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3 | mixed feelings | i bought this cd an while ago and never wrote a review, but since i rely so heavily on these review, i figured i better give back. here goes.some of this cd is phenominal, and some of it could be passed over. not that its not good, just not to my taste. i tend to gravitate more to the soft, drastic contrast between the bamboo flute and the koto, but more soothing sound. the only problem with this cd is that it goes from something like this to a drum routine, that while isnt bad, is so diffrent that is doesnt flow well. id rather use the drum tracks as one cd, and the other music as another.so in a way, if you have no real idea what types of japanese music you like but you are curious, this is a great cd because it gives a great variety and from this you can isolate sounds you like and shop more educated. in this way it does serve a great purpose, but only temporarily for me...once i found the tracks i liked, i added them to a playlist on my laptop and hardly use the disc anymore. | 994 | [
"i bought this cd an while ago and never wrote a review, but since i rely so heavily on these review, i figured i better give back.",
"here goes.some of this cd is phenominal, and some of it could be passed over.",
"not that its not good, just not to my taste.",
"i tend to gravitate more to the soft, drastic contrast between the bamboo flute and the koto, but more soothing sound.",
"the only problem with this cd is that it goes from something like this to a drum routine, that while isnt bad, is so diffrent that is doesnt flow well.",
"id rather use the drum tracks as one cd, and the other music as another.so in a way, if you have no real idea what types of japanese music you like but you are curious, this is a great cd because it gives a great variety and from this you can isolate sounds you like and shop more educated.",
"in this way it does serve a great purpose, but only temporarily for me...once i found the tracks i liked, i added them to a playlist on my laptop and hardly use the disc anymore."
] |
3 | It was okay | As one person mentioned, the plot is multilayered. I liked that I couldn't predict the ending. Complex plots like this book feel more realistic, which I like.However, I gave this book three stars because I have no interest in reading a sequel.I felt that the characters were 2-dimensional and under-developed. When introducing characters, rather than showing or describing the character's character (for lack of a better word), the author described the locations and circumstances of the character. A description like that doesn't tell me WHO the character is. It only gives me a snapshot of the character in one moment. Then when he's out of those circumstances, I don't know what to expect.I like realistic characters - characters like people. And people are more or less predictable, once you know them well. I never got to that point in this book.However, my concern over characters was my only complaint. A reader who doesn't care about that one point will probably really enjoy this book. | 994 | [
"As one person mentioned, the plot is multilayered.",
"I liked that I couldn't predict the ending.",
"Complex plots like this book feel more realistic, which I like.However, I gave this book three stars because I have no interest in reading a sequel.I felt that the characters were 2-dimensional and under-developed.",
"When introducing characters, rather than showing or describing the character's character (for lack of a better word), the author described the locations and circumstances of the character.",
"A description like that doesn't tell me WHO the character is.",
"It only gives me a snapshot of the character in one moment.",
"Then when he's out of those circumstances, I don't know what to expect.I like realistic characters - characters like people.",
"And people are more or less predictable, once you know them well.",
"I never got to that point in this book.However, my concern over characters was my only complaint.",
"A reader who doesn't care about that one point will probably really enjoy this book."
] |
3 | Against the Ropes | Soon after the album was released in February 1980, Uriah Heep was in such a funk that songwriter and keyboardist Ken Hensley left and the band broke up (only to reform two years later).With John Sloman on lead vocals and Chris Slade on drums, the eight original tracks (five bonus tracks are included) again found the group trying to carve a niche in the AOR playlist that dominated FM radio. No Return, Carry On and Imagination are the better attempts at a "new" sound, while bassist Trevor Bolder emerges as a songwriter; co-writing two songs and also writing a pair, the strongest being It Ain't Easy.Though it received mostly negative reviews and was later panned by guitarist Mick Box and Hensley, this is a shining example of a band trying to find traction on a slippery slope of reinventing itself while maintaining an ambitious schedule of releasing new material and touring. It works in parts, but Uriah Heep was against the ropes and ultimately had to take time off to fully regroup. | 994 | [
"Soon after the album was released in February 1980, Uriah Heep was in such a funk that songwriter and keyboardist Ken Hensley left and the band broke up (only to reform two years later).With John Sloman on lead vocals and Chris Slade on drums, the eight original tracks (five bonus tracks are included) again found the group trying to carve a niche in the AOR playlist that dominated FM radio.",
"No Return, Carry On and Imagination are the better attempts at a \"new\" sound, while bassist Trevor Bolder emerges as a songwriter; co-writing two songs and also writing a pair, the strongest being It Ain't Easy.Though it received mostly negative reviews and was later panned by guitarist Mick Box and Hensley, this is a shining example of a band trying to find traction on a slippery slope of reinventing itself while maintaining an ambitious schedule of releasing new material and touring.",
"It works in parts, but Uriah Heep was against the ropes and ultimately had to take time off to fully regroup."
] |
3 | OK Construction | I installed these wires on my '98 Corolla last year. They fit fine and work, but the wire insulation is not molded or secured to either end. Gaps can form easily if you're not careful to push the insulation back in place. In general, this set just feels flimsy, especially compared to the OEM wires. Truth be told, I bought it for the Bosch name and the "Premium" on the package but there is definitely nothing premium about the product.--UPDATE--After reading a couple of other reviews for this, I want to emphasize that this spark plug wire set fits and works fine. It is just that I replaced them with NGK spark plug wires (the blue ones) and I think there is a big difference in quality. I also tried different types of spark plugs through the years but finally went back to the original DENSO ones. I realize I should have stuck with Toyota's recommendations all along for NGK and DENSO parts. They cost more but I do think they make the car run almost like it did when I purchased it new. | 994 | [
"I installed these wires on my '98 Corolla last year.",
"They fit fine and work, but the wire insulation is not molded or secured to either end.",
"Gaps can form easily if you're not careful to push the insulation back in place.",
"In general, this set just feels flimsy, especially compared to the OEM wires.",
"Truth be told, I bought it for the Bosch name and the \"Premium\" on the package but there is definitely nothing premium about the product.--UPDATE--After reading a couple of other reviews for this, I want to emphasize that this spark plug wire set fits and works fine.",
"It is just that I replaced them with NGK spark plug wires (the blue ones) and I think there is a big difference in quality.",
"I also tried different types of spark plugs through the years but finally went back to the original DENSO ones.",
"I realize I should have stuck with Toyota's recommendations all along for NGK and DENSO parts.",
"They cost more but I do think they make the car run almost like it did when I purchased it new."
] |
3 | Not bad, not great. | Before I purchased this item I reviewed several comments from others as well as comments concerning like items. While there were not nearly as many reviews for the Thermos coffee press I felt, all things considered, I should take a chance on this one. While it does make a very good cup of coffee it is nothing to brag about. As I am sure is true with all the others, as well. Mostly typical fad hype which will wear away with time and tide. GOOD: It does make as good coffee as my Black & Decker four-cupper and keeps it hot much longer than the B&D without electricity. BAD: The silly effort it takes requires 'way too much time, there are grounds in the poured beveage,it drips and it is a bear to clean properly. I suspect people tire of using a frog press pretty soon after the novelty wears off but at least with the Thermos I can use it AS a thermos to keep coffee, tea, cocoa, soup & I-don't-know-whatall hot for a reasonably long period. So, in retrospect, it's OK but nothing special. | 994 | [
"Before I purchased this item I reviewed several comments from others as well as comments concerning like items.",
"While there were not nearly as many reviews for the Thermos coffee press I felt, all things considered, I should take a chance on this one.",
"While it does make a very good cup of coffee it is nothing to brag about.",
"As I am sure is true with all the others, as well.",
"Mostly typical fad hype which will wear away with time and tide.",
"GOOD: It does make as good coffee as my Black & Decker four-cupper and keeps it hot much longer than the B&D without electricity.",
"BAD: The silly effort it takes requires 'way too much time, there are grounds in the poured beveage,it drips and it is a bear to clean properly.",
"I suspect people tire of using a frog press pretty soon after the novelty wears off but at least with the Thermos I can use it AS a thermos to keep coffee, tea, cocoa, soup & I-don't-know-whatall hot for a reasonably long period.",
"So, in retrospect, it's OK but nothing special."
] |
3 | Hard-Rocking CD | When presented with this eclectic "bluegrass/heavy metal" project, MCA transferred Earle's account to their rock division, Uni International, and Earle's road band had already undergone a dramatic country-to-rock change of personnel. Newly recruited guitarist Donnie Roberts is a rough-edged hard rocker, not as proficient on his instrument as former studio whiz/producer Richard Bennett. Roberts' guitar sound changes the ambience of this album, and with Earle producing, the result is an eclectic rock record. Earle's writing saves the day. Released as a single, "Copperhead Road" achieved enormous crossover success onto the rock charts and VH1, and it remains one of Earle's best-known songs. The oft-recorded "Devil's Right Hand" is here, as is "Snake-Oil," and the touching "Only A Child," perhaps a nod to Earle's own children. At any rate, this effort established Earle as a definitive rock crossover artist, capable of surviving on both sides (or the middle) of the country/rock fence. | 994 | [
"When presented with this eclectic \"bluegrass/heavy metal\" project, MCA transferred Earle's account to their rock division, Uni International, and Earle's road band had already undergone a dramatic country-to-rock change of personnel.",
"Newly recruited guitarist Donnie Roberts is a rough-edged hard rocker, not as proficient on his instrument as former studio whiz/producer Richard Bennett.",
"Roberts' guitar sound changes the ambience of this album, and with Earle producing, the result is an eclectic rock record.",
"Earle's writing saves the day.",
"Released as a single, \"Copperhead Road\" achieved enormous crossover success onto the rock charts and VH1, and it remains one of Earle's best-known songs.",
"The oft-recorded \"Devil's Right Hand\" is here, as is \"Snake-Oil,\" and the touching \"Only A Child,\" perhaps a nod to Earle's own children.",
"At any rate, this effort established Earle as a definitive rock crossover artist, capable of surviving on both sides (or the middle) of the country/rock fence."
] |
3 | Severely limiting | I've owned one for a good 6 years now (give or take) and it's a decent camera for the point and shoot minded photographer. While being an SLR, it's still a fully automatic camera. This means no light meter, no adjusting of aperture or shutter speed and little control in the way of adjusting for situations. It's the type of camera that a user will quickly grow out of. I personally found myself using it as a tourism camera, with a Cannon AE-1 for serious projects (until a more modern Rebel replaced them both).It's a funny camera really. It has the capability to look serious until you notice it has only 5 buttons (one being a redundant autofocus button), and the camera is also very light and compact. I've noticed if the film is not put in juuust right, it can sometimes auto-rewind after a shot or two. It's no fun having to dig out negatives and/or throw away a couple shots sometimes.I was honestly just a kid when I bought the camera, but I wish I took my money to something else now. | 994 | [
"I've owned one for a good 6 years now (give or take) and it's a decent camera for the point and shoot minded photographer.",
"While being an SLR, it's still a fully automatic camera.",
"This means no light meter, no adjusting of aperture or shutter speed and little control in the way of adjusting for situations.",
"It's the type of camera that a user will quickly grow out of.",
"I personally found myself using it as a tourism camera, with a Cannon AE-1 for serious projects (until a more modern Rebel replaced them both).It's a funny camera really.",
"It has the capability to look serious until you notice it has only 5 buttons (one being a redundant autofocus button), and the camera is also very light and compact.",
"I've noticed if the film is not put in juuust right, it can sometimes auto-rewind after a shot or two.",
"It's no fun having to dig out negatives and/or throw away a couple shots sometimes.I was honestly just a kid when I bought the camera, but I wish I took my money to something else now."
] |
3 | Sweet | The opening chords and strains, the sextet and the mad scene. These of course are what I love about Lucia, though all of it is beautiful. I've had this recording for months and just listened to it today. I doubt I'll listen to it again. I have lots of Lucias, and no favorites. Though I especially like Sutherland's 1959 recording of the mad scene, it's beautiful, and her trills hadn't got muddy yet. I'm only going to comment on the mad scene in this recording. It sounds more like a lullaby than the ravings of someone who'd just murdered her husband. I was surprised, because I'd read (apocryphal) that Sills had said she'd pound tables and sing off key to get the drama out. I prefer bel canto coloratura to table pounding, I don't care about the drama. At all. Still, that said, I was both stunned and disappointed in Sills' mad scene. It was, well, flaccid. (I love Sills, am listening to the 1st disc of Sillsiana right now, and I have the Pons recording and do not think she chirped!) | 993 | [
"The opening chords and strains, the sextet and the mad scene.",
"These of course are what I love about Lucia, though all of it is beautiful.",
"I've had this recording for months and just listened to it today.",
"I doubt I'll listen to it again.",
"I have lots of Lucias, and no favorites.",
"Though I especially like Sutherland's 1959 recording of the mad scene, it's beautiful, and her trills hadn't got muddy yet.",
"I'm only going to comment on the mad scene in this recording.",
"It sounds more like a lullaby than the ravings of someone who'd just murdered her husband.",
"I was surprised, because I'd read (apocryphal) that Sills had said she'd pound tables and sing off key to get the drama out.",
"I prefer bel canto coloratura to table pounding, I don't care about the drama.",
"At all.",
"Still, that said, I was both stunned and disappointed in Sills' mad scene.",
"It was, well, flaccid.",
"(I love Sills, am listening to the 1st disc of Sillsiana right now, and I have the Pons recording and do not think she chirped!",
")"
] |
3 | Disappointing | Maybe I would have enjoyed A Farewell to Arms more if I hadn't had such high expectations. This is Hemingway afterall. But I couldn't believe the dialogue. At first I thought it was awkward because Hemingway was literally translating Italian phrases into English (which was easy for me to notice having studied Italian for several years). But it eventually became apparent that this was not always the case. The characters' speech seemed fake throughout the novel, thus making the characters hard to believe.If you're like me and sad endings ruin a book for you, don't read A Farewell to Arms. The romantic sections when Frederic and Catherine were together were wonderful. But the tragic ending lead me to want to create a different one for myself. Then there were the chapters describing the war which seemed to drag on at times. I found myself continuing to read just to get to the parts where Frederic and Catherine reunite.It had it's moments, but I don't think it was consistently great. | 993 | [
"Maybe I would have enjoyed A Farewell to Arms more if I hadn't had such high expectations.",
"This is Hemingway afterall.",
"But I couldn't believe the dialogue.",
"At first I thought it was awkward because Hemingway was literally translating Italian phrases into English (which was easy for me to notice having studied Italian for several years).",
"But it eventually became apparent that this was not always the case.",
"The characters' speech seemed fake throughout the novel, thus making the characters hard to believe.If you're like me and sad endings ruin a book for you, don't read A Farewell to Arms.",
"The romantic sections when Frederic and Catherine were together were wonderful.",
"But the tragic ending lead me to want to create a different one for myself.",
"Then there were the chapters describing the war which seemed to drag on at times.",
"I found myself continuing to read just to get to the parts where Frederic and Catherine reunite.It had it's moments, but I don't think it was consistently great."
] |
3 | I expected more | Reading the rave reviews here, I HAD to try this one. It wasn't up to the acclaim for me.Stross has created a detailed world, and delivers an incredible texture to his story, but if you don't have a computer science degree, it might be tough figuring out what is magic, what is technical, and what is just gibberish. There's so much here that seems inside humor, and I, for one, was on the outside.The book has amazing potential, but by avoiding mainstream readers, it won't be as successful as the author deserves.Make no mistake, this book has some really great ideas, and combines Lovecraftian horror with action, and dunks it in the movie "Office Space." Portions of it just fly along, and the original ideas are fantastic.The problem was that when explanations were made, I just don't speak programmer language, so I didn't get it, and the book bogged down.I won't say this is not a good book, but if it were slightly less reliant on the technical language, it would be elevated to great. | 993 | [
"Reading the rave reviews here, I HAD to try this one.",
"It wasn't up to the acclaim for me.Stross has created a detailed world, and delivers an incredible texture to his story, but if you don't have a computer science degree, it might be tough figuring out what is magic, what is technical, and what is just gibberish.",
"There's so much here that seems inside humor, and I, for one, was on the outside.The book has amazing potential, but by avoiding mainstream readers, it won't be as successful as the author deserves.Make no mistake, this book has some really great ideas, and combines Lovecraftian horror with action, and dunks it in the movie \"Office Space.\" Portions of it just fly along, and the original ideas are fantastic.The problem was that when explanations were made, I just don't speak programmer language, so I didn't get it, and the book bogged down.I won't say this is not a good book, but if it were slightly less reliant on the technical language, it would be elevated to great."
] |
3 | More of a Wry Grin | "Heroes and Villains" starts with great snap, and had me almost weeping that Brian pulled it off. The rest degenerates into pleasant Broadway-slick pabulum (and now I see a musical's come and gone), with "Good Vibrations" probably the low point of the Unnecessary. The music sounds too reverential and clean, a studied weirdness but none of that tingling "music speaking to itself" lonesomeness you get on the original tracks (stack up Windchimes or Vegetables against their versions on 1967's "Smiley Smile," or the way superior Surf's Up on the 1970 recording).Mad props to Brian & Co. for making this more than an excursion into nostalgia--his later music was too individual and out of time somehow for that to work--but it's also less than satisfying as a replacement for the Great Lost Album.And that's the thing--we already HAD Smile, dribbled out across a decade's worth of otherwise dull records, and that's part of its specialness, that we had to receive it like that.Long live Smile. | 993 | [
"\"Heroes and Villains\" starts with great snap, and had me almost weeping that Brian pulled it off.",
"The rest degenerates into pleasant Broadway-slick pabulum (and now I see a musical's come and gone), with \"Good Vibrations\" probably the low point of the Unnecessary.",
"The music sounds too reverential and clean, a studied weirdness but none of that tingling \"music speaking to itself\" lonesomeness you get on the original tracks (stack up Windchimes or Vegetables against their versions on 1967's \"Smiley Smile,\" or the way superior Surf's Up on the 1970 recording).Mad props to Brian & Co.",
"for making this more than an excursion into nostalgia--his later music was too individual and out of time somehow for that to work--but it's also less than satisfying as a replacement for the Great Lost Album.And that's the thing--we already HAD Smile, dribbled out across a decade's worth of otherwise dull records, and that's part of its specialness, that we had to receive it like that.Long live Smile."
] |
3 | Undone. | This is a tough one to grade. I like Blondie, and the music is executed well. There is a wide range of sounds on this cd, but I could not help but feel this was a tired effort. Even with long time keyboardist Jimmy Destri back on board I was expecting more. Looking over the cd packaging it seems evident that the band is trying to recapture their late 70's glory, but the music on "Curse" doesn't add up. They even pulled old 70's and 80's hitmaking producer Giorgio Moroder in for a bonus mix of "Good Boys". There are some tracks that stand out, but there does not appear to be any hit single that stands out. The energy that once infused classic tracks like "Heart Of Glass" and "Call Me" is glaringly absent here. While the musicianship is solid and Deborah Harry's vocals sound better than ever, the music felt unoriginal and unmemorable. I'm surprised that so many reviewers have given this disc such high marks. This is for Blondie fans only, and even then, they might be disappointed. | 993 | [
"This is a tough one to grade.",
"I like Blondie, and the music is executed well.",
"There is a wide range of sounds on this cd, but I could not help but feel this was a tired effort.",
"Even with long time keyboardist Jimmy Destri back on board I was expecting more.",
"Looking over the cd packaging it seems evident that the band is trying to recapture their late 70's glory, but the music on \"Curse\" doesn't add up.",
"They even pulled old 70's and 80's hitmaking producer Giorgio Moroder in for a bonus mix of \"Good Boys\".",
"There are some tracks that stand out, but there does not appear to be any hit single that stands out.",
"The energy that once infused classic tracks like \"Heart Of Glass\" and \"Call Me\" is glaringly absent here.",
"While the musicianship is solid and Deborah Harry's vocals sound better than ever, the music felt unoriginal and unmemorable.",
"I'm surprised that so many reviewers have given this disc such high marks.",
"This is for Blondie fans only, and even then, they might be disappointed."
] |
3 | PRETZEL LOGIC | On a purely gutteral level, I enjoyed TWISTED. Even with its inconsistent plot and pacing, even with some over the top performances, I was caught up in the mystery. Somehow the identity of the killer surprised me, although I should've seen it coming. Ashley Judd tried hard, but her character is so unbelievable, it had to damage the movie. Samuel L. Jackson, who can be good (Long Kiss Goodnight) or terrible (Deep Blue Sea) falls somewhere in between. The man did not look comfortable smoking!!! Andy Garcia overused his sleepy eyed look, and his Al Pacino outbursts were merely supercharged outbursts. More convincing were some of the supporting cast: Leland Orser as a slimy murderer who attempts to kill Judd; Cathryn Manheim (The Practice) as the medical examiner; D. W. Moffett as an exboyfriend and lawyer to Orser; and Mark Pellegrino redefining slime in his catty, on target portrayal as Jimmy.Plot holes everywhere, a non-explosive climax aside, I have to admit TWISTED entertained. | 993 | [
"On a purely gutteral level, I enjoyed TWISTED.",
"Even with its inconsistent plot and pacing, even with some over the top performances, I was caught up in the mystery.",
"Somehow the identity of the killer surprised me, although I should've seen it coming.",
"Ashley Judd tried hard, but her character is so unbelievable, it had to damage the movie.",
"Samuel L.",
"Jackson, who can be good (Long Kiss Goodnight) or terrible (Deep Blue Sea) falls somewhere in between.",
"The man did not look comfortable smoking!!!",
"Andy Garcia overused his sleepy eyed look, and his Al Pacino outbursts were merely supercharged outbursts.",
"More convincing were some of the supporting cast: Leland Orser as a slimy murderer who attempts to kill Judd; Cathryn Manheim (The Practice) as the medical examiner; D.",
"W.",
"Moffett as an exboyfriend and lawyer to Orser; and Mark Pellegrino redefining slime in his catty, on target portrayal as Jimmy.Plot holes everywhere, a non-explosive climax aside, I have to admit TWISTED entertained."
