be especially appreciative of this chronicle of the team written during the year of franco's \"immaculate reception.\" it is extraordinarily funny and informative, eye-opening even.",
"this being said, it was no pleasure trying to struggle through all the mistakes that were made, either by the author or by this current publisher, the university of pittsburgh press (i am inclined to blame the publisher.) this is the 30th anniversary edition for pete's sake.",
"can't you get it right after 30 years?",
"it is so bad that the publisher even misspells the city in which it is located, pittsburgh pennsylvania has an \"h\" folks.",
"you're not in kansas anymore.but if you can get past the fact that you might have to read several sentences, maybe even paragraphs, an extra time or two to be sure what the author means, this is one great story."
] |
3 | Painful to read | This book is painful to read. I like the subject and I am very interested in the author's point of view, but I found myself skipping paragraphs and sometimes whole sections at times. I guess he is trying to make his arguments be more intuitive by giving examples from "real life," but I found his examples mostly irrelevant and even confusing. I think this is mainly because he tries to keep his tone light and not too academic, but being an academic I found his style of writing very distracting.I also didn't like the ordering of his arguments. He talks about Arrow's Impossibility Theorem for 20 pages without even remotely describing what it is. If you are familiar with the theorem, you would be fine. However, for someone who is new to the subject, I think this is not the best way to learn it.I was considering this book as supplementary reading in my Political Economics class, but I don't think my advanced undergraduate students would find the author's style interesting or approachable. | 997 | [
"This book is painful to read.",
"I like the subject and I am very interested in the author's point of view, but I found myself skipping paragraphs and sometimes whole sections at times.",
"I guess he is trying to make his arguments be more intuitive by giving examples from \"real life,\" but I found his examples mostly irrelevant and even confusing.",
"I think this is mainly because he tries to keep his tone light and not too academic, but being an academic I found his style of writing very distracting.I also didn't like the ordering of his arguments.",
"He talks about Arrow's Impossibility Theorem for 20 pages without even remotely describing what it is.",
"If you are familiar with the theorem, you would be fine.",
"However, for someone who is new to the subject, I think this is not the best way to learn it.I was considering this book as supplementary reading in my Political Economics class, but I don't think my advanced undergraduate students would find the author's style interesting or approachable."
] |
3 | Disappointing | Whatever your opinion is about the grand Zeffirelli production at the theater, it doesn't work for the small screen, even when the BluRay technology brings you every single detail. The great spectacle that this production is supposed to be looks crowded and confusing on TV. First act is on the darker side, making it even less appealing on TV. Many think Zeffirelli's production is already passé. It was never intended to be shown on TV and it doesn't seem to work. The WOW factor is not there.The start of the night is Liu (Marina Poplavskaya). Her singing and acting is superb. Puccini would have been proud of her heroine. Calaf (Marcello Giordani) is disappointing and gets loss when confronting Turandot (Maria Guleghina). For some reason I don't found any passion in his signing and certainly not in his acting.If you are looking for a great spectacle, watch Zubin Mehta conduct in the forbidden city of Beijing (1998). Although the audio is Stereo only, it is worth watching and listening. | 997 | [
"Whatever your opinion is about the grand Zeffirelli production at the theater, it doesn't work for the small screen, even when the BluRay technology brings you every single detail.",
"The great spectacle that this production is supposed to be looks crowded and confusing on TV.",
"First act is on the darker side, making it even less appealing on TV.",
"Many think Zeffirelli's production is already passé.",
"It was never intended to be shown on TV and it doesn't seem to work.",
"The WOW factor is not there.The start of the night is Liu (Marina Poplavskaya).",
"Her singing and acting is superb.",
"Puccini would have been proud of her heroine.",
"Calaf (Marcello Giordani) is disappointing and gets loss when confronting Turandot (Maria Guleghina).",
"For some reason I don't found any passion in his signing and certainly not in his acting.If you are looking for a great spectacle, watch Zubin Mehta conduct in the forbidden city of Beijing (1998).",
"Although the audio is Stereo only, it is worth watching and listening."
] |
3 | Great Movie | Nosferatu should absolutely be respected for it's contribution to, and advancement of, the film industry and particularly horror movies. The film offers special effects that were cutting edge at the time and still maintain some of their power in creating terror and tension. I had reservations about watching Nosferatu. Since I love movies that make good use of sound, the idea of silent film didn't interest me. I had similar prejudices toward the special effects, cinematography, acting, etc. I figured Nosferatu was a classic for purely nostalgic reasons. I mean, how could anybody actually enjoy a movie that could have been shot by a seventeen-year-old with a crappy camera? How naive I was...Nosferatu is an exercise in brilliant film-making. Murnau's heavy investment on the look of the film pays off. The film is fun to watch. The acting is over the top, which is necessary to avoid constant cuts to dialog cards. The music is great, too. Chilling and expressive without being overbearing. | 997 | [
"Nosferatu should absolutely be respected for it's contribution to, and advancement of, the film industry and particularly horror movies.",
"The film offers special effects that were cutting edge at the time and still maintain some of their power in creating terror and tension.",
"I had reservations about watching Nosferatu.",
"Since I love movies that make good use of sound, the idea of silent film didn't interest me.",
"I had similar prejudices toward the special effects, cinematography, acting, etc.",
"I figured Nosferatu was a classic for purely nostalgic reasons.",
"I mean, how could anybody actually enjoy a movie that could have been shot by a seventeen-year-old with a crappy camera?",
"How naive I was...Nosferatu is an exercise in brilliant film-making.",
"Murnau's heavy investment on the look of the film pays off.",
"The film is fun to watch.",
"The acting is over the top, which is necessary to avoid constant cuts to dialog cards.",
"The music is great, too.",
"Chilling and expressive without being overbearing."
] |
3 | A good overview | "AG North" follows the same pattern as "AG Center" and "AG South" from the same author. It's a good overview of the German military operations in the "northern" part of the front from 22 June 1941 to May 1945. In any case, don't expect to found the complete history of the Heeresgruppe Nord ! Finnish front is, logically, absent.One important difference with "AG South" is that "AG North" isn't firstly a mere compilation of divisional histories or others authors books."AG North" also address topics as the Final Solution - but only of a quick overview of the Einsatzgruppen mass shooting -, Baltic states occupation and partisan warfare.Logically, the book focuses on military operations, even giving some data about the "other side of the hill", a good point for a German book of 1966 ! A chapter covers sea operations.Even if "AG North" is a classical "Eastern-front-through-german-eyes" book, silent about the criminal behaviour of the German army, it could find a place in a WW2 library.H.H. | 997 | [
"\"AG North\" follows the same pattern as \"AG Center\" and \"AG South\" from the same author.",
"It's a good overview of the German military operations in the \"northern\" part of the front from 22 June 1941 to May 1945.",
"In any case, don't expect to found the complete history of the Heeresgruppe Nord!",
"Finnish front is, logically, absent.One important difference with \"AG South\" is that \"AG North\" isn't firstly a mere compilation of divisional histories or others authors books.\"AG North\" also address topics as the Final Solution - but only of a quick overview of the Einsatzgruppen mass shooting -, Baltic states occupation and partisan warfare.Logically, the book focuses on military operations, even giving some data about the \"other side of the hill\", a good point for a German book of 1966!",
"A chapter covers sea operations.Even if \"AG North\" is a classical \"Eastern-front-through-german-eyes\" book, silent about the criminal behaviour of the German army, it could find a place in a WW2 library.H.H."
] |
3 | Not so Hott | The game is okay but could have been a little bit more. All you do on the playstation version is press the four buttons. You cant make her dancers dance you press the button when it tells you to. It takes way to long tobeat. I am a big britney fan and i wished the game was funner. The graphics are pretty good but you have to beat four dances twice. Once yo ubeat th efour you get theh same dances but harder. You have to start pressing 2 buttons at once which is very confusing. You get points for completing dances.With so many points you get backstage passes.The passes let you watch her practice a song for a concert. After beating eight dances you finally get to go be a dancer. I still am not there. To try beating it you need a memory card to save or you have to start over again. It might be fun to some who would have fun pressing the four buttons.It made me pretty mad. You should probably rent before you buy. I wouldnt pay more than 20.00 . I love britney but didnt care for the game. | 997 | [
"The game is okay but could have been a little bit more.",
"All you do on the playstation version is press the four buttons.",
"You cant make her dancers dance you press the button when it tells you to.",
"It takes way to long tobeat.",
"I am a big britney fan and i wished the game was funner.",
"The graphics are pretty good but you have to beat four dances twice.",
"Once yo ubeat th efour you get theh same dances but harder.",
"You have to start pressing 2 buttons at once which is very confusing.",
"You get points for completing dances.With so many points you get backstage passes.The passes let you watch her practice a song for a concert.",
"After beating eight dances you finally get to go be a dancer.",
"I still am not there.",
"To try beating it you need a memory card to save or you have to start over again.",
"It might be fun to some who would have fun pressing the four buttons.It made me pretty mad.",
"You should probably rent before you buy.",
"I wouldnt pay more than 20.00.",
"I love britney but didnt care for the game."
] |
3 | Hard read | "The Book of Lost Tales -- Part Two" is a hard read. Do not expect tales from Tolkien along the line of "The Hobbit" or "Lord of the Rings". This is a book written for the student of Tolkien and is more of a scholarly text than light reading. The book serves two purposes. One is to bring more of Tolkien's work into publication. Christopher Tolkien (son of J.R.R. Tolkien) has scoured his father's works and notes to gather the "back story" of JRRT's two novels...The Hobbit and LOTR. The second is to derive more revenue from his father's works. Christopher Tolkien is not a novelist, only a transcriber of his father's works. The book is filled (almost to the point of boredom) with scholarly annotations, explanations and trivia not really needed to enjoy the "Tales". Lest this be taken as a negative review, I enjoyed both books (Part one and Part two) but then I am a fan of Tolkien's works. Do not buy this for light reading. Buy it for its exposition of the genius that was J.R.R Tolkien. | 997 | [
"\"The Book of Lost Tales -- Part Two\" is a hard read.",
"Do not expect tales from Tolkien along the line of \"The Hobbit\" or \"Lord of the Rings\".",
"This is a book written for the student of Tolkien and is more of a scholarly text than light reading.",
"The book serves two purposes.",
"One is to bring more of Tolkien's work into publication.",
"Christopher Tolkien (son of J.R.R. Tolkien) has scoured his father's works and notes to gather the \"back story\" of JRRT's two novels...The Hobbit and LOTR.",
"The second is to derive more revenue from his father's works.",
"Christopher Tolkien is not a novelist, only a transcriber of his father's works.",
"The book is filled (almost to the point of boredom) with scholarly annotations, explanations and trivia not really needed to enjoy the \"Tales\".",
"Lest this be taken as a negative review, I enjoyed both books (Part one and Part two) but then I am a fan of Tolkien's works.",
"Do not buy this for light reading.",
"Buy it for its exposition of the genius that was J.R.R Tolkien."
] |
3 | Trailers | I've been watching the trailers over and over and after reading the books think this could be a problem... Probably shouldn't of read the books first. Mainly I'm going to see this movie for Brom, Murtagh and Ajihad. I love Sienna Guillory from Helen of Troy (and Arya is one of my favorite characters) but I'm confused about the way they made her look to play Arya. For one... Arya has dark hair (not strawberry blond)... and the major thing... she's an elf. The author repeats over and over that she has dark hair and pointed elf ears (think Arwen here). So what's up with the regular human ears and the light hair? Didn't the people who made the movie read the books at all?I'm hoping the movie does live up to the book but I'm not entirely sure based off the way it looks now. Saphira, Brom, Murtagh and Ajihad look great though so I'm looking forward to watching them. I hope Ed Speleers' Eragon lives up to his role in the books and I hope the movie doesn't make me regret buying the tickets. | 997 | [
"I've been watching the trailers over and over and after reading the books think this could be a problem... Probably shouldn't of read the books first.",
"Mainly I'm going to see this movie for Brom, Murtagh and Ajihad.",
"I love Sienna Guillory from Helen of Troy (and Arya is one of my favorite characters) but I'm confused about the way they made her look to play Arya.",
"For one... Arya has dark hair (not strawberry blond)... and the major thing... she's an elf.",
"The author repeats over and over that she has dark hair and pointed elf ears (think Arwen here).",
"So what's up with the regular human ears and the light hair?",
"Didn't the people who made the movie read the books at all?",
"I'm hoping the movie does live up to the book but I'm not entirely sure based off the way it looks now.",
"Saphira, Brom, Murtagh and Ajihad look great though so I'm looking forward to watching them.",
"I hope Ed Speleers' Eragon lives up to his role in the books and I hope the movie doesn't make me regret buying the tickets."
] |
3 | Enjoyable BUT... | This is definitely an enjoyable series with great writing and good performances. However, I'd like to point out a few things on the down side; 1- the murders are extremely grizzly with lots of blood and mutilated corpses at every episode, which is in sharp contrast to the supposedly peaceful villages where they occurred. 2 - The reasons that caused the villagers to murder others are very trivial and petty most of the time. 3 - The murderers are the most unlikely people; like an 80 years old woman who is a retired school teacher, an angel-faced 14 years old girl etc. people who have lived clean and decent lives in a nice peaceful village suddenly go berserk for some petty reason and start butchering their neighbors.So obviously the writers achieve their goal - it's just about impossible to guess who done it, but it made me feel let down in the end of every episode.Anyway, like I said - it is an enjoyable show never the less, just take off your thinking cap and enjoy the blood fest... | 997 | [
"This is definitely an enjoyable series with great writing and good performances.",
"However, I'd like to point out a few things on the down side; 1- the murders are extremely grizzly with lots of blood and mutilated corpses at every episode, which is in sharp contrast to the supposedly peaceful villages where they occurred.",
"2 - The reasons that caused the villagers to murder others are very trivial and petty most of the time.",
"3 - The murderers are the most unlikely people; like an 80 years old woman who is a retired school teacher, an angel-faced 14 years old girl etc.",
"people who have lived clean and decent lives in a nice peaceful village suddenly go berserk for some petty reason and start butchering their neighbors.So obviously the writers achieve their goal - it's just about impossible to guess who done it, but it made me feel let down in the end of every episode.Anyway, like I said - it is an enjoyable show never the less, just take off your thinking cap and enjoy the blood fest..."
] |
3 | Average Workout | I have been doing intermediate/advanced intensive types of aerobic exercise for 15+ years and switched to more dance dvd's over the past year to have more fun. I thoroughly enjoy Patrica Moreno's Kickbox Core Cross Train and appreciate her refreshing style. This workout is not what I would have hoped, yet because I think the dance is a fun one, I found it can be worked with. The 30 minute version was a little fast in some areas but in the 60 minute version I often found the slow pace to be 'over-thought'. I need to just do it and if I think too hard, as she demonstrates, it doesn't work. I marched in place or tried extra reps while she was demonstrating the slow version. What really saved things is that the chaptering allows you to easily repeat the too-brief 'let's put what we just learned together' as many times as you like while you get it down. I wouldn't pay full price for it but if you can get a bargain (or get it at the library as I did), it's worth adding to your collection. | 997 | [
"I have been doing intermediate/advanced intensive types of aerobic exercise for 15+ years and switched to more dance dvd's over the past year to have more fun.",
"I thoroughly enjoy Patrica Moreno's Kickbox Core Cross Train and appreciate her refreshing style.",
"This workout is not what I would have hoped, yet because I think the dance is a fun one, I found it can be worked with.",
"The 30 minute version was a little fast in some areas but in the 60 minute version I often found the slow pace to be 'over-thought'.",
"I need to just do it and if I think too hard, as she demonstrates, it doesn't work.",
"I marched in place or tried extra reps while she was demonstrating the slow version.",
"What really saved things is that the chaptering allows you to easily repeat the too-brief 'let's put what we just learned together' as many times as you like while you get it down.",
"I wouldn't pay full price for it but if you can get a bargain (or get it at the library as I did), it's worth adding to your collection."
] |
3 | Rent, don't buy | Remarkable Power is not a great movie, and not even a really good movie, but it does have many funny moments. As mentioned in the other reviews, it earns its "R" rating through some graphic scenes of sexual and violent nature, as well as language, but really nothing out of the ordinary. If you appreciate dark, irreverant humor and sprawling, non-linear plots, you'll probably find Remarkable Power a good way to spend 90 minutes. This reminds me of the comedies they used to air on tv at 2:00AM on weekends (if it was edited, that is) -- just right if you're bored and want to watch something, but not necessarily something you'd spend much money on or want to buy to re-watch. Be advised some of the actors listed don't have huge screen time (i.e., Christopher Titus), but everyone gets their moments. The pace is slow and the plot confusing in the beginning, but stick with it, because the movie gathers steam, gets funnier, and all the disparate parts begin to come together by the mid-point. | 997 | [
"Remarkable Power is not a great movie, and not even a really good movie, but it does have many funny moments.",
"As mentioned in the other reviews, it earns its \"R\" rating through some graphic scenes of sexual and violent nature, as well as language, but really nothing out of the ordinary.",
"If you appreciate dark, irreverant humor and sprawling, non-linear plots, you'll probably find Remarkable Power a good way to spend 90 minutes.",
"This reminds me of the comedies they used to air on tv at 2:00AM on weekends (if it was edited, that is) -- just right if you're bored and want to watch something, but not necessarily something you'd spend much money on or want to buy to re-watch.",
"Be advised some of the actors listed don't have huge screen time (i.e., Christopher Titus), but everyone gets their moments.",
"The pace is slow and the plot confusing in the beginning, but stick with it, because the movie gathers steam, gets funnier, and all the disparate parts begin to come together by the mid-point."
