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3 | Pretentious and baffling | Need to give a facelift to some obscure comic book characters? Grant Morrison is your man for the job. Think of this more like an accounting exercise, of DC Comics rejuggling the numbers to make the sheets balance. Reading through volume four, I'm left as puzzled to the nature of the story when I started. Mysteries upon mysteries, maybe I'm too dumb to follow the origin stories and back stories, alternate universe stories of 7+ unknown characters. Reading through volume four left me feeling empty and lighter in the wallet, that's all.About the only thing that stood out was Mister Miracle's pointless beating and maiming, like he got on the wrong side of the New York City Plowmen's Association. If these are the New Gods of Apocalypse, let the characters rest with Jack Kirby and leave them alone. They deserve better, and so does the reader. (Review gets an extra star because I must be too dense to follow the knots of intricate supposed near-genius wordsmithery of Mr. Morrison.) | 989 | [
"Need to give a facelift to some obscure comic book characters?",
"Grant Morrison is your man for the job.",
"Think of this more like an accounting exercise, of DC Comics rejuggling the numbers to make the sheets balance.",
"Reading through volume four, I'm left as puzzled to the nature of the story when I started.",
"Mysteries upon mysteries, maybe I'm too dumb to follow the origin stories and back stories, alternate universe stories of 7+ unknown characters.",
"Reading through volume four left me feeling empty and lighter in the wallet, that's all.About the only thing that stood out was Mister Miracle's pointless beating and maiming, like he got on the wrong side of the New York City Plowmen's Association.",
"If these are the New Gods of Apocalypse, let the characters rest with Jack Kirby and leave them alone.",
"They deserve better, and so does the reader.",
"(Review gets an extra star because I must be too dense to follow the knots of intricate supposed near-genius wordsmithery of Mr.",
"Morrison.)"
] |
3 | Lacks important things | On the good side, the book is fairly cheap and the translations are good. There are weird editorial choices, though. While such an anthology is presumably for use by undergraduates, there is none, none, of Aristotle's Poetics. I think that would be much more useful than, say, the Posterior Analytics, which it does include. And while one of the reviewers here on Amazon (oddly) says that it includes all of Aristotle's Physics, Metaphsics, and Nicomachean EThics, that is false: it contains only selections, and some of this are again peculiar. For example, in Nicomachean Ethics Book X the argument that pleasure can't be the good because pleasure only completes an activity is left out--the selections for Book start at ch. 6, so the whole discussion of pleasure is missing. So, while I've used this book for several years I'm gong to switch to something else,even though that will be more expensive, as I'm tired of having to xerox or put on line the Poetics and the rest of NE Book X. | 989 | [
"On the good side, the book is fairly cheap and the translations are good.",
"There are weird editorial choices, though.",
"While such an anthology is presumably for use by undergraduates, there is none, none, of Aristotle's Poetics.",
"I think that would be much more useful than, say, the Posterior Analytics, which it does include.",
"And while one of the reviewers here on Amazon (oddly) says that it includes all of Aristotle's Physics, Metaphsics, and Nicomachean EThics, that is false: it contains only selections, and some of this are again peculiar.",
"For example, in Nicomachean Ethics Book X the argument that pleasure can't be the good because pleasure only completes an activity is left out--the selections for Book start at ch.",
"6, so the whole discussion of pleasure is missing.",
"So, while I've used this book for several years I'm gong to switch to something else,even though that will be more expensive, as I'm tired of having to xerox or put on line the Poetics and the rest of NE Book X."