] |
3 | hightech_not so fun. | i have a pc that is above average ...(radeon 7500,p3_1ghz,512mb_w98se)but this game is aimed at higher hard ware . BUT.i'm having satisfaction with my pc ,so far becauseradeon 's hardware TnL is paying off ,i guess.graphics,effects ,sound and music are well built BUT!you should not expect diablo style quest . nor should youexpect other rpg's fun.Unless you go to internet or tcp/ip and play with kicking and alive team members .Yes, not the AI team members you will meet.you will meet new teammembers(AI)as you play on but they aren't as active ashuman team members.the story is quite simple (tasteless)and i hope people with powerful hardware(cpu,vga) try this gameIF they have friends willing to play together.i'm waiting for the expansion(if there is any comming out).so people who do not have good hardware, wait untill you upgrade your pc and then buy the full set.people who have good hardware but don't have friends to play with, go for other games.great technology with lesser taste. | 993 | [
"i have a pc that is above average ...(radeon 7500,p3_1ghz,512mb_w98se)but this game is aimed at higher hard ware.",
"BUT.i'm having satisfaction with my pc ,so far becauseradeon 's hardware TnL is paying off ,i guess.graphics,effects ,sound and music are well built BUT!",
"you should not expect diablo style quest.",
"nor should youexpect other rpg's fun.Unless you go to internet or tcp/ip and play with kicking and alive team members .Yes, not the AI team members you will meet.you will meet new teammembers(AI)as you play on but they aren't as active ashuman team members.the story is quite simple (tasteless)and i hope people with powerful hardware(cpu,vga) try this gameIF they have friends willing to play together.i'm waiting for the expansion(if there is any comming out).so people who do not have good hardware, wait untill you upgrade your pc and then buy the full set.people who have good hardware but don't have friends to play with, go for other games.great technology with lesser taste."
] |
3 | Good space opera | Definitely not hard sci-fi a la Vernor Vinge or even Larry Niven, but still a good space opera. It's a refreshing change to have strong women in science fiction novels, and Cordelia qualifies as an exceptionally strong and sympathetic protagonist.Bujold also confronts the issues of rape and torture that inhabit war's dark underbelly. She does so indirectly and without resorting to graphic scenes of voyeuristic torture, but it is nice to see these issues dealt with soberly rather than ignored as they are in many of the sci-fi and fantasy novels I've read.One downside of reading too much anthropology is that I get annoyed when sci-fi shows and novels reduce all the civilizations of an entire planet to a few simple characteristics (Klingons are warlike, Vulcans are logical, Endor is a "forest" moon that evidently doesn't have any other ecosystems, etc). This novel is guilty of this, although Barrayar, the civilization that the reader gets the closest look at, is fairly interesting. | 993 | [
"Definitely not hard sci-fi a la Vernor Vinge or even Larry Niven, but still a good space opera.",
"It's a refreshing change to have strong women in science fiction novels, and Cordelia qualifies as an exceptionally strong and sympathetic protagonist.Bujold also confronts the issues of rape and torture that inhabit war's dark underbelly.",
"She does so indirectly and without resorting to graphic scenes of voyeuristic torture, but it is nice to see these issues dealt with soberly rather than ignored as they are in many of the sci-fi and fantasy novels I've read.One downside of reading too much anthropology is that I get annoyed when sci-fi shows and novels reduce all the civilizations of an entire planet to a few simple characteristics (Klingons are warlike, Vulcans are logical, Endor is a \"forest\" moon that evidently doesn't have any other ecosystems, etc).",
"This novel is guilty of this, although Barrayar, the civilization that the reader gets the closest look at, is fairly interesting."
] |
3 | not truely original | I don't mean to badmouth H.G. Wells; he was a talented, intelligent man. His work The Time Machine is thought to be orininal by most people. However, after some research, I realized that this novel is not as original as one thinks. Many aspects of this novel were already used, if not trite. Several scenes were similar from previously published novels; even some of the topics he discussed (evolution, time travel, class structure) were intertwined in earlier novels as they were in The Time Machine. It was, for the most part, enojoyable, but it certainly was not completely original. This really has nothing to do with the quality of the work in itself; out of the three novels I've read by Wells, this is the best one. Besides the fact of its triteness, the novel was well written and deserves to be a classic. I don't know if anyone reading this knows of H.G. Wells thoughts about sex and such, but for some reason, his relationship with Weena reminded me of his troubles/thoughts on sex. | 993 | [
"I don't mean to badmouth H.G. Wells; he was a talented, intelligent man.",
"His work The Time Machine is thought to be orininal by most people.",
"However, after some research, I realized that this novel is not as original as one thinks.",
"Many aspects of this novel were already used, if not trite.",
"Several scenes were similar from previously published novels; even some of the topics he discussed (evolution, time travel, class structure) were intertwined in earlier novels as they were in The Time Machine.",
"It was, for the most part, enojoyable, but it certainly was not completely original.",
"This really has nothing to do with the quality of the work in itself; out of the three novels I've read by Wells, this is the best one.",
"Besides the fact of its triteness, the novel was well written and deserves to be a classic.",
"I don't know if anyone reading this knows of H.G. Wells thoughts about sex and such, but for some reason, his relationship with Weena reminded me of his troubles/thoughts on sex."
] |
3 | One major flaw | This movie has all the right elements. From script to directing to supporting cast to the music is all excellent. But Ralph Macchio is just the wrong choice for the lead role. Coming fresh off of Karate Kid, the role he will always be remembered for, Macchio just can't shake off that character, and in fact just reprises his Karate Kid role in a different environment. So instead of a great movie about the blues, we have Karate Kid meets the blues. I'm sure the choice of Macchio was all about marquee value and pulling an audience who would not otherwise pay to watch a movie about the blues. But how many 13 year old girls who went to see Macchio in this 1986 film really cared about the blues? And how many blues fans really felt that Macchio was right for the role? Count 'em on one hand! If you can erase the Karate Kid image from your mind, this movie is a loving tribute to the blues accompanied by excellent blues music. I just can't give it more than 3 stars because of mis-casting. | 993 | [
"This movie has all the right elements.",
"From script to directing to supporting cast to the music is all excellent.",
"But Ralph Macchio is just the wrong choice for the lead role.",
"Coming fresh off of Karate Kid, the role he will always be remembered for, Macchio just can't shake off that character, and in fact just reprises his Karate Kid role in a different environment.",
"So instead of a great movie about the blues, we have Karate Kid meets the blues.",
"I'm sure the choice of Macchio was all about marquee value and pulling an audience who would not otherwise pay to watch a movie about the blues.",
"But how many 13 year old girls who went to see Macchio in this 1986 film really cared about the blues?",
"And how many blues fans really felt that Macchio was right for the role?",
"Count 'em on one hand!",
"If you can erase the Karate Kid image from your mind, this movie is a loving tribute to the blues accompanied by excellent blues music.",
"I just can't give it more than 3 stars because of mis-casting."
] |
3 | hello? history?? | Seems that Saving Private Ryan has triggered off the assumation by some people that America saved the world during WW2, well actually no it didnt, for gods sake go out and read a history book before you start assuming that america is the saviour of our entire planet. It was part of it but what about everyone else? All the other allies none of which are portrayed in this film, the British, the Canadians, the French not to mention the black and hispanic men all of which fought longer and just as bravely as the Americans but seem to have been forgoten about by Spielburg. Also I think Spielburg lost the plot really about the message he was trying to convey by getting too mixed up in patriotism, action scenes and overlong blatantly oscar begging speeches. Dont get me wrong the Omaha Beach scene was incredible and I think about as close as we will get to realising what those men did for us. This is the only part of the film that is truly horrifying and also the only part worth seeing. | 993 | [
"Seems that Saving Private Ryan has triggered off the assumation by some people that America saved the world during WW2, well actually no it didnt, for gods sake go out and read a history book before you start assuming that america is the saviour of our entire planet.",
"It was part of it but what about everyone else?",
"All the other allies none of which are portrayed in this film, the British, the Canadians, the French not to mention the black and hispanic men all of which fought longer and just as bravely as the Americans but seem to have been forgoten about by Spielburg.",
"Also I think Spielburg lost the plot really about the message he was trying to convey by getting too mixed up in patriotism, action scenes and overlong blatantly oscar begging speeches.",
"Dont get me wrong the Omaha Beach scene was incredible and I think about as close as we will get to realising what those men did for us.",
"This is the only part of the film that is truly horrifying and also the only part worth seeing."
] |
3 | Green Day Revisited | The good thing about bands like Blink 182 is that the energetic guitars and drums and the joyful-boyish vocals create catchy rock music. The downside is that it's the same over and over, song for song - they're hard to distinguish. So, like it's the case for Green Day and The Offspring albums, one entire album is too much. A few good songs spread here and there is better. A very typical song of this genre is the opener 'Anthem Part Two'. It is not bad at all but very typical, like a cliché. Tracks 2 and 3, 'Online Songs' and 'First Date', are nearly identical though and had better been left out. The best song on 'Take Off Your Pants And Jacket' is the SLIGHTly more sensitive 'Story Of A Lonely Guy'. Other highlights (or rather: 'slightly-above-standard-lights') are the hit single 'The Rock Show', 'Please Take Me Home' and the two more varied and artistic 'Give Me One Good Reason' and 'Stay Together For The Kids'. But... a couple of songs or maybe two would really have done it... | 993 | [
"The good thing about bands like Blink 182 is that the energetic guitars and drums and the joyful-boyish vocals create catchy rock music.",
"The downside is that it's the same over and over, song for song - they're hard to distinguish.",
"So, like it's the case for Green Day and The Offspring albums, one entire album is too much.",
"A few good songs spread here and there is better.",
"A very typical song of this genre is the opener 'Anthem Part Two'.",
"It is not bad at all but very typical, like a cliché.",
"Tracks 2 and 3, 'Online Songs' and 'First Date', are nearly identical though and had better been left out.",
"The best song on 'Take Off Your Pants And Jacket' is the SLIGHTly more sensitive 'Story Of A Lonely Guy'.",
"Other highlights (or rather: 'slightly-above-standard-lights') are the hit single 'The Rock Show', 'Please Take Me Home' and the two more varied and artistic 'Give Me One Good Reason' and 'Stay Together For The Kids'.",
"But... a couple of songs or maybe two would really have done it..."
] |
3 | musically... | ...i remember i liked the 1st 7 tracs & musically my favorite lp tracs in order are: 4-For A Moment, 1-About us, tracs 6, 2, 7, 5, 3/ 11, 12, 10/--the rest get lamer--9, 8, 13/ 14-a cd w/ a variety of style. @ highest, i rate this cd apx 3.4 here or 6.8 of a 10.thanksbrooke.her natural voice gets synthetically lost on production on some songs on this lp. maybe not so fair to ask due to the genre here, but wondering, who are the musicians & whose the band?-i guess mostly pc generated.its too bad though that 1 of her best songs too called loveyouboth never made it to either of her cds, probably only due to redtape.hard to say which lp i like better of her 2; that'll take time to hear again.for anyone, on best sounding music, it seems the criteria to make any cd catchy & verygood for its music, for the most part, are: strong music w/ non overproduced-(i.e. pc generated,)noncheezy sounds, good instruments like guitar/keys, etc. & originality as possible, which gets harder in future. | 993 | [
"...i remember i liked the 1st 7 tracs & musically my favorite lp tracs in order are: 4-For A Moment, 1-About us, tracs 6, 2, 7, 5, 3/ 11, 12, 10/--the rest get lamer--9, 8, 13/ 14-a cd w/ a variety of style.",
"@ highest, i rate this cd apx 3.4 here or 6.8 of a 10.thanksbrooke.her natural voice gets synthetically lost on production on some songs on this lp.",
"maybe not so fair to ask due to the genre here, but wondering, who are the musicians & whose the band?",
"-i guess mostly pc generated.its too bad though that 1 of her best songs too called loveyouboth never made it to either of her cds, probably only due to redtape.hard to say which lp i like better of her 2; that'll take time to hear again.for anyone, on best sounding music, it seems the criteria to make any cd catchy & verygood for its music, for the most part, are: strong music w/ non overproduced-(i.e. pc generated,)noncheezy sounds, good instruments like guitar/keys, etc.",
"& originality as possible, which gets harder in future."
] |
3 | At least it lasted | When I bought this machine about four years ago I referred to it as the single worst appliance purchase of my life and I warned my friends off of the product. Four years on it has finally died due to what appears to be an electrical short in the grinding mechanism, so in my experience it outlasted the average coffee maker. The machine did a nice job of grinding the beans and the coffee was fine. The door for the filter basket stayed in place and auto/anti-drip mechanism worked without fail. My primary gripes about the unit when it was new were the noise it makes when grinding the coffee, which is akin to a turbine winding up and the need to clean and dry the grinder on a daily basis. I got in the habit of grinding in the evening to avoid running afoul of the city noise ordinance and the daily cleaning became a part of my morning ritual. And at the end of the day it is probably good practice to clean the unit on a daily basis. I will not be buying the same model as a replacement. | 993 | [
"When I bought this machine about four years ago I referred to it as the single worst appliance purchase of my life and I warned my friends off of the product.",
"Four years on it has finally died due to what appears to be an electrical short in the grinding mechanism, so in my experience it outlasted the average coffee maker.",
"The machine did a nice job of grinding the beans and the coffee was fine.",
"The door for the filter basket stayed in place and auto/anti-drip mechanism worked without fail.",
"My primary gripes about the unit when it was new were the noise it makes when grinding the coffee, which is akin to a turbine winding up and the need to clean and dry the grinder on a daily basis.",
"I got in the habit of grinding in the evening to avoid running afoul of the city noise ordinance and the daily cleaning became a part of my morning ritual.",
"And at the end of the day it is probably good practice to clean the unit on a daily basis.",
"I will not be buying the same model as a replacement."
] |
3 | Sorry I ordered it | I ordered this on Kindle. By the time I got to reading it, it was too late to return it. The premise was so interesting. Not that The Lost is a bad book, it just over talks itself so much that I was hardly past the first few pages that I began skipping. While the review mentions a man trying to find out the truth about family lost in the WWII Holocaust , there is section after section, page after page of interpretations of the Torah, including histories of the Torah's greatest scholars. It is very repetitive. Rather like an old uncle who tells you the same story of the same people over and over and over. The reader is continuously told about the American cemetery (membership required) for Jews from a certain small area of Poland and continuously reminded of the town's name. I am happy for the author that he has so many good reviews but I would rather have had a straight forward story (as the beginning of the book leads one to believe it would be). I think I just plain got bored. | 993 | [
"I ordered this on Kindle.",
"By the time I got to reading it, it was too late to return it.",
"The premise was so interesting.",
"Not that The Lost is a bad book, it just over talks itself so much that I was hardly past the first few pages that I began skipping.",
"While the review mentions a man trying to find out the truth about family lost in the WWII Holocaust , there is section after section, page after page of interpretations of the Torah, including histories of the Torah's greatest scholars.",
"It is very repetitive.",
"Rather like an old uncle who tells you the same story of the same people over and over and over.",
"The reader is continuously told about the American cemetery (membership required) for Jews from a certain small area of Poland and continuously reminded of the town's name.",
"I am happy for the author that he has so many good reviews but I would rather have had a straight forward story (as the beginning of the book leads one to believe it would be).",
"I think I just plain got bored."
] |
3 | Creative and Witty | In Operation Shylock, Philip Roth once again plays himself. This time he stumbles into a bad mental episode triggered by lousy sleeping pills when he discovers that someone in Israel is imitating him. He heads to Israel to meet is enigmatic doppleganger, and all the while a heavily publicized trial is taking place involving a possible Nazi war criminal. Roth discovers that his doppelganger is a man using his fame to espouse the theory of diasporism, the idea that all of the non-Arabic Jews of the Levant should return to their roots in Europe. This novel is filled with bizarre bits of Jewish ironic comedy. There is an organization called Anti-Semites Anonymous, which is devoted to curing the threat of anti-antisemitism in Eastern Europe. This is a multi-faceted and highly original work of literature, though I found Roth to tread into severe solipsism as the novel's literary devices become more and more introspective and prolegoamatic. Not a great book, but still very interesting. | 993 | [
"In Operation Shylock, Philip Roth once again plays himself.",
"This time he stumbles into a bad mental episode triggered by lousy sleeping pills when he discovers that someone in Israel is imitating him.",
"He heads to Israel to meet is enigmatic doppleganger, and all the while a heavily publicized trial is taking place involving a possible Nazi war criminal.",
"Roth discovers that his doppelganger is a man using his fame to espouse the theory of diasporism, the idea that all of the non-Arabic Jews of the Levant should return to their roots in Europe.",
"This novel is filled with bizarre bits of Jewish ironic comedy.",
"There is an organization called Anti-Semites Anonymous, which is devoted to curing the threat of anti-antisemitism in Eastern Europe.",
"This is a multi-faceted and highly original work of literature, though I found Roth to tread into severe solipsism as the novel's literary devices become more and more introspective and prolegoamatic.",
"Not a great book, but still very interesting."
] |
3 | Interesting story | I have been wanting to read Sue Grafton for awhile but I kept putting it off because my father didn't care for her books. I didn't love the book yet I didn't hate the book either. A is for Alibi was an enjoyable read. I will try her books again.This story is about a PI, Kinsey Millhone, who is hired by a woman, Nikki Fife, who was found guilty of murdering her husband. Nikki hires Kinsey to prove that she was innocent. As Kinsey starts looking at everyone that knew Nikki's husband back then I had a gut feeling that I knew who had killed Mr. Fife. I just had that feeling from the way the person interacted with Kinsey. That made the book a little boring because I just wanted to know if I was right.The book got suspenseful when I had about 3 chapters left to read. The ending of the story was different from what I am used to when reading a mystery. I was glad to see that I was right about who had committed the murder.Since the book took me awhile to read I gave the book 3 1/2 stars. | 993 | [
"I have been wanting to read Sue Grafton for awhile but I kept putting it off because my father didn't care for her books.",
"I didn't love the book yet I didn't hate the book either.",
"A is for Alibi was an enjoyable read.",
"I will try her books again.This story is about a PI, Kinsey Millhone, who is hired by a woman, Nikki Fife, who was found guilty of murdering her husband.",
"Nikki hires Kinsey to prove that she was innocent.",
"As Kinsey starts looking at everyone that knew Nikki's husband back then I had a gut feeling that I knew who had killed Mr.",
"Fife.",
"I just had that feeling from the way the person interacted with Kinsey.",
"That made the book a little boring because I just wanted to know if I was right.The book got suspenseful when I had about 3 chapters left to read.",
"The ending of the story was different from what I am used to when reading a mystery.",
"I was glad to see that I was right about who had committed the murder.Since the book took me awhile to read I gave the book 3 1/2 stars."
] |
3 | Pretty decent... | I don't understand why people keep saying Creed were a Pearl Jam ripoff band. These plagiarism accusations are entirely unfounded. It was the late 1990s people! It was only a few years after Pearl Jam's heyday, and it was only natural that new bands coming out in the late nineties would sound similar to one of the most popular bands of the earlier part of the decade. Whenever a band like Pearl Jam becomes popular, they influence up and coming artists. There's nothing wrong with that!The truth is, Pearl Jam and Creed are similar bands, but that does not make Creed a ripoff band. They are just two 1990s alternative rock bands that play similar styles of music. As long as the lyrics are not word for word, as long as the riffs aren't note for note, you can't seriously claim that Creed copies another band! But don't just take my word for it; look it up! As far as I know, there is no law against sounding vaguely similar to another recording artist! You can't copyright a musical genre! | 993 | [
"I don't understand why people keep saying Creed were a Pearl Jam ripoff band.",
"These plagiarism accusations are entirely unfounded.",
"It was the late 1990s people!",
"It was only a few years after Pearl Jam's heyday, and it was only natural that new bands coming out in the late nineties would sound similar to one of the most popular bands of the earlier part of the decade.",
"Whenever a band like Pearl Jam becomes popular, they influence up and coming artists.",
"There's nothing wrong with that!",
"The truth is, Pearl Jam and Creed are similar bands, but that does not make Creed a ripoff band.",
"They are just two 1990s alternative rock bands that play similar styles of music.",
"As long as the lyrics are not word for word, as long as the riffs aren't note for note, you can't seriously claim that Creed copies another band!",
"But don't just take my word for it; look it up!",
"As far as I know, there is no law against sounding vaguely similar to another recording artist!",
"You can't copyright a musical genre!"