] |
3 | Could Be Better | There's no question the story lines are good, and the characters interesting, but the pacing of the story is burdened by endless pages and pages of subjective dialog rehashing again and again the same thoughts and feelings of the characters that have already been covered. I'm skipping pages everywhere trying to find the STORY and am beginning to think the inclusion of this type of endless rehashing is little more than a way for a writer to fill pages, thus my 3 star rating. I would also tend to think that many of the reviewers of this book who have given it a 4 and 5 star rating, have not read "The Princess & The Barbarian" by Betina Krahn; "My Wicked Highlander" by Jen Holling; Susan Carroll's "Dark Queen Trilogy" - book 1; "The Dark Queen", book 2; "The Courtesan", and book 3; "The Silver Rose"; "Once a Warrior" by Karyn Monk; "The Prize" by Julie Garwood, or Judith McNaught's "A Kingdom of Dream's" - one of my favorites, but sadly the only book by J. McNaught that I have enjoyed. | 997 | [
"There's no question the story lines are good, and the characters interesting, but the pacing of the story is burdened by endless pages and pages of subjective dialog rehashing again and again the same thoughts and feelings of the characters that have already been covered.",
"I'm skipping pages everywhere trying to find the STORY and am beginning to think the inclusion of this type of endless rehashing is little more than a way for a writer to fill pages, thus my 3 star rating.",
"I would also tend to think that many of the reviewers of this book who have given it a 4 and 5 star rating, have not read \"The Princess & The Barbarian\" by Betina Krahn; \"My Wicked Highlander\" by Jen Holling; Susan Carroll's \"Dark Queen Trilogy\" - book 1; \"The Dark Queen\", book 2; \"The Courtesan\", and book 3; \"The Silver Rose\"; \"Once a Warrior\" by Karyn Monk; \"The Prize\" by Julie Garwood, or Judith McNaught's \"A Kingdom of Dream's\" - one of my favorites, but sadly the only book by J.",
"McNaught that I have enjoyed."
] |
3 | ehh... | I've always had a thing about buying 3rd party controllers. I've always felt that since all of the thought went into the design, it would feel great. And this one feels great! However, it is massive! It covers the console if you set it on top. It has a more natural hand placement (it is like those keyboards with the separated keys) and has a couple groves for your fingers, but the fingers don't fall into them, at least mine. The rubber grips on the sides and on the stick give a feel of greater control than the sega one, but the rubber on the D-pad mades sliding difficult. The slots are a bit sticky, and the VMU is kinda hard to get out. the buttons only go down when pushed directly down, and are also covered in rubber. The triggers don't have the range of movement as the sega one, and feel different (it's hard to describe)Verdict: A cheap(er) alternative the sega controller made by a well known game accessory maker, however, as many people on the site have said, sega makes the best. | 997 | [
"I've always had a thing about buying 3rd party controllers.",
"I've always felt that since all of the thought went into the design, it would feel great.",
"And this one feels great!",
"However, it is massive!",
"It covers the console if you set it on top.",
"It has a more natural hand placement (it is like those keyboards with the separated keys) and has a couple groves for your fingers, but the fingers don't fall into them, at least mine.",
"The rubber grips on the sides and on the stick give a feel of greater control than the sega one, but the rubber on the D-pad mades sliding difficult.",
"The slots are a bit sticky, and the VMU is kinda hard to get out.",
"the buttons only go down when pushed directly down, and are also covered in rubber.",
"The triggers don't have the range of movement as the sega one, and feel different (it's hard to describe)Verdict: A cheap(er) alternative the sega controller made by a well known game accessory maker, however, as many people on the site have said, sega makes the best."
] |
3 | Not so sure | I can only relate my own experience here, but I'm doubtful as to how viable the bacteria contained in these capsules are. I was delighted to see a reviewer mention she uses half a capsule as a yogurt starter in her Salton Yogurt Maker. I just happened to purchase a Salton incubator and ordered these capsules the same week so using them in tandem seemed like a lucky coincidence and also it would prove to me the quality of the capsules. To be certain I used 3 capsules for just 1 quart of prepared milk as per all the instructions and there was absolutely no reaction or change in the milk. So until I somehow find otherwise, I remain a disappointed skeptic.Seems I was a little too quick on the draw in my review. I sat down and counted last week and sure enough there are 35 billion bacteria in those tablets. But seriously, they work incredibly and I am certain maintaining the correct flora in our bodies is one of the keys to overall well being and good health. Definitely a 5 star product. | 997 | [
"I can only relate my own experience here, but I'm doubtful as to how viable the bacteria contained in these capsules are.",
"I was delighted to see a reviewer mention she uses half a capsule as a yogurt starter in her Salton Yogurt Maker.",
"I just happened to purchase a Salton incubator and ordered these capsules the same week so using them in tandem seemed like a lucky coincidence and also it would prove to me the quality of the capsules.",
"To be certain I used 3 capsules for just 1 quart of prepared milk as per all the instructions and there was absolutely no reaction or change in the milk.",
"So until I somehow find otherwise, I remain a disappointed skeptic.Seems I was a little too quick on the draw in my review.",
"I sat down and counted last week and sure enough there are 35 billion bacteria in those tablets.",
"But seriously, they work incredibly and I am certain maintaining the correct flora in our bodies is one of the keys to overall well being and good health.",
"Definitely a 5 star product."
] |
3 | Kinda Fit-All | I bought this case for storage of a variety of different guitars but primarily had a Gibson Les Paul in mind for it. Turns out the Les Paul is too long for the case and the headstock rubs on the top of the lining, the first row of tuners hit the inside lining as well. It will "fit" but I'm not sure I'd trust leaving it in there. I've not had trouble with other guitars in the case, though. It was a nice fit for a couple different PRS SE models. The neck is cradled nicely inside the case and there seems to be very little movement of the guitars inside. The padding and lining inside seems fairly nice. Overall the outer case seems to be made of average materials and the locks/latches on the front seem very cheap, but I guess you can't expect a lot for a case in this price range. Had I to do it again I would not buy this case and would probably look into an SKB. If you're looking to put a Les Paul in this unit look elsewhere but it should get the job done for most other electric guitars. | 997 | [
"I bought this case for storage of a variety of different guitars but primarily had a Gibson Les Paul in mind for it.",
"Turns out the Les Paul is too long for the case and the headstock rubs on the top of the lining, the first row of tuners hit the inside lining as well.",
"It will \"fit\" but I'm not sure I'd trust leaving it in there.",
"I've not had trouble with other guitars in the case, though.",
"It was a nice fit for a couple different PRS SE models.",
"The neck is cradled nicely inside the case and there seems to be very little movement of the guitars inside.",
"The padding and lining inside seems fairly nice.",
"Overall the outer case seems to be made of average materials and the locks/latches on the front seem very cheap, but I guess you can't expect a lot for a case in this price range.",
"Had I to do it again I would not buy this case and would probably look into an SKB.",
"If you're looking to put a Les Paul in this unit look elsewhere but it should get the job done for most other electric guitars."
] |
3 | Very cute, but... | I've been listening to the Giants for about 13 years now, loving many of their songs, feeling indifferent to some, and disliking just a few. I have always appreciated their humor and wit and felt their music already had a child-like quality with adult sophistication and musical savvy. This CD is very cute, perhaps for a VERY young child (under 4 maybe?), but I've already had my daughter appreciating songs like "Doctor Worm", "Don't Let's Start", and "Birdhouse In Your Soul" since she was quite young - songs which can already cater to adults and childeren simply because of the catchiness and quirkiness. Songs like these I'd rather expose my daughter to then most of the songs on "No!" simply because their other CDs contain much more interesting content. I don't think kids need things spelled out for them - I think it is much more interesting to let them go ahead and have a unique interpretation of things, which I have done, myself, through the years listening to They Might Be Giants. | 996 | [
"I've been listening to the Giants for about 13 years now, loving many of their songs, feeling indifferent to some, and disliking just a few.",
"I have always appreciated their humor and wit and felt their music already had a child-like quality with adult sophistication and musical savvy.",
"This CD is very cute, perhaps for a VERY young child (under 4 maybe?",
"), but I've already had my daughter appreciating songs like \"Doctor Worm\", \"Don't Let's Start\", and \"Birdhouse In Your Soul\" since she was quite young - songs which can already cater to adults and childeren simply because of the catchiness and quirkiness.",
"Songs like these I'd rather expose my daughter to then most of the songs on \"No!",
"\" simply because their other CDs contain much more interesting content.",
"I don't think kids need things spelled out for them - I think it is much more interesting to let them go ahead and have a unique interpretation of things, which I have done, myself, through the years listening to They Might Be Giants."
] |
3 | A Slow Decline | I used to love Sedaris. I loved 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' and loved the articles he wrote for the 'New Yorker.' Unfortunately, over time, I would argue he has traded in his natural penchant to make insightful and witty comments about everything for the type of shock value writing that has been gaining popularity in the memoir genre (much like Borroughs and Eggers). In 'Naked,' Sedaris seems to have abandoned the type of subtle commentary that causes us as readers to laugh out loud and turned to using only the outrageousness of the given situation or anecdote to win us over. His treks through the United States and stories of his father's useless advice just don't sparkle the way his previous writing does. The only strong essay is the last one, 'Naked' where he delves into his one week at a nudist colony. I long for the days when memoir writing was humorous in a subtle manner, instead of using absurdist plots and life stories to get me interested. Pass on this and read his older work. | 996 | [
"I used to love Sedaris.",
"I loved 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' and loved the articles he wrote for the 'New Yorker.' Unfortunately, over time, I would argue he has traded in his natural penchant to make insightful and witty comments about everything for the type of shock value writing that has been gaining popularity in the memoir genre (much like Borroughs and Eggers).",
"In 'Naked,' Sedaris seems to have abandoned the type of subtle commentary that causes us as readers to laugh out loud and turned to using only the outrageousness of the given situation or anecdote to win us over.",
"His treks through the United States and stories of his father's useless advice just don't sparkle the way his previous writing does.",
"The only strong essay is the last one, 'Naked' where he delves into his one week at a nudist colony.",
"I long for the days when memoir writing was humorous in a subtle manner, instead of using absurdist plots and life stories to get me interested.",
"Pass on this and read his older work."
] |
3 | The Bluest Eye | In the novel The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, the text evadesmany themes that develop throughout the book. The novel does a goodjob of developing the themes, such as hope, racism and coming of age. Pecola Breedlove, an 11yr. old girl, grew up in a neighborhood where racism was much more vigilant that current day racism. Pecola encountered many grotesque experiences throughout her life. An abusive father that raped and empregnated her was just one of the many examples of the coming of age theme. Pecola would pray and hope for blue eyes everyday of her life.The text dragged at various times in the book but still kept my attention by the use of depression description of the book. Personally, I thought that the novel compared to the novel Avalon. Both books similarly give specifics on the theme of hope. Pecola hopes to gain the acceptance of her society and the book Avalon describes the hardships of struggling family trying to find the perfect place to stay in their new home, America. | 996 | [
"In the novel The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, the text evadesmany themes that develop throughout the book.",
"The novel does a goodjob of developing the themes, such as hope, racism and coming of age.",
"Pecola Breedlove, an 11yr.",
"old girl, grew up in a neighborhood where racism was much more vigilant that current day racism.",
"Pecola encountered many grotesque experiences throughout her life.",
"An abusive father that raped and empregnated her was just one of the many examples of the coming of age theme.",
"Pecola would pray and hope for blue eyes everyday of her life.The text dragged at various times in the book but still kept my attention by the use of depression description of the book.",
"Personally, I thought that the novel compared to the novel Avalon.",
"Both books similarly give specifics on the theme of hope.",
"Pecola hopes to gain the acceptance of her society and the book Avalon describes the hardships of struggling family trying to find the perfect place to stay in their new home, America."
] |
3 | Plot? What Plot? | "Twister" is a movie that serves the appetizers but not the main course. Throughout the movie, we're treated to some really cool special effects that capture the horror of a tornado. Winds blow, cars get turned upside down, and even cows get tossed about. Hands down, the twister itself should have gotten an award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The rest of the movie, however, is completely negligible. Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton do little more than run around, looking scared and uttering lines of dialogue that never graduatre from the obvious. And the plot? It's basically an afterthought. Twister makes a decent if unspectacular DVD, though. Not only does the 5.1 mix rock the house, but thanks to the chapter selections, you can skip those boring parts that have tons of dialogue and go straight to the action scenes. "Twister" isn't a bad movie, but a very bland one minus the special effects. Recomended for die-hard action fans only; casual movie watchers should proceed with caution. | 996 | [
"\"Twister\" is a movie that serves the appetizers but not the main course.",
"Throughout the movie, we're treated to some really cool special effects that capture the horror of a tornado.",
"Winds blow, cars get turned upside down, and even cows get tossed about.",
"Hands down, the twister itself should have gotten an award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.",
"The rest of the movie, however, is completely negligible.",
"Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton do little more than run around, looking scared and uttering lines of dialogue that never graduatre from the obvious.",
"And the plot?",
"It's basically an afterthought.",
"Twister makes a decent if unspectacular DVD, though.",
"Not only does the 5.1 mix rock the house, but thanks to the chapter selections, you can skip those boring parts that have tons of dialogue and go straight to the action scenes.",
"\"Twister\" isn't a bad movie, but a very bland one minus the special effects.",
"Recomended for die-hard action fans only; casual movie watchers should proceed with caution."
] |
3 | Eyes Only 007 | Stunt, after stunt, after stunt obliterates this film's attempt to return the James Bond series to its original origins. Roger Moore gives a competent performance as 007 but the physical stunts that he is supposedly performing defy credibility. It is interesting how the level of physical stunts that James Bond is required to perform increases proportionally with Roger Moore's age with each new film.The first two thirds of the film are good. However, the film falls asleep in the third. When you've seen one impregnable mountaintop fortress, you've seen 'em all. Bill Conti's disco score actually helped this film along the way giving it some energy and drive. It is in the final third of the film that Conti returns to a more traditional orchestral scoring which only contributed to the anti climatic finale.The sinking of the St. Georges, the attack on Kristatos' warehouse and Bond kicking Locque's car, with Locque still inside, off the cliff were high points that were excellently filmed. | 996 | [
"Stunt, after stunt, after stunt obliterates this film's attempt to return the James Bond series to its original origins.",
"Roger Moore gives a competent performance as 007 but the physical stunts that he is supposedly performing defy credibility.",
"It is interesting how the level of physical stunts that James Bond is required to perform increases proportionally with Roger Moore's age with each new film.The first two thirds of the film are good.",
"However, the film falls asleep in the third.",
"When you've seen one impregnable mountaintop fortress, you've seen 'em all.",
"Bill Conti's disco score actually helped this film along the way giving it some energy and drive.",
"It is in the final third of the film that Conti returns to a more traditional orchestral scoring which only contributed to the anti climatic finale.The sinking of the St.",
"Georges, the attack on Kristatos' warehouse and Bond kicking Locque's car, with Locque still inside, off the cliff were high points that were excellently filmed."