] |
3 | In the middle | I have to come down in the middle here. I didn't think it was as bad as some people said, or as good as some others said. The general idea of more stories from the Age of Conan was good, but I didn't think this story really delivered. The biggest problem is that compared to most of the original Howard stories (mostly short stories), the plot just isn't that novel or interesting. The root of this may be that we are stuck in Cimmeria, where there just aren't that many beautiful princesses in silks or evil sorcerers in black around. On the plus side, the fight scenes were exciting and for some I was literally on the edge of my seat. I guess I will try one or two more of the Age of Conan series and see if the other stories/characters are more exciting. Frankly, there are probably very many Conan stories left to tell without trying to invent new characters - Howard mentions so many things Conan did that I don't remember seeing in stories (Kozak chief on the steppes, or whatever). | 989 | [
"I have to come down in the middle here.",
"I didn't think it was as bad as some people said, or as good as some others said.",
"The general idea of more stories from the Age of Conan was good, but I didn't think this story really delivered.",
"The biggest problem is that compared to most of the original Howard stories (mostly short stories), the plot just isn't that novel or interesting.",
"The root of this may be that we are stuck in Cimmeria, where there just aren't that many beautiful princesses in silks or evil sorcerers in black around.",
"On the plus side, the fight scenes were exciting and for some I was literally on the edge of my seat.",
"I guess I will try one or two more of the Age of Conan series and see if the other stories/characters are more exciting.",
"Frankly, there are probably very many Conan stories left to tell without trying to invent new characters - Howard mentions so many things Conan did that I don't remember seeing in stories (Kozak chief on the steppes, or whatever)."
] |
3 | ho-hum bond | not one of my favorite bond flicks - and i consider myself a fan. an interesting cast with carerra being the most fun. starting with the name (fatima blush) and ending with a pair of smoking shoes.for those of you haven't seen this, it's a remake of thunderball. names have been changed (but not very much) and the locale is in some different places. the producers wanted to make a bond flick, but only had the rights to thunderball.since it wasn't part of the normal producing team, you notice the missing elements - the biggest being the lack of the monty norman james bond theme. a lot of the music is somewhat cheesey as are many of the special effects. not quite sure why they made this film - other than the opportunity to watch a noticeably older, huffing and puffing connery try to prove that he's still an action hero (sorry folks, he isn't).probably worth it for the die-hard fans, but i place this up there with those other bonds that haven't aged as well as some of the others. | 989 | [
"not one of my favorite bond flicks - and i consider myself a fan.",
"an interesting cast with carerra being the most fun.",
"starting with the name (fatima blush) and ending with a pair of smoking shoes.for those of you haven't seen this, it's a remake of thunderball.",
"names have been changed (but not very much) and the locale is in some different places.",
"the producers wanted to make a bond flick, but only had the rights to thunderball.since it wasn't part of the normal producing team, you notice the missing elements - the biggest being the lack of the monty norman james bond theme.",
"a lot of the music is somewhat cheesey as are many of the special effects.",
"not quite sure why they made this film - other than the opportunity to watch a noticeably older, huffing and puffing connery try to prove that he's still an action hero (sorry folks, he isn't).probably worth it for the die-hard fans, but i place this up there with those other bonds that haven't aged as well as some of the others."
] |
3 | no ending, again | This was a great show that got cut short and again they cancel it without giving us an ending. I think from now on they should shoot the last episode at the same time as the first so they have it ready when they get canceled. I dont see any point in owning the set since the story just cuts off and according to the below from USA channel it will just have a documentary about where the show MAY have gone, not a conclusion to the stories.THE 4400 COMPLETE DVD BOX SET ARRIVES OCT. 28The entire critically-acclaimed and addictive fan-favorite series The 4400 is available for the first time in one complete box set! This comprehensive 15-disc set includes every episode from all 4 riveting seasons PLUS a brand-new bonus disc containing a never-before-seen look at where the series may have gone, an audio commentary, deleted scenes and more. A must have for any TV fan's DVD collection, complete the Emmy-nominated The 4400's unprecedented adventure with The 4400 Complete Series Box Set. | 989 | [
"This was a great show that got cut short and again they cancel it without giving us an ending.",
"I think from now on they should shoot the last episode at the same time as the first so they have it ready when they get canceled.",
"I dont see any point in owning the set since the story just cuts off and according to the below from USA channel it will just have a documentary about where the show MAY have gone, not a conclusion to the stories.THE 4400 COMPLETE DVD BOX SET ARRIVES OCT.",
"28The entire critically-acclaimed and addictive fan-favorite series The 4400 is available for the first time in one complete box set!",
"This comprehensive 15-disc set includes every episode from all 4 riveting seasons PLUS a brand-new bonus disc containing a never-before-seen look at where the series may have gone, an audio commentary, deleted scenes and more.",
"A must have for any TV fan's DVD collection, complete the Emmy-nominated The 4400's unprecedented adventure with The 4400 Complete Series Box Set."