] |
3 | Definitely strange | The idea of wanting to tell male stories from a female perspective is a pretty good one. It's been done, but that doesn't mean someone can't add to it. It's the execution and song choice that stop Strange Little Girls from being great.The songs don't exactly make much sense from a different perspective. They're still the same message, but with a woman's voice and a slower sound. "Real Men" and "97 Bonnie and Clyde" are successes in Amos' re-imagining, but the rest fall flat.Then there's the music itself. There is nothing wrong with slow, soulful ballads. But someone who's built a following based on variation can't get away with it as well. Strange Little Girls has the potential to put the listener to sleep.The album isn't all bad though. Some of the songs are good on their own and it can be excused how little they fit the theme of the album. "Time" in particular is a great song I haven't mentioned yet. The rest just doesn't live up to the standard we've come to expect from Amos. | 993 | [
"The idea of wanting to tell male stories from a female perspective is a pretty good one.",
"It's been done, but that doesn't mean someone can't add to it.",
"It's the execution and song choice that stop Strange Little Girls from being great.The songs don't exactly make much sense from a different perspective.",
"They're still the same message, but with a woman's voice and a slower sound.",
"\"Real Men\" and \"97 Bonnie and Clyde\" are successes in Amos' re-imagining, but the rest fall flat.Then there's the music itself.",
"There is nothing wrong with slow, soulful ballads.",
"But someone who's built a following based on variation can't get away with it as well.",
"Strange Little Girls has the potential to put the listener to sleep.The album isn't all bad though.",
"Some of the songs are good on their own and it can be excused how little they fit the theme of the album.",
"\"Time\" in particular is a great song I haven't mentioned yet.",
"The rest just doesn't live up to the standard we've come to expect from Amos."
] |
3 | Fun to watch | Having just seen Attack of the clones on the big screen I felt I can now write a review, unlike some people who have seen the trailers and decided to rate this film. The fight scenes are great, no doubt about it. However the acting from some of the cast is shakey at best, Ewan is good as Obi Wan, as expected of him he delievers his character very well. The plot is better than Phantom Menace, and flows well in the film. However there is a lot of jumping to and fro from one character to another, it is almost a relief when they hooked up together. The last 30 min are the best by far, but this film is lacking an evil bad guy like the first three. Jango Fett does not live up to the hype, and Christopher Lee is only involved at the end really,there is just no Darth Vader. I think that if Mr Lucas had let someone else direct the acting would be a little better, and the heavy use of CG does not help them fit into their roles. Worth a see, but The Two Towers is still the one to wait for. | 993 | [
"Having just seen Attack of the clones on the big screen I felt I can now write a review, unlike some people who have seen the trailers and decided to rate this film.",
"The fight scenes are great, no doubt about it.",
"However the acting from some of the cast is shakey at best, Ewan is good as Obi Wan, as expected of him he delievers his character very well.",
"The plot is better than Phantom Menace, and flows well in the film.",
"However there is a lot of jumping to and fro from one character to another, it is almost a relief when they hooked up together.",
"The last 30 min are the best by far, but this film is lacking an evil bad guy like the first three.",
"Jango Fett does not live up to the hype, and Christopher Lee is only involved at the end really,there is just no Darth Vader.",
"I think that if Mr Lucas had let someone else direct the acting would be a little better, and the heavy use of CG does not help them fit into their roles.",
"Worth a see, but The Two Towers is still the one to wait for."
] |
3 | pleonasms galore | Pretentious words -macilent, delitescent, esurient, mordacious. I do love to learn new words but I had to go to the OED because my Merriam Webster didn't have all of the ones she included, some of which were obsolete. Also irritating is her repeated use of comma splices.Those things said, imagination is good, character development is adequate, if barely. Plot jumps around some - I did not really get into this book until page 250, more than I give most books before I dump them. Since it's a trilogy I forgive her for just ending the book, not finishing it.In scifi and fantasy there should be clear indications of who we should learn and who we should not. For instance, the author gives us halfway through a page and half of interesting alien types that we have not met before and we do not meet afterwards. Why? It's like the bar scene in Star Wars. Kind of interesting, but here we don't know if we should try to remember them or not. It's about 50/50 whether I will read the next book. | 993 | [
"Pretentious words -macilent, delitescent, esurient, mordacious.",
"I do love to learn new words but I had to go to the OED because my Merriam Webster didn't have all of the ones she included, some of which were obsolete.",
"Also irritating is her repeated use of comma splices.Those things said, imagination is good, character development is adequate, if barely.",
"Plot jumps around some - I did not really get into this book until page 250, more than I give most books before I dump them.",
"Since it's a trilogy I forgive her for just ending the book, not finishing it.In scifi and fantasy there should be clear indications of who we should learn and who we should not.",
"For instance, the author gives us halfway through a page and half of interesting alien types that we have not met before and we do not meet afterwards.",
"Why?",
"It's like the bar scene in Star Wars.",
"Kind of interesting, but here we don't know if we should try to remember them or not.",
"It's about 50/50 whether I will read the next book."
] |
3 | Tjaka, South Africa | This review is meant for the developers of this game and shall not be of much use to somebody who doesn't know this game.***The idea of real time on different levels (strategy & battle) is interesting but I find it a step in the wrong direction. Too many things happen too fast and one cannot make proper decisions. For instance - there's not enough time to properly look through the different vassals before assigning them - you have to grab & assign because somewhere else your attention is also needed. Often you miss out on nice battles because you have to attend to other matters. I still prefer the turn-based system. ***Many improvements are needed in the gameplay - I'm not going to try to list all the frustrations. If you're used to playing "Total War" then "Lords of the Realm" is a frustration. ***It sound as if I threw my "Lords of the Realm III" cd in the dustbin? No, I'm enjoying it. But I hope there shall be substantial improvements in the add-on or "Lords of the Realm IV". | 993 | [
"This review is meant for the developers of this game and shall not be of much use to somebody who doesn't know this game.***The idea of real time on different levels (strategy & battle) is interesting but I find it a step in the wrong direction.",
"Too many things happen too fast and one cannot make proper decisions.",
"For instance - there's not enough time to properly look through the different vassals before assigning them - you have to grab & assign because somewhere else your attention is also needed.",
"Often you miss out on nice battles because you have to attend to other matters.",
"I still prefer the turn-based system.",
"***Many improvements are needed in the gameplay - I'm not going to try to list all the frustrations.",
"If you're used to playing \"Total War\" then \"Lords of the Realm\" is a frustration.",
"***It sound as if I threw my \"Lords of the Realm III\" cd in the dustbin?",
"No, I'm enjoying it.",
"But I hope there shall be substantial improvements in the add-on or \"Lords of the Realm IV\"."
] |
3 | It's a Big Letdown | With their latest album, The Beautiful Letdown, climbing the charts and grabbing mainstream attention, Switchfoot is the latest rave. Sadly, their first concert video is a bigtime letdown. Capturing a rock concert for the small screen is no easy task, and the wide angle shots and close-ups just aren't enough. The video fails to capture the sweat and pulse of a real concert, though the audio is worth a listen (select tracks available on iTunes).The boys should have sprung for the textured look of film as opposed to video and learned a thing or two from bands like U2 about staging and framing a shot. Of course that's a lot to live up to. We could just enjoy the DVD more as a live recording and turn off the picture.The extras include the "Meant to Live" video (ho-hum: band rocks hard while some guy literally cuts down the walls -- ooh, deep!), a behind the scenes look at the video (even more ho-hum), and a short interview with the band where they speak candidly about faith and art. | 993 | [
"With their latest album, The Beautiful Letdown, climbing the charts and grabbing mainstream attention, Switchfoot is the latest rave.",
"Sadly, their first concert video is a bigtime letdown.",
"Capturing a rock concert for the small screen is no easy task, and the wide angle shots and close-ups just aren't enough.",
"The video fails to capture the sweat and pulse of a real concert, though the audio is worth a listen (select tracks available on iTunes).The boys should have sprung for the textured look of film as opposed to video and learned a thing or two from bands like U2 about staging and framing a shot.",
"Of course that's a lot to live up to.",
"We could just enjoy the DVD more as a live recording and turn off the picture.The extras include the \"Meant to Live\" video (ho-hum: band rocks hard while some guy literally cuts down the walls -- ooh, deep!",
"), a behind the scenes look at the video (even more ho-hum), and a short interview with the band where they speak candidly about faith and art."
] |
3 | Navigon 7100 | Excellent product and Amazons price was the best. Navigon is relativerly new here in the US and extra mounts or antenna are not available here yet. The mount that comes with the unit is super and I wanted to purchase a second mount for my second vehicle. The parent company in Germany shows all accesories on their web site but the price in Euro's which is cost prohibitive to have shipped here. The unit itself is excellently made, clear screen and very clear speach. I found it very strange that the US distributor doesn't have access to all the accessories yet and that is a problem. I've written a message to the parent company and the US distributor using their web site and have not received a response in over two weeks. They advertise a response to most messages within 48 hrs. The US distributor does respond to phone calls. Possibly these are just growing pains of a new company here in the US. If you want a excellent product but can tollerate poor support this is an excellent buy. | 993 | [
"Excellent product and Amazons price was the best.",
"Navigon is relativerly new here in the US and extra mounts or antenna are not available here yet.",
"The mount that comes with the unit is super and I wanted to purchase a second mount for my second vehicle.",
"The parent company in Germany shows all accesories on their web site but the price in Euro's which is cost prohibitive to have shipped here.",
"The unit itself is excellently made, clear screen and very clear speach.",
"I found it very strange that the US distributor doesn't have access to all the accessories yet and that is a problem.",
"I've written a message to the parent company and the US distributor using their web site and have not received a response in over two weeks.",
"They advertise a response to most messages within 48 hrs.",
"The US distributor does respond to phone calls.",
"Possibly these are just growing pains of a new company here in the US.",
"If you want a excellent product but can tollerate poor support this is an excellent buy."
] |
3 | An OK Album | As I'm sure you know, Steve Gaines was a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd for a short time. He was killed in the unfortunate plane crash. This CD includes some songs that he made before joining Skynyrd. It's not great, but not bad either. The title song, "One In The Sun" and the cover of "It's Alright" are pretty good, but the rest are mostly just so and so. This album is hard to find, and usually expensive. I don't think it's really worth the high amounts that some people want for it (someone on ebay wants $150!), but if you want it, you'll have to spend a little extra. I usually see the LP for about $30 and the CD for $70 to $150; get the LP. [Update]: On may 2nd, an import copy of this album is going to be available for only about $17.00! So it's your choice; A: Pay $70-$150 for the CD, B: Pay $20-$30 for the LP, or C: Wait until May 2nd and pay only $17. Not great, but a good effort, Steve. And your contributions to Skynyrd are very noticable on "Street Survivors". Fly on, Freebird. | 993 | [
"As I'm sure you know, Steve Gaines was a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd for a short time.",
"He was killed in the unfortunate plane crash.",
"This CD includes some songs that he made before joining Skynyrd.",
"It's not great, but not bad either.",
"The title song, \"One In The Sun\" and the cover of \"It's Alright\" are pretty good, but the rest are mostly just so and so.",
"This album is hard to find, and usually expensive.",
"I don't think it's really worth the high amounts that some people want for it (someone on ebay wants $150!",
"), but if you want it, you'll have to spend a little extra.",
"I usually see the LP for about $30 and the CD for $70 to $150; get the LP.",
"[Update]: On may 2nd, an import copy of this album is going to be available for only about $17.00!",
"So it's your choice; A: Pay $70-$150 for the CD, B: Pay $20-$30 for the LP, or C: Wait until May 2nd and pay only $17.",
"Not great, but a good effort, Steve.",
"And your contributions to Skynyrd are very noticable on \"Street Survivors\".",
"Fly on, Freebird."
] |
3 | Funk and B | This is a lower type of album for Clinton. Having listened to his earlier stuff and seeing him live recently, I decided to pick this album up when it was on sale. It's definitely nothing compared to previous releases, but it's something.Funk is something that is not changing, but morphing, slowly. You have Dr. Funk himself here and obviously he's the sole proprietor for change. In this particular record, which was released 1996, you have the change of tides. R and B was and still is big, so he infused his own jam and sound into it. There are even hints of classic gangster rap. It's a total different blend here...and it's taking a bit longer to get used to.To think this is new, I'm out of my league, but it's different, especially after listening to Clinton for awhile. This is not your average Clinton album, but it's a nice one to add to the mix. It really shows how diverse an artist he is, which is always decent. All in all, not his strongest attempt, but nonetheless, an alright. | 993 | [
"This is a lower type of album for Clinton.",
"Having listened to his earlier stuff and seeing him live recently, I decided to pick this album up when it was on sale.",
"It's definitely nothing compared to previous releases, but it's something.Funk is something that is not changing, but morphing, slowly.",
"You have Dr.",
"Funk himself here and obviously he's the sole proprietor for change.",
"In this particular record, which was released 1996, you have the change of tides.",
"R and B was and still is big, so he infused his own jam and sound into it.",
"There are even hints of classic gangster rap.",
"It's a total different blend here...and it's taking a bit longer to get used to.To think this is new, I'm out of my league, but it's different, especially after listening to Clinton for awhile.",
"This is not your average Clinton album, but it's a nice one to add to the mix.",
"It really shows how diverse an artist he is, which is always decent.",
"All in all, not his strongest attempt, but nonetheless, an alright."
] |
3 | At least it's quick | I am not sure if I'd actually want to describe it as 'bitter', but I decided to purchase this product because I make coffee using milk. But then if I want a sugared cup, I would still usually have to add sugar and flavoring. So I principally bought this product just to forgo steps in the process.And the packets also seemed to provide convienience for me.But, I would like a stronger hazelnut flavor. Right now, it seems to be very sugary, so people drinking this product might not always detect if they are using flavoring at all. And this actually negates the point of producing the specific product. It would be better to just buy a can of regular sugar plus a bottle of syrup.Still, the product is edible and affordable in the markets where it is for sale. I am able to successfully drink the cups which I've made. And the individual serviving sizes are convienient. So it's not the worst thing which is produced on the market. It's just not the premiere accessory for coffee consumption. | 993 | [
"I am not sure if I'd actually want to describe it as 'bitter', but I decided to purchase this product because I make coffee using milk.",
"But then if I want a sugared cup, I would still usually have to add sugar and flavoring.",
"So I principally bought this product just to forgo steps in the process.And the packets also seemed to provide convienience for me.But, I would like a stronger hazelnut flavor.",
"Right now, it seems to be very sugary, so people drinking this product might not always detect if they are using flavoring at all.",
"And this actually negates the point of producing the specific product.",
"It would be better to just buy a can of regular sugar plus a bottle of syrup.Still, the product is edible and affordable in the markets where it is for sale.",
"I am able to successfully drink the cups which I've made.",
"And the individual serviving sizes are convienient.",
"So it's not the worst thing which is produced on the market.",
"It's just not the premiere accessory for coffee consumption."
] |
3 | Overly Ambitious | In this somewhat allegorical novel of early 19th century Latin American history, Fuentes attempts to produce a hybrid historical and philosophical novel. The protagonist is a young Argentine revolutionary and romantic whose travels take him throughout Latin America during the revolts from Spain. The allegory is the protagonist's pursuit of a woman whom he glimpsed only briefly and whom he has wronged. The result is not really successful, partly because characters and narrative seem to switch from one mode to another without good integration of the philosophical and historical elements Fuentes is attempting to combine. Oddly, the book suffers from being too short. It would have been much better to incorporate the philosophical elements into a longer and more naturalistic historical novel, a la Tolstoy's War and Peace. This book also contains some magical realist elements, which seem engrafted into the novel and consequently incongruous. Interesting but not very rewarding reading. | 993 | [
"In this somewhat allegorical novel of early 19th century Latin American history, Fuentes attempts to produce a hybrid historical and philosophical novel.",
"The protagonist is a young Argentine revolutionary and romantic whose travels take him throughout Latin America during the revolts from Spain.",
"The allegory is the protagonist's pursuit of a woman whom he glimpsed only briefly and whom he has wronged.",
"The result is not really successful, partly because characters and narrative seem to switch from one mode to another without good integration of the philosophical and historical elements Fuentes is attempting to combine.",
"Oddly, the book suffers from being too short.",
"It would have been much better to incorporate the philosophical elements into a longer and more naturalistic historical novel, a la Tolstoy's War and Peace.",
"This book also contains some magical realist elements, which seem engrafted into the novel and consequently incongruous.",
"Interesting but not very rewarding reading."
] |
3 | Don't expect much. | I did not purchase this from Amazon, but rather from my local Target and I am glad I did.The first one I bought charged my controller twice and then the battery pack stopped holding a charge. I returned it, bought another one, weeks later, same problem, the battery pack stopped holding a charge after about three to four charges. I will be stopping at Target today to return it to purchase -ANOTHER- one of these.Don't get me wrong, I think this item is great. The battery holds a charge for a very long time and I use the controller quite often (netflix, games, movies) so it's nice to not have to worry about putting fresh batteries in. It's just really, really annoying that Microsoft can't make a quality product that doesn't crap out almost immediately (insert windows OS joke).I took two stars away because even though I like this product and I would love to rate it five stars, having to return it two times now (and more likely MORE) to find a working one is just flippin' ridiculous. | 993 | [
"I did not purchase this from Amazon, but rather from my local Target and I am glad I did.The first one I bought charged my controller twice and then the battery pack stopped holding a charge.",
"I returned it, bought another one, weeks later, same problem, the battery pack stopped holding a charge after about three to four charges.",
"I will be stopping at Target today to return it to purchase -ANOTHER- one of these.Don't get me wrong, I think this item is great.",
"The battery holds a charge for a very long time and I use the controller quite often (netflix, games, movies) so it's nice to not have to worry about putting fresh batteries in.",
"It's just really, really annoying that Microsoft can't make a quality product that doesn't crap out almost immediately (insert windows OS joke).I took two stars away because even though I like this product and I would love to rate it five stars, having to return it two times now (and more likely MORE) to find a working one is just flippin' ridiculous."
] |
3 | not bad...but | This book isn't bad, but the great biography of Dean Martin is still to be written. Nonetheless, this book is a vast improvement over Nick Tosches' "Dino." While Tosches elected to write the fluffy, tabloid nonsense version of Martin's story, this is at least a traditional biography. Other reviewers are correct that entirely too much time is spent on Martin's films; much more detail should have been spent on his singing. In particular, I would like to see a biographer discuss the divide between Martin's earlier hits and his later ones. It seems to me that there is a lot to be said about the traditional tunes, such as "Memories Are Made of This" and "I'd Cry Like A Baby" and later ones, such as "One Cup of Happiness" and "Lay Some Happiness on Me." These later songs come long after the high tide of the Rat Pack (circa 1966). While Martin's life certainly is complicated, and he was a purposeful enigma, I think a biographer can do better than exhaustively discussing "Irma La Duce." | 993 | [
"This book isn't bad, but the great biography of Dean Martin is still to be written.",
"Nonetheless, this book is a vast improvement over Nick Tosches' \"Dino.\" While Tosches elected to write the fluffy, tabloid nonsense version of Martin's story, this is at least a traditional biography.",
"Other reviewers are correct that entirely too much time is spent on Martin's films; much more detail should have been spent on his singing.",
"In particular, I would like to see a biographer discuss the divide between Martin's earlier hits and his later ones.",
"It seems to me that there is a lot to be said about the traditional tunes, such as \"Memories Are Made of This\" and \"I'd Cry Like A Baby\" and later ones, such as \"One Cup of Happiness\" and \"Lay Some Happiness on Me.\" These later songs come long after the high tide of the Rat Pack (circa 1966).",
"While Martin's life certainly is complicated, and he was a purposeful enigma, I think a biographer can do better than exhaustively discussing \"Irma La Duce.\""
] |
3 | Great Clips, But.... | JAMES DEAN -- FOREVER YOUNG is essential viewing for anyone interested in the actor; the writer/director's done a wonderful job of assembling hard-to-find film clips, particularly from Dean's early days in live tv. The screen tests with Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman are fascinating, too. (On the strength of this scene, she'd have made an interesting Abra.) My major problem with this overview? No mention of Dean's bisexuality. True, the production team needed cooperation from the Dean estate, and many of his fans probably don't want to think closely about that side of his life. But Dean's proclivities have been extensively documented in print by now, and Liz Sheridan and Pier Angeli definitely weren't the entire story. Given that much of Dean's appeal (like that of his contemporaries Brando and Clift) tempers traditional notions of American masculinity with a feminine side, seems a terrible pity to continue mythologizing a complete heterosexuality that apparently never existed. | 993 | [
"JAMES DEAN -- FOREVER YOUNG is essential viewing for anyone interested in the actor; the writer/director's done a wonderful job of assembling hard-to-find film clips, particularly from Dean's early days in live tv.",
"The screen tests with Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman are fascinating, too.",
"(On the strength of this scene, she'd have made an interesting Abra.) My major problem with this overview?",
"No mention of Dean's bisexuality.",
"True, the production team needed cooperation from the Dean estate, and many of his fans probably don't want to think closely about that side of his life.",
"But Dean's proclivities have been extensively documented in print by now, and Liz Sheridan and Pier Angeli definitely weren't the entire story.",
"Given that much of Dean's appeal (like that of his contemporaries Brando and Clift) tempers traditional notions of American masculinity with a feminine side, seems a terrible pity to continue mythologizing a complete heterosexuality that apparently never existed."