] |
3 | Finished | I have all KingsX albums. I been a huge fan since their first records. It might be my favorite band of all time.I'm sorry to say that this is the end for them. All their albums had something special. I always tought that what they came up with, was far ahead of their time, but this record is nothing more that a clone of their own material.You can hear that they never put any soul on any of this songs, exept goldilox, that's an old song from their first album.I'm sure they made this album pretty fast.Mabye just to make some money on their name.It's a same. I never tought it would come to this.For people never heard them before, it can be a trill.You can at least hear, what great band they still are.Don't get me completly wrong. There are some nice songs like,Freedom.I don't think there will be more KingsX records.They are burned out.Buy all their older records. Keep away from this one.It's like when Van Halen III came out. I was so angry that I broke it ;)This one is not that bad :) | 996 | [
"I have all KingsX albums.",
"I been a huge fan since their first records.",
"It might be my favorite band of all time.I'm sorry to say that this is the end for them.",
"All their albums had something special.",
"I always tought that what they came up with, was far ahead of their time, but this record is nothing more that a clone of their own material.You can hear that they never put any soul on any of this songs, exept goldilox, that's an old song from their first album.I'm sure they made this album pretty fast.Mabye just to make some money on their name.It's a same.",
"I never tought it would come to this.For people never heard them before, it can be a trill.You can at least hear, what great band they still are.Don't get me completly wrong.",
"There are some nice songs like,Freedom.I don't think there will be more KingsX records.They are burned out.Buy all their older records.",
"Keep away from this one.It's like when Van Halen III came out.",
"I was so angry that I broke it ;)This one is not that bad :)"
] |
3 | Disappointed | I expected a lot from this movie. I knew it was made-for-TV and had low production values but that didn't bother me. I thought it was too fast-paced and it had some terrible casting. Why were Heathcliff and Cathy, who looked to be at least in their thirties, runnning around the moors like little kids? They're not supposed to be grown up when they do that! They meet the Lintons when they're 12 years old! I've yet to see a version which actually portrays them as kids for that scene, but this one was the worst because they look so darn old! Cathy is supposed to be, what, 20 or so when she dies? Orla Brady was 37! Heathcliff was even older, which was fine for the later scenes but couldn't they have even tried to age him down with makeup?? Also, Nelly was supposed to be Hindley's age, yet she was in her fifties for the whole movie!!! I'm not a purist by any means but things like this make it hard to take a film seriously. It was alright, but again, way too fast-moving. An average movie. | 996 | [
"I expected a lot from this movie.",
"I knew it was made-for-TV and had low production values but that didn't bother me.",
"I thought it was too fast-paced and it had some terrible casting.",
"Why were Heathcliff and Cathy, who looked to be at least in their thirties, runnning around the moors like little kids?",
"They're not supposed to be grown up when they do that!",
"They meet the Lintons when they're 12 years old!",
"I've yet to see a version which actually portrays them as kids for that scene, but this one was the worst because they look so darn old!",
"Cathy is supposed to be, what, 20 or so when she dies?",
"Orla Brady was 37!",
"Heathcliff was even older, which was fine for the later scenes but couldn't they have even tried to age him down with makeup??",
"Also, Nelly was supposed to be Hindley's age, yet she was in her fifties for the whole movie!!!",
"I'm not a purist by any means but things like this make it hard to take a film seriously.",
"It was alright, but again, way too fast-moving.",
"An average movie."
] |
3 | Fugitive Pieces | Anne Michaels Fugitive Pieces demonstrates her beautiful use of language but also her lack of imagination and creativity to develop a captivating story. Her examples of imagery and metaphors rank high and are among the few points of the novel that kept my attention. The plot was somewhat predictable and contained very little that connected me to the characters which would have caused me to appreciate the plot more. The thoughts of the main characters, Jakob and Ben, jumped constantly from topic to topic and didn't focus on any particular subject at one time. The themes brought out by Michaels are notable, as are the ways she illustrates them. However, the book is very difficult to follow and very ambiguous at times. Even though the use of language is excellent, the ambiguity and confusing jumps found throughtout the entirety of the novel overwhelm the language. I would recommend Fugitive Pieces only to those who find language more interesting than plot and interpret meaning easily. | 996 | [
"Anne Michaels Fugitive Pieces demonstrates her beautiful use of language but also her lack of imagination and creativity to develop a captivating story.",
"Her examples of imagery and metaphors rank high and are among the few points of the novel that kept my attention.",
"The plot was somewhat predictable and contained very little that connected me to the characters which would have caused me to appreciate the plot more.",
"The thoughts of the main characters, Jakob and Ben, jumped constantly from topic to topic and didn't focus on any particular subject at one time.",
"The themes brought out by Michaels are notable, as are the ways she illustrates them.",
"However, the book is very difficult to follow and very ambiguous at times.",
"Even though the use of language is excellent, the ambiguity and confusing jumps found throughtout the entirety of the novel overwhelm the language.",
"I would recommend Fugitive Pieces only to those who find language more interesting than plot and interpret meaning easily."
] |
3 | The Lion King | A Joyous day dawned in the Pride Lands. A lion prince had been born! The animals gathered at Pride Rock to celebrate the Circle of Life.They bowed low as the wise babon Rafiki held Simba high. King Mufasa and Sarab watched their cub prodly.But one animal was missing from the craud. Scar,Mufasa's brother, did not want to see his new nephew. "It must have slipped my mind,"scar told Mufasa. scar had hoped to become King when Mufasa's rule ended. Now he knew that Simba would become the next Lion King.To try toget him out of the way. Scar set a trap for young Simba and his friend Nala. He tricked them into exploring on elephant graveyard. to make sure that Simba didn't come back, scar sent three hungry hyens to meet him.Mufasa resued the young cubs. He did not know about scar's tric. He only knew that he was disappointed in his son for talking foolish chances scar was upset for a different resson: simba was still alive scar led Simba to a deep canyon and starter a stampede to crush him. | 996 | [
"A Joyous day dawned in the Pride Lands.",
"A lion prince had been born!",
"The animals gathered at Pride Rock to celebrate the Circle of Life.They bowed low as the wise babon Rafiki held Simba high.",
"King Mufasa and Sarab watched their cub prodly.But one animal was missing from the craud.",
"Scar,Mufasa's brother, did not want to see his new nephew.",
"\"It must have slipped my mind,\"scar told Mufasa.",
"scar had hoped to become King when Mufasa's rule ended.",
"Now he knew that Simba would become the next Lion King.To try toget him out of the way.",
"Scar set a trap for young Simba and his friend Nala.",
"He tricked them into exploring on elephant graveyard.",
"to make sure that Simba didn't come back, scar sent three hungry hyens to meet him.Mufasa resued the young cubs.",
"He did not know about scar's tric.",
"He only knew that he was disappointed in his son for talking foolish chances scar was upset for a different resson: simba was still alive scar led Simba to a deep canyon and starter a stampede to crush him."
] |
3 | Alias - | For as long as he can remember, fifteen year old Toby Chase's home has been the old car his mom is driving to yet another new life in a new city. Just when Toby gets settled, they pack up and move on. After settling in the remote Idaho community of Donner, Toby's mother promises him that it will be better than any place they have ever lived, and it is. Toby's happy and his mother is too. While doing research on the Internet for a school research project about the Vietnam War, Toby discovers the truth about his mother; she is a fugitive. Will Toby reveal his knowledge? Will he again have to move? Has his dream of a real home once again been shattered?Ryan has written a suspenseful fast paced story. The characters are well developed which makes the reader care all the more about Toby, his mother and the friends they have made in Donner. Some tense moments lead up to the story's conclusion. A few minor flaws exist, but can be easily overlooked. An enjoyable work that teens will enjoy. | 996 | [
"For as long as he can remember, fifteen year old Toby Chase's home has been the old car his mom is driving to yet another new life in a new city.",
"Just when Toby gets settled, they pack up and move on.",
"After settling in the remote Idaho community of Donner, Toby's mother promises him that it will be better than any place they have ever lived, and it is.",
"Toby's happy and his mother is too.",
"While doing research on the Internet for a school research project about the Vietnam War, Toby discovers the truth about his mother; she is a fugitive.",
"Will Toby reveal his knowledge?",
"Will he again have to move?",
"Has his dream of a real home once again been shattered?",
"Ryan has written a suspenseful fast paced story.",
"The characters are well developed which makes the reader care all the more about Toby, his mother and the friends they have made in Donner.",
"Some tense moments lead up to the story's conclusion.",
"A few minor flaws exist, but can be easily overlooked.",
"An enjoyable work that teens will enjoy."
] |
3 | Boring voice | Haven't listened to all of this audio CD yet, but there's some good principles. However, there is a couple of negatives I could say about it: 1) Very boring voice; 2) Huge amount of repetition, both within the book itself, and within some of the other titles by the same author (22 immutable laws of marketing, 22 immutable laws of branding, Positioning etc.) - once you've read or heard one of these, you've heard Jack Trout's principles on marketing, broadly speaking. ; 3) Not saying the principles are all flawed by any means, but some are a little dated and probably need to be brought into the 21st century bearing in mind the electronic age we live in. By the way, on the subject of the book The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing, there is an interesting website where Augustine Fou pulls it to pieces - not saying I agree with it all, but makes interesting reading alongside the book. Just Google Augustine Fou and find his review - called The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing No Longer Apply. | 996 | [
"Haven't listened to all of this audio CD yet, but there's some good principles.",
"However, there is a couple of negatives I could say about it: 1) Very boring voice; 2) Huge amount of repetition, both within the book itself, and within some of the other titles by the same author (22 immutable laws of marketing, 22 immutable laws of branding, Positioning etc.) - once you've read or heard one of these, you've heard Jack Trout's principles on marketing, broadly speaking.",
"; 3) Not saying the principles are all flawed by any means, but some are a little dated and probably need to be brought into the 21st century bearing in mind the electronic age we live in.",
"By the way, on the subject of the book The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing, there is an interesting website where Augustine Fou pulls it to pieces - not saying I agree with it all, but makes interesting reading alongside the book.",
"Just Google Augustine Fou and find his review - called The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing No Longer Apply."
] |
3 | A Disappointment | I discovered Nick Hornby just a few months ago, and quickly absorbed all of his books. His work seemed to improve with each novel, and so I was excited to learn of the release of How To Be Good. Unfortunately, I found the novel very disappointing. While the central question -- what does it mean to be a "good person," and should one really have to struggle to do it -- is interesting, the book lapses too often into caricature. That's the point, Hornby might say, since the man "being good" in the book has a quasi-religious conversion from petty nastiness into sickening do-gooder self-righteousness. But too many of the other characters -- a strange masseuse cum guru, a ne-er-do-well brother, a lumpish mediocre Anglican minister -- wander into the book and are not given much to do. Hornby, a "guy writer" with a strong masculinity in his writing, deserves credit for creating a female narrator and protagonist, and he is actually quite successful. But she deserves a better book to live in. | 996 | [
"I discovered Nick Hornby just a few months ago, and quickly absorbed all of his books.",
"His work seemed to improve with each novel, and so I was excited to learn of the release of How To Be Good.",
"Unfortunately, I found the novel very disappointing.",
"While the central question -- what does it mean to be a \"good person,\" and should one really have to struggle to do it -- is interesting, the book lapses too often into caricature.",
"That's the point, Hornby might say, since the man \"being good\" in the book has a quasi-religious conversion from petty nastiness into sickening do-gooder self-righteousness.",
"But too many of the other characters -- a strange masseuse cum guru, a ne-er-do-well brother, a lumpish mediocre Anglican minister -- wander into the book and are not given much to do.",
"Hornby, a \"guy writer\" with a strong masculinity in his writing, deserves credit for creating a female narrator and protagonist, and he is actually quite successful.",
"But she deserves a better book to live in."
] |
3 | Battery life lame | My phone was fully charged when I left work yesterday at 4 pm. I then talked on a call for 37 minutes. I did not do anything else. The phone was dead this morning at 7 am.It is dead every morning unless I remembered to charge it. It is completely usesless for morning commute business calls because it always dead and I don't always have access to a plug.I am also irritated that I have to keep car and wall chargers with me at all times. I have never had a cell phone die like this.I still like the PDA features in the phone. It is light, slim and fits in my front pants pocket. It is very easy to type and download email, check my calendar, news, etc. It is top-notch for managing my work and family life.Thus my only complaint is the battery. I would give it a five star rating but for this very big issue. I am now going to try to contact the kiosk vendor at Costco where I got it, Verizon and Motorola to see if one of them has a solution. I should not have to waste my time to resolve this. | 996 | [
"My phone was fully charged when I left work yesterday at 4 pm.",
"I then talked on a call for 37 minutes.",
"I did not do anything else.",
"The phone was dead this morning at 7 am.It is dead every morning unless I remembered to charge it.",
"It is completely usesless for morning commute business calls because it always dead and I don't always have access to a plug.I am also irritated that I have to keep car and wall chargers with me at all times.",
"I have never had a cell phone die like this.I still like the PDA features in the phone.",
"It is light, slim and fits in my front pants pocket.",
"It is very easy to type and download email, check my calendar, news, etc.",
"It is top-notch for managing my work and family life.Thus my only complaint is the battery.",
"I would give it a five star rating but for this very big issue.",
"I am now going to try to contact the kiosk vendor at Costco where I got it, Verizon and Motorola to see if one of them has a solution.",
"I should not have to waste my time to resolve this."
] |
3 | Not a bad movie | I'd give it 3 stars.I was looking for a decent 'bunch of sexy young people head off to a secluded place and get slaughtered' flic last night and thought i'd try this one.I loved Adrienne Barbeau since Swamp Thing so when i saw her name on the box it was decided.The opening was good as others have said but i was kind of disappointed that they dumped the horror potential of the dead nuns and went straight to the schlocky demons so soon.Anyways the cast was fresh and worked together well which is half the battle in these movies.Some things made me laugh out loud like the flashback to her days in the convent 40 yrs ago when the nuns became demons and punished the students with paddles.There were other little moments of great dialogue in the movie like the scene between the 2 virgins that are tied up together at the end.Adrienne was ok but could've been a little more over the top .Convent shouldn't be decribed as being in the same league as my sacred Evil Dead 2 but it's not bad at all. | 996 | [
"I'd give it 3 stars.I was looking for a decent 'bunch of sexy young people head off to a secluded place and get slaughtered' flic last night and thought i'd try this one.I loved Adrienne Barbeau since Swamp Thing so when i saw her name on the box it was decided.The opening was good as others have said but i was kind of disappointed that they dumped the horror potential of the dead nuns and went straight to the schlocky demons so soon.Anyways the cast was fresh and worked together well which is half the battle in these movies.Some things made me laugh out loud like the flashback to her days in the convent 40 yrs ago when the nuns became demons and punished the students with paddles.There were other little moments of great dialogue in the movie like the scene between the 2 virgins that are tied up together at the end.Adrienne was ok but could've been a little more over the top .Convent shouldn't be decribed as being in the same league as my sacred Evil Dead 2 but it's not bad at all."
] |
3 | Okayish!!!! | Once purchasing this CD, I had to come to grips with the fact that these tracks were completed before "Come Away With Me". Another thing, I had to come to grips with was this was Malick's album, with Jones as the featured vocalist. That being said, after listening to the CD, I was disappointed.Norah's voice and blues doesn't really mix. The flirtation with jazz and country, suits her better, as her last two albums demonstrated. She was all over the place vocally here, but grant it, she was an unknown at the time. Personally, I think she sounds better doing what she does now.Musically the album is one point, sad to say that Norah's voice does nothing for the band, as a whole. I can say there were two songs that I like, "Heart of Mine" and the title track "New York City", great songs, but falls short of what she's done afterwards.If I had to do it over again, this would be a CD, where I would burn a couple of tracks off of, if my buddy had it. I'd midly reccomend purchasing this one. | 996 | [
"Once purchasing this CD, I had to come to grips with the fact that these tracks were completed before \"Come Away With Me\".",
"Another thing, I had to come to grips with was this was Malick's album, with Jones as the featured vocalist.",
"That being said, after listening to the CD, I was disappointed.Norah's voice and blues doesn't really mix.",
"The flirtation with jazz and country, suits her better, as her last two albums demonstrated.",
"She was all over the place vocally here, but grant it, she was an unknown at the time.",
"Personally, I think she sounds better doing what she does now.Musically the album is one point, sad to say that Norah's voice does nothing for the band, as a whole.",
"I can say there were two songs that I like, \"Heart of Mine\" and the title track \"New York City\", great songs, but falls short of what she's done afterwards.If I had to do it over again, this would be a CD, where I would burn a couple of tracks off of, if my buddy had it.",
"I'd midly reccomend purchasing this one."
] |
3 | Needs work | I would rank this book as mediocre at best. More annoying than the numerous editorial oversights in the text and code (and there are many) are the misuses of terms, both technical and nontechnical. One gets the impression that the authors are trying to write beyond their abilities. It also makes me question the accuracy of the rest of the material when I find such errors on topics with which I am already familiar.Also frustrating is the way a lot of concepts are referenced before being introduced, with no indication that such is the case. If I didn't already know Java very well and have an inkling about JSP coming in, I expect I would have been very confused.I was looking for something that would get me up to speed on JSP quickly and not get too bogged down in details, and in that respect the book did reasonably well. But I gave up on it halfway through because I found it too frustrating. It's not terrible, but with a bit of work and better editing, it could have been a lot better. | 996 | [
"I would rank this book as mediocre at best.",
"More annoying than the numerous editorial oversights in the text and code (and there are many) are the misuses of terms, both technical and nontechnical.",
"One gets the impression that the authors are trying to write beyond their abilities.",
"It also makes me question the accuracy of the rest of the material when I find such errors on topics with which I am already familiar.Also frustrating is the way a lot of concepts are referenced before being introduced, with no indication that such is the case.",
"If I didn't already know Java very well and have an inkling about JSP coming in, I expect I would have been very confused.I was looking for something that would get me up to speed on JSP quickly and not get too bogged down in details, and in that respect the book did reasonably well.",
"But I gave up on it halfway through because I found it too frustrating.",
"It's not terrible, but with a bit of work and better editing, it could have been a lot better."