] |
3 | Gimmicky | So, yeah, Ryan Reynolds can act. Great job! But the movie itself is so full of gimmicks and full of set ups just for the sake of making something happen. This story could have been told in a matter of 15 to 30 minutes, but instead was forced into an hour and a half. The plot felt forced, the bad guys were simply stereotypical, middle eastern bad guys and, oh my god, how many times will no one answer the goddamned phone? I'm still trying to figure out if the writer of this film is angry about getting the run around on the phone or if he is angry about the war in Iraq. The premise is interesting but, really, did it have to be an hour and a half? Did the guy really have to cut of his finger and how many set ups for lighting do we really need? I am impressed, however, by Ryan Reynold's performance. If it weren't for him I most likely would not have watched this movie. Great job casting director! But all in all, the movie felt too gimmicky and the ending wasn't at all surprising. | 989 | [
"So, yeah, Ryan Reynolds can act.",
"Great job!",
"But the movie itself is so full of gimmicks and full of set ups just for the sake of making something happen.",
"This story could have been told in a matter of 15 to 30 minutes, but instead was forced into an hour and a half.",
"The plot felt forced, the bad guys were simply stereotypical, middle eastern bad guys and, oh my god, how many times will no one answer the goddamned phone?",
"I'm still trying to figure out if the writer of this film is angry about getting the run around on the phone or if he is angry about the war in Iraq.",
"The premise is interesting but, really, did it have to be an hour and a half?",
"Did the guy really have to cut of his finger and how many set ups for lighting do we really need?",
"I am impressed, however, by Ryan Reynold's performance.",
"If it weren't for him I most likely would not have watched this movie.",
"Great job casting director!",
"But all in all, the movie felt too gimmicky and the ending wasn't at all surprising."
] |
3 | An interesting book | I was intrigued by the premise of the book. And I think you will be as well. The writers set human history and the kingdom of God as a contest of God winning back his people through love and romance. And there is biblical basis to it. I didn't really find anything in this book that I would object to beyond just a mere difference of opinion. The book recounts in broad strokes what God has done to romance his people, drawing on the imagery of the church being his bride and the language God used (which is quite frank and surprising to those who have never found it in their reading -- it is there, Ezekiel is a great example)Where I would dock the book is in its literary structure. It's pretty sugary. Their style is to not go into great detail and to bring out other points of view and they tend to oversimplify certain core doctrines. I do believe that this book, when read with other ones, is a good part of a balanced theological breakfast. But by itself, it's not very satisfying. | 989 | [
"I was intrigued by the premise of the book.",
"And I think you will be as well.",
"The writers set human history and the kingdom of God as a contest of God winning back his people through love and romance.",
"And there is biblical basis to it.",
"I didn't really find anything in this book that I would object to beyond just a mere difference of opinion.",
"The book recounts in broad strokes what God has done to romance his people, drawing on the imagery of the church being his bride and the language God used (which is quite frank and surprising to those who have never found it in their reading -- it is there, Ezekiel is a great example)Where I would dock the book is in its literary structure.",
"It's pretty sugary.",
"Their style is to not go into great detail and to bring out other points of view and they tend to oversimplify certain core doctrines.",
"I do believe that this book, when read with other ones, is a good part of a balanced theological breakfast.",
"But by itself, it's not very satisfying."