] |
3 | a bit of a letdown | I loved Kim Richey's first two albums, and eagerly awaited the release of her third. Upon listening, however, my excitement turned to disappointment. It's not that it's not a good album per se, the problem is it's not a good Kim Richey album. There is a conspicuous lack of banjo, steel guitar, dobro, and other traditional instruments that were the basis of the sound of the first two albums. As a result, the songs suffer from a relative sameness throughout. The slick pop production also muddles the "Kim Richey sound" that marked her previous releases. What's left sounds less like the country/rock/folk fusion that made her first two albums wonderful, and more like early Sheryl Crow. While I like Sheryl Crow, that's not what I buy Kim Richey for. I seem to be in the minority opinion among her fans, but my advice to those interested in extrodinary Americana/Alternative Country music: get Kim Richey and Bittersweet, and leave Glimmer in the Pop section where it unfortunately belongs. | 993 | [
"I loved Kim Richey's first two albums, and eagerly awaited the release of her third.",
"Upon listening, however, my excitement turned to disappointment.",
"It's not that it's not a good album per se, the problem is it's not a good Kim Richey album.",
"There is a conspicuous lack of banjo, steel guitar, dobro, and other traditional instruments that were the basis of the sound of the first two albums.",
"As a result, the songs suffer from a relative sameness throughout.",
"The slick pop production also muddles the \"Kim Richey sound\" that marked her previous releases.",
"What's left sounds less like the country/rock/folk fusion that made her first two albums wonderful, and more like early Sheryl Crow.",
"While I like Sheryl Crow, that's not what I buy Kim Richey for.",
"I seem to be in the minority opinion among her fans, but my advice to those interested in extrodinary Americana/Alternative Country music: get Kim Richey and Bittersweet, and leave Glimmer in the Pop section where it unfortunately belongs."
] |
3 | Mediocre | "The Zigzag Way" is a short book, almost novella size, without a great deal of character development. It does have a shifting cast of characters unified by the willingness to change the familiar for something new, Em being the exception, and also the one character with no real connection to Mexico. At the end the protagonist, unlike his father, still has not found what that something new will be. For a slim book, there was an historical dimension which was valuable, but it almost seems like Desai was also seeking a spiritual experience in Mexico which turned out to be disappointing. The concluding scene has some emotional power, but just doesn't add up to anything really significant. While Desai can create fine metaphors, there were times I felt they were inserted when no metaphor was called for, so that they simply brought attention to themselves. On a personal note, I was better able to visualize Em because I had recently seen the movie "Kinky Boots", and pictured the fiancée. | 993 | [
"\"The Zigzag Way\" is a short book, almost novella size, without a great deal of character development.",
"It does have a shifting cast of characters unified by the willingness to change the familiar for something new, Em being the exception, and also the one character with no real connection to Mexico.",
"At the end the protagonist, unlike his father, still has not found what that something new will be.",
"For a slim book, there was an historical dimension which was valuable, but it almost seems like Desai was also seeking a spiritual experience in Mexico which turned out to be disappointing.",
"The concluding scene has some emotional power, but just doesn't add up to anything really significant.",
"While Desai can create fine metaphors, there were times I felt they were inserted when no metaphor was called for, so that they simply brought attention to themselves.",
"On a personal note, I was better able to visualize Em because I had recently seen the movie \"Kinky Boots\", and pictured the fiancée."
] |
3 | A brief review | 1. Nearly ever major religion has had some sects that practiced vegetarianism in some form. If you want a lot of details about that, this book has them. Some of the coverage of early vegetarianism, particularly ancient Egyptian vegetarianism, seems excessively speculative.2. The vegetarian food of 1700-1800s Britain sounds awfully bad and seems to consist almost solely of starches and sugary dishes.3. The world, or at least the US and Britain, appears to have been having the same arguments about vegetarianism for about 250 years.4. Post 1700, the book centers on Britain.I would have preferred more culinary history (for example on the origins of seitan and tofu) and fewer statements of the author's opinions (such as that, for example, a certain writer argues well), but the book is a useful reference of famous vegetarians and vegetarian sympathizers over the last 2500 years. Also, the sections that briefly discuss animal trials and pre-industrial slaughter methods are fascinating. | 993 | [
"1.",
"Nearly ever major religion has had some sects that practiced vegetarianism in some form.",
"If you want a lot of details about that, this book has them.",
"Some of the coverage of early vegetarianism, particularly ancient Egyptian vegetarianism, seems excessively speculative.2. The vegetarian food of 1700-1800s Britain sounds awfully bad and seems to consist almost solely of starches and sugary dishes.3. The world, or at least the US and Britain, appears to have been having the same arguments about vegetarianism for about 250 years.4. Post 1700, the book centers on Britain.I would have preferred more culinary history (for example on the origins of seitan and tofu) and fewer statements of the author's opinions (such as that, for example, a certain writer argues well), but the book is a useful reference of famous vegetarians and vegetarian sympathizers over the last 2500 years.",
"Also, the sections that briefly discuss animal trials and pre-industrial slaughter methods are fascinating."
] |
3 | Try again | This album is quite enjoyable, but of course it has its low points..which are forgivable for now...since this Hilary's first album. Here's my analysis of Metamoprhosis.PRO'S- SO YESTERDAY and THE MATH are cleverly written songs that really suit Hilary's tween queen persona, and these songs maximize Hilary's vocal capabilities.- COME CLEAN shows a darker side of Hilary...and you can really notice her effort in singing this song.- anywhere but here, love just is, working it out doesnt hurt the ear..radio friendly songs that you could find yourself singing along to.CONS- Sweet Sixteen, Little Voice flamboyantly shows tween persona which is sickening at times- Party up sounds like a smash mouth rip off- The title track sounds as if it was produced in 10 minutes- INNER STRENGTH is such a waste...you dont really get the point of this interlude on which hilary speaks about being strong, a girl power type of interlude- tracks sounds the same!!!Hil i hope you do better on your next album | 993 | [
"This album is quite enjoyable, but of course it has its low points..which are forgivable for now...since this Hilary's first album.",
"Here's my analysis of Metamoprhosis.PRO'S- SO YESTERDAY and THE MATH are cleverly written songs that really suit Hilary's tween queen persona, and these songs maximize Hilary's vocal capabilities.- COME CLEAN shows a darker side of Hilary...and you can really notice her effort in singing this song.- anywhere but here, love just is, working it out doesnt hurt the ear..radio friendly songs that you could find yourself singing along to.CONS- Sweet Sixteen, Little Voice flamboyantly shows tween persona which is sickening at times- Party up sounds like a smash mouth rip off- The title track sounds as if it was produced in 10 minutes- INNER STRENGTH is such a waste...you dont really get the point of this interlude on which hilary speaks about being strong, a girl power type of interlude- tracks sounds the same!!!",
"Hil i hope you do better on your next album"
] |
3 | Antarctica | Kim Stanley Robinson is well-known for his Mars saga set in the future on another planet, in Antarctica he brings his formidable talents closer to home to create a hair-raising possibility about our own last continent, the South Pole. Intertwined with rich historical information about the adventurers of yore, their feats and their fears, their beau gestes and their pettiness, Robinson has given us a relentlessly unfolding drama of corporate profit-taking at the expense of employees in the most hazardous of job sites; of ecology protectors contemplating insane protests; of ludicrous yet intensely frank real-time televised travelogues. In the beginning, it all seems so clean and mild. The only enemy the weather, then bad, strange things begin to happen. And as the cracks deepen this isolated community that depends upon the sanity of the whole to keep it from killing itself off, finds itself in dire straits from those coming in for fun, profit or politics. Interesting and didactic. | 993 | [
"Kim Stanley Robinson is well-known for his Mars saga set in the future on another planet, in Antarctica he brings his formidable talents closer to home to create a hair-raising possibility about our own last continent, the South Pole.",
"Intertwined with rich historical information about the adventurers of yore, their feats and their fears, their beau gestes and their pettiness, Robinson has given us a relentlessly unfolding drama of corporate profit-taking at the expense of employees in the most hazardous of job sites; of ecology protectors contemplating insane protests; of ludicrous yet intensely frank real-time televised travelogues.",
"In the beginning, it all seems so clean and mild.",
"The only enemy the weather, then bad, strange things begin to happen.",
"And as the cracks deepen this isolated community that depends upon the sanity of the whole to keep it from killing itself off, finds itself in dire straits from those coming in for fun, profit or politics.",
"Interesting and didactic."
] |
3 | Ok But Not Great | Let me begin by saying that I think Fayzah is an AMAZING dancer and a great inspiration to watch. I was really looking forward to getting this. With that being said, I have been studying Tribal for a year and this is not a ideal DVD for a beginner. It moves very quickly so if you don't have any understanding of the Tribal vocabulary, do yourself a favor and save this DVD for later once you have all your basic ducks in a row.I also found the way that everything was laid out to be a bit awkward. For instance there were minor drills in the warmup (or did the warmup suddenly become a drill... I can't say as that was not clear). Then she suddenly goes into a variety of movement but the breakdowns seem rushed and the video editing itself not very inspiring. Also, the fact that I can hear her breathing at times is a bit distracting.Over all I am happy that Fayzah is sharing her great talent with us but I wish it was presented better so it would be easier to absorb. Hopefully next time. | 993 | [
"Let me begin by saying that I think Fayzah is an AMAZING dancer and a great inspiration to watch.",
"I was really looking forward to getting this.",
"With that being said, I have been studying Tribal for a year and this is not a ideal DVD for a beginner.",
"It moves very quickly so if you don't have any understanding of the Tribal vocabulary, do yourself a favor and save this DVD for later once you have all your basic ducks in a row.I also found the way that everything was laid out to be a bit awkward.",
"For instance there were minor drills in the warmup (or did the warmup suddenly become a drill... I can't say as that was not clear).",
"Then she suddenly goes into a variety of movement but the breakdowns seem rushed and the video editing itself not very inspiring.",
"Also, the fact that I can hear her breathing at times is a bit distracting.Over all I am happy that Fayzah is sharing her great talent with us but I wish it was presented better so it would be easier to absorb.",
"Hopefully next time."
] |
3 | Sound Healer review | I own another Remo frame drum which I like. I purchased two of these 12" Buffalo Drums since I anticipated a deeper bass resonance, which I'd expect in a shamanic drum. The larger Remo frame drums have this deeper resonance; the two which I purchased had different pitches, however: one low and one higher. The higher pitched drum was a bit disappointing, given this is a shamanic-type instrument. The lower pitched drum was very satisfactory. To be fair, however, even many of the natural skin drums have higher pitches which vary widely with the humidity. I bought this because humidity and outdoor moisture is always an issue with drum heads - they expand and contract with moisture content in the air. Not so with these synthetic drum heads: they maintain their pitch. My wife is very happy with her 12" model, which she has painted with acrylics, and she is fine with the sound as well. So go figure...These drums are light-weight, portable, and have a generally good tone. Happy Travels! | 993 | [
"I own another Remo frame drum which I like.",
"I purchased two of these 12\" Buffalo Drums since I anticipated a deeper bass resonance, which I'd expect in a shamanic drum.",
"The larger Remo frame drums have this deeper resonance; the two which I purchased had different pitches, however: one low and one higher.",
"The higher pitched drum was a bit disappointing, given this is a shamanic-type instrument.",
"The lower pitched drum was very satisfactory.",
"To be fair, however, even many of the natural skin drums have higher pitches which vary widely with the humidity.",
"I bought this because humidity and outdoor moisture is always an issue with drum heads - they expand and contract with moisture content in the air.",
"Not so with these synthetic drum heads: they maintain their pitch.",
"My wife is very happy with her 12\" model, which she has painted with acrylics, and she is fine with the sound as well.",
"So go figure...These drums are light-weight, portable, and have a generally good tone.",
"Happy Travels!"
] |
3 | A sordid tale | The L.I.E., or Long Island Expressway, becomes the metaphor of a boy's dangerous journey through worlds marred by burgulary, an automobile accident, and just about everything else that shouldn't happen to a child. Paul Franklin Dano gives a realistic and understated performance as Howie, a fifteen-year-old who recently lost his mother to the L.I.E. and may soon lose his father to prison. To make matters worse, one of Howie's friends has become involved with a man who may be a child molester. Brian Cox (Manhunter, The Bourne Identity) gives a creepy performance as the possible pedophile-a performance made even more creepy by the fact that he seems so human, concerned, and likable.It's never completely clear whether Howie is actually gay, or just doing what he can to survive-which is certainly the case with some of the other teenage boys in the plot. Still, he is a fascinating character with a love for writing and books. His tenderness turns a sordid tale into a very touching one. | 993 | [
"The L.I.E., or Long Island Expressway, becomes the metaphor of a boy's dangerous journey through worlds marred by burgulary, an automobile accident, and just about everything else that shouldn't happen to a child.",
"Paul Franklin Dano gives a realistic and understated performance as Howie, a fifteen-year-old who recently lost his mother to the L.I.E. and may soon lose his father to prison.",
"To make matters worse, one of Howie's friends has become involved with a man who may be a child molester.",
"Brian Cox (Manhunter, The Bourne Identity) gives a creepy performance as the possible pedophile-a performance made even more creepy by the fact that he seems so human, concerned, and likable.It's never completely clear whether Howie is actually gay, or just doing what he can to survive-which is certainly the case with some of the other teenage boys in the plot.",
"Still, he is a fascinating character with a love for writing and books.",
"His tenderness turns a sordid tale into a very touching one."
] |
3 | Different... | Doomsday Deck is a good book. The Tarot is intelligent and the author seems to know alot about this subject. However, I rejected this book a 4 or 5-star rating because it doesn't explain clearly enough about Justine's paintings, the characters just aren't the same and the subject of Tarot doesn't really match slaying vampires excellently. I like stories about witchcraft and psychic people, and although this book's psychic story is interesting, the idea of people who touch Justine's Tarot cards and then become one of her paintings is totally laughable. It's hard to see Buffy taking this idea seriously in the TV show. There is a descriptive, intriguing and overall cracking conclusion that almost forgives all the film's faultS but when you look back, you remember the times when you sighed at the silliness. This is definitely a different idea, but I don't think it matches well with in the Buffy saga. Maybe as a book on it's own, Doomsday Deck would've been worthy of a higher rating. | 993 | [
"Doomsday Deck is a good book.",
"The Tarot is intelligent and the author seems to know alot about this subject.",
"However, I rejected this book a 4 or 5-star rating because it doesn't explain clearly enough about Justine's paintings, the characters just aren't the same and the subject of Tarot doesn't really match slaying vampires excellently.",
"I like stories about witchcraft and psychic people, and although this book's psychic story is interesting, the idea of people who touch Justine's Tarot cards and then become one of her paintings is totally laughable.",
"It's hard to see Buffy taking this idea seriously in the TV show.",
"There is a descriptive, intriguing and overall cracking conclusion that almost forgives all the film's faultS but when you look back, you remember the times when you sighed at the silliness.",
"This is definitely a different idea, but I don't think it matches well with in the Buffy saga.",
"Maybe as a book on it's own, Doomsday Deck would've been worthy of a higher rating."
] |
3 | X Streamly Boring | Ok here we are 2002 and in need of an all out Ball$ to wall Rock N Roll CD.Def Leppard are about to release the long awaited "killer" Disc. And they have the talent to do it!!!But not this time. Sorry but at the initial spin of this disc, I gotta say I was not rocking out to it. X must stand for all the X-wives, girlfriends ect..... cause to me most of the songs are about "tear in my beer" feel bad for me, lost you boo hoo....the only thing missing is "today my dog died".I'm sorry I really don't mean to bash the guys ... the music is ok, and there are a couple of times where you think that they may break into the fist pumping, guitar driven Leppard that we grew up with.... but alas as stated before YAWN...."Four Letter Word" comes close....has an AC-DC sound to it, even has a lifted solo I think..... "Love Don't Lie" is OK.... "Gravity" is cool - I think a left over from Slang also "Girl Like you"But the rest... oh wellNow live, these songs may have a harder edge..... let's hope | 993 | [
"Ok here we are 2002 and in need of an all out Ball$ to wall Rock N Roll CD.Def Leppard are about to release the long awaited \"killer\" Disc.",
"And they have the talent to do it!!!",
"But not this time.",
"Sorry but at the initial spin of this disc, I gotta say I was not rocking out to it.",
"X must stand for all the X-wives, girlfriends ect..... cause to me most of the songs are about \"tear in my beer\" feel bad for me, lost you boo hoo....the only thing missing is \"today my dog died\".I'm sorry I really don't mean to bash the guys ... the music is ok, and there are a couple of times where you think that they may break into the fist pumping, guitar driven Leppard that we grew up with.... but alas as stated before YAWN....\"Four Letter Word\" comes close....has an AC-DC sound to it, even has a lifted solo I think..... \"Love Don't Lie\" is OK.... \"Gravity\" is cool - I think a left over from Slang also \"Girl Like you\"But the rest... oh wellNow live, these songs may have a harder edge..... let's hope"
] |
3 | Paris Romance | The panoramic sweeps over Paris are more than you can expect to see in most movies about Paris. We find an artist (Gene Kelly) struggling to make a living and borrowing money from his friends. He ends up having to chose between two women. The one he loves and the one who can support his hobbies.If you can get past the first few scenes of corny comic exuberance, there are moments of romance worth waiting for. The ballet is spectacular and is in such contrast with the opening scenes, you wonder if you are watching the same movie.Now I understand this famous line:With a binding like you've got, people are going to want to know what's in the book. ~Alan Jay Lerner, An American in Paris (screenplay)I had to laugh at the ballerina at the start trying to read a book and dance.Probably the most exuberant musical I've seen yet. A bit much for anyone who is even slightly jaded, but if you are even slightly old fashioned and a romantic, you will probably love this movie.~The Rebecca Review | 993 | [
"The panoramic sweeps over Paris are more than you can expect to see in most movies about Paris.",
"We find an artist (Gene Kelly) struggling to make a living and borrowing money from his friends.",
"He ends up having to chose between two women.",
"The one he loves and the one who can support his hobbies.If you can get past the first few scenes of corny comic exuberance, there are moments of romance worth waiting for.",
"The ballet is spectacular and is in such contrast with the opening scenes, you wonder if you are watching the same movie.Now I understand this famous line:With a binding like you've got, people are going to want to know what's in the book.",
"~Alan Jay Lerner, An American in Paris (screenplay)I had to laugh at the ballerina at the start trying to read a book and dance.Probably the most exuberant musical I've seen yet.",
"A bit much for anyone who is even slightly jaded, but if you are even slightly old fashioned and a romantic, you will probably love this movie.~The Rebecca Review"
] |
3 | Not quite all there | Our daughter fell in love with this doll, the moment she got it for her birthday, so there was no possibility of returning it when things went wrong (basically upon delivery). She now carries it around lovingly, if a little brutally (thank goodness the doll has strong hair!), unaware that it is actually SUPPOSED to be an interactive doll!For the first 5 minutes of our ownership, the doll *sort of* responded to the verbal cues, per the directions, but this minimal responsiveness swiftly deteriorated to stony silence and, no matter what we did, there was no waking her up. We changed the batteries, we read and reread the directions...we did everything short of exorcism and resurrection ceremonies. Nothing worked.By the time we actually got through to an Amazon customer support agent, and got them to agree to accept the return, our daughter would have none of it, and so we accepted that we had purchased an interactive doll, but owned a rather heavy and - to us - uncuddly basic doll. | 993 | [
"Our daughter fell in love with this doll, the moment she got it for her birthday, so there was no possibility of returning it when things went wrong (basically upon delivery).",
"She now carries it around lovingly, if a little brutally (thank goodness the doll has strong hair!",
"), unaware that it is actually SUPPOSED to be an interactive doll!",
"For the first 5 minutes of our ownership, the doll *sort of* responded to the verbal cues, per the directions, but this minimal responsiveness swiftly deteriorated to stony silence and, no matter what we did, there was no waking her up.",
"We changed the batteries, we read and reread the directions...we did everything short of exorcism and resurrection ceremonies.",
"Nothing worked.By the time we actually got through to an Amazon customer support agent, and got them to agree to accept the return, our daughter would have none of it, and so we accepted that we had purchased an interactive doll, but owned a rather heavy and - to us - uncuddly basic doll."