] |
3 | All porcelain | Like Keith Kirkwood said, these wire nuts have no internal metal sleeve. Which means there is nothing to help connectivity and also (especially for 18 AWG wire) there is nothing to help keep the wires in the wire nut. I ordered these little babies to make the connection for my ignitior in my pellet stove (high temp conditions). Product says it's good for 18-14 wire, but in my opinion... without a metal sleeve these things are not suited for 18 AWG wire. I had to double and triple bend the wire to get it to be thick so that the wire would stay in the wire nut while I pushed it back in place. I still feel a little uneasy about the connection and will always treat it gingerly so the wires don't slip out of the nut. Not the kind of feeling I like to have when I call an electrical project complete.Anyhow, with that said, they do accomplish the task, so I rate them as just OK. I suspect they are all porcelain without a wired sleeve by design so that the nuts can withstand 1800 degrees F! | 996 | [
"Like Keith Kirkwood said, these wire nuts have no internal metal sleeve.",
"Which means there is nothing to help connectivity and also (especially for 18 AWG wire) there is nothing to help keep the wires in the wire nut.",
"I ordered these little babies to make the connection for my ignitior in my pellet stove (high temp conditions).",
"Product says it's good for 18-14 wire, but in my opinion... without a metal sleeve these things are not suited for 18 AWG wire.",
"I had to double and triple bend the wire to get it to be thick so that the wire would stay in the wire nut while I pushed it back in place.",
"I still feel a little uneasy about the connection and will always treat it gingerly so the wires don't slip out of the nut.",
"Not the kind of feeling I like to have when I call an electrical project complete.Anyhow, with that said, they do accomplish the task, so I rate them as just OK.",
"I suspect they are all porcelain without a wired sleeve by design so that the nuts can withstand 1800 degrees F!"
] |
3 | Easy Cozy Read | I have read a number of the Aunt Dimity novels and intend to read the rest. They are a nice light distraction for someone, like me, is too stressed right now to read more "serious" literature. The novels are formulaic, pleasingly so, like the old Nancy Drew novels, except more adult. Lori is once again away from home in an old house, unexpectedly snowbound with two strangers and a somewhat wacky-seeming old retainer. She has of course brought her faithful stuffed rabbit, Reginald, and Aunt Dimity's journal. Of course, whever Lori goes, mystery is sure to follow. This time it has to do with the past. One thing that I did find annoying, as another reviewer pointed out, is that in every book, Lori is swooning after some handsome male she encounters. In this one, she seemed to have gone overboard with lust. I would like it better if the author gave Lori more loyalty to her wonderful husband. A little mild flirting once in awhile is okay, but for heaven sake, give her some self control. | 996 | [
"I have read a number of the Aunt Dimity novels and intend to read the rest.",
"They are a nice light distraction for someone, like me, is too stressed right now to read more \"serious\" literature.",
"The novels are formulaic, pleasingly so, like the old Nancy Drew novels, except more adult.",
"Lori is once again away from home in an old house, unexpectedly snowbound with two strangers and a somewhat wacky-seeming old retainer.",
"She has of course brought her faithful stuffed rabbit, Reginald, and Aunt Dimity's journal.",
"Of course, whever Lori goes, mystery is sure to follow.",
"This time it has to do with the past.",
"One thing that I did find annoying, as another reviewer pointed out, is that in every book, Lori is swooning after some handsome male she encounters.",
"In this one, she seemed to have gone overboard with lust.",
"I would like it better if the author gave Lori more loyalty to her wonderful husband.",
"A little mild flirting once in awhile is okay, but for heaven sake, give her some self control."
] |
3 | Mis-Titled Book | The author writes in a friendly, likable style, and I think he really knows his stuff, but I'm totally new to Photoshop and, contrary to what is implied by the title and in the Introduction, this is NOT a beginner's book. He does cover some very basic material, and there are a few tutorials included, but sometimes he also gets into some fairly advanced (for beginners) concepts in the same sections, as if he were writing for intermediate-level users. I think this book is really more geared toward Photoshop users who already know all the basics of earlier versions of the program. I'm going to try a genuine tutorial Photoshop 6 book, then maybe come back to the "Idiot's Guide" to pick up on the helpful tips the author has to offer.If it were titled "The Intermediate Idiot's Guide to Adobe Photoshop 6" I might actually give it four stars or more, because potential purchasers would know that it's not a beginner's book, and not be drawn in to something that somewhat misrepresents itself. | 996 | [
"The author writes in a friendly, likable style, and I think he really knows his stuff, but I'm totally new to Photoshop and, contrary to what is implied by the title and in the Introduction, this is NOT a beginner's book.",
"He does cover some very basic material, and there are a few tutorials included, but sometimes he also gets into some fairly advanced (for beginners) concepts in the same sections, as if he were writing for intermediate-level users.",
"I think this book is really more geared toward Photoshop users who already know all the basics of earlier versions of the program.",
"I'm going to try a genuine tutorial Photoshop 6 book, then maybe come back to the \"Idiot's Guide\" to pick up on the helpful tips the author has to offer.If it were titled \"The Intermediate Idiot's Guide to Adobe Photoshop 6\" I might actually give it four stars or more, because potential purchasers would know that it's not a beginner's book, and not be drawn in to something that somewhat misrepresents itself."
] |
3 | They're okay | These speakers are just mediocre. The bass is AWESOME!!! (for the price anyway) Despite the awesome bass, however, the desktop speakers sound muffled. This may be because of my sound settings, but I think I would like them a little more if they sounded tinny rather than muffled. But, of course, I really like treble so that might be why.Pros:The bass is AWESOME for the price.Even with the control unit, they take up very little desk real estate which is really nice.They look very nice on the desk. Style is really nice. Even though they are tall and skinny, they are really pretty stable standing up (i.e. not as easy to tip over as some speakers I've had.Cons:Small speakers sound very muffled (hopefully this is just a setting that I can change on my puter somewhere.Overall, for the price, they're not bad. I'm just not as impressed as I thought I would be based on other reviews. (again, if I can find a setting to turn up the treble a bit or something, perhaps I'll enjoy them even more). | 996 | [
"These speakers are just mediocre.",
"The bass is AWESOME!!!",
"(for the price anyway) Despite the awesome bass, however, the desktop speakers sound muffled.",
"This may be because of my sound settings, but I think I would like them a little more if they sounded tinny rather than muffled.",
"But, of course, I really like treble so that might be why.Pros:The bass is AWESOME for the price.Even with the control unit, they take up very little desk real estate which is really nice.They look very nice on the desk.",
"Style is really nice.",
"Even though they are tall and skinny, they are really pretty stable standing up (i.e. not as easy to tip over as some speakers I've had.Cons:Small speakers sound very muffled (hopefully this is just a setting that I can change on my puter somewhere.Overall, for the price, they're not bad.",
"I'm just not as impressed as I thought I would be based on other reviews.",
"(again, if I can find a setting to turn up the treble a bit or something, perhaps I'll enjoy them even more)."
] |
3 | Memory Jog | I saw Head East & Black Oak in concert together in Minot, ND in the late 70's. A terrible snow storm restricted many fans from making it to the concert, limiting the attendance to only a few hundred people. Both bands were spectacular! It was my first concert, and the small audience size made it that much better. This intimate setting, while laid back, didn't hinder the bands one bit. They seemed to enjoy the freedom and rocked harder than ever.Not all the songs on this two-album set are great, but they're solid reminders of a group of blue-collar, hard working, dedicated musicians. They would've played for free if just given the chance to be heard. The Gettin Lucky album is worth 3 stars, but the Head East album is a solid 4 stars. If you like 70's bands like Journey, REO Speedwagon, & BTO, this album will fit the bill. However, if you only want one Head East album, then get "Flat as a Pancake."Now if I could just find a CD of Black Oak (no Arkansas) my 70's fix would be complete. | 996 | [
"I saw Head East & Black Oak in concert together in Minot, ND in the late 70's.",
"A terrible snow storm restricted many fans from making it to the concert, limiting the attendance to only a few hundred people.",
"Both bands were spectacular!",
"It was my first concert, and the small audience size made it that much better.",
"This intimate setting, while laid back, didn't hinder the bands one bit.",
"They seemed to enjoy the freedom and rocked harder than ever.Not all the songs on this two-album set are great, but they're solid reminders of a group of blue-collar, hard working, dedicated musicians.",
"They would've played for free if just given the chance to be heard.",
"The Gettin Lucky album is worth 3 stars, but the Head East album is a solid 4 stars.",
"If you like 70's bands like Journey, REO Speedwagon, & BTO, this album will fit the bill.",
"However, if you only want one Head East album, then get \"Flat as a Pancake.\"Now if I could just find a CD of Black Oak (no Arkansas) my 70's fix would be complete."
] |
3 | Disappointing | This book contains ONLY 47 pages that are from Bernadette's "private notes." And only 6 pages from her "journal." The remainder of the book contains uninspiring, boring, personal letters that Bernadette wrote to different people. Most of them are very short letters. In fact, most of them are actually notes. In them Bernadette thanks people for various things, or admonishes her younger family members. The 47 pages of "private notes" are inspiring and beautiful. Also, chapter 1 consists of only 6 pages. They are the only 6 pages from Bernadette's "journal" that are in this book. In this chapter, Bernadette briefly tells the story (not in detail) of the apparitions and her arrest afterwards. Someone should have taken the 47 pages that are from Bernadette's "private notes" and the 6 pages from Bernadette's "journal" and made them into a booklet. Together, those 53 pages are worth reading. But the rest of the book is a not. ( By the way, today is the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes : ) | 996 | [
"This book contains ONLY 47 pages that are from Bernadette's \"private notes.\" And only 6 pages from her \"journal.\" The remainder of the book contains uninspiring, boring, personal letters that Bernadette wrote to different people.",
"Most of them are very short letters.",
"In fact, most of them are actually notes.",
"In them Bernadette thanks people for various things, or admonishes her younger family members.",
"The 47 pages of \"private notes\" are inspiring and beautiful.",
"Also, chapter 1 consists of only 6 pages.",
"They are the only 6 pages from Bernadette's \"journal\" that are in this book.",
"In this chapter, Bernadette briefly tells the story (not in detail) of the apparitions and her arrest afterwards.",
"Someone should have taken the 47 pages that are from Bernadette's \"private notes\" and the 6 pages from Bernadette's \"journal\" and made them into a booklet.",
"Together, those 53 pages are worth reading.",
"But the rest of the book is a not.",
"( By the way, today is the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes : )"
] |
3 | My own experience | In looking at the other reviews, I felt I needed to base one on my own experience after having the DVD recorder/combo for over 3 months.I have had it freeze up and need to be unplugged twice, usually after I have left the unit turned on for 2-3 weeks without shutting it off.I will agree the VCR/DVD light is bright, but it is easy to tell which you are set to. The light for the clock is very dim when the set is turned off.As for performance, I'm enjoying the DVD burner. It works well, and I have very few issues. (See above). I would recommend reading the manual first though. While not entirely necessary its a good idea when you are trying to record movies that run just over 2 hours (due to the DVD media and picking the type of record XP, SP, LP, SLP).For playback, the movies I burn come in a little dark on my HDTV, while normal DVD's work fine. If I play the burned discs on a computer or other DVD/TV set they look fine.Overall I think the product is a good buy for a mid-range price. | 996 | [
"In looking at the other reviews, I felt I needed to base one on my own experience after having the DVD recorder/combo for over 3 months.I have had it freeze up and need to be unplugged twice, usually after I have left the unit turned on for 2-3 weeks without shutting it off.I will agree the VCR/DVD light is bright, but it is easy to tell which you are set to.",
"The light for the clock is very dim when the set is turned off.As for performance, I'm enjoying the DVD burner.",
"It works well, and I have very few issues.",
"(See above).",
"I would recommend reading the manual first though.",
"While not entirely necessary its a good idea when you are trying to record movies that run just over 2 hours (due to the DVD media and picking the type of record XP, SP, LP, SLP).For playback, the movies I burn come in a little dark on my HDTV, while normal DVD's work fine.",
"If I play the burned discs on a computer or other DVD/TV set they look fine.Overall I think the product is a good buy for a mid-range price."
] |
3 | TOOTSIE | Written and directed by Michal Cimino, THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT is not only a Clint Eastwood vehicle. One of the reviewer here has rightly observed that the character of Jeff Bridges could have been played by an actress.If you keep this in mind, the movie appears in a very different light. Just count the numerous jokes about the virility of the four outlaws, the dozens of cars - another powerful sexual symbol - borrowed by an always dissatisfied Jeff Bridges. And, at least, the enormous gun used by Clint to destroy the safe of the Montana Bank.This interpretation, apart of the intellectual pleasure it can give you, would have been a little bit gratuitous if the film hadn't been a good road movie with excellent actors. If you're a movie lover, it's clear that you have to watch THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT at least once. The same goes for Clint Eastwood or Jeff Bridges's fans.Three different subtitles and a theatrical trailer as bonus features. Sound and images excellent.A DVD to rent. | 996 | [
"Written and directed by Michal Cimino, THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT is not only a Clint Eastwood vehicle.",
"One of the reviewer here has rightly observed that the character of Jeff Bridges could have been played by an actress.If you keep this in mind, the movie appears in a very different light.",
"Just count the numerous jokes about the virility of the four outlaws, the dozens of cars - another powerful sexual symbol - borrowed by an always dissatisfied Jeff Bridges.",
"And, at least, the enormous gun used by Clint to destroy the safe of the Montana Bank.This interpretation, apart of the intellectual pleasure it can give you, would have been a little bit gratuitous if the film hadn't been a good road movie with excellent actors.",
"If you're a movie lover, it's clear that you have to watch THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT at least once.",
"The same goes for Clint Eastwood or Jeff Bridges's fans.Three different subtitles and a theatrical trailer as bonus features.",
"Sound and images excellent.A DVD to rent."
] |
3 | Boogie Review | Beyond The Burning Time is an exciting book on the lives of two women trying to escape the madness of Salem in the late 1600's. When Anne Puttman, a young girl, claimed to be possessed, chaos spread through the town of Salem, as innocent people were killed and arrested for witchcraft. Mary didn't really know at first if the first people accused were innocent. As time went on Mary grew suspicious of Anne but found out that people were accused that couldn't possibly be witches. When Mary's mother was accused of witchcraft, Mary and her brother Caleb make an attempt to rescue her.This novel is original and unique from most books that I have read because of the history and fiction that brings the book together. My opinion of the book was changed and was even better when I learned similar things happened in the past. I recommend this book for all ages able to read the book. They would learn of the tragedies and adventures of Salem that really showed how evil and greedy the world can be. | 996 | [
"Beyond The Burning Time is an exciting book on the lives of two women trying to escape the madness of Salem in the late 1600's.",
"When Anne Puttman, a young girl, claimed to be possessed, chaos spread through the town of Salem, as innocent people were killed and arrested for witchcraft.",
"Mary didn't really know at first if the first people accused were innocent.",
"As time went on Mary grew suspicious of Anne but found out that people were accused that couldn't possibly be witches.",
"When Mary's mother was accused of witchcraft, Mary and her brother Caleb make an attempt to rescue her.This novel is original and unique from most books that I have read because of the history and fiction that brings the book together.",
"My opinion of the book was changed and was even better when I learned similar things happened in the past.",
"I recommend this book for all ages able to read the book.",
"They would learn of the tragedies and adventures of Salem that really showed how evil and greedy the world can be."
] |
3 | A surfer's review | I was assigned reading this book in Maritime History course I took during college. Having been a surfer for the better part of 12 years this book was tolerable, but smacks of an elitist attitude. Taking a year 'off' in your life to pursue surfing must be a nice experience the majority of us shall never know. Latte-drinking, poetic prose writing aside it does capture some of the emotional and aesthetic beauty innate to the surfing experience. I tended to find this book irritating, the view of someone attempting to infiltrate the core of true surfers and their way of life. At many points he would not be welcome in the line-up where I'm from.If you know absolutely nothing about surfing, you will most likely find this book interesting. The lack of a compelling story other than a description of surfers and the West coast prove to be detractors. If you are an avid ardent surfer you may enjoy it, simply because it's about surfing. While it's still on my bookshelf, I haven't read it since. | 996 | [
"I was assigned reading this book in Maritime History course I took during college.",
"Having been a surfer for the better part of 12 years this book was tolerable, but smacks of an elitist attitude.",
"Taking a year 'off' in your life to pursue surfing must be a nice experience the majority of us shall never know.",
"Latte-drinking, poetic prose writing aside it does capture some of the emotional and aesthetic beauty innate to the surfing experience.",
"I tended to find this book irritating, the view of someone attempting to infiltrate the core of true surfers and their way of life.",
"At many points he would not be welcome in the line-up where I'm from.If you know absolutely nothing about surfing, you will most likely find this book interesting.",
"The lack of a compelling story other than a description of surfers and the West coast prove to be detractors.",
"If you are an avid ardent surfer you may enjoy it, simply because it's about surfing.",
"While it's still on my bookshelf, I haven't read it since."