] |
3 | Tastefully Written! | I admired Yolanda for the style in which this book was written although I was somewhat dissappointed with the contents. I could feel the atomosphere, but something was missing, but I did not stop reading. The book was a easy read but it was as though she was protecting her relationship with CBS. She could have taken this piece to a new level (best drama), but with the business mind that she has, it was tastefully and respectfully done. If you have never worked in the corporate world, then you will not appreciate this novel. You have to read the book in its entirety to appreciate this factual piece of fiction. She covered just about every issue, from rasim to cat fights, but it was presented in the newsroom environment, I enjoyed that part. ALso, there is one part of the book that makes me appreciate Yolanda as a person and it was; "You never really understand a person until you climb into their skin and walk around in it."That is deep!Cecelia Jones Circle of Friends Book CLub II | 993 | [
"I admired Yolanda for the style in which this book was written although I was somewhat dissappointed with the contents.",
"I could feel the atomosphere, but something was missing, but I did not stop reading.",
"The book was a easy read but it was as though she was protecting her relationship with CBS.",
"She could have taken this piece to a new level (best drama), but with the business mind that she has, it was tastefully and respectfully done.",
"If you have never worked in the corporate world, then you will not appreciate this novel.",
"You have to read the book in its entirety to appreciate this factual piece of fiction.",
"She covered just about every issue, from rasim to cat fights, but it was presented in the newsroom environment, I enjoyed that part.",
"ALso, there is one part of the book that makes me appreciate Yolanda as a person and it was; \"You never really understand a person until you climb into their skin and walk around in it.\"That is deep!",
"Cecelia Jones Circle of Friends Book CLub II"
] |
3 | Big Eyes Movie!! | I ate this movie for breakfast twice!! The men were very exciting, especially the John McEnroe who played a good lawyer!! I was scared and not sure about what was happening many times (warns: There is some dying in the first beginning and at the last part), but lucky for Al Parchino to be there!! He made me feel safe during the movie even though he was wearing a leather jacket (like the Fonz)!!! I was confused by him also because his eyes were looking like the owl from the cartoon - wide and scaring!! Also, he talks like no man on the earth, and made me wonder if his Cardlito was maybe from another planet. I think, if you are o.k. with the trickyness, that the learning of the story is that CardLeto is really from another planet, and just wants to get home with the girl. For that he should win many statues - being the big-looking alien with the language is not easy!!! I hold back only two stars because there was no spaceship near the end when he was talking in space - too bad!!!! | 993 | [
"I ate this movie for breakfast twice!!",
"The men were very exciting, especially the John McEnroe who played a good lawyer!!",
"I was scared and not sure about what was happening many times (warns: There is some dying in the first beginning and at the last part), but lucky for Al Parchino to be there!!",
"He made me feel safe during the movie even though he was wearing a leather jacket (like the Fonz)!!!",
"I was confused by him also because his eyes were looking like the owl from the cartoon - wide and scaring!!",
"Also, he talks like no man on the earth, and made me wonder if his Cardlito was maybe from another planet.",
"I think, if you are o.k. with the trickyness, that the learning of the story is that CardLeto is really from another planet, and just wants to get home with the girl.",
"For that he should win many statues - being the big-looking alien with the language is not easy!!!",
"I hold back only two stars because there was no spaceship near the end when he was talking in space - too bad!!!",
"!"
] |
3 | It's okay | Does what it's supposed to do, but I have a couple complaints...The telescopic top piece I'm not a big fan of. First of all the top part (it's blue), rubbed off all on my fingers and I had to rub paper towels on it for a while to get the blue dye off. Frankly I'm glad I realized that without it touching a nice shirt or something like that.Secondly I thought when you raised and lowered the telescopic handle that the outside "fins" would come up or down... which didn't. I guess it's not a big deal but there isn't much of a point to the whole top part except for maybe pulling it out of the pot the strainer is sitting in... I had to take the top off after placing it in the pot because the lid wouldn't close, even with the handle pushed all the way in.Also if you push the fins all the way up, it's rather hard to open it back up... you have to jam a finger in the crevice and pull the fins back up.It does what it needs to do but I thought it would be way better considering the reviews. | 993 | [
"Does what it's supposed to do, but I have a couple complaints...The telescopic top piece I'm not a big fan of.",
"First of all the top part (it's blue), rubbed off all on my fingers and I had to rub paper towels on it for a while to get the blue dye off.",
"Frankly I'm glad I realized that without it touching a nice shirt or something like that.Secondly I thought when you raised and lowered the telescopic handle that the outside \"fins\" would come up or down... which didn't.",
"I guess it's not a big deal but there isn't much of a point to the whole top part except for maybe pulling it out of the pot the strainer is sitting in... I had to take the top off after placing it in the pot because the lid wouldn't close, even with the handle pushed all the way in.Also if you push the fins all the way up, it's rather hard to open it back up... you have to jam a finger in the crevice and pull the fins back up.It does what it needs to do but I thought it would be way better considering the reviews."
] |
3 | Somewhat pleased | I bought this antenna to replace an indoor antenna following the digital switch. I live in the suburbs between Wash. DC and Baltimore so I am about 20 miles away from most of the broadcast towers. I bought this for my small hdtv in my kitchen which I use to watch local news and sports while I am eating or preparing meals. When the digital switch came, I could only receive one channel with my old indoor antenna. With the DB2, I can receive about 5 stations. Unfortunately, the signal for most stations remains about 60 which is the minimum for reception. Periodically, the picture and sound will "clip" out which can be irritating. If this tv was my primary, I would have dumped the DB2 some time ago and gotten a better exterior antenna, cable, or a dish. As it is, I can live with it because I seldom watch it for more than a half hour at a time. An interesting note, I tried mounting this antenna in my attic and on the roof. I wound up getting better reception from my attic. Go figure! | 993 | [
"I bought this antenna to replace an indoor antenna following the digital switch.",
"I live in the suburbs between Wash.",
"DC and Baltimore so I am about 20 miles away from most of the broadcast towers.",
"I bought this for my small hdtv in my kitchen which I use to watch local news and sports while I am eating or preparing meals.",
"When the digital switch came, I could only receive one channel with my old indoor antenna.",
"With the DB2, I can receive about 5 stations.",
"Unfortunately, the signal for most stations remains about 60 which is the minimum for reception.",
"Periodically, the picture and sound will \"clip\" out which can be irritating.",
"If this tv was my primary, I would have dumped the DB2 some time ago and gotten a better exterior antenna, cable, or a dish.",
"As it is, I can live with it because I seldom watch it for more than a half hour at a time.",
"An interesting note, I tried mounting this antenna in my attic and on the roof.",
"I wound up getting better reception from my attic.",
"Go figure!"
] |
3 | Entertaining | I leafed through the book in an airport bookstore (so you know I wasn't looking for a Pulitzer Prize winner to begin with) and was delighted to find that Preston/Child finally seem to have grasped the concept of limited 3rd person narrative, so I set out to read "Brimstone".Since I am one of those people who can never figure out who did it in whodunits, I was quite content to plod along with a story that was even lengthier than my layover and enjoyed watching most of it unfold through D'Agosta's eyes (I can't help it, I like him - LOL).In short: I didn't have high expectations when I bought this book, so I wasn't disappointed when I finished it. After several Pendergast/D'Agosta books, I also have finally got used to Pendergast's Gary Stu'ishness and don't find him quite as annoying anymore. HOWEVER, the motive for the murders in "Brimstone" was too farfetched even for my severely relaxed standards."Brimstone" is a nice easy airport read. I wish I hadn't paid $17 for it, though. | 993 | [
"I leafed through the book in an airport bookstore (so you know I wasn't looking for a Pulitzer Prize winner to begin with) and was delighted to find that Preston/Child finally seem to have grasped the concept of limited 3rd person narrative, so I set out to read \"Brimstone\".Since I am one of those people who can never figure out who did it in whodunits, I was quite content to plod along with a story that was even lengthier than my layover and enjoyed watching most of it unfold through D'Agosta's eyes (I can't help it, I like him - LOL).In short: I didn't have high expectations when I bought this book, so I wasn't disappointed when I finished it.",
"After several Pendergast/D'Agosta books, I also have finally got used to Pendergast's Gary Stu'ishness and don't find him quite as annoying anymore.",
"HOWEVER, the motive for the murders in \"Brimstone\" was too farfetched even for my severely relaxed standards.\"Brimstone\" is a nice easy airport read.",
"I wish I hadn't paid $17 for it, though."
] |
3 | 3.5 stars | That's what I'd give this book (if I could). Of course it's a translation; the original Danish title may have been better but I don't really consider it worth buying to find out.Overall, this is a very good general introduction to the Viking world. It covers a lot of ground but sometimes only touches on areas where you might like to have seen more detail. One particular aspect I'd have liked to have read more on was Viking-era warfare - a very important topic. But this title doesn't even mention the classic tactic of the shield wall.I'd recommend this book as a first book on the Vikings, but not as a definitive volume. There is too much material to cover and this book is too brief. I read Foote & Wilson's "The Viking Achievement" some years back, which is a rather larger book, and I remember being more taken with that as a single volume reference book for things Viking.Next up is Jones' book on the Vikings, followed by the newer book by Ferguson, to see how they compare to this. | 993 | [
"That's what I'd give this book (if I could).",
"Of course it's a translation; the original Danish title may have been better but I don't really consider it worth buying to find out.Overall, this is a very good general introduction to the Viking world.",
"It covers a lot of ground but sometimes only touches on areas where you might like to have seen more detail.",
"One particular aspect I'd have liked to have read more on was Viking-era warfare - a very important topic.",
"But this title doesn't even mention the classic tactic of the shield wall.I'd recommend this book as a first book on the Vikings, but not as a definitive volume.",
"There is too much material to cover and this book is too brief.",
"I read Foote & Wilson's \"The Viking Achievement\" some years back, which is a rather larger book, and I remember being more taken with that as a single volume reference book for things Viking.Next up is Jones' book on the Vikings, followed by the newer book by Ferguson, to see how they compare to this."
] |
3 | Doesn't work!! | I took it out of the box and it was all in great shape. I tried to boot it up and the original hard drive said "No operating system found" So i took out that hard drive and put in another one. It just sat there displaying a white cursor at the top left hand corner of of the screen. So i put another hard drive in there did the same thing. I even re-installed Win XP one of my HDs and still nothing. So finally i put the original HD in and the Win XP HD in and it booted to the factory HD with IBM desktop and WinUser account. I left it on for about 1 hour and came back in and shut it down. I put 1GB of memory in it and it hasn't booted since. All it does is turn on, turn of for a second and turned back on but no display on the monitor and the keyboard doesn't work either. I then put the 512MB of memory back in... NOTHING! I have done everything that i can think of and it doesn't work. I even put another graphics card in to see if the machines VGA port was messed up and nothing works. | 993 | [
"I took it out of the box and it was all in great shape.",
"I tried to boot it up and the original hard drive said \"No operating system found\" So i took out that hard drive and put in another one.",
"It just sat there displaying a white cursor at the top left hand corner of of the screen.",
"So i put another hard drive in there did the same thing.",
"I even re-installed Win XP one of my HDs and still nothing.",
"So finally i put the original HD in and the Win XP HD in and it booted to the factory HD with IBM desktop and WinUser account.",
"I left it on for about 1 hour and came back in and shut it down.",
"I put 1GB of memory in it and it hasn't booted since.",
"All it does is turn on, turn of for a second and turned back on but no display on the monitor and the keyboard doesn't work either.",
"I then put the 512MB of memory back in... NOTHING!",
"I have done everything that i can think of and it doesn't work.",
"I even put another graphics card in to see if the machines VGA port was messed up and nothing works."
] |
3 | Advanced | For years, I've had only one step dvd. I really wanted to add some new routines to my step workout and thought I'd try some Christi Taylor workouts due to their high ratings. I purchased her Mission Possible along with this dvd. First off, I consider myself an intermediate/advanced stepper...I am not new to step. I realize whenever I work with a new routine, there's going to be a learning curve. I found this dvd to be so frustrating. I quit before finishing the workout. Instead of feeling as though I'd exercised, I was angry. I think it will take some time to learn her moves. Even the "move master" doesn't repeat enough, and any turning move is problematic because your back is to the screen some of the time. I will give it another try, but will expect to start and stop the dvd frequently so as to better learn the move. If you're familiar with Christi Taylor, you will probably like this dvd. If you've not done her routines before or are new to step, expect a steep learning curve. | 993 | [
"For years, I've had only one step dvd.",
"I really wanted to add some new routines to my step workout and thought I'd try some Christi Taylor workouts due to their high ratings.",
"I purchased her Mission Possible along with this dvd.",
"First off, I consider myself an intermediate/advanced stepper...I am not new to step.",
"I realize whenever I work with a new routine, there's going to be a learning curve.",
"I found this dvd to be so frustrating.",
"I quit before finishing the workout.",
"Instead of feeling as though I'd exercised, I was angry.",
"I think it will take some time to learn her moves.",
"Even the \"move master\" doesn't repeat enough, and any turning move is problematic because your back is to the screen some of the time.",
"I will give it another try, but will expect to start and stop the dvd frequently so as to better learn the move.",
"If you're familiar with Christi Taylor, you will probably like this dvd.",
"If you've not done her routines before or are new to step, expect a steep learning curve."
] |
3 | Good but not great. | Pros:AdjustableFits both of my .45 Taurus Autos PT945 and PT145PRO MILLENIUM(with adjustment)Seems durable and well made.After propper adjustment, provides decent balance between retention and drawing ease. Was able to hold loaded guns upside down and shake moderatly (over couch) without either gun falling out.Cons:Does not fit my PT145 as well as I'd like, and it rubs pretty agressively on the foward/top end of the slide. It holds the gun tightely but it is a "sloppy" fit with only a few points really holding the gun in place. With repeated use I fear those same points would rub the finish off of this gun (PT145)Over all you can tell that this holster was not really designed with the Millenium Pro in mind. It works, but has issues.It seems to be a much a much better fit for the PT945. It's a little loose (and noisey) but the holster will fit, and retain the gun after proper adjustment of the screw. I'll get a different holster for the PT145 and use this one for the Larger PT945 | 993 | [
"Pros:AdjustableFits both of my .45 Taurus Autos PT945 and PT145PRO MILLENIUM(with adjustment)Seems durable and well made.After propper adjustment, provides decent balance between retention and drawing ease.",
"Was able to hold loaded guns upside down and shake moderatly (over couch) without either gun falling out.Cons:Does not fit my PT145 as well as I'd like, and it rubs pretty agressively on the foward/top end of the slide.",
"It holds the gun tightely but it is a \"sloppy\" fit with only a few points really holding the gun in place.",
"With repeated use I fear those same points would rub the finish off of this gun (PT145)Over all you can tell that this holster was not really designed with the Millenium Pro in mind.",
"It works, but has issues.It seems to be a much a much better fit for the PT945.",
"It's a little loose (and noisey) but the holster will fit, and retain the gun after proper adjustment of the screw.",
"I'll get a different holster for the PT145 and use this one for the Larger PT945"
] |
3 | Medicore at Best | Chevelle has been one of my favorite bands for a long time. The video for MIA hooked me and I've been a fan ever since. I've been to multiple shows and can say that they are one of the best live rock bands out there right now.Vena Sera is their weakest album to date. Each album has progressed in some way or another and this one has to a certain extent. REMEMBER: This is a three piece band so by default they will not sound as full as most bands. Pete Leoffler's performance is noteworthy simply because he is able to fly up and down a guitar while singing at the same time. Not many three piece (typically three cord) bands can say that.A decent album but it left a sour taste in my mouth. I regret spending $14 on the album when I could have simply gotten the single for $0.99. The majority of the album is forgetable. Vena Sera simply doesn't have that Chevelle vibe that radiated from all of their previous work.Save your $15 and put it towards seeing them live. You'll be happy you did. | 993 | [
"Chevelle has been one of my favorite bands for a long time.",
"The video for MIA hooked me and I've been a fan ever since.",
"I've been to multiple shows and can say that they are one of the best live rock bands out there right now.Vena Sera is their weakest album to date.",
"Each album has progressed in some way or another and this one has to a certain extent.",
"REMEMBER: This is a three piece band so by default they will not sound as full as most bands.",
"Pete Leoffler's performance is noteworthy simply because he is able to fly up and down a guitar while singing at the same time.",
"Not many three piece (typically three cord) bands can say that.A decent album but it left a sour taste in my mouth.",
"I regret spending $14 on the album when I could have simply gotten the single for $0.99.",
"The majority of the album is forgetable.",
"Vena Sera simply doesn't have that Chevelle vibe that radiated from all of their previous work.Save your $15 and put it towards seeing them live.",
"You'll be happy you did."
] |
3 | Antipasto | I found this first novel, by a creative writing program graduate, to be readable but thin. The motivation and inner life of the principal characters are hardly developed, though that may be the author's point: Ms. Azzopardi appears to be primarily interested in the ambiguity of the central characters' separate attraction to flight and, with minor exceptions, in the numb isolation of their daughters. If so, for me, it is a low-calorie premise.The author creates a pretty good sense of time and place dependent too much, for my taste, on food descriptions. Unfortunately, her style is neither especially realistic nor magical nor lyrical nor driven by psychology. It is just there, just craftsmanlike. Life down on the docks of Cardiff, with Maltese immigrants scratching out a living, turns out to be not much different from life in, say, Hoboken in the 1950s.In the category of atmospheric, family-descriptive first novels, I enjoyed The God of Small Things and The Joy Luck Club far more. | 993 | [
"I found this first novel, by a creative writing program graduate, to be readable but thin.",
"The motivation and inner life of the principal characters are hardly developed, though that may be the author's point: Ms.",
"Azzopardi appears to be primarily interested in the ambiguity of the central characters' separate attraction to flight and, with minor exceptions, in the numb isolation of their daughters.",
"If so, for me, it is a low-calorie premise.The author creates a pretty good sense of time and place dependent too much, for my taste, on food descriptions.",
"Unfortunately, her style is neither especially realistic nor magical nor lyrical nor driven by psychology.",
"It is just there, just craftsmanlike.",
"Life down on the docks of Cardiff, with Maltese immigrants scratching out a living, turns out to be not much different from life in, say, Hoboken in the 1950s.In the category of atmospheric, family-descriptive first novels, I enjoyed The God of Small Things and The Joy Luck Club far more."