] |
3 | Wsop | The game itself is difficult, and if you want realistic difficult poker this is the game. There is no way to skip through the tournaments and they usually take like 1-2 hours to complete. The PSP game doesnt offer much customization as I hoped. And once you beat the one tournament (the main event) you basically are done. I played the main event and placed 130 in it, In order to compete in it again I had to create a new profile and new person. The presentation is nice and The WI-FI play lets you set up private custom games with your friends which is nice. Maybe the upcoming WPT game will be better. This one didnt strike gold but its worth a rent, and if your a hardcore poker player looking for some TOUGH training get this.3 stars for Presentation, On-line play, and very high difficulty.Mising Two stars becuase of Limited Customization, Long tournaments with no skipping through or re-competiting without developing a new profile, and Jesus Ferguson is almost impossible to out-compete. | 996 | [
"The game itself is difficult, and if you want realistic difficult poker this is the game.",
"There is no way to skip through the tournaments and they usually take like 1-2 hours to complete.",
"The PSP game doesnt offer much customization as I hoped.",
"And once you beat the one tournament (the main event) you basically are done.",
"I played the main event and placed 130 in it, In order to compete in it again I had to create a new profile and new person.",
"The presentation is nice and The WI-FI play lets you set up private custom games with your friends which is nice.",
"Maybe the upcoming WPT game will be better.",
"This one didnt strike gold but its worth a rent, and if your a hardcore poker player looking for some TOUGH training get this.3 stars for Presentation, On-line play, and very high difficulty.Mising Two stars becuase of Limited Customization, Long tournaments with no skipping through or re-competiting without developing a new profile, and Jesus Ferguson is almost impossible to out-compete."
] |
3 | regalo cot | I had purchased the princess play hut cot a couple of years ago (I had seen some of the bad reviews for it, but purchased it anyways). it was good, but I had a 10 year old decide to jump on it and broke it... This time i decided to go with the Regalo, since it had better reviews. After receiving it, I see that it is significantly smaller (shorter) than the play hut cot. also, someone had said the play hut was uncomfortable because of the cross stitch pattern that goes across it (the play hut one) However the Regalo, across the middle, sits on the medal frame... which can be felt and seems a lot more uncomfortable than the cross stitch pattern on the play hut. I am not looking for an extravagantly comfortable cot... just one that doesn't dig into my 3 year old's hip when we are staying away from home. I prefer the Play hut cot over this Regalo. again, it was longer, and you can't feel the medal frame... My daughter? she hasn't complained about either one, she sleeps soundly on both. | 996 | [
"I had purchased the princess play hut cot a couple of years ago (I had seen some of the bad reviews for it, but purchased it anyways).",
"it was good, but I had a 10 year old decide to jump on it and broke it... This time i decided to go with the Regalo, since it had better reviews.",
"After receiving it, I see that it is significantly smaller (shorter) than the play hut cot.",
"also, someone had said the play hut was uncomfortable because of the cross stitch pattern that goes across it (the play hut one) However the Regalo, across the middle, sits on the medal frame... which can be felt and seems a lot more uncomfortable than the cross stitch pattern on the play hut.",
"I am not looking for an extravagantly comfortable cot... just one that doesn't dig into my 3 year old's hip when we are staying away from home.",
"I prefer the Play hut cot over this Regalo.",
"again, it was longer, and you can't feel the medal frame... My daughter?",
"she hasn't complained about either one, she sleeps soundly on both."
] |
3 | Enjoyable | The story does a nice job of drawing you into the plot. A young boy working clandestinely in South America wiretaps a meeting of some very high level men talking about killing 94 people. As he relays his story, and his recording, over the phone to someone he knows would want to hear it, he is murdered. The story now is about the receiver of the call figuring out the plot and foiling it.Quite an easy read and the plot is believable. For me though the book lacked character development insomuch as we really aren't given time to get to know the players well enough.From a cat and mouse standpoint it's a great read. As the tired, overwrought and underfunded hero deciphers the call he almost heard and translates it into a plot that has to be foiled at all costs. His efforts to apprehend the plot perpetrators are quite well thought out.As I mentioned, an easy read and, a pretty good movie too. Try and read the book before seeing the movie as the book adds some background the movie doesn't. | 996 | [
"The story does a nice job of drawing you into the plot.",
"A young boy working clandestinely in South America wiretaps a meeting of some very high level men talking about killing 94 people.",
"As he relays his story, and his recording, over the phone to someone he knows would want to hear it, he is murdered.",
"The story now is about the receiver of the call figuring out the plot and foiling it.Quite an easy read and the plot is believable.",
"For me though the book lacked character development insomuch as we really aren't given time to get to know the players well enough.From a cat and mouse standpoint it's a great read.",
"As the tired, overwrought and underfunded hero deciphers the call he almost heard and translates it into a plot that has to be foiled at all costs.",
"His efforts to apprehend the plot perpetrators are quite well thought out.As I mentioned, an easy read and, a pretty good movie too.",
"Try and read the book before seeing the movie as the book adds some background the movie doesn't."
] |
3 | Ok little machine | Pros:Suction is great!!Ergo designHandyCons:-Bristle brush is crap. Should redesign & make this part oscillating!-The entire machine sits ON the mess you are trying to clean up. Since you have to push it back & forth to clean/suck up the mess, the whole bottom runs across whatever mess is there. Gross! If you are only cleaning up a tiny, tiny spot, then this won't be an issue.-The detergent storage is INCREDIBLY tiny! Really, I get that this is supposed to be a "whip out & clean that little mess" type of deal, but what if it's tomato sauce on the carpet, just to name an example? You may need more detergent to thoroughly clean that up.-Dirty water reservoir is sometimes hard to detach for emptying. I've had to press the detach button a million times for it to actually detach.Overall, it's great for cleaning up dog pee in SMALL amounts, or for doing a quick clean on your stairs. Other than that, my Hoover Steam Clean has everything I need & this thing has now sat in the laundry room! | 996 | [
"Pros:Suction is great!!",
"Ergo designHandyCons:-Bristle brush is crap.",
"Should redesign & make this part oscillating!",
"-The entire machine sits ON the mess you are trying to clean up.",
"Since you have to push it back & forth to clean/suck up the mess, the whole bottom runs across whatever mess is there.",
"Gross!",
"If you are only cleaning up a tiny, tiny spot, then this won't be an issue.-The detergent storage is INCREDIBLY tiny!",
"Really, I get that this is supposed to be a \"whip out & clean that little mess\" type of deal, but what if it's tomato sauce on the carpet, just to name an example?",
"You may need more detergent to thoroughly clean that up.-Dirty water reservoir is sometimes hard to detach for emptying.",
"I've had to press the detach button a million times for it to actually detach.Overall, it's great for cleaning up dog pee in SMALL amounts, or for doing a quick clean on your stairs.",
"Other than that, my Hoover Steam Clean has everything I need & this thing has now sat in the laundry room!"
] |
3 | DVD gets a "D" | In answer to recent and future reviewers: the new DVD version of "Rich & Famous" is NOT complete and uncut. Yes, the famous sex-on-the-airplane scene is there in all its turgid glory - but only minutes into the film there was an unexplainable cutting of a few seconds of scene and dialogue when Bisset and Bergen are running in 1959 for the train. Bergen explains that Doug was first Bisset's date, and then there's a sharp cut in the scene. I took out the DVD, popped in my old video version, replayed the scene, and sure enough Bisset explains, out of breath, that Doug was only a blind date. Not a pivotal moment, but still, I expect the entire film to be on a DVD. I was angrily reminded of DVDs of television shows (like "Laverne & Shirley") I've purchased that have similar cuts. Unfortunately there are probably other cuts in "Rich and Famous", and there should be none. A letter of complaint to the DVD-makers is probably in order. What a disappointment for long-patient fans of the film. | 996 | [
"In answer to recent and future reviewers: the new DVD version of \"Rich & Famous\" is NOT complete and uncut.",
"Yes, the famous sex-on-the-airplane scene is there in all its turgid glory - but only minutes into the film there was an unexplainable cutting of a few seconds of scene and dialogue when Bisset and Bergen are running in 1959 for the train.",
"Bergen explains that Doug was first Bisset's date, and then there's a sharp cut in the scene.",
"I took out the DVD, popped in my old video version, replayed the scene, and sure enough Bisset explains, out of breath, that Doug was only a blind date.",
"Not a pivotal moment, but still, I expect the entire film to be on a DVD.",
"I was angrily reminded of DVDs of television shows (like \"Laverne & Shirley\") I've purchased that have similar cuts.",
"Unfortunately there are probably other cuts in \"Rich and Famous\", and there should be none.",
"A letter of complaint to the DVD-makers is probably in order.",
"What a disappointment for long-patient fans of the film."
] |
3 | Tough to swallow | Naomi is about to run off and marry Joe, but he is suddenly killed in a farming accident. She learns she is pregnant and, to avoid family disgrace, agrees to marry Caleb Evans, a cold, religious man. She has a daughter (Brook), and 19 years later Brook falls in love with Tony. But Caleb disapproves of him, and Naomi tries to get the two to elope. This betrayal of her father makes Brook hate her mother, and she leaves to become a missionary. Up to this point the book is pretty good, though melodramatic. Then it starts to crumble. Jump ahead another 19 years. Brook is a widow about to marry a stuffy old English colonel when she meets the vivacious, headstrong, utterly "modern" man Erik. She falls in love with him in two minutes and runs off with him when he demands it. What she sees in him is never revealed and, judging from her personality, seems impossible that she would like him at all. Glaspell writes this soap-opera-ish mess well, though, in a style that's sparse and controlled. | 996 | [
"Naomi is about to run off and marry Joe, but he is suddenly killed in a farming accident.",
"She learns she is pregnant and, to avoid family disgrace, agrees to marry Caleb Evans, a cold, religious man.",
"She has a daughter (Brook), and 19 years later Brook falls in love with Tony.",
"But Caleb disapproves of him, and Naomi tries to get the two to elope.",
"This betrayal of her father makes Brook hate her mother, and she leaves to become a missionary.",
"Up to this point the book is pretty good, though melodramatic.",
"Then it starts to crumble.",
"Jump ahead another 19 years.",
"Brook is a widow about to marry a stuffy old English colonel when she meets the vivacious, headstrong, utterly \"modern\" man Erik.",
"She falls in love with him in two minutes and runs off with him when he demands it.",
"What she sees in him is never revealed and, judging from her personality, seems impossible that she would like him at all.",
"Glaspell writes this soap-opera-ish mess well, though, in a style that's sparse and controlled."
] |
3 | Eh | It does the job but not very elegantly. The Velcro is old school Velcro instead of the more modern micro Velcro you can find on other braces. Its probably one of the better braces on Amazon, but not better than the Futuro brand at my local CVS. And for less money. The heat activation thing really just makes me sweat and thus makes the brace smell pretty fast. Instead of one or two well placed bits of Velcro, it has four. Three to close the part closest to your elbow and one to wrap around as shown in the photo. The placement of these pieces of Velcro not only gets in the way of the other pieces of Velcro but the wrap around one is right at the wrist joint and if you put it too tight, it ends up pinching that nerve.All in all...it keeps you from having carpel tunnel problems, but in a pretty awkward way. I wish I'd just gone to my local CVS and got the Futuro to begin with because thats what I use now. I can't for the life of me find it online, but this blog has a photo of it. [...] | 996 | [
"It does the job but not very elegantly.",
"The Velcro is old school Velcro instead of the more modern micro Velcro you can find on other braces.",
"Its probably one of the better braces on Amazon, but not better than the Futuro brand at my local CVS.",
"And for less money.",
"The heat activation thing really just makes me sweat and thus makes the brace smell pretty fast.",
"Instead of one or two well placed bits of Velcro, it has four.",
"Three to close the part closest to your elbow and one to wrap around as shown in the photo.",
"The placement of these pieces of Velcro not only gets in the way of the other pieces of Velcro but the wrap around one is right at the wrist joint and if you put it too tight, it ends up pinching that nerve.All in all...it keeps you from having carpel tunnel problems, but in a pretty awkward way.",
"I wish I'd just gone to my local CVS and got the Futuro to begin with because thats what I use now.",
"I can't for the life of me find it online, but this blog has a photo of it.",
"[...]"
] |
3 | Worth Watching | The film is a remake of a 1981 Bollywood picture by the same title and both are based on the 1905 novel Umrao Jaan Ada about the life of a famous courtesan in the Indian city of Lucknow in the mid-1800s. Real-life husband and wife Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai play the romantic leads--and they are as gorgeous together onscreen as they are off. Rai's portrayal of the hapless Umrao is creditable, but Bachchan brings little to his role, other than looking dashing in period attire and staring at his co-star like he wants to devour her. The film's biggest problem, however, is the lack of strong conflicts to drive the story, as it merely recounts a long series of tragedies that devastate Umrao. Still, the movie is set in an enchanting time and place in India's history, when Lucknow's brothels were the epicenter of culture. The sumptuous costumes and traditional dances alone are fascinating. - The Bollywood Ticket: The American guide to Indian movies (Subscribe:The Bollywood Ticket) | 996 | [
"The film is a remake of a 1981 Bollywood picture by the same title and both are based on the 1905 novel Umrao Jaan Ada about the life of a famous courtesan in the Indian city of Lucknow in the mid-1800s.",
"Real-life husband and wife Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai play the romantic leads--and they are as gorgeous together onscreen as they are off.",
"Rai's portrayal of the hapless Umrao is creditable, but Bachchan brings little to his role, other than looking dashing in period attire and staring at his co-star like he wants to devour her.",
"The film's biggest problem, however, is the lack of strong conflicts to drive the story, as it merely recounts a long series of tragedies that devastate Umrao.",
"Still, the movie is set in an enchanting time and place in India's history, when Lucknow's brothels were the epicenter of culture.",
"The sumptuous costumes and traditional dances alone are fascinating.",
"- The Bollywood Ticket: The American guide to Indian movies (Subscribe:The Bollywood Ticket)"
] |
3 | Caveat Emptor | This is a well-written novel about crime, but not a novel that meets the expectations of those seeking 'crime fiction.' This is art fiction, short on incident, long on characterization. While it held my attention it was not in any way suspenseful. Nor was it comic. Something bad has happened to a good man. We eventually learn the mundane but still shattering details. In the meantime he is working on another case which ultimately elucidates his own situation. That's about it, along with some reflections on Brooklyn which are nicely done. This is not, however, a heavily textured reflection on place of the sort associated with a master like James Lee Burke. While the Brooklyn portrayed is darker than Jonathan Lethem's it is not so fully realized as to be a central presence in its own right. My guess is that readers of art fiction are generally not readers of crime fiction and the former may have taken this novel to be the sort of thing read by the latter. It isn't, but it's well done. | 996 | [
"This is a well-written novel about crime, but not a novel that meets the expectations of those seeking 'crime fiction.' This is art fiction, short on incident, long on characterization.",
"While it held my attention it was not in any way suspenseful.",
"Nor was it comic.",
"Something bad has happened to a good man.",
"We eventually learn the mundane but still shattering details.",
"In the meantime he is working on another case which ultimately elucidates his own situation.",
"That's about it, along with some reflections on Brooklyn which are nicely done.",
"This is not, however, a heavily textured reflection on place of the sort associated with a master like James Lee Burke.",
"While the Brooklyn portrayed is darker than Jonathan Lethem's it is not so fully realized as to be a central presence in its own right.",
"My guess is that readers of art fiction are generally not readers of crime fiction and the former may have taken this novel to be the sort of thing read by the latter.",
"It isn't, but it's well done."
] |
3 | Now What | Now What is a no-nonsense coaching tutorial for facilitating major life changes. Business and life coach Laura Berman Fortgang gives a succinct introduction that is timely and relevant and then gets straight to the point: the first exercise toward finding clarity for a new life direction.This book is an active hands-on workbook that offers key insights, practices, and client success stories to get you moving forward. As with anything worth doing well, "this work takes attention, focus and self-reflection," but boasts a ninety percent effectiveness rate. Although the author's expertise has revolved largely around career choices, any life circumstance can call for redirection. Fortgang points out what many of us are feeling within: a general (even if unconscious) movement by humans toward a magnified importance for meaning, and toward honoring "those parts of ourselves we have allowed to become dormant." Clear and practical, Now What makes a solid contribution to the self-help field. | 996 | [
"Now What is a no-nonsense coaching tutorial for facilitating major life changes.",
"Business and life coach Laura Berman Fortgang gives a succinct introduction that is timely and relevant and then gets straight to the point: the first exercise toward finding clarity for a new life direction.This book is an active hands-on workbook that offers key insights, practices, and client success stories to get you moving forward.",
"As with anything worth doing well, \"this work takes attention, focus and self-reflection,\" but boasts a ninety percent effectiveness rate.",
"Although the author's expertise has revolved largely around career choices, any life circumstance can call for redirection.",
"Fortgang points out what many of us are feeling within: a general (even if unconscious) movement by humans toward a magnified importance for meaning, and toward honoring \"those parts of ourselves we have allowed to become dormant.\" Clear and practical, Now What makes a solid contribution to the self-help field."