] |
3 | Mmmmm | Well. My scene is a nice group and I might like them if it wasn't for a few opinions.1. It seems they changed the body-type when Bratz came out2. It looks like they changed the shape of the lips, almost to resemble a smaller bratz lips, which I obviously thought was copyright infringment3. It seems that whenever you put the origional Cloe doll(bratz) next to the origional Barbie (myscene) doll, the lips are a total rip off of Cloe's, they have the same pinkish silver, with the pink outline.4. Than of course, there's the boys series, where they brought out the boys right when bratz brought out the boys. .I think it's either a nation conspiracy. .Or else Barbie is copying Bratz lips, shape, head style, and whenever they bring out a new series, it seems almost always, My scene brings out a thing like it..Well. . one proYou can own Barbie, and Cloe, and say Barbie is Cloe's mom, after all, they even wear the same make-up, nd have the same skin and hair color. . .Hope this helped.^.~ | 993 | [
"Well.",
"My scene is a nice group and I might like them if it wasn't for a few opinions.1. It seems they changed the body-type when Bratz came out2.",
"It looks like they changed the shape of the lips, almost to resemble a smaller bratz lips, which I obviously thought was copyright infringment3.",
"It seems that whenever you put the origional Cloe doll(bratz) next to the origional Barbie (myscene) doll, the lips are a total rip off of Cloe's, they have the same pinkish silver, with the pink outline.4. Than of course, there's the boys series, where they brought out the boys right when bratz brought out the boys.",
".I think it's either a nation conspiracy.",
".Or else Barbie is copying Bratz lips, shape, head style, and whenever they bring out a new series, it seems almost always, My scene brings out a thing like it..Well.",
".",
"one proYou can own Barbie, and Cloe, and say Barbie is Cloe's mom, after all, they even wear the same make-up, nd have the same skin and hair color.",
".",
".Hope this helped.^.~"
] |
3 | Dinner for 2 | I'm slightly impressed. I just finished "Dinner With A Perfect Stranger" by David Dregory and 100 pages later (yes it's that short) I'm thinking "what a cool concept!" It was short, sweet, and to the point. Not something I would normally pick up but still a decent read. Basically, a guy named Nick gets a dinner invitation from Jesus and even though he thinks it's a joke he shows up to the Italian restaurant to meet the Savior. Over wine, veal, and tiramisu Jesus and Nick have a battle of the wits over theology, belief, and heaven. By desert Nick is finally convinced that he is sitting with the real Jesus Christ, not some weird impersonator. Cheesy, happy, etc., etc. It was a cool concept although I believe it could have been pulled off a little better. Still though, not a bad read. God knows I wouldn't have shown up to a restaurant to meet Jesus Christ if some weird invite came in the mail."I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review" | 993 | [
"I'm slightly impressed.",
"I just finished \"Dinner With A Perfect Stranger\" by David Dregory and 100 pages later (yes it's that short) I'm thinking \"what a cool concept!",
"\" It was short, sweet, and to the point.",
"Not something I would normally pick up but still a decent read.",
"Basically, a guy named Nick gets a dinner invitation from Jesus and even though he thinks it's a joke he shows up to the Italian restaurant to meet the Savior.",
"Over wine, veal, and tiramisu Jesus and Nick have a battle of the wits over theology, belief, and heaven.",
"By desert Nick is finally convinced that he is sitting with the real Jesus Christ, not some weird impersonator.",
"Cheesy, happy, etc., etc.",
"It was a cool concept although I believe it could have been pulled off a little better.",
"Still though, not a bad read.",
"God knows I wouldn't have shown up to a restaurant to meet Jesus Christ if some weird invite came in the mail.\"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review\""
] |
3 | LUKEWARM DEBUT | WHEN IT COMES TO CARLY SIMON ALBUMS, I NEVER KNEW QUITE WHAT TO THINK OF THIS, HER DEBUT ELEKTRA RELEASE. STRANGELY ENOUGH, SIMON SEEMED TO HAVE A BIG COUNTRY INFLUENCE ON THIS RECORD (WHICH PROBABLY CONTRIBUTES TO ME HAVE SUCH AN IFFY OPINION ABOUT IT, AS I DON'T GENERALLY LIKE COUNTRY MUSIC ALL THAT MUCH). STILL, THIS RECORD DOES CONTAIN AT LEAST ONE MASTERPIECE, HER BREAKTHROUGH HIT, "THAT'S THE WAY I'VE ALWAYS HEARD IT SHOULD BE", WHICH DEALS WITH HER RESERVATIONS ON THE PRESSURES OF MARRIED LIFE. BUT THAT SONG IS WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THIS RECORD: THAT SONG IS SO GREAT, ALL THE REST OF THE SONGS ARE MEDIOCRE IN COMPARISON. THE ALBUM ISN'T DEVOID OF GOOD POINTS, HOWEVER. "THE BEST THING", "ANOTHER DOOR", AND "REUNIONS IS A SONG POSSESSING A CERTAIN ACHING PURITY TO IT THAT I FIND BOTH SAD AND INTRIGUING. ALL AND ALL, THIS IS BY FAR NOT HER BEST ALBUM (THAT HONOR WOULD HAVE TO GO TO EITHER "NO SECRETS" OR "HOTCAKES)BUT STILL HAS ENOUGH GOOD MATERIAL TO JUSTIFY ITS PURCHASE. | 993 | [
"WHEN IT COMES TO CARLY SIMON ALBUMS, I NEVER KNEW QUITE WHAT TO THINK OF THIS, HER DEBUT ELEKTRA RELEASE.",
"STRANGELY ENOUGH, SIMON SEEMED TO HAVE A BIG COUNTRY INFLUENCE ON THIS RECORD (WHICH PROBABLY CONTRIBUTES TO ME HAVE SUCH AN IFFY OPINION ABOUT IT, AS I DON'T GENERALLY LIKE COUNTRY MUSIC ALL THAT MUCH).",
"STILL, THIS RECORD DOES CONTAIN AT LEAST ONE MASTERPIECE, HER BREAKTHROUGH HIT, \"THAT'S THE WAY I'VE ALWAYS HEARD IT SHOULD BE\", WHICH DEALS WITH HER RESERVATIONS ON THE PRESSURES OF MARRIED LIFE.",
"BUT THAT SONG IS WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THIS RECORD: THAT SONG IS SO GREAT, ALL THE REST OF THE SONGS ARE MEDIOCRE IN COMPARISON.",
"THE ALBUM ISN'T DEVOID OF GOOD POINTS, HOWEVER.",
"\"THE BEST THING\", \"ANOTHER DOOR\", AND \"REUNIONS IS A SONG POSSESSING A CERTAIN ACHING PURITY TO IT THAT I FIND BOTH SAD AND INTRIGUING.",
"ALL AND ALL, THIS IS BY FAR NOT HER BEST ALBUM (THAT HONOR WOULD HAVE TO GO TO EITHER \"NO SECRETS\" OR \"HOTCAKES)BUT STILL HAS ENOUGH GOOD MATERIAL TO JUSTIFY ITS PURCHASE."
] |
3 | Good, not great | I've listened to this set, and in comparison to the others I own or have access to (Klemperer, Furtwangler, Monteux, Maag, Zinman) it holds its own, but barely. There is nothing wrong with these performances: all the notes are in the right places, the phrasing and dynamics are judicious, the orchestra is good, the recording is resonant but clear. These are middle-of-the-road performances, and while a couple, like the 7th, have some new insights (it is one of the most dance-like versions I've ever heard), they are just missing the last bit of intensity and involvement which makes the difference between a good performance and a great one.While this set would make a good place to start, I'd strongly recommend getting other performances of individual symphonies for their greater emotional value. Or, if you must get a complete set, you could try Maag's on the Arts label instead: despite the shortcomings of his chamber orchestra, those performances take that step toward transcendence. | 993 | [
"I've listened to this set, and in comparison to the others I own or have access to (Klemperer, Furtwangler, Monteux, Maag, Zinman) it holds its own, but barely.",
"There is nothing wrong with these performances: all the notes are in the right places, the phrasing and dynamics are judicious, the orchestra is good, the recording is resonant but clear.",
"These are middle-of-the-road performances, and while a couple, like the 7th, have some new insights (it is one of the most dance-like versions I've ever heard), they are just missing the last bit of intensity and involvement which makes the difference between a good performance and a great one.While this set would make a good place to start, I'd strongly recommend getting other performances of individual symphonies for their greater emotional value.",
"Or, if you must get a complete set, you could try Maag's on the Arts label instead: despite the shortcomings of his chamber orchestra, those performances take that step toward transcendence."
] |
3 | Not that Impressed | It was finally time to leave the infant car seat behind and embark on a mission to find the safest and most comfortable carseat for my 25lb, 9mth old baby. I searched high and low...spent hours reading reviews, searching the web,and took 3 trips to different stores in order to test every car seat on the market. Although I was a little hesitant about the quality, I was sold on its comfort. I was impressed by the instruction manual. It left nothing undsaid. I brought it home and I just couldn't get past the styrofoam. I know consumer reports gave it a high score but I plan on keeping this car seat for a while and I know that soon enough that styrofaom will crack (by moving it into different cars, child banging toys on it, dropping it, etc.) and would jeopordize the safety of that car seat. What good would it be then? I tell you what...this whole car seat mission is giving me nightmares!! I finally settled for the Graco Comfort Sport and am quite pleased with it. So is my daughter. | 993 | [
"It was finally time to leave the infant car seat behind and embark on a mission to find the safest and most comfortable carseat for my 25lb, 9mth old baby.",
"I searched high and low...spent hours reading reviews, searching the web,and took 3 trips to different stores in order to test every car seat on the market.",
"Although I was a little hesitant about the quality, I was sold on its comfort.",
"I was impressed by the instruction manual.",
"It left nothing undsaid.",
"I brought it home and I just couldn't get past the styrofoam.",
"I know consumer reports gave it a high score but I plan on keeping this car seat for a while and I know that soon enough that styrofaom will crack (by moving it into different cars, child banging toys on it, dropping it, etc.) and would jeopordize the safety of that car seat.",
"What good would it be then?",
"I tell you what...this whole car seat mission is giving me nightmares!!",
"I finally settled for the Graco Comfort Sport and am quite pleased with it.",
"So is my daughter."
] |
3 | So-so | I picked this up after reading her book of short stories, Mendocino, which was wonderful. This one just didn't have it. It read like a script for the TV show Everwood. I did finish the book, the story was compelling enough, but I didn't like any of the characters. I thought they were not very believable...they seemed to be a mix of northern Wisconsin hick and college student, and that's not the way Madison is. It's a town full of intellectuals and government workers...they don't produce children who get engaged at 18. In addition, I thought Carrie was pretentious and her actions ridiculous. The drive to New York and subsequent stay for a year or whatever just doesn't happen to people like her. The conversations she had and the relationship with the older man in NY nearly made me throw the book out. And the constant comparisons of her new life with her old one were just pretentious and silly. I'm not sorry I wasted my time, but I am sorry I paid for the book. It's a library read. | 993 | [
"I picked this up after reading her book of short stories, Mendocino, which was wonderful.",
"This one just didn't have it.",
"It read like a script for the TV show Everwood.",
"I did finish the book, the story was compelling enough, but I didn't like any of the characters.",
"I thought they were not very believable...they seemed to be a mix of northern Wisconsin hick and college student, and that's not the way Madison is.",
"It's a town full of intellectuals and government workers...they don't produce children who get engaged at 18.",
"In addition, I thought Carrie was pretentious and her actions ridiculous.",
"The drive to New York and subsequent stay for a year or whatever just doesn't happen to people like her.",
"The conversations she had and the relationship with the older man in NY nearly made me throw the book out.",
"And the constant comparisons of her new life with her old one were just pretentious and silly.",
"I'm not sorry I wasted my time, but I am sorry I paid for the book.",
"It's a library read."
] |
3 | Mixed feelings | A slowly paced western romance that doesn't gain speed throughout the book. The plot is simple and predictable, without being boring though. Likeable main characters, however, there are nearly no supportive secondary characters, which leaves only the leading persons to unfold the plot. Unfortunately, I had more than once the impression that these two could not fulfill these demands, therefore the author used many monologues to make good for the deficiencies, which was sometimes a little long-winded. By contrast, the end was not enough developed and rather rushed.Dylan Harper was such an absolute super hero that I tend to forgive some of above lacks. The same goes for Melissa Logan who began her life as a misused child, became a harassed wife, faced a very challenging life without her husband and only after all these ordeals became a self-confident woman.In any case, the book had its good moments but failed to enthuse me. What a pity, because there was more than enough potential! | 993 | [
"A slowly paced western romance that doesn't gain speed throughout the book.",
"The plot is simple and predictable, without being boring though.",
"Likeable main characters, however, there are nearly no supportive secondary characters, which leaves only the leading persons to unfold the plot.",
"Unfortunately, I had more than once the impression that these two could not fulfill these demands, therefore the author used many monologues to make good for the deficiencies, which was sometimes a little long-winded.",
"By contrast, the end was not enough developed and rather rushed.Dylan Harper was such an absolute super hero that I tend to forgive some of above lacks.",
"The same goes for Melissa Logan who began her life as a misused child, became a harassed wife, faced a very challenging life without her husband and only after all these ordeals became a self-confident woman.In any case, the book had its good moments but failed to enthuse me.",
"What a pity, because there was more than enough potential!"
] |
3 | A 1997 Classic | It's unfortunate that the publisher hasn't updated this 1997 classic, but, outdated as it is, this book still has much to teach. Kent describes the three main types of relationships a technical writer can have to a company: employee (which he calls "captive"), contractor, and consultant. And he discusses the skills you would need if you wanted to move from one type to another.I do disagree with his derogatory tone toward employees. As a consultant, I work for and with employees and I feel that they deserve respectful consideration. Even though this book is most often referenced by employees who are considering becoming independent, I (a small business owner) still get marketing ideas when I pick it up.I wouldn't use this as my only resource, and don't take his 1997 tax advice! However, if you're looking for a shot of enthusiasm and a creative approach to consulting, and you have the skills and nerves of steal that it takes to succeed, this book still has lots of relevant advice. | 993 | [
"It's unfortunate that the publisher hasn't updated this 1997 classic, but, outdated as it is, this book still has much to teach.",
"Kent describes the three main types of relationships a technical writer can have to a company: employee (which he calls \"captive\"), contractor, and consultant.",
"And he discusses the skills you would need if you wanted to move from one type to another.I do disagree with his derogatory tone toward employees.",
"As a consultant, I work for and with employees and I feel that they deserve respectful consideration.",
"Even though this book is most often referenced by employees who are considering becoming independent, I (a small business owner) still get marketing ideas when I pick it up.I wouldn't use this as my only resource, and don't take his 1997 tax advice!",
"However, if you're looking for a shot of enthusiasm and a creative approach to consulting, and you have the skills and nerves of steal that it takes to succeed, this book still has lots of relevant advice."
] |
3 | Interesting | I was thoroughly surprised when the movie started to see Rahelio on the screen. I spent a day with Rahelio in Sedona about 10 years ago. He is a wise 'Spiritual Warrior' with lot's of wisdom to share. I found the movie subject matter very interesting. I felt the filming (quality of filmography, production etc. )of it was unfortunately amature. The artist & his father, Rahelio and his son had much to offer. Interesting, the same evening, prior to watching it I watched "Vincent" by Paul Cox filmmaker ( a profound documentary and exploration about the life and death of Vincent Van Gogh, a passionate tribute to the life, mind, and art of a man with extraordinary talent and humanity). The contrast in the style of filmmaking was huge. Sorry to say it made this one look more amature. I would love to see a powerful movie, with that high quality, made about Rahelio, incorporating the artist, the genius and others that he has touched. The Shaman still has volumns to share. www.rahelio.com | 993 | [
"I was thoroughly surprised when the movie started to see Rahelio on the screen.",
"I spent a day with Rahelio in Sedona about 10 years ago.",
"He is a wise 'Spiritual Warrior' with lot's of wisdom to share.",
"I found the movie subject matter very interesting.",
"I felt the filming (quality of filmography, production etc.",
")of it was unfortunately amature.",
"The artist & his father, Rahelio and his son had much to offer.",
"Interesting, the same evening, prior to watching it I watched \"Vincent\" by Paul Cox filmmaker ( a profound documentary and exploration about the life and death of Vincent Van Gogh, a passionate tribute to the life, mind, and art of a man with extraordinary talent and humanity).",
"The contrast in the style of filmmaking was huge.",
"Sorry to say it made this one look more amature.",
"I would love to see a powerful movie, with that high quality, made about Rahelio, incorporating the artist, the genius and others that he has touched.",
"The Shaman still has volumns to share.",
"www.rahelio.com"
] |
3 | Borrow it if you can | If you know someone who already has this book, see if they will loan it to you for a few hours. You can easily blow thru reading it in that time. I'm saying this, and I don't consider myself to be a speed reader either. :) I agree with the person who said that if the type was smaller it would be a pamplet, and for me, the story line starts out being a delightful little read, but quickly becomes somewhat elementary and redundant in the way that it draws things out. I do see some value from this book for those just beginning in business to solicit sales, and it re-enforces very good ideals. This is not a book you'd really need to keep around to refer back to as you could easily jot down the points it makes on a single sheet of paper and refer back to them if need be. The points are basic, but vague, and truely lack in the "how to" department regarding specifics in any given business or product. So, just borrow it if you can, as I didn't feel it was worth the price they are asking. | 993 | [
"If you know someone who already has this book, see if they will loan it to you for a few hours.",
"You can easily blow thru reading it in that time.",
"I'm saying this, and I don't consider myself to be a speed reader either.",
":) I agree with the person who said that if the type was smaller it would be a pamplet, and for me, the story line starts out being a delightful little read, but quickly becomes somewhat elementary and redundant in the way that it draws things out.",
"I do see some value from this book for those just beginning in business to solicit sales, and it re-enforces very good ideals.",
"This is not a book you'd really need to keep around to refer back to as you could easily jot down the points it makes on a single sheet of paper and refer back to them if need be.",
"The points are basic, but vague, and truely lack in the \"how to\" department regarding specifics in any given business or product.",
"So, just borrow it if you can, as I didn't feel it was worth the price they are asking."
] |
3 | An odd pairing. | The 1960 release of "Come On Children, Let's Sing" would be a 5-star rating by itself, since it is a Gospel recording true to Ms. Jackson's tradition. Songs like "One Step", "The Christian's Testimony" and Tom Dorsey's "If We Ever Needed The Lord Before" are landmarks of the Christian Faith. The style of Mahalia's singing here is consistant with her earlier recordings for Apollo Records and she is backed by her regular pianist Mildred Falls along with Willie Webb (Roberta Martin Singers) on organ and a righteous rhythm section of James Rainey (guitar), Aaron Bell (bass) and Osie Johnson (drums). But here's where the fun ends. "Songs of Love And Faith" is a typical left curve Columbia Records was famous for throwing. Although Mahalia tackles the god-awful material like a pro (eg. Dinah Washington, Billie Holliday), it is clear she is not comfortable with it. Why Collectibles didn't pair up "Great Gettin' Up Mornin'" or "Make A Joyful Noise" with the first album, is beyond belief. | 993 | [
"The 1960 release of \"Come On Children, Let's Sing\" would be a 5-star rating by itself, since it is a Gospel recording true to Ms.",
"Jackson's tradition.",
"Songs like \"One Step\", \"The Christian's Testimony\" and Tom Dorsey's \"If We Ever Needed The Lord Before\" are landmarks of the Christian Faith.",
"The style of Mahalia's singing here is consistant with her earlier recordings for Apollo Records and she is backed by her regular pianist Mildred Falls along with Willie Webb (Roberta Martin Singers) on organ and a righteous rhythm section of James Rainey (guitar), Aaron Bell (bass) and Osie Johnson (drums).",
"But here's where the fun ends.",
"\"Songs of Love And Faith\" is a typical left curve Columbia Records was famous for throwing.",
"Although Mahalia tackles the god-awful material like a pro (eg.",
"Dinah Washington, Billie Holliday), it is clear she is not comfortable with it.",
"Why Collectibles didn't pair up \"Great Gettin' Up Mornin'\" or \"Make A Joyful Noise\" with the first album, is beyond belief."
] |
3 | Love from London | The spirit is the same in yet another installment of Emily Franklin's fantastic Principles of Love series, but something's just a bit off about this one. While the new hints about Love's mother are certainly intriguing, they were the best part of the book. Love predictably gets another guy, and as well-developed as a character he is, in the end, he's just another one of Love's revolving door of random guys. Love's snobbish side seems to come out full-force in this one and it just wasn't the same. Something was just off, different about this book. It was annoying, really, since it's a series and one book shouldn't stick out as different from the rest of the series, but that's what this book does. Maybe if it were a stand-alone, or a companion novel, it wouldn't feel like filler. Who knows, maybe some of the filler plays a significant part in the other books and was necessary, but something tells me that isn't the case. Looking forward to obtaining All You Need is Love!Rating: 3/5 | 993 | [
"The spirit is the same in yet another installment of Emily Franklin's fantastic Principles of Love series, but something's just a bit off about this one.",
"While the new hints about Love's mother are certainly intriguing, they were the best part of the book.",
"Love predictably gets another guy, and as well-developed as a character he is, in the end, he's just another one of Love's revolving door of random guys.",
"Love's snobbish side seems to come out full-force in this one and it just wasn't the same.",
"Something was just off, different about this book.",
"It was annoying, really, since it's a series and one book shouldn't stick out as different from the rest of the series, but that's what this book does.",
"Maybe if it were a stand-alone, or a companion novel, it wouldn't feel like filler.",
"Who knows, maybe some of the filler plays a significant part in the other books and was necessary, but something tells me that isn't the case.",
"Looking forward to obtaining All You Need is Love!",
"Rating: 3/5"
] |
3 | A bit disappointing | Although I commend the author for his courage and humor, some things about the book distracted from reading pleasure. This read like a self-published book (maybe it is) that had not been edited at all. There were no paragraph indents, and many sentences were run-on (strung together with commas when there sould have been a period). I'm not a stickler about grammar, but this was distracting and made it hard to read. There was also a problem with tense and scenes suddenly switching. For example, in a camping scene, the author would suddenly mention that he saw 3 bears while camping, but it turned out that this was referring to something that would happen several chapters later, so that during the present scene I would wonder, "Where are the bears?" Often I would hope for an interesting scene only to be disappointed by a blow by blow of each day and night on the trail (including the days where nothing really happened). If you can deal with the amateur style, you may enjoy this book. | 993 | [
"Although I commend the author for his courage and humor, some things about the book distracted from reading pleasure.",
"This read like a self-published book (maybe it is) that had not been edited at all.",
"There were no paragraph indents, and many sentences were run-on (strung together with commas when there sould have been a period).",
"I'm not a stickler about grammar, but this was distracting and made it hard to read.",
"There was also a problem with tense and scenes suddenly switching.",
"For example, in a camping scene, the author would suddenly mention that he saw 3 bears while camping, but it turned out that this was referring to something that would happen several chapters later, so that during the present scene I would wonder, \"Where are the bears?",
"\" Often I would hope for an interesting scene only to be disappointed by a blow by blow of each day and night on the trail (including the days where nothing really happened).",
"If you can deal with the amateur style, you may enjoy this book."
] |
3 | I Expected Better | I own Leslie Sansome's Walk Away the Pounds 1, 2, and three mile walks with weights (they use weighted balls, but I use regular hand weights). I liked the DVD's I had used of this system so far because they are easy to do and yet effective for boosting my metabolism. Since I am 45 and not really an athelete, they are good for me. I got this one because I wanted to try using the stretchie with the system for a different kind of workout. The Stretchie is a rubber resiestance band used for strengthening. The stretchie is only used in the three mile walk and even then for only about ten minutes. I wanted it for a bit more than that. I still like Leslie Sansome's Walk Away the Pounds system because its easy to do and yet effective. However, this DVD is misleading advertising because it really doesn't use the stretchie much or tell you much about how you could use it. I still think I will use this DVD for excercise though and maybe I will figure out how to use the stretchie on my own. | 993 | [
"I own Leslie Sansome's Walk Away the Pounds 1, 2, and three mile walks with weights (they use weighted balls, but I use regular hand weights).",
"I liked the DVD's I had used of this system so far because they are easy to do and yet effective for boosting my metabolism.",
"Since I am 45 and not really an athelete, they are good for me.",
"I got this one because I wanted to try using the stretchie with the system for a different kind of workout.",
"The Stretchie is a rubber resiestance band used for strengthening.",
"The stretchie is only used in the three mile walk and even then for only about ten minutes.",
"I wanted it for a bit more than that.",
"I still like Leslie Sansome's Walk Away the Pounds system because its easy to do and yet effective.",
"However, this DVD is misleading advertising because it really doesn't use the stretchie much or tell you much about how you could use it.",
"I still think I will use this DVD for excercise though and maybe I will figure out how to use the stretchie on my own."
] |
3 | failed to fast | I read the reviews for this on Consumer Reports and they raved about it. I'm going to rave a bit less. I've looked at cordless phones for a while and had the growing sense that they're all kind of cheap. This phone hasn't changed that impression by much. The sound quality is okay. Not stellar. Not bad. But I'd give it a B. It just isn't as good as my old cordless that finally died. Also, it's not terribly comfortable on my ear, it's as if the earpiece is too small or something. Again, the old phone was more comfy. I suspect they made this smaller to look cooler and sleeker. I don't need cool and sleak, I need a cordless that works well and feels good. So, in retrospect, would I buy this again? No. Yes it works, and yes it's not terribly expensive. I haven't had any other problems with it, but hey, if the sound isn't perfect and it doesn't feel 100% great on my ear, then those are big negatives in my book for a phone. So I can live with this phone fine - but love it? Not so much. | 993 | [
"I read the reviews for this on Consumer Reports and they raved about it.",
"I'm going to rave a bit less.",
"I've looked at cordless phones for a while and had the growing sense that they're all kind of cheap.",
"This phone hasn't changed that impression by much.",
"The sound quality is okay.",
"Not stellar.",
"Not bad.",
"But I'd give it a B.",
"It just isn't as good as my old cordless that finally died.",
"Also, it's not terribly comfortable on my ear, it's as if the earpiece is too small or something.",
"Again, the old phone was more comfy.",
"I suspect they made this smaller to look cooler and sleeker.",
"I don't need cool and sleak, I need a cordless that works well and feels good.",
"So, in retrospect, would I buy this again?",
"No.",
"Yes it works, and yes it's not terribly expensive.",
"I haven't had any other problems with it, but hey, if the sound isn't perfect and it doesn't feel 100% great on my ear, then those are big negatives in my book for a phone.",
"So I can live with this phone fine - but love it?",
"Not so much."
] |
3 | An interesting read | I really enjoyed this book, but it kind of drags on after awhile. The book is about twins Dennys and Sandy Murry who long to be in a warm, sparsely populated place in the middle of a cold winter. They are transported to biblical times, right before Noah begins building his ark. They meet several characters from the Bible, including Noah himself, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and a few miniature mammoths as well. They also encounter strange creatures called the Seraphin and Nephalim, who are not human but huge beings with wings. And they meet a girl, Yalith, whom they fall in love with. Then they realize that there is going to be a flood after "El" tells Noah to build an ark, and Yalith will not be saved. They struggle to survive and wonder how they will leave this place. This book is good, although it has some sensual content in it, and I found the last seventy or so pages slightly boring. However, overall I really liked this book and how it focused on the lives of all the characters. | 993 | [
"I really enjoyed this book, but it kind of drags on after awhile.",
"The book is about twins Dennys and Sandy Murry who long to be in a warm, sparsely populated place in the middle of a cold winter.",
"They are transported to biblical times, right before Noah begins building his ark.",
"They meet several characters from the Bible, including Noah himself, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and a few miniature mammoths as well.",
"They also encounter strange creatures called the Seraphin and Nephalim, who are not human but huge beings with wings.",
"And they meet a girl, Yalith, whom they fall in love with.",
"Then they realize that there is going to be a flood after \"El\" tells Noah to build an ark, and Yalith will not be saved.",
"They struggle to survive and wonder how they will leave this place.",
"This book is good, although it has some sensual content in it, and I found the last seventy or so pages slightly boring.",
"However, overall I really liked this book and how it focused on the lives of all the characters."
] |
3 | Operation Mars | Glantz is certainly a prolific authority on the eastern front. He tries to avoid a common problem with military histories, listing so many divisions and battalions that one's eyes glaze over, and he makes this book somewhat more readable than his earlier one on the Kharkov offensive by extrapolating the thoughts of the commanders involved. My main gripe with the book is that the places mentioned in relation to specific battles usually do not appear on the accompanying maps, and his chronology sometimes fails to lead logically to the unfolding of the battle scenario. At one moment we are reading about the exploits of a particular Soviet battle group, and the next moment we find, much to our surprise, that they have been cut off by a German counteroffensive that seems to have appeared out of nowhere. Still, Glantz shows the epic nature of the battles between the Soviets and the Nazis and makes us realize how much of World War II was fought almost beyond the range of our awareness. | 993 | [
"Glantz is certainly a prolific authority on the eastern front.",
"He tries to avoid a common problem with military histories, listing so many divisions and battalions that one's eyes glaze over, and he makes this book somewhat more readable than his earlier one on the Kharkov offensive by extrapolating the thoughts of the commanders involved.",
"My main gripe with the book is that the places mentioned in relation to specific battles usually do not appear on the accompanying maps, and his chronology sometimes fails to lead logically to the unfolding of the battle scenario.",
"At one moment we are reading about the exploits of a particular Soviet battle group, and the next moment we find, much to our surprise, that they have been cut off by a German counteroffensive that seems to have appeared out of nowhere.",
"Still, Glantz shows the epic nature of the battles between the Soviets and the Nazis and makes us realize how much of World War II was fought almost beyond the range of our awareness."
] |
3 | Drumroll please | With it's three believable main chacarters, I enjoyed this, and the previous books for several reasons. THey were all believable, as in, "yeah, i could understand why they did that." Unlike when i read other books i wonder why they just didn't run far, far away.It was also long, without feeling like it dragged on. A dedicated person could read it in one sitting. It also has good dialouge/despcirtion. Conversations never took forever, and i had a good idea about the surroundings, without it feeling like some books, where they take pages to descibe a non-important tree.But something about it wasn't quite right. Some of the problems were solved too easliy, in unbelievable ways. But you don't immediatly notice. It's like in action movies, where the lone hero kills all the enemies but nothing bad happens to him. And issues resovled to quickly.Don't knock on death's door. Ring the bell and run - he hates that.-Something's telling me that i got this from one of Terry Pratchett's books. | 993 | [
"With it's three believable main chacarters, I enjoyed this, and the previous books for several reasons.",
"THey were all believable, as in, \"yeah, i could understand why they did that.\" Unlike when i read other books i wonder why they just didn't run far, far away.It was also long, without feeling like it dragged on.",
"A dedicated person could read it in one sitting.",
"It also has good dialouge/despcirtion.",
"Conversations never took forever, and i had a good idea about the surroundings, without it feeling like some books, where they take pages to descibe a non-important tree.But something about it wasn't quite right.",
"Some of the problems were solved too easliy, in unbelievable ways.",
"But you don't immediatly notice.",
"It's like in action movies, where the lone hero kills all the enemies but nothing bad happens to him.",
"And issues resovled to quickly.Don't knock on death's door.",
"Ring the bell and run - he hates that.-Something's telling me that i got this from one of Terry Pratchett's books."
] |
3 | Perplexing. | This doesn't appear to be what I thought it was when I purchased it. It sounded like a live recording featuring many great blues artists sharing the same stage. Instead, it appears it may be just yet another blues compilation cd. The closer I listen to those JLH tracks, the more convinced I am that they are studio recordings. The same is true of the rest of the tracks. There is no audience noise, no stage banter, nothing spontaneous that would indicate this is a live concert. The liner notes are next to nonexistent, and are no help at all. Maybe the packaging and lack of liner notes are a deliberate attempt by the label to fool people like me into thinking this was something it's not.The truth is, it's a decent blues compilation, if that's what you're looking for. I already had plenty of those. I thought this was something entirely different, and am disappointed to report I was wrong. Unfortunately "Soul Meeting Saturday Night" was not a meeting at all, just a marketing gimmick. | 993 | [
"This doesn't appear to be what I thought it was when I purchased it.",
"It sounded like a live recording featuring many great blues artists sharing the same stage.",
"Instead, it appears it may be just yet another blues compilation cd.",
"The closer I listen to those JLH tracks, the more convinced I am that they are studio recordings.",
"The same is true of the rest of the tracks.",
"There is no audience noise, no stage banter, nothing spontaneous that would indicate this is a live concert.",
"The liner notes are next to nonexistent, and are no help at all.",
"Maybe the packaging and lack of liner notes are a deliberate attempt by the label to fool people like me into thinking this was something it's not.The truth is, it's a decent blues compilation, if that's what you're looking for.",
"I already had plenty of those.",
"I thought this was something entirely different, and am disappointed to report I was wrong.",
"Unfortunately \"Soul Meeting Saturday Night\" was not a meeting at all, just a marketing gimmick."
] |
3 | Useful, but lacking. | I found this book quite useful and helpful in certain respects, but in some areas, I would question the practicality and truthfulness of the authors' claims. For instance, in the 'Beauty on a Budget' section, one of the tips is that no beauty products can prevent or reduce signs of ageing. While I understand that many beauty products on the market probably do not do all that they promimse, I do think that good moisterizers will go a long way in preventing ageing. The authors also say that it is not necessary to buy a separate moisterizer for face and body, but I have found that body moisterizers are often too rich for faces, and often cause breakouts and greasiness. I also expected to find help on issues that were not covered -- utility bills, for one, are a place where I would have welcomed tips on saving money.I found the sections on buying food and household cleaners to be very helpful.Be warned that if you're already pretty thrifty, this book probably won't change your life. | 993 | [
"I found this book quite useful and helpful in certain respects, but in some areas, I would question the practicality and truthfulness of the authors' claims.",
"For instance, in the 'Beauty on a Budget' section, one of the tips is that no beauty products can prevent or reduce signs of ageing.",
"While I understand that many beauty products on the market probably do not do all that they promimse, I do think that good moisterizers will go a long way in preventing ageing.",
"The authors also say that it is not necessary to buy a separate moisterizer for face and body, but I have found that body moisterizers are often too rich for faces, and often cause breakouts and greasiness.",
"I also expected to find help on issues that were not covered -- utility bills, for one, are a place where I would have welcomed tips on saving money.I found the sections on buying food and household cleaners to be very helpful.Be warned that if you're already pretty thrifty, this book probably won't change your life."
] |
3 | dancing alone | Twenty years ago, in "If I'm So Wonderful...," Susan's Page's advice to women singles was: if the guy doesn't meet your needs, get rid of him and move on. You may have to kiss dozens of frogs before you find a prince. You deserve the best. Don't settle for less. Today's advice is: it's up to you, not the guy in your life, to meet your own needs; and if you do that, you don't need to get rid of him, and it doesn't much matter whether he's a frog or a prince. Either way, then and now, it's all about me. The fifty guys you needed to date until you found the right one, back in the eighties, or the guy you're choosing to stick around with today are equally ciphers, a means to an end of self-fulfillment as I do the dance of me, myself and I, trusting that for me -- the one who counts -- and maybe for others who, as adjuncts to myself, may or may not count, things will work out just as they're meant to. The words are different but the tune is the same, and both times, she may be right. | 993 | [
"Twenty years ago, in \"If I'm So Wonderful...,\" Susan's Page's advice to women singles was: if the guy doesn't meet your needs, get rid of him and move on.",
"You may have to kiss dozens of frogs before you find a prince.",
"You deserve the best.",
"Don't settle for less.",
"Today's advice is: it's up to you, not the guy in your life, to meet your own needs; and if you do that, you don't need to get rid of him, and it doesn't much matter whether he's a frog or a prince.",
"Either way, then and now, it's all about me.",
"The fifty guys you needed to date until you found the right one, back in the eighties, or the guy you're choosing to stick around with today are equally ciphers, a means to an end of self-fulfillment as I do the dance of me, myself and I, trusting that for me -- the one who counts -- and maybe for others who, as adjuncts to myself, may or may not count, things will work out just as they're meant to.",
"The words are different but the tune is the same, and both times, she may be right."
] |
3 | Not rough enough | How do you create satire in a world where George W. leads a nation and "The Swan" rules the airwaves? That's a question that kept coming up as I read "Jennifer Government." This book takes globalization and pushes just a little into the future, where the U.S. has literally bought out big chunks of the world and people's last names are their same as the company they work for. I had high hopes as I started this book, and Max Barry's smooth and vivid writing style kept me optimistic. What's missing, however, is what drives the best satire-righteous anger. Barry can't seem to summon much rage either within or directed toward his brave new world, just a sort of world-weary cynicism. His lack of commitment failed to keep this reader engaged, and I found myself skipping through big chunks of the novel. Tons of characters with similar names and thin characterizations didn't help. So although "Jennifer Government" is entertaining, I'm still waiting for the great anti-globalization novel. | 993 | [
"How do you create satire in a world where George W.",
"leads a nation and \"The Swan\" rules the airwaves?",
"That's a question that kept coming up as I read \"Jennifer Government.\" This book takes globalization and pushes just a little into the future, where the U.S. has literally bought out big chunks of the world and people's last names are their same as the company they work for.",
"I had high hopes as I started this book, and Max Barry's smooth and vivid writing style kept me optimistic.",
"What's missing, however, is what drives the best satire-righteous anger.",
"Barry can't seem to summon much rage either within or directed toward his brave new world, just a sort of world-weary cynicism.",
"His lack of commitment failed to keep this reader engaged, and I found myself skipping through big chunks of the novel.",
"Tons of characters with similar names and thin characterizations didn't help.",
"So although \"Jennifer Government\" is entertaining, I'm still waiting for the great anti-globalization novel."
] |
3 | sibling rivalties | Like most people, i initially thought, "oh great, i want to read about jodie, but this guy's going to spend most of the book talking about himself." the irony is, as the book went on, i realized, his life seemed a lot more interesting than hers, and if anything, i wanted to know more about his life. Jodie's life seems more cut and dry, boring, and conservative.The first half of the book is interesting as it details how much resentment buddy holds for his mother, and colours in what we dont know about jodie's upbringing. The 2nd half of the book was slower going as it was clear buddy didnt have much interaction with his sister since the late 70's, and most of the information is filler gleaned from interviews.I spent a lot of the book thinking, man, this guy does seem to love his family, and he did seem to go out of his way to be fair and honest, but boy oh boy, for a who wants his family to be closer together, you gotta figure this book just might blow it further apart than ever. | 993 | [
"Like most people, i initially thought, \"oh great, i want to read about jodie, but this guy's going to spend most of the book talking about himself.\" the irony is, as the book went on, i realized, his life seemed a lot more interesting than hers, and if anything, i wanted to know more about his life.",
"Jodie's life seems more cut and dry, boring, and conservative.The first half of the book is interesting as it details how much resentment buddy holds for his mother, and colours in what we dont know about jodie's upbringing.",
"The 2nd half of the book was slower going as it was clear buddy didnt have much interaction with his sister since the late 70's, and most of the information is filler gleaned from interviews.I spent a lot of the book thinking, man, this guy does seem to love his family, and he did seem to go out of his way to be fair and honest, but boy oh boy, for a who wants his family to be closer together, you gotta figure this book just might blow it further apart than ever."
] |
3 | A nice back story | I love the show and when I saw this come out I could not wait to watch it. The story has a slight Burn Notice feel to it be is centered round Sam Ax's charater. The over all story was good but I felt that the female aid worker let the team down - not sure if it was a bad charater or a bad actor but she just did not ring true. While the ending felt a little bit rushed and Sam seemed to be able to talk his way out of the mess he was in with a few photos. Over all it was an enjoy able movie with Michael making a guest appearance. Sam talks a lot about drinking but never takes a sip while on the mission. It was his drinking and love all woman nature that gets him into the main part of the story.DVD extras - there is some sort of inside joke on "the fall of Jeffery Donovan" it got a bit weired...If you are a fan of burn notice you will like the back story on Sam Ax - directed by Jeffery Donovan he gives the charater he knows so well from the show, a chance to stand in the spot light. | 993 | [
"I love the show and when I saw this come out I could not wait to watch it.",
"The story has a slight Burn Notice feel to it be is centered round Sam Ax's charater.",
"The over all story was good but I felt that the female aid worker let the team down - not sure if it was a bad charater or a bad actor but she just did not ring true.",
"While the ending felt a little bit rushed and Sam seemed to be able to talk his way out of the mess he was in with a few photos.",
"Over all it was an enjoy able movie with Michael making a guest appearance.",
"Sam talks a lot about drinking but never takes a sip while on the mission.",
"It was his drinking and love all woman nature that gets him into the main part of the story.DVD extras - there is some sort of inside joke on \"the fall of Jeffery Donovan\" it got a bit weired...If you are a fan of burn notice you will like the back story on Sam Ax - directed by Jeffery Donovan he gives the charater he knows so well from the show, a chance to stand in the spot light."
] |
3 | Eh... | There are a few good things, and to many bad things about this product. I'll start with the good!The vibration is awesome, its not to much but just enough.The handle makes this toy easy to hold onto and easy to find the buttons to control the speed...it even includes a reverse for the metal balls and the rotation!Its big, but not to big. I'd say just about right.The bad....I cannot use the metal balls/rotation part of this toy which is the main reason I bought it. While the size is great (it matches my partners size perfect)adding in something that rotates, moves, and is made out of metal...for me it was to much, and not in a the good kind of way. Using them for stimulation would probably work but using them while having an orgasm (to me) hurt.The ears are also slightly annoying...I cut mine down, otherwise they had a tendency to poke in all the wrong places.Overall this toy is a great buy, and even though the rotation part is out, the vibration is awesome and the size is nice. | 992 | [
"There are a few good things, and to many bad things about this product.",
"I'll start with the good!",
"The vibration is awesome, its not to much but just enough.The handle makes this toy easy to hold onto and easy to find the buttons to control the speed...it even includes a reverse for the metal balls and the rotation!",
"Its big, but not to big.",
"I'd say just about right.The bad....I cannot use the metal balls/rotation part of this toy which is the main reason I bought it.",
"While the size is great (it matches my partners size perfect)adding in something that rotates, moves, and is made out of metal...for me it was to much, and not in a the good kind of way.",
"Using them for stimulation would probably work but using them while having an orgasm (to me) hurt.The ears are also slightly annoying...I cut mine down, otherwise they had a tendency to poke in all the wrong places.Overall this toy is a great buy, and even though the rotation part is out, the vibration is awesome and the size is nice."
] |
3 | Poorly Written | The original 1941 version of The Flying Express was a poorly written book in certain respects. The book is very slightly disjointed in places and perhaps more to the point it contains several glaring errors all too well known to most Hardy enthusiasts - ie: The incorrect names given for Mrs. Hardy & Chief Collig. That said and those things aside this was a pretty good book. As I child I held this book in high esteem. It is a story about spies using a train called the Flying Express. It is the brothers task to find the spies and their camp and bring them to justice. It is too bad the book contains several errors because otherwise it had a great plot and was an enjoyable read. More accurately I rate it a 3.4 star, the story a 4 star, the errors within a 2 star. RATED B-REVISION: The 1970 revision - from memory was a dud. I may not be the best person to rate the revision. I can simply say I read it once and was not impressed. Its worth reading, but ranks among the bottom dwellers. | 992 | [
"The original 1941 version of The Flying Express was a poorly written book in certain respects.",
"The book is very slightly disjointed in places and perhaps more to the point it contains several glaring errors all too well known to most Hardy enthusiasts - ie: The incorrect names given for Mrs.",
"Hardy & Chief Collig.",
"That said and those things aside this was a pretty good book.",
"As I child I held this book in high esteem.",
"It is a story about spies using a train called the Flying Express.",
"It is the brothers task to find the spies and their camp and bring them to justice.",
"It is too bad the book contains several errors because otherwise it had a great plot and was an enjoyable read.",
"More accurately I rate it a 3.4 star, the story a 4 star, the errors within a 2 star.",
"RATED B-REVISION: The 1970 revision - from memory was a dud.",
"I may not be the best person to rate the revision.",
"I can simply say I read it once and was not impressed.",
"Its worth reading, but ranks among the bottom dwellers."
] |
3 | Better Luck Next Time | C'mon Clay, we know you can do better than this CD. I had my calendar marked for the big release date, and couldn't wait to hear the vocals I'd been sincerely impressed with on the American Idol competition. The vocals are there, but the songs are wimpy--I've thought and thought about that word as the description, and that's as close as I can get. Wimpy--most of the songs sound alike, and seem to be the whining of someone left behind.There are a few cuts that display Clay's amazing talent, but on the whole, it seems as if no particular thought went into the choices of the material. Hopefully, when Clay is a bigger star and can pick and choose what to record, the selections will be better. Some of his best performances were when he shed the shy boy personna, and made us rock and roll. (Remember the red leather jacket?!?)Would I buy this again? Yes, I am still impressed with his talent. Would I buy his second CD if it contained the samekind of bland selections? No, sorry, not me. | 992 | [
"C'mon Clay, we know you can do better than this CD.",
"I had my calendar marked for the big release date, and couldn't wait to hear the vocals I'd been sincerely impressed with on the American Idol competition.",
"The vocals are there, but the songs are wimpy--I've thought and thought about that word as the description, and that's as close as I can get.",
"Wimpy--most of the songs sound alike, and seem to be the whining of someone left behind.There are a few cuts that display Clay's amazing talent, but on the whole, it seems as if no particular thought went into the choices of the material.",
"Hopefully, when Clay is a bigger star and can pick and choose what to record, the selections will be better.",
"Some of his best performances were when he shed the shy boy personna, and made us rock and roll.",
"(Remember the red leather jacket?!?",
")Would I buy this again?",
"Yes, I am still impressed with his talent.",
"Would I buy his second CD if it contained the samekind of bland selections?",
"No, sorry, not me."