] |
3 | House of Mirrors | Reading the Wind-up Bird Chronicle was like walking thru a very large art gallery (slash) house of mirrors. In this gallery, each work of art is loosely connected to the one next to it (sometimes), and the gallery itself is like a big fun house with moving floors and distortion mirrors where a whole lot of freaky, weird stuff is happening. I thought if I could make it thru the 600+ pages, the meanings of these mysterious elements would be revealed in the end. I finished all 600 pages, and in the end there was no explanation for any of the weirdness, no explanation for the odd characters, weird events, strange objects...However, I gave it 3 stars because most of the works of art (like Lt. Mamiya's story) are great stand-alone pieces , interesting in their own rights. I also enjoyed the variety of literary forms. Although the protagaonist is very pop culturesque, I also appreciate Murakami's high-context style of writing. If there were a half-star system, I'd have given it 3.5 stars. | 996 | [
"Reading the Wind-up Bird Chronicle was like walking thru a very large art gallery (slash) house of mirrors.",
"In this gallery, each work of art is loosely connected to the one next to it (sometimes), and the gallery itself is like a big fun house with moving floors and distortion mirrors where a whole lot of freaky, weird stuff is happening.",
"I thought if I could make it thru the 600+ pages, the meanings of these mysterious elements would be revealed in the end.",
"I finished all 600 pages, and in the end there was no explanation for any of the weirdness, no explanation for the odd characters, weird events, strange objects...However, I gave it 3 stars because most of the works of art (like Lt.",
"Mamiya's story) are great stand-alone pieces , interesting in their own rights.",
"I also enjoyed the variety of literary forms.",
"Although the protagaonist is very pop culturesque, I also appreciate Murakami's high-context style of writing.",
"If there were a half-star system, I'd have given it 3.5 stars."
] |
3 | Not quite perfect | There's a lot good about this, but it doesn't quite gel. James Morris sounds great but he doesn't act well--throughout the negotiations with Loge and the giants he sounds like he's faking it and his expression of fear while being threatened by Alberich is comical. Siegfried Jerusalem seems totally bored by his role from start to finish. Ekkehard Wlaschiha has fine focus and a beautiful top but I don't feel sorry for his Alberich. Maybe he's doing this deliberately, some people think it's more faithful to Wagner to make Alberich purely disgusting but it's overdone here. (Both Morris and Wlaschiha do much better acting in SIEGFRIED.) The best acting here IMHO is done by Matti Salminen, Heinz Zednik, Marianne Haggender and Christa Ludwig. The worst is Jan Hedrik Rootering who let's just say sounds like he might need some viagra to enjoy Freija if he got her.Much better acting in the Boulez video if you can stand the funny "industrial revolution" setting and hilarious giants-on-wheels. | 996 | [
"There's a lot good about this, but it doesn't quite gel.",
"James Morris sounds great but he doesn't act well--throughout the negotiations with Loge and the giants he sounds like he's faking it and his expression of fear while being threatened by Alberich is comical.",
"Siegfried Jerusalem seems totally bored by his role from start to finish.",
"Ekkehard Wlaschiha has fine focus and a beautiful top but I don't feel sorry for his Alberich.",
"Maybe he's doing this deliberately, some people think it's more faithful to Wagner to make Alberich purely disgusting but it's overdone here.",
"(Both Morris and Wlaschiha do much better acting in SIEGFRIED.) The best acting here IMHO is done by Matti Salminen, Heinz Zednik, Marianne Haggender and Christa Ludwig.",
"The worst is Jan Hedrik Rootering who let's just say sounds like he might need some viagra to enjoy Freija if he got her.Much better acting in the Boulez video if you can stand the funny \"industrial revolution\" setting and hilarious giants-on-wheels."
] |
3 | NOT UP TO PAR | I count myself a big Deaver fan. I feel each of his books since the "Bone Collector" have shown increasing skill and maturity. "Speaking in Tongues" is not up to his present standards. The characters are implausible, the action is not cohesive and the pace is uneven. If this were a first novel, I'd say it showed promise, but was flawed.The first scene where daughter Meagan visits the psychiatrist is an excellent beginning: very taut using dual voices (her own and "Crazy Megan") to great effect. Her substitute therapist at first sounds brilliant, and then the reader gets uncomfortable. Something is *wrong* with this man. The rest of the novel does not live up to the fine first scene.Deaver's famous plot twists failed to surprise or were telegraphed. The really excessive gore reminded me of Harris' "Hannibal;" so over-the-top and unbelievable. A good writer, which Deaver and Harris most certainly are, does not need such crude tricks.I would sit this one out and wait for the next one. | 996 | [
"I count myself a big Deaver fan.",
"I feel each of his books since the \"Bone Collector\" have shown increasing skill and maturity.",
"\"Speaking in Tongues\" is not up to his present standards.",
"The characters are implausible, the action is not cohesive and the pace is uneven.",
"If this were a first novel, I'd say it showed promise, but was flawed.The first scene where daughter Meagan visits the psychiatrist is an excellent beginning: very taut using dual voices (her own and \"Crazy Megan\") to great effect.",
"Her substitute therapist at first sounds brilliant, and then the reader gets uncomfortable.",
"Something is *wrong* with this man.",
"The rest of the novel does not live up to the fine first scene.Deaver's famous plot twists failed to surprise or were telegraphed.",
"The really excessive gore reminded me of Harris' \"Hannibal;\" so over-the-top and unbelievable.",
"A good writer, which Deaver and Harris most certainly are, does not need such crude tricks.I would sit this one out and wait for the next one."
] |
3 | WAR in PIECES | Like the other Hyun Se Lee titles I've read, NAMBUL is an epic tale that stretches over multiple volumes, with dozens of characters. With that said, it's easy to see why NAMBUL 1 reads like the intro to an overall greater work, because it is.NAMBUL is the tale of a (semi) ficticious war between Japan and Korea, and although it isn't set in any definite time period, it certainly echoes many of today's global issues...particularly issues surrounding fossil fuels and what oil-hungry nations will do to procure them.While it is based on various historical turning points, it creates its own war-like atmosphere from a civilian point of view. The characters hold very distinctive personalities and some with strong views on nationalism, which will draw you into the story. As we get to know them better, they become more realistic, and as the entire plot plays out we see how the story works simultaneously on a personal level and on a global scale.As always, the artwork by Mr. Lee is fantastic. | 996 | [
"Like the other Hyun Se Lee titles I've read, NAMBUL is an epic tale that stretches over multiple volumes, with dozens of characters.",
"With that said, it's easy to see why NAMBUL 1 reads like the intro to an overall greater work, because it is.NAMBUL is the tale of a (semi) ficticious war between Japan and Korea, and although it isn't set in any definite time period, it certainly echoes many of today's global issues...particularly issues surrounding fossil fuels and what oil-hungry nations will do to procure them.While it is based on various historical turning points, it creates its own war-like atmosphere from a civilian point of view.",
"The characters hold very distinctive personalities and some with strong views on nationalism, which will draw you into the story.",
"As we get to know them better, they become more realistic, and as the entire plot plays out we see how the story works simultaneously on a personal level and on a global scale.As always, the artwork by Mr.",
"Lee is fantastic."
] |
3 | Good Luck!! | My daughter has been asking for this gift for over a month for Christmas. My husband had been to 9 different stores and they all were out. By far a popular toy. Wanting to keep the Christmas spirit alive we are willing to go to any point to keep our daughter happy on christmas morning. After all she prays every night for Santa to bring it to her. Well after finding this "SWEET MAGIC KITCHEN" more than 55 miles away from home we go pick it up. Its all put together now but I think its durability is awful. It's very cheaply made not worth the money at all. The oven door wont stay shut, the handle is broken, and the door to the fridgerator will not stay on, not closed but on, It is constantly falling of the hindges and all this before my 2 daughters have had there turn at it. If this is a kitchen you are looking to buy I strongly suggest you think again. I wish we did. If this was not a gift my daughter asked for from Santa this "kitchen" would not be in my house right now. Good luck!! | 996 | [
"My daughter has been asking for this gift for over a month for Christmas.",
"My husband had been to 9 different stores and they all were out.",
"By far a popular toy.",
"Wanting to keep the Christmas spirit alive we are willing to go to any point to keep our daughter happy on christmas morning.",
"After all she prays every night for Santa to bring it to her.",
"Well after finding this \"SWEET MAGIC KITCHEN\" more than 55 miles away from home we go pick it up.",
"Its all put together now but I think its durability is awful.",
"It's very cheaply made not worth the money at all.",
"The oven door wont stay shut, the handle is broken, and the door to the fridgerator will not stay on, not closed but on, It is constantly falling of the hindges and all this before my 2 daughters have had there turn at it.",
"If this is a kitchen you are looking to buy I strongly suggest you think again.",
"I wish we did.",
"If this was not a gift my daughter asked for from Santa this \"kitchen\" would not be in my house right now.",
"Good luck!!"
] |
3 | Informative | I found this book to be very well researched and informative. It is a bit slow-moving at first because the author goes into great detail about the history of medecine and early American medical research.Sometimes it seems that the information given is in far too much detail which makes the reader forget the big picture of the flu epidemic.The scientific research and beliefs at the beginning of the 20th century are well-documented and presented.The biggest drawback to reading this book I found was the author's own choice of words and the use of many digressive sentences.It would have been much more enjoyable if it had been more plainly written.Sometimes the analysis of certain scientists own lives seemed to distract the reader from the gist of the book.Although a bit disjointed in its delivery this book still gives an accurate account of the events and conditions that lead up to the Great Influenza epidemic in 1918.Worth reading because of the modern threat from the avian flu virus. | 996 | [
"I found this book to be very well researched and informative.",
"It is a bit slow-moving at first because the author goes into great detail about the history of medecine and early American medical research.Sometimes it seems that the information given is in far too much detail which makes the reader forget the big picture of the flu epidemic.The scientific research and beliefs at the beginning of the 20th century are well-documented and presented.The biggest drawback to reading this book I found was the author's own choice of words and the use of many digressive sentences.It would have been much more enjoyable if it had been more plainly written.Sometimes the analysis of certain scientists own lives seemed to distract the reader from the gist of the book.Although a bit disjointed in its delivery this book still gives an accurate account of the events and conditions that lead up to the Great Influenza epidemic in 1918.Worth reading because of the modern threat from the avian flu virus."
] |
3 | Ok for the price | I just got my bag and was really excited about it but then I started punching it.PROS:--It is very easily stored as it is not too large when all the way down to the bottom setting.--The bag itself seems to be pretty durable and can take some punishment.--good priceCONS:--I am 6'3 and need the bag to be at the highest adjustment for a good straight punch. When it is at that adjustment, the bag is very wobbly and makes a lot of noise when it is punched. I had to use duct tape to tape the bag to the base for less movement. This makes it tough to adjust the height to be lower for kicks.--It makes a lot of noise when it scoots across the concrete floor of my garage during a workout. I havent tried sand in the base only water and that may be my next option to remedy this problem.IN SUMMARY: If I had to do it again, I would probably opt for the larger wavemaster XXL. I will make do with what I have for now, but if you are a larger framed person, go for the larger bag, not the cheaper one. | 996 | [
"I just got my bag and was really excited about it but then I started punching it.PROS:--It is very easily stored as it is not too large when all the way down to the bottom setting.--The bag itself seems to be pretty durable and can take some punishment.--good priceCONS:--I am 6'3 and need the bag to be at the highest adjustment for a good straight punch.",
"When it is at that adjustment, the bag is very wobbly and makes a lot of noise when it is punched.",
"I had to use duct tape to tape the bag to the base for less movement.",
"This makes it tough to adjust the height to be lower for kicks.--It makes a lot of noise when it scoots across the concrete floor of my garage during a workout.",
"I havent tried sand in the base only water and that may be my next option to remedy this problem.IN SUMMARY: If I had to do it again, I would probably opt for the larger wavemaster XXL.",
"I will make do with what I have for now, but if you are a larger framed person, go for the larger bag, not the cheaper one."
] |
3 | some good cuts | This album starts off with a bang with the sprited, lyrical "Caravan" by Ellington, the bass carrying the melody and the piano comping. There are other lyrical cuts, the Bossa Nova "Pensativa", "Butterfly", "Witch Hunt" and the romantic "A Love Affair" are compelling. All presumable are played on the same bass he used in his classic bass essential album "Wood". Virtuoso playing, - melody, and rhythm at the same time.But many of the other tracks, the other 2/3rds, left me scratching my head wondering why, of all the available Pop songs, he chose these? "Carry on my Wayward Son"?, "Shining Star"? "Four Brothers" with someone whistling the Stan Getz melody through their teeth?? Others left me cold, not like his triumphal "Wood" album where every cut, new or old, including the "Star Spangled Banner", is astounding.The recording quality, while probably fine, is clearly not up to the audiophile standards of "Wood" either."Wood" (1) I highly recommend. I was expecting more of the same ... | 996 | [
"This album starts off with a bang with the sprited, lyrical \"Caravan\" by Ellington, the bass carrying the melody and the piano comping.",
"There are other lyrical cuts, the Bossa Nova \"Pensativa\", \"Butterfly\", \"Witch Hunt\" and the romantic \"A Love Affair\" are compelling.",
"All presumable are played on the same bass he used in his classic bass essential album \"Wood\".",
"Virtuoso playing, - melody, and rhythm at the same time.But many of the other tracks, the other 2/3rds, left me scratching my head wondering why, of all the available Pop songs, he chose these?",
"\"Carry on my Wayward Son\"?",
", \"Shining Star\"?",
"\"Four Brothers\" with someone whistling the Stan Getz melody through their teeth??",
"Others left me cold, not like his triumphal \"Wood\" album where every cut, new or old, including the \"Star Spangled Banner\", is astounding.The recording quality, while probably fine, is clearly not up to the audiophile standards of \"Wood\" either.\"Wood\" (1) I highly recommend.",
"I was expecting more of the same ..."
] |
3 | Stores Easily... | ::Update::We started using this tub again, but the baby keeps getting his foot stuck underneath the end part which is an overhang of where the tub folds up. It's hurt him a few times. We're not going to use it anymore.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::I also received this as a gift and I was pretty excited because it folded up and stored really well. Unfortunately, that's pretty much where it stayed. My son didn't like it, he slipped down into the bootie part and it was too much work to try to hold him up and wash him. I couldn't let go of him or he would slip back down. I guess this product would've worked better if I had one of those spongy bath mat things to put in there. Do they even make those anymore?What we're doing now, is using the mesh bath seat that my mother bought and just sitting it in the floor of the bathtub. We use the detachable shower head and bathe him that way. He finds it very soothing. I was afraid that he was going to hate being bathed all together. | 996 | [
"::Update::We started using this tub again, but the baby keeps getting his foot stuck underneath the end part which is an overhang of where the tub folds up.",
"It's hurt him a few times.",
"We're not going to use it anymore.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::I also received this as a gift and I was pretty excited because it folded up and stored really well.",
"Unfortunately, that's pretty much where it stayed.",
"My son didn't like it, he slipped down into the bootie part and it was too much work to try to hold him up and wash him.",
"I couldn't let go of him or he would slip back down.",
"I guess this product would've worked better if I had one of those spongy bath mat things to put in there.",
"Do they even make those anymore?",
"What we're doing now, is using the mesh bath seat that my mother bought and just sitting it in the floor of the bathtub.",
"We use the detachable shower head and bathe him that way.",
"He finds it very soothing.",
"I was afraid that he was going to hate being bathed all together."
] |
3 | not as good as 4 | same as the other one but with a few glaring differences like the graphics stink like a butt on this one.theres a lot of characters in this one.theres robots,cops,martial artists,gods.......really theres only 2 types.1-the kind that get beat down by the computer almost every time and 2-the kind you can win with all the time prettily easily through massive repition.they are lou kang,raiden and the cop.theres some male ballerina looking dude with a lot of flaming balls.......errr i mean fire balls.hes pretty good except for the whole spandex thing.its alright but 4 is way way better.im actualy suprised theyre even from the same system considering 3 looks like a sega master system game.for all you bozos out there the sega master system came out after the intellivision and before the original nintendo.oh yeah,i dont appreciate the guys who made this making shiva a chick when in fact shiva is a very powerful hindu god with enough destructive capacity in his 3rd eye to destroy existence! | 996 | [
"same as the other one but with a few glaring differences like the graphics stink like a butt on this one.theres a lot of characters in this one.theres robots,cops,martial artists,gods.......really theres only 2 types.1-the kind that get beat down by the computer almost every time and 2-the kind you can win with all the time prettily easily through massive repition.they are lou kang,raiden and the cop.theres some male ballerina looking dude with a lot of flaming balls.......errr i mean fire balls.hes pretty good except for the whole spandex thing.its alright but 4 is way way better.im actualy suprised theyre even from the same system considering 3 looks like a sega master system game.for all you bozos out there the sega master system came out after the intellivision and before the original nintendo.oh yeah,i dont appreciate the guys who made this making shiva a chick when in fact shiva is a very powerful hindu god with enough destructive capacity in his 3rd eye to destroy existence!"
] |
3 | What Naomi Did | This starts with a murder, then describes the years of guilt which follow for Naomi Ash.Naomi's Trance Medium mother takes them out of New Orleans quickly, when her use of theatre to enhance the seance experience for her clients becomes too much of a liability.They make their home in Train Line, NY (based on Lily Dale, NY) a very small community of old time Mediums and New Age Psychics. This is where Naomi spends her formative years in the small town, populated with widely differing and gifted, colourful characters.The plot is extremely slow (although the ending is rushed) and salvaged only by the interactions of the vivid characters without whom, truthfully, I'd have stopped reading.It's a book that explores inner fears, consequences, emotions and how they can be changed over time by ones memory of events. Lies that become truths, with each retelling of events and the motivations behind them.I don't think it lived up to the glowing introduction by Nancy Pearl, at least not for me. | 996 | [
"This starts with a murder, then describes the years of guilt which follow for Naomi Ash.Naomi's Trance Medium mother takes them out of New Orleans quickly, when her use of theatre to enhance the seance experience for her clients becomes too much of a liability.They make their home in Train Line, NY (based on Lily Dale, NY) a very small community of old time Mediums and New Age Psychics.",
"This is where Naomi spends her formative years in the small town, populated with widely differing and gifted, colourful characters.The plot is extremely slow (although the ending is rushed) and salvaged only by the interactions of the vivid characters without whom, truthfully, I'd have stopped reading.It's a book that explores inner fears, consequences, emotions and how they can be changed over time by ones memory of events.",
"Lies that become truths, with each retelling of events and the motivations behind them.I don't think it lived up to the glowing introduction by Nancy Pearl, at least not for me."
] |
3 | Not the real deal | I had to create a brand new amazon ID for myself to write this review because even admitting that one had read this can be toxic to one's career.It's obvious to me (as a former student of chemistry) that Fester never made LSD himself. It's also clear that he didn't spend enough time researching the subject. The first edition had several errors in it - some of them due to bad proof reading but others due to mistakes Fester made because of a rushed job. This is much better but still ... a person looking for good advice on how to make LSD should investigate Shulgin's Tihkal ... I definitely get the impression that Shulgin has either made LSD himself or is one intimate terms with someone who did.So why am I giving this 3 stars if I think it's so bad? Because the book is not a complete waste. I rather admire the notion that someone like Fester would spend so much time writing subversive books like this. His freedom-loving spirit is refreshing in these conformist and authoritarian times. | 996 | [
"I had to create a brand new amazon ID for myself to write this review because even admitting that one had read this can be toxic to one's career.It's obvious to me (as a former student of chemistry) that Fester never made LSD himself.",
"It's also clear that he didn't spend enough time researching the subject.",
"The first edition had several errors in it - some of them due to bad proof reading but others due to mistakes Fester made because of a rushed job.",
"This is much better but still ... a person looking for good advice on how to make LSD should investigate Shulgin's Tihkal ... I definitely get the impression that Shulgin has either made LSD himself or is one intimate terms with someone who did.So why am I giving this 3 stars if I think it's so bad?",
"Because the book is not a complete waste.",
"I rather admire the notion that someone like Fester would spend so much time writing subversive books like this.",
"His freedom-loving spirit is refreshing in these conformist and authoritarian times."
] |
3 | Percy Died! | We bought battery-powered Percy for our 22-mo-old son for X-mas. He had no interest in any of his other X-mas presents after opening this one, and unfortunately this was the first thing he opened, so that was that. He has played with Percy EVERY DAY since X-mas, and suddenly Percy died- his back wheels no longer turn. I had hoped that for the price he would last longer than he did. I also must mention that he had some difficulty staying on the tracks in curves- and they were Thomas tracks, not generic. Percy kept falling off, especially when pulling cars. I suppose we'll be returning him, but after reading other reviews we may exchange him for two wooden engines instead- they don't break! And f.y.i.- Brio's and Imaginarium's battery-powered engines aren't much better- they use up batteries like I don't know what. On the positive side, Percy was thoroughly enjoyed by our son while he lasted, and he had more speed, power, and longer battery life than the Brio and Imaginarium engines. | 996 | [
"We bought battery-powered Percy for our 22-mo-old son for X-mas.",
"He had no interest in any of his other X-mas presents after opening this one, and unfortunately this was the first thing he opened, so that was that.",
"He has played with Percy EVERY DAY since X-mas, and suddenly Percy died- his back wheels no longer turn.",
"I had hoped that for the price he would last longer than he did.",
"I also must mention that he had some difficulty staying on the tracks in curves- and they were Thomas tracks, not generic.",
"Percy kept falling off, especially when pulling cars.",
"I suppose we'll be returning him, but after reading other reviews we may exchange him for two wooden engines instead- they don't break!",
"And f.y.i.- Brio's and Imaginarium's battery-powered engines aren't much better- they use up batteries like I don't know what.",
"On the positive side, Percy was thoroughly enjoyed by our son while he lasted, and he had more speed, power, and longer battery life than the Brio and Imaginarium engines."
] |
3 | A Let Down | I loved the Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea movies, so when I found out there was another one,I was sure it would be just as good. I was a bit upset when I watched the movie. It was so off the story line. I was expecting the movie to be about Anne and Gilbert starting thir lives together not some war. In the movie Anne moves to New Youk with Gil and works as an editor. She meets a famous author who falls in love with her. Anne goes back to Anvonlea with Gil when he steals her book. Their everyone is full of the war and Gilbert leaves to fight. When Anne recieves all her letters to him back she gose to France to find him. She is swept up in a American spy group and is stuck wijth a baby who she got from a dying woman. She makes frinds and enimes while she learns the true meaning of life. Anne finds Gilbert and when they get home the start a new life.I tried to sum this up. I guess since the movie is made we must live with it, but it was a let down from the previous movies. | 995 | [
"I loved the Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea movies, so when I found out there was another one,I was sure it would be just as good.",
"I was a bit upset when I watched the movie.",
"It was so off the story line.",
"I was expecting the movie to be about Anne and Gilbert starting thir lives together not some war.",
"In the movie Anne moves to New Youk with Gil and works as an editor.",
"She meets a famous author who falls in love with her.",
"Anne goes back to Anvonlea with Gil when he steals her book.",
"Their everyone is full of the war and Gilbert leaves to fight.",
"When Anne recieves all her letters to him back she gose to France to find him.",
"She is swept up in a American spy group and is stuck wijth a baby who she got from a dying woman.",
"She makes frinds and enimes while she learns the true meaning of life.",
"Anne finds Gilbert and when they get home the start a new life.I tried to sum this up.",
"I guess since the movie is made we must live with it, but it was a let down from the previous movies."
] |
3 | Space Nerd History | The Apollo program through the cameras the astronauts took with them, as well as through cameras in the control room at Houston. It's interesting, but in the process of finding a picture of the DVD cover, I came across another I'm going to have to find, called "In the Shadow of the Moon" from 2007 directed by Ron Howard. I suspect (especially from the trailer) that it is going to be better.This is mostly the raw film, with all its flaws, and you don't always know what you are looking at. Indeed, I spent a good bit of the time while they were on the moon trying to figure where the camera was that was taking the picture. It turns out they have mashed together several trips, and so while there were only two astronauts on the surface in Apollo 8 (or was that 9?), there were more later, and there were cameras on the rover (which trip had the rover and went up to a ridge at a considerable distance from the lander?), and all together this was pretty confusing. Interesting, but confusing. | 995 | [
"The Apollo program through the cameras the astronauts took with them, as well as through cameras in the control room at Houston.",
"It's interesting, but in the process of finding a picture of the DVD cover, I came across another I'm going to have to find, called \"In the Shadow of the Moon\" from 2007 directed by Ron Howard.",
"I suspect (especially from the trailer) that it is going to be better.This is mostly the raw film, with all its flaws, and you don't always know what you are looking at.",
"Indeed, I spent a good bit of the time while they were on the moon trying to figure where the camera was that was taking the picture.",
"It turns out they have mashed together several trips, and so while there were only two astronauts on the surface in Apollo 8 (or was that 9?",
"), there were more later, and there were cameras on the rover (which trip had the rover and went up to a ridge at a considerable distance from the lander?",
"), and all together this was pretty confusing.",
"Interesting, but confusing."
] |
3 | O.K. | Part 4 is an ok horror movie that has the biggest body count of all the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. The kids that survived Part 3 are back in school with a new pack of kids that Freddy will tear apart. They don't last. Freddy easily kills the first two dream warriors and is set to kill Kristen when Kristen gives her powers to kill Freddy to a new Nightmare heroine Alice. Freddy is more of a comedian then ever. In my opinion he cracked one two many one-liners in this film and not enough time trying to be scary. That is my biggest complaint of this film. It doesn't try to be scary. It just tries to show us another Freddy film with no real reason to do so. Alot of the deaths that Freddy commits in this film are quite original and some are just plain gross(like the cockroach girl). Robert England and Lisa Wilcox are great as the villain and hero. This film also has the most gory Freddy kill. You will actually see the soles that Freddy keeps inside him rip out of the clawed killer. | 995 | [
"Part 4 is an ok horror movie that has the biggest body count of all the Nightmare on Elm Street movies.",
"The kids that survived Part 3 are back in school with a new pack of kids that Freddy will tear apart.",
"They don't last.",
"Freddy easily kills the first two dream warriors and is set to kill Kristen when Kristen gives her powers to kill Freddy to a new Nightmare heroine Alice.",
"Freddy is more of a comedian then ever.",
"In my opinion he cracked one two many one-liners in this film and not enough time trying to be scary.",
"That is my biggest complaint of this film.",
"It doesn't try to be scary.",
"It just tries to show us another Freddy film with no real reason to do so.",
"Alot of the deaths that Freddy commits in this film are quite original and some are just plain gross(like the cockroach girl).",
"Robert England and Lisa Wilcox are great as the villain and hero.",
"This film also has the most gory Freddy kill.",
"You will actually see the soles that Freddy keeps inside him rip out of the clawed killer."
] |
3 | Ticked Off | This is a comedy alright, but the jokes on us. I enjoyed the journey of these two lost souls finding company and comfort with each other as "strangers in a strange land". I would have been OK with the ending being Bill Murray's character just riding to the airport thinking about what just happened. But this whispering in the ear and excluding the audience after letting us in on every little detail up to that point--- well it just ticked me off. Oh, I can sit there and come up with my own ending, but I wanted to know how, in Sophia's vision, this story ends. Maybe she doesn't know herself! I felt like I had just been had and I don't care for that. Had I known the ending before the seeing the movie, I'd have passed on the journey.I did get a few chuckles out of it and loved the "Lip my stockings" scene. But found the premise as rude as listening to a friend tell a joke to a group of people, only to have him turn and walk away before the punchline. You just wonder, why they bothered. | 995 | [
"This is a comedy alright, but the jokes on us.",
"I enjoyed the journey of these two lost souls finding company and comfort with each other as \"strangers in a strange land\".",
"I would have been OK with the ending being Bill Murray's character just riding to the airport thinking about what just happened.",
"But this whispering in the ear and excluding the audience after letting us in on every little detail up to that point--- well it just ticked me off.",
"Oh, I can sit there and come up with my own ending, but I wanted to know how, in Sophia's vision, this story ends.",
"Maybe she doesn't know herself!",
"I felt like I had just been had and I don't care for that.",
"Had I known the ending before the seeing the movie, I'd have passed on the journey.I did get a few chuckles out of it and loved the \"Lip my stockings\" scene.",
"But found the premise as rude as listening to a friend tell a joke to a group of people, only to have him turn and walk away before the punchline.",
"You just wonder, why they bothered."
] |
3 | TURN OF FAITH | BEYOND REDEMPTION is a stylish, noir-like thriller featuring former bratpacker Andrew McCarthy.A serial killer is knocking off what appears to be philanthropists, not withstanding a hooker whose john pays her 15,000 before offing her. Atheist detective McCarthy is placed in charge of the case, an interesting paradox--an atheist investigating religiously themed murders. Along with his Jewish partner (Matthew Laurance), McCarthy at first suspects another priest and then is even more horrified to find his younger brother may be a suspect. Meanwhile, his young daughter is facing life-threatening bone marrow surgery, and is questioning him about death and heaven. Michael Ironside appears as Alexander Hunt, a billionaire whose philanthropic niceties makes him a possible future victim.BEYOND REDEMPTION has good intentions, but its ending is contrived and a faux climax doesn't help things out. Still, the cast does well and it is moody and threatening. Not a classic but you could do worse. | 995 | [
"BEYOND REDEMPTION is a stylish, noir-like thriller featuring former bratpacker Andrew McCarthy.A serial killer is knocking off what appears to be philanthropists, not withstanding a hooker whose john pays her 15,000 before offing her.",
"Atheist detective McCarthy is placed in charge of the case, an interesting paradox--an atheist investigating religiously themed murders.",
"Along with his Jewish partner (Matthew Laurance), McCarthy at first suspects another priest and then is even more horrified to find his younger brother may be a suspect.",
"Meanwhile, his young daughter is facing life-threatening bone marrow surgery, and is questioning him about death and heaven.",
"Michael Ironside appears as Alexander Hunt, a billionaire whose philanthropic niceties makes him a possible future victim.BEYOND REDEMPTION has good intentions, but its ending is contrived and a faux climax doesn't help things out.",
"Still, the cast does well and it is moody and threatening.",
"Not a classic but you could do worse."
] |
3 | Good, not great... | We found this book to be one of those that had a foot in each camp, so to speak, giving some technical and some 'psychological' tips that apply to taking nude photo's of your partner. While the concept is good, the execution was lacking, and the book was a bit light in both areas.Personally we would have preferred something a little more technical, perhaps even formulaic, showing how (settings, lighting diagrams, etc) particular shots were achieved.The writing style was another thing we found odd. It had a rather stilted, almost academic feel to it, rather than a friendly, chatty, 'hey guys, you want to take dirty pictures of your wife, here's how..." feel to it, which is apparently where this book is aimed. Feel free to disagree.Finally, the fact that the author says the entire book's photo's were shot the day the book was due at the printers speaks volumes. A book's photo's shot in a day or two ? They were average, not great, or even particularly good.Clink, clink, 2c deposited. | 995 | [
"We found this book to be one of those that had a foot in each camp, so to speak, giving some technical and some 'psychological' tips that apply to taking nude photo's of your partner.",
"While the concept is good, the execution was lacking, and the book was a bit light in both areas.Personally we would have preferred something a little more technical, perhaps even formulaic, showing how (settings, lighting diagrams, etc) particular shots were achieved.The writing style was another thing we found odd.",
"It had a rather stilted, almost academic feel to it, rather than a friendly, chatty, 'hey guys, you want to take dirty pictures of your wife, here's how...\" feel to it, which is apparently where this book is aimed.",
"Feel free to disagree.Finally, the fact that the author says the entire book's photo's were shot the day the book was due at the printers speaks volumes.",
"A book's photo's shot in a day or two?",
"They were average, not great, or even particularly good.Clink, clink, 2c deposited."
] |
3 | Tenderness | Set in New York State, the story center's on juvenile murderer, Eric Poole, who at 18 is released from jail having served his sentence for the murder of a young girl. Russell Crowe plays the hard-bitten detective who put him away and who is sure that Poole is a potential serial killer who will re-offend. He makes it his mission to keep Poole under surveillance as he sets off on a seemingly innocent road trip up-state. But all is not as it seems as Poole soon finds himself on the run with a young girl who has become obsessed with him and may or may not have been witness to the first murder. All the professional elements are present: acting, directing, lighting, set design, and even a minimal amount of music. "Tenderness" its a really simple movie about very complex characters. Everyone has their motives, their back story and while the ride is not as fun or well done as it could, it closes pretty well. Recommended for those of you who enjoy slow suspense, character driven thrillers. | 995 | [
"Set in New York State, the story center's on juvenile murderer, Eric Poole, who at 18 is released from jail having served his sentence for the murder of a young girl.",
"Russell Crowe plays the hard-bitten detective who put him away and who is sure that Poole is a potential serial killer who will re-offend.",
"He makes it his mission to keep Poole under surveillance as he sets off on a seemingly innocent road trip up-state.",
"But all is not as it seems as Poole soon finds himself on the run with a young girl who has become obsessed with him and may or may not have been witness to the first murder.",
"All the professional elements are present: acting, directing, lighting, set design, and even a minimal amount of music.",
"\"Tenderness\" its a really simple movie about very complex characters.",
"Everyone has their motives, their back story and while the ride is not as fun or well done as it could, it closes pretty well.",
"Recommended for those of you who enjoy slow suspense, character driven thrillers."