] |
3 | no batterflies please | Nabokov intension, until he discovered for himself the wonderful world of pop-culture (cf. Lolita and Ada), was really to describe truth and beauty (see 'Luzhin's defense', 'Gift' etc.) in the tradition of the Old World, and play less with cheep riddles and collective phobias. His dealing with the issue of death, as in 'Ultima Thule' etc., appears also here; the last book written by Knight is, however, written about in a pale and uninspiring way (Nabokov could not make his vision clear?), and, surprisingly for Nabokov, is not free of commonplaces and dejavous. All in all the book is original and interesting, as nearly everything Nabokov wrote. And, by the way, the treatment of the relation narrator-genius (commonplace in itself, unfortunately) looks better than in Mann's Doctor Faustus, where it is taken quite heavily (one does not see the traces of the hammer blows).Side remark: the stars practice is really annoying: isn't there a way to write about books without grading them? | 992 | [
"Nabokov intension, until he discovered for himself the wonderful world of pop-culture (cf.",
"Lolita and Ada), was really to describe truth and beauty (see 'Luzhin's defense', 'Gift' etc.) in the tradition of the Old World, and play less with cheep riddles and collective phobias.",
"His dealing with the issue of death, as in 'Ultima Thule' etc., appears also here; the last book written by Knight is, however, written about in a pale and uninspiring way (Nabokov could not make his vision clear?",
"), and, surprisingly for Nabokov, is not free of commonplaces and dejavous.",
"All in all the book is original and interesting, as nearly everything Nabokov wrote.",
"And, by the way, the treatment of the relation narrator-genius (commonplace in itself, unfortunately) looks better than in Mann's Doctor Faustus, where it is taken quite heavily (one does not see the traces of the hammer blows).Side remark: the stars practice is really annoying: isn't there a way to write about books without grading them?"
] |
3 | Tries too hard. . . | .. to be an epic sci-fi movie. I had mixed feelings about this movie. On the one hand, it's great to see Riddick again but I preferred the Riddick from "Pitch Black", rather than his incarnation of "super hero called in to save the universe" In "Pitch Black", he was the ultimate bad ass, but still a human being, albeit a deeply flawed one. In this movie, he has almost super-human powers it seems, able to mow down dozens of Necromongers at a time. As for the look of the movie, a bigger budget doesn't necessarily mean a better movie. Everything is on a grand scale and some of scenary is awesome (but some isn't so great). Also, the two other surviving characters from "Pitch Black" are killed off in this installment, one early on, the other at the end (boo!) All in all, Twohy should have taken much more time to tell us this story (2 hours plus a few minutes just isn't enough), too much is crammed in. And of course, the end leaves us open for (surprise) another sequel! Imagine that! | 992 | [
"..",
"to be an epic sci-fi movie.",
"I had mixed feelings about this movie.",
"On the one hand, it's great to see Riddick again but I preferred the Riddick from \"Pitch Black\", rather than his incarnation of \"super hero called in to save the universe\" In \"Pitch Black\", he was the ultimate bad ass, but still a human being, albeit a deeply flawed one.",
"In this movie, he has almost super-human powers it seems, able to mow down dozens of Necromongers at a time.",
"As for the look of the movie, a bigger budget doesn't necessarily mean a better movie.",
"Everything is on a grand scale and some of scenary is awesome (but some isn't so great).",
"Also, the two other surviving characters from \"Pitch Black\" are killed off in this installment, one early on, the other at the end (boo!",
") All in all, Twohy should have taken much more time to tell us this story (2 hours plus a few minutes just isn't enough), too much is crammed in.",
"And of course, the end leaves us open for (surprise) another sequel!",
"Imagine that!"
] |
3 | solid b hard scifi | It is hard to believe that this is the kind of thing I watched every afternoon as a kid. Back then, this was pretty cutting edge, impossible as it may seem. But beyond the crude effects, the story is really quite good: there is a mysterious landing of some space crafts. The hero is a man who recently had a steel plate grafted to his skull, a sure tip off that some kind of mind control will not effect him.He heroically attempts to discover what is happening to his colleagues, which gets him into lots of trouble and danger. He then figures out, with a colleague he equips with a kind of collander helmet to protect him against the untraviolet mind rays from the aliens. Then they discover what the real mission of the creatures is, which is quite a surprise, and it changes the adversarial dynamic between Earthlings and aliens in a wonderful twist that is also interesting.Recommended for fans of good b-grade scifi. It is for the peculiar connoisseur, like me, who loved these as a kid. | 992 | [
"It is hard to believe that this is the kind of thing I watched every afternoon as a kid.",
"Back then, this was pretty cutting edge, impossible as it may seem.",
"But beyond the crude effects, the story is really quite good: there is a mysterious landing of some space crafts.",
"The hero is a man who recently had a steel plate grafted to his skull, a sure tip off that some kind of mind control will not effect him.He heroically attempts to discover what is happening to his colleagues, which gets him into lots of trouble and danger.",
"He then figures out, with a colleague he equips with a kind of collander helmet to protect him against the untraviolet mind rays from the aliens.",
"Then they discover what the real mission of the creatures is, which is quite a surprise, and it changes the adversarial dynamic between Earthlings and aliens in a wonderful twist that is also interesting.Recommended for fans of good b-grade scifi.",
"It is for the peculiar connoisseur, like me, who loved these as a kid."
] |
3 | The lesser evil | This is the BEST product of it's kind. Unfortunately, that's not saying much. Unless you have a tape deck in your care or you're willing to drop about 4 bills, an FM transmitter is the only universal tool for hooking up your mp3 player to your car stereo.We live in DC, and considering that the radio waves are pretty crowded here, the transmitter works very well. There is some fuzziness between songs, but we have found a few stations that offer mostly good quality sound. It is essential if you live in a metro area to purchase a transmitter that allows you to use any station.However, in order to change stations you must first save it as a preset station and then move to that station. You can't just push an up or down button and stop on a station you want to use, you must first save it. This can be annoying and almost impossible if you are driving.Despite all this, I would recommend this product specifically for anyone looking for an FM transmitter. Trust me, this is my third one! | 992 | [
"This is the BEST product of it's kind.",
"Unfortunately, that's not saying much.",
"Unless you have a tape deck in your care or you're willing to drop about 4 bills, an FM transmitter is the only universal tool for hooking up your mp3 player to your car stereo.We live in DC, and considering that the radio waves are pretty crowded here, the transmitter works very well.",
"There is some fuzziness between songs, but we have found a few stations that offer mostly good quality sound.",
"It is essential if you live in a metro area to purchase a transmitter that allows you to use any station.However, in order to change stations you must first save it as a preset station and then move to that station.",
"You can't just push an up or down button and stop on a station you want to use, you must first save it.",
"This can be annoying and almost impossible if you are driving.Despite all this, I would recommend this product specifically for anyone looking for an FM transmitter.",
"Trust me, this is my third one!"
] |
3 | Sade's Mediocrity | "Lover's Rock" by Sade is not a bad album. The lyrics are good, Sade's voice has not changed at all, and the production is alright at best. The album as a whole is good. It's on the mediocre side, but it is enjoyable. "By Your Side" is this album's only release, and it is a nice song. "Flow" is another highlight. The lyrics on this song are very memorable. The album's title track is nice as well. My beef with this album is that this group made no attempt to switch things up. The sound is the same throughout then entire album. When I listen to an album, I like to experience different feelings, different moods. Thus album's lyrics have variant subjects, which I appreciate, but the tempos of the songs were basically the same, and that made this album slightly difficult to listen to.I would'nt necessarily recommend this album to people. I'd recommend it to Sade lovers, or big neo-soul fans. 3 Stars1. By Your Side2. Flow3. Somebody Already Broke My Heart4. King of Sorrow5. Immigrant | 992 | [
"\"Lover's Rock\" by Sade is not a bad album.",
"The lyrics are good, Sade's voice has not changed at all, and the production is alright at best.",
"The album as a whole is good.",
"It's on the mediocre side, but it is enjoyable.",
"\"By Your Side\" is this album's only release, and it is a nice song.",
"\"Flow\" is another highlight.",
"The lyrics on this song are very memorable.",
"The album's title track is nice as well.",
"My beef with this album is that this group made no attempt to switch things up.",
"The sound is the same throughout then entire album.",
"When I listen to an album, I like to experience different feelings, different moods.",
"Thus album's lyrics have variant subjects, which I appreciate, but the tempos of the songs were basically the same, and that made this album slightly difficult to listen to.I would'nt necessarily recommend this album to people.",
"I'd recommend it to Sade lovers, or big neo-soul fans.",
"3 Stars1.",
"By Your Side2.",
"Flow3.",
"Somebody Already Broke My Heart4.",
"King of Sorrow5.",
"Immigrant"
] |
3 | A Solid Solo Debut | Rob Thomas has taken the road recently traveled by many frontmen from pop and rock...the solo route. "Something To Be" is an album that does the same for Thomas as it has done for several other bandmen turned solo stars--it alienates some of the band fans and picks up a more pop audience. The lead single "Lonely No More" should have been the indication to Matchbox Twenty fans that Rob wasn't the same artist he was with his band. And honestly, that's what solo projects are for. Anyway, if you are a fan of the lead single and have heard "This Is How A Heart Breaks," other tracks on the album may seem less produced and more heartfelt. Although he DOES happen to say "hardcore...", "Something To Be" is a solid effort with a more pop sound than you might expect from Thomas. If you're a diehard M20 fan you might not be a big fan of the CD just because of that reason. Bottom Line: the singles are the highlights for pop fans and the album cuts may satisfy M20 fans, but don't bank on it. | 992 | [
"Rob Thomas has taken the road recently traveled by many frontmen from pop and rock...the solo route.",
"\"Something To Be\" is an album that does the same for Thomas as it has done for several other bandmen turned solo stars--it alienates some of the band fans and picks up a more pop audience.",
"The lead single \"Lonely No More\" should have been the indication to Matchbox Twenty fans that Rob wasn't the same artist he was with his band.",
"And honestly, that's what solo projects are for.",
"Anyway, if you are a fan of the lead single and have heard \"This Is How A Heart Breaks,\" other tracks on the album may seem less produced and more heartfelt.",
"Although he DOES happen to say \"hardcore...\", \"Something To Be\" is a solid effort with a more pop sound than you might expect from Thomas.",
"If you're a diehard M20 fan you might not be a big fan of the CD just because of that reason.",
"Bottom Line: the singles are the highlights for pop fans and the album cuts may satisfy M20 fans, but don't bank on it."
] |
3 | Not Great but not bad | OK, this one is kind of over the top. Jack Bauer comes back from Chinese captivity a broken man. Then he is confronted with a series of terrorist attacks culminating in the explosion of an atomic bomb. The show also has turned somehow more gruesome since we early on see Jack bite the neck and kill one of his captors (Jack as vampire?) and then eventually he will kill one of his friends and torture his brother. His father also turns out to be an enemy. And we get to know this pretty early on in the series. While the performance of Jack Bauer as burned-out is particularly well done at the same time it is distracting and the show suffers from his lack of motivation. There is also an unnecessary emphasis on a multitude of subplots which tend to cause more of a headache and do not contribute to the storyline. That said it is not bad, it is simply not as good as season 5. As other reviewers have noted, the loss of many central characters has also weakened the interest for the series. | 992 | [
"OK, this one is kind of over the top.",
"Jack Bauer comes back from Chinese captivity a broken man.",
"Then he is confronted with a series of terrorist attacks culminating in the explosion of an atomic bomb.",
"The show also has turned somehow more gruesome since we early on see Jack bite the neck and kill one of his captors (Jack as vampire?",
") and then eventually he will kill one of his friends and torture his brother.",
"His father also turns out to be an enemy.",
"And we get to know this pretty early on in the series.",
"While the performance of Jack Bauer as burned-out is particularly well done at the same time it is distracting and the show suffers from his lack of motivation.",
"There is also an unnecessary emphasis on a multitude of subplots which tend to cause more of a headache and do not contribute to the storyline.",
"That said it is not bad, it is simply not as good as season 5.",
"As other reviewers have noted, the loss of many central characters has also weakened the interest for the series."
] |
3 | Dumped it | Update: We got rid of it and bought a Black and Decker. Too much steam, too many almost disasters with leaking. Husband is on autopilot in the morning and you have to be really careful with this thing. Also, since it really doesn't make hot coffee, he just hates wasting water to heat the thermos. There's no opportunity to change my "star" rating, but I'd give it a minus-one.Ok, it does make a lot of steam, but that's the only thing we've found that others have complained about. Just to be careful about the overflows others have experienced, I've put it over the sink when brewing. But we've had no overflows and the coffee is hot. Husband puts hot water in the thermos before brewing. The only thing I'd change is that there's an awful lot of "stuff" in the water tank and filling it takes more care than with our old pot. I like it, and the price is right. And I love having only one pot on the counter, not a coffee maker *and* a thermos to keep the coffee hot without tasting burned. | 992 | [
"Update: We got rid of it and bought a Black and Decker.",
"Too much steam, too many almost disasters with leaking.",
"Husband is on autopilot in the morning and you have to be really careful with this thing.",
"Also, since it really doesn't make hot coffee, he just hates wasting water to heat the thermos.",
"There's no opportunity to change my \"star\" rating, but I'd give it a minus-one.Ok, it does make a lot of steam, but that's the only thing we've found that others have complained about.",
"Just to be careful about the overflows others have experienced, I've put it over the sink when brewing.",
"But we've had no overflows and the coffee is hot.",
"Husband puts hot water in the thermos before brewing.",
"The only thing I'd change is that there's an awful lot of \"stuff\" in the water tank and filling it takes more care than with our old pot.",
"I like it, and the price is right.",
"And I love having only one pot on the counter, not a coffee maker *and* a thermos to keep the coffee hot without tasting burned."
] |
3 | Noodled | would have been a better title. What mastermind thought this one up? Why was "Dig It" removed? I longed to have the full version on CD of this creative burst of energy, not its absence. Actually, if the "corporation" or whatever put this thing out wanted to put out something different, the George Martin proposed 1968 album of these sessions has always been my preferred choice, if not the Beatles (let's face it, though, they couldn't agree on anything at the time, anyway). True, this version lacked "Across the Universe" and "I Me Mine"--instead consisting of "Don't Let Me Down," "Teddy Boy (a better version than on Paul's first) and a 5 min. take of "Dig It"--these missing elements could've always been included as bonus tracks or inserted somewhere. Attention please corporate owners of music: don't rewrite history. Why not try again "letting it be" one more time by "getting back" to the way it was, but, next time, add more to it (e.g., music). Thanks for the crisp mixes, though. | 992 | [
"would have been a better title.",
"What mastermind thought this one up?",
"Why was \"Dig It\" removed?",
"I longed to have the full version on CD of this creative burst of energy, not its absence.",
"Actually, if the \"corporation\" or whatever put this thing out wanted to put out something different, the George Martin proposed 1968 album of these sessions has always been my preferred choice, if not the Beatles (let's face it, though, they couldn't agree on anything at the time, anyway).",
"True, this version lacked \"Across the Universe\" and \"I Me Mine\"--instead consisting of \"Don't Let Me Down,\" \"Teddy Boy (a better version than on Paul's first) and a 5 min.",
"take of \"Dig It\"--these missing elements could've always been included as bonus tracks or inserted somewhere.",
"Attention please corporate owners of music: don't rewrite history.",
"Why not try again \"letting it be\" one more time by \"getting back\" to the way it was, but, next time, add more to it (e.g., music).",
"Thanks for the crisp mixes, though."
] |
3 | Worth a Look | Despite the mostly negative reviews, I found this movie to be surprisingly appealing.On one hand, it doesn't have a lot of action, the characters are likable but not well drawn, the dialogue is full of technojargon and occasionally clunky, and the actors give mostly "Star Trek" performances (i.e.: little emotion in the face of awesome events).On the other hand, the lack of action was not a detriment. The slower pace enhanced the suspense of some scenes. The technology, while sometimes laid on thick, seemed authentic and was actually interesting at times. The special effects were quite good. I am constantly amazed at the amount of work (and engineering skill) that goes into producing a film like this.Many reviewers have compared the ending of this movie to that of "2001: A Space Odyssey" - vague, pretentious, and weird. Actually, this film has a very straightforward ending which is not hard to understand at all. Don't be put off by the "lousy ending" reviews. Judge for yourself. | 992 | [
"Despite the mostly negative reviews, I found this movie to be surprisingly appealing.On one hand, it doesn't have a lot of action, the characters are likable but not well drawn, the dialogue is full of technojargon and occasionally clunky, and the actors give mostly \"Star Trek\" performances (i.e.: little emotion in the face of awesome events).On the other hand, the lack of action was not a detriment.",
"The slower pace enhanced the suspense of some scenes.",
"The technology, while sometimes laid on thick, seemed authentic and was actually interesting at times.",
"The special effects were quite good.",
"I am constantly amazed at the amount of work (and engineering skill) that goes into producing a film like this.Many reviewers have compared the ending of this movie to that of \"2001: A Space Odyssey\" - vague, pretentious, and weird.",
"Actually, this film has a very straightforward ending which is not hard to understand at all.",
"Don't be put off by the \"lousy ending\" reviews.",
"Judge for yourself."
] |
3 | SE W518 | The wire between the connections is a little on the flimsy side so the first day I cut a strip of plastic wire wrap and reinforced the wire. The input connect to the phone needs to be lined up exactly before pressed into phone and is a little tight at first, but could be easily broken if not careful. My phone has a FM radio and needs a headphone jack for an antenna and this works great with out headphones attached, just switch to speakerphone in that mode. The sound quality through headphones attached is a little quiet, but I bought this to to play the MP3's off the stereo and that is loud enough to make up the difference. So the reasons I would recommend spending $3 on this device is if you: A)Want an antenna for the FM radio in the phone or B)Want to connect to the stereo to play mp3's. For the headphones with a mic I went for a Sony Ericsson W518a Black Left/Right Ear loop Hands-Free Headset from [...] only cost $9 and has better sound quality but not offered through Amazon. | 992 | [
"The wire between the connections is a little on the flimsy side so the first day I cut a strip of plastic wire wrap and reinforced the wire.",
"The input connect to the phone needs to be lined up exactly before pressed into phone and is a little tight at first, but could be easily broken if not careful.",
"My phone has a FM radio and needs a headphone jack for an antenna and this works great with out headphones attached, just switch to speakerphone in that mode.",
"The sound quality through headphones attached is a little quiet, but I bought this to to play the MP3's off the stereo and that is loud enough to make up the difference.",
"So the reasons I would recommend spending $3 on this device is if you: A)Want an antenna for the FM radio in the phone or B)Want to connect to the stereo to play mp3's.",
"For the headphones with a mic I went for a Sony Ericsson W518a Black Left/Right Ear loop Hands-Free Headset from [...] only cost $9 and has better sound quality but not offered through Amazon."
] |
3 | very personal | I loved the first biography by Elie Wiesel, All Rivers Run to the Sea. I loved his objectivity, his detached but sharp view on the incredible and often cruel incidents that happened in his life, as well as his reserved but firm believe and philosophy you can see behind it. I was fascinated by the personal story of this incredible person and was impressed by the power of his quiet words that was much powerful than too emotional accounts on the tragedy that we often hear.However this book, And the Sea is Never Full, is very different from the previous volume. It is much more emotional and more centred around his phiolosophy on his religion. I am giving only 3 stars, not because it's not good - people who are interested in Wiesel's religious believe and stands most likely will find it interesting - but because I expected more stories on his life (and philosophy behind it) not believe itself, and found this book a bit too personal, as if written for himself rather than for readers. | 992 | [
"I loved the first biography by Elie Wiesel, All Rivers Run to the Sea.",
"I loved his objectivity, his detached but sharp view on the incredible and often cruel incidents that happened in his life, as well as his reserved but firm believe and philosophy you can see behind it.",
"I was fascinated by the personal story of this incredible person and was impressed by the power of his quiet words that was much powerful than too emotional accounts on the tragedy that we often hear.However this book, And the Sea is Never Full, is very different from the previous volume.",
"It is much more emotional and more centred around his phiolosophy on his religion.",
"I am giving only 3 stars, not because it's not good - people who are interested in Wiesel's religious believe and stands most likely will find it interesting - but because I expected more stories on his life (and philosophy behind it) not believe itself, and found this book a bit too personal, as if written for himself rather than for readers."
] |
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