] |
3 | A Thrill Ride | This thriller by Ed Gorman begins with a courtroom scene in which an accused man, Roy Gerard, is being tried for the murder of his parents. Assistant District Attorney, Jessica Dennis, is questioning a witness when gunmen, including Gerard's brother, David, enter the courtroom, open fire, and escape via helicopter with Gerard in tow. Jessica is wounded, and a reporter, Michael Shaw, comes to her aid. All of this action takes place in the first seven pages of the book.Flash forward five years, and the story continues with Roy Gerard scheduled to be put to death and now District Attorney Jessica Dennis preparing to debate the issue of the death penalty on national television. Brother David, having kept a low profile abroad, is back and determined to exact revenge on all people responsible for Roy's incarceration. He also has an elaborate plan to rescue his brother before the execution can take place.This book is action-packed and fast-moving. The suspense continues to the last page. | 995 | [
"This thriller by Ed Gorman begins with a courtroom scene in which an accused man, Roy Gerard, is being tried for the murder of his parents.",
"Assistant District Attorney, Jessica Dennis, is questioning a witness when gunmen, including Gerard's brother, David, enter the courtroom, open fire, and escape via helicopter with Gerard in tow.",
"Jessica is wounded, and a reporter, Michael Shaw, comes to her aid.",
"All of this action takes place in the first seven pages of the book.Flash forward five years, and the story continues with Roy Gerard scheduled to be put to death and now District Attorney Jessica Dennis preparing to debate the issue of the death penalty on national television.",
"Brother David, having kept a low profile abroad, is back and determined to exact revenge on all people responsible for Roy's incarceration.",
"He also has an elaborate plan to rescue his brother before the execution can take place.This book is action-packed and fast-moving.",
"The suspense continues to the last page."
] |
3 | somewhat useful | This book and "Healing Anger" have pretty much the same content, so don't buy both. "Healing Anger" is organized in the form of eight talks and question-and-answer sessions over a four day period, whereas "The Art of Happiness" is organized topically. For this reason "The Art of Happiness" may be easier to use if you are interested in exploring particular topics. The downside of "The Art of Happiness" for me was Howard Cutler. I found his additions to what the Dalai Lama has to say didn't bring much value. What I was looking for in both books was mental exercises, and these are found in "Healing Anger" in each of the eight sessions in between the talk and the Q&A, so these are easier to find in "Healing Anger". I was a bit disappointed that neither book contained detailed treatments of some of the exercises referred to, such as the "seven-point cause and effect" and "equalization and exchange". These can be found on the internet by googling "Developing the Mind of Great Capacity". | 995 | [
"This book and \"Healing Anger\" have pretty much the same content, so don't buy both.",
"\"Healing Anger\" is organized in the form of eight talks and question-and-answer sessions over a four day period, whereas \"The Art of Happiness\" is organized topically.",
"For this reason \"The Art of Happiness\" may be easier to use if you are interested in exploring particular topics.",
"The downside of \"The Art of Happiness\" for me was Howard Cutler.",
"I found his additions to what the Dalai Lama has to say didn't bring much value.",
"What I was looking for in both books was mental exercises, and these are found in \"Healing Anger\" in each of the eight sessions in between the talk and the Q&A, so these are easier to find in \"Healing Anger\".",
"I was a bit disappointed that neither book contained detailed treatments of some of the exercises referred to, such as the \"seven-point cause and effect\" and \"equalization and exchange\".",
"These can be found on the internet by googling \"Developing the Mind of Great Capacity\"."
] |
3 | Good Primer | I've looked at a bunch of PHP books and this one is a good variable/basic primer. I was a bit daunted by the length of the Wrox book so I picked this one up to quickly learn the basics. I wasn't too disappointed.However, there are several code typos (luckily, they can be found corrected on the author's web site). In addition, I found some of the comments about certain things vague. He talks about forms and cookies but fails to give a simple example to reinforce these subjects. His discussion on PHP objects left me with many questions. I also didn't like having PHP functions used without explaining them to me first (I had to hit php's web site to learn what they did). I suppose I could've used the function glossary in the back of the book, but that is pretty spartan (and consumes about 100 pages).Overall, I recommend this book to seasoned programmers (a first-time programmer would be crushed) who want to know the basics of PHP quickly. Pick up the Wrox book as well for the details. | 995 | [
"I've looked at a bunch of PHP books and this one is a good variable/basic primer.",
"I was a bit daunted by the length of the Wrox book so I picked this one up to quickly learn the basics.",
"I wasn't too disappointed.However, there are several code typos (luckily, they can be found corrected on the author's web site).",
"In addition, I found some of the comments about certain things vague.",
"He talks about forms and cookies but fails to give a simple example to reinforce these subjects.",
"His discussion on PHP objects left me with many questions.",
"I also didn't like having PHP functions used without explaining them to me first (I had to hit php's web site to learn what they did).",
"I suppose I could've used the function glossary in the back of the book, but that is pretty spartan (and consumes about 100 pages).Overall, I recommend this book to seasoned programmers (a first-time programmer would be crushed) who want to know the basics of PHP quickly.",
"Pick up the Wrox book as well for the details."
] |
3 | Too Slick To Stick | Plenty of people have talked about the annoying voice-overs, so I'll pass on that part.This is a good performance, but a tacky editing job. A&E; were stuck in the past when they edited this performance, loading it up with hired models pretending to be girls in the crowd. Find me a woman under 25 who knows 70s Aerosmith lyrics, and I'll buy you this DVD. There are also plenty of "glory shots" of band members where it's clear they are not playing the parts you are hearing. I find that unacceptable because it just doesn't add anything - I already know they are cool, I don't have to be convinced.What saves the whole thing in the end is five performances included as extras which must have been edited by someone else. These are clean shots of the songs with no extra frills, and they are simply amazing.Guitar fans: Joe Perry busts out a double neck black Gretch for Living On The Edge that probably resulted in a call from his buddy Jimmy Page looking for a Christmas present. Amazing tone! | 995 | [
"Plenty of people have talked about the annoying voice-overs, so I'll pass on that part.This is a good performance, but a tacky editing job.",
"A&E; were stuck in the past when they edited this performance, loading it up with hired models pretending to be girls in the crowd.",
"Find me a woman under 25 who knows 70s Aerosmith lyrics, and I'll buy you this DVD.",
"There are also plenty of \"glory shots\" of band members where it's clear they are not playing the parts you are hearing.",
"I find that unacceptable because it just doesn't add anything - I already know they are cool, I don't have to be convinced.What saves the whole thing in the end is five performances included as extras which must have been edited by someone else.",
"These are clean shots of the songs with no extra frills, and they are simply amazing.Guitar fans: Joe Perry busts out a double neck black Gretch for Living On The Edge that probably resulted in a call from his buddy Jimmy Page looking for a Christmas present.",
"Amazing tone!"
] |
3 | It has its moments | After a couple listens, I could bring myself to enjoy about half the songs. These are the things that I think keep this album from greatness.Firstly, the production style is questionable. The recording sounds too normalized and the vocals seem overdone - giving it an artificial, antiseptic quality. But Perhaps this was the intention. I don't doubt that many of these songs sound wonderful on stage - with more subtleties and without all the studio processing.Secondly, its continuity is spoiled by fillers like Echoes of My Scream. I enjoy the first few tracks up until then... Supernova is catchy but a bit cheesy. FF's cover of I Will Follow is good enough - it mostly helps diversify the album.I might recommend Transgression to a listener of numetal, but not to a fan of the FF albums up until Digimortal, like I am. I was fairly impressed by Archetype because it reminded me of Demanufacture. But this one doesn't quite have the teeth, even if it does succeed in breaking some new ground. | 995 | [
"After a couple listens, I could bring myself to enjoy about half the songs.",
"These are the things that I think keep this album from greatness.Firstly, the production style is questionable.",
"The recording sounds too normalized and the vocals seem overdone - giving it an artificial, antiseptic quality.",
"But Perhaps this was the intention.",
"I don't doubt that many of these songs sound wonderful on stage - with more subtleties and without all the studio processing.Secondly, its continuity is spoiled by fillers like Echoes of My Scream.",
"I enjoy the first few tracks up until then... Supernova is catchy but a bit cheesy.",
"FF's cover of I Will Follow is good enough - it mostly helps diversify the album.I might recommend Transgression to a listener of numetal, but not to a fan of the FF albums up until Digimortal, like I am.",
"I was fairly impressed by Archetype because it reminded me of Demanufacture.",
"But this one doesn't quite have the teeth, even if it does succeed in breaking some new ground."
] |
3 | Pros and cons | I purchased this because I was hoping the even distribution of baby's weight would prevent my back from aching, since the Ultimate Baby Wrap is supposed to go over both shoulders, across the stomach and around the lower back. I've tried a Maya wrap and it made my back hurt. However, the Ultimate Wrap hurts my back, too, so oh well - that's what I get for having a bad back, I guess. This wrap is a pain to get it on, and the fabric stretches so much, I don't feel like baby is being held securely. Also, if you are a large person (like me - size 18/20) there isn't really enough fabric for it to wrap around the lower back like it's supposed to, which could be why my back hurts with this one, too. On the positive side, it's much more comfortable to wear in the summer (unlike other slings) because the fabric is lighter and breathes. The fabric seems much more comfortable to the baby than a Snugli carrier (which I've also used). Maybe I'm just not using this wrap correctly, but I give up. | 995 | [
"I purchased this because I was hoping the even distribution of baby's weight would prevent my back from aching, since the Ultimate Baby Wrap is supposed to go over both shoulders, across the stomach and around the lower back.",
"I've tried a Maya wrap and it made my back hurt.",
"However, the Ultimate Wrap hurts my back, too, so oh well - that's what I get for having a bad back, I guess.",
"This wrap is a pain to get it on, and the fabric stretches so much, I don't feel like baby is being held securely.",
"Also, if you are a large person (like me - size 18/20) there isn't really enough fabric for it to wrap around the lower back like it's supposed to, which could be why my back hurts with this one, too.",
"On the positive side, it's much more comfortable to wear in the summer (unlike other slings) because the fabric is lighter and breathes.",
"The fabric seems much more comfortable to the baby than a Snugli carrier (which I've also used).",
"Maybe I'm just not using this wrap correctly, but I give up."
] |
3 | Into the Bleak | Nico's contribution to modern music is undeniable. Drawing from medievil organ sounds and classical European orchestration, two of her albums ("Desertshore" and "The End") were ingenious collections of songs that owed nothing to any musical trends that were happening at the time. "Chelsea Girls" is Nico's first album after the Velvets, and while good in its own right, the songs here are so far apart from her later work that I would be surprised if fans could stomach listening to it. Nico's voice seems to accompany the 60's folk melodies nicely; "The Fairest of Seasons" and "These Days" are a wonderful opening for the album, but everything afterwards felt a bit awkward. Her voice is sometimes overpowered by the constant violin stabs and flute playing. Bob Dylan's "I'll Keep it With Mine" surprisingly fits however with Nico's singing and the instrumentation isn't as overblown as some of the other tracks. The album's highlight is the title track, which is insanely beautiful and dark. | 995 | [
"Nico's contribution to modern music is undeniable.",
"Drawing from medievil organ sounds and classical European orchestration, two of her albums (\"Desertshore\" and \"The End\") were ingenious collections of songs that owed nothing to any musical trends that were happening at the time.",
"\"Chelsea Girls\" is Nico's first album after the Velvets, and while good in its own right, the songs here are so far apart from her later work that I would be surprised if fans could stomach listening to it.",
"Nico's voice seems to accompany the 60's folk melodies nicely; \"The Fairest of Seasons\" and \"These Days\" are a wonderful opening for the album, but everything afterwards felt a bit awkward.",
"Her voice is sometimes overpowered by the constant violin stabs and flute playing.",
"Bob Dylan's \"I'll Keep it With Mine\" surprisingly fits however with Nico's singing and the instrumentation isn't as overblown as some of the other tracks.",
"The album's highlight is the title track, which is insanely beautiful and dark."
] |
3 | Otis and the Blues | When Otis Rush recorded this he was not feeling well and had had a drink too much. In fact he left the european tour he was on right after recording this and went back to the States. So is this a bad album? Should it not have been released? I say no to both of these questions. First, Rush is backed by a top-notch Chicago band with a mean Jimmy Dawkins on second guitar, and secondly, Otis seems at times possessed. He wails and screams and improvises, turning standard songs to a journey into his soul. Does this sound pathetic? Well, maybe so, but listen to Everyday I have the blues where Otis' anguished screams sends down cold chills along your spine. Or listen to the lyrics on A beautiful memory where Otis recalls how his parents listened to nice music but he only hears blues. This is not a nice blues album, it's not an album you play to feel good, but when you need some blues bordering to hell, you won't be disappointed. If you liked Cold day in hell, you should like this one too. | 995 | [
"When Otis Rush recorded this he was not feeling well and had had a drink too much.",
"In fact he left the european tour he was on right after recording this and went back to the States.",
"So is this a bad album?",
"Should it not have been released?",
"I say no to both of these questions.",
"First, Rush is backed by a top-notch Chicago band with a mean Jimmy Dawkins on second guitar, and secondly, Otis seems at times possessed.",
"He wails and screams and improvises, turning standard songs to a journey into his soul.",
"Does this sound pathetic?",
"Well, maybe so, but listen to Everyday I have the blues where Otis' anguished screams sends down cold chills along your spine.",
"Or listen to the lyrics on A beautiful memory where Otis recalls how his parents listened to nice music but he only hears blues.",
"This is not a nice blues album, it's not an album you play to feel good, but when you need some blues bordering to hell, you won't be disappointed.",
"If you liked Cold day in hell, you should like this one too."
] |
3 | The Polished Hoe | Austin Clark's novel, The Polished Hoe, takes place on the island of Bimshire (referring to Barbados). The novel begins with Mary Gertrude Mathilda, a respected woman throughout her community, calling the police station to confess a crime she has committed. When Sargent Percy Stuart is sent over to record her story he tries to stop her, for he has been in love with this woman for quite some time and it is hard for him to hear such a tragedy. The novels spans across a 24 hour period where Mary Mathilda recounts her life story, telling of the disgraceful acts against her that led up to her murderous rampage. She tells of the lifelong sexual and physical violence of the plantation owner, Mr. Bellfeels, which she has had to endure.The book starts out pretty slow when she is reminiscing on the history of her life and the plantation but it then eases into the good stuff. The story also tends to jump around quite a bit with time and place, which could be confusing to the reader at times. | 995 | [
"Austin Clark's novel, The Polished Hoe, takes place on the island of Bimshire (referring to Barbados).",
"The novel begins with Mary Gertrude Mathilda, a respected woman throughout her community, calling the police station to confess a crime she has committed.",
"When Sargent Percy Stuart is sent over to record her story he tries to stop her, for he has been in love with this woman for quite some time and it is hard for him to hear such a tragedy.",
"The novels spans across a 24 hour period where Mary Mathilda recounts her life story, telling of the disgraceful acts against her that led up to her murderous rampage.",
"She tells of the lifelong sexual and physical violence of the plantation owner, Mr.",
"Bellfeels, which she has had to endure.The book starts out pretty slow when she is reminiscing on the history of her life and the plantation but it then eases into the good stuff.",
"The story also tends to jump around quite a bit with time and place, which could be confusing to the reader at times."
] |
3 | Fun double feature | These two films began pairing up the Universal monsters to maximize box office potential. Although the decline in quality is painfully apparent when you compare them to the first two Frankenstein films, they are still a lot of fun for anyone who loves spooky castles and torch-wielding mobs of villagers. Lon Chaney, Jr. makes for a sympathetic lycanthrope in both these films, although the Wolfman has always seemed to be a bit of a wimp to me as far as monsters go. Frankenstein's monster has been reduced to the shambling silent stereotype we know him as today. Sadly, the complexity of Boris Karloff's portrayal has been lost. In "House of Frankenstein," John Carradine puts in a terrible performance as Dracula in a subplot that should have been stricken from the script. The highlight of "House" is Karloff's performance as the evil Dr. Neimann. He projects a malevolence that can make you momentarily forget that you're watching a safe monster movie that was originally produced for kids. | 995 | [
"These two films began pairing up the Universal monsters to maximize box office potential.",
"Although the decline in quality is painfully apparent when you compare them to the first two Frankenstein films, they are still a lot of fun for anyone who loves spooky castles and torch-wielding mobs of villagers.",
"Lon Chaney, Jr.",
"makes for a sympathetic lycanthrope in both these films, although the Wolfman has always seemed to be a bit of a wimp to me as far as monsters go.",
"Frankenstein's monster has been reduced to the shambling silent stereotype we know him as today.",
"Sadly, the complexity of Boris Karloff's portrayal has been lost.",
"In \"House of Frankenstein,\" John Carradine puts in a terrible performance as Dracula in a subplot that should have been stricken from the script.",
"The highlight of \"House\" is Karloff's performance as the evil Dr.",
"Neimann.",
"He projects a malevolence that can make you momentarily forget that you're watching a safe monster movie that was originally produced for kids."
] |
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