] |
3 | Pleasant Enough Read | I have heard it said that Mercedes Lackey is certainly a prolific writer if not a great one. There is probably some truth to that. Exile's Honor is an example of what a very good writer can produce, if it is written a little too quickly. I actually liked this book, the story was interesting, the characters somewhat unique and remarkable, but . . . it just doesn't seem to be finished.There are too many twists in the story that normally would be foreshadowing of events to come that turn out to be nothing. Why are they there? Who knows. It reads like the plot had been altered as the writing progressed but nothing was done to align the story at the end. It just seemed to be hurried and unfinished. Maybe she expects to write more about Alberich and the beginning of Queen Selenay's reign, if that's so then it might explain the lack of closure, the unfinished feeling.All in all it was a pleasant story, a fairly quick read. Neither deep nor profound it was fun and I do RECOMMEND it. | 989 | [
"I have heard it said that Mercedes Lackey is certainly a prolific writer if not a great one.",
"There is probably some truth to that.",
"Exile's Honor is an example of what a very good writer can produce, if it is written a little too quickly.",
"I actually liked this book, the story was interesting, the characters somewhat unique and remarkable, but.",
".",
".",
"it just doesn't seem to be finished.There are too many twists in the story that normally would be foreshadowing of events to come that turn out to be nothing.",
"Why are they there?",
"Who knows.",
"It reads like the plot had been altered as the writing progressed but nothing was done to align the story at the end.",
"It just seemed to be hurried and unfinished.",
"Maybe she expects to write more about Alberich and the beginning of Queen Selenay's reign, if that's so then it might explain the lack of closure, the unfinished feeling.All in all it was a pleasant story, a fairly quick read.",
"Neither deep nor profound it was fun and I do RECOMMEND it."
] |
3 | A fast read. | I was drawn to this one because it won an Edgar for Best First Novel. As a James Patterson fan I went in ready to be bowled over. While not my favorite from Mr. Patterson, this is a satisfying read. Certainly worthwhile just to get the history of his writings.Like everything I have read from Mr. Patterson, this one read extremely fast. It took me a little while to put faces on the main characters, and I am not certain that I was 100% successful in that task. I got to know them pretty well, and found the plot set up most engaging...it kept me on my toes.Somehow "The Thomas Berryman Number" had a feel somewhat like "The Anderson Tapes"---at least to me. It certainly had me turning pages.I have to recommend reading this one if you are a James Patterson fan. It takes little time due to his flowing writing style, and give you a sense of where he started. Surely I plan to get a hold of more of his earlier works. Mr. Patterson gets your attention and moves the story at a good pace. | 989 | [
"I was drawn to this one because it won an Edgar for Best First Novel.",
"As a James Patterson fan I went in ready to be bowled over.",
"While not my favorite from Mr.",
"Patterson, this is a satisfying read.",
"Certainly worthwhile just to get the history of his writings.Like everything I have read from Mr.",
"Patterson, this one read extremely fast.",
"It took me a little while to put faces on the main characters, and I am not certain that I was 100% successful in that task.",
"I got to know them pretty well, and found the plot set up most engaging...it kept me on my toes.Somehow \"The Thomas Berryman Number\" had a feel somewhat like \"The Anderson Tapes\"---at least to me.",
"It certainly had me turning pages.I have to recommend reading this one if you are a James Patterson fan.",
"It takes little time due to his flowing writing style, and give you a sense of where he started.",
"Surely I plan to get a hold of more of his earlier works.",
"Mr.",
"Patterson gets your attention and moves the story at a good pace."
] |
3 | Full Season? | My understanding is that only 17 episodes will be on this DVD.You will see on most episode guides that 17 episodes were shown for Season 1. However 22 episodes were actually made but only 17 aired because of the success on Grey's Anatomy when it first in America. The final 5 episodes were shown at the start of Season 2 so they just appear to be Season 2 episodes. Some of the episodes were reworked so that it looks like the new cast members were part of this. If you look carefully, the new characters in Season 2 do not actually appear on screen with the old characters of Season 1 (Monica Potter, Rhona Mitra). In fact those leftover 5 episodes were so butchered that they were merged into 4 episodes. The episode "Race to Ipsa" actually has never aired.Anyway, it would have been nice to the DVD be released with either the full 22 episodes of Season 1 as intially made for television OR have the 17 episodes on the DVD with a 'bonus' 5 episodes in the special features section.AARON | 989 | [
"My understanding is that only 17 episodes will be on this DVD.You will see on most episode guides that 17 episodes were shown for Season 1.",
"However 22 episodes were actually made but only 17 aired because of the success on Grey's Anatomy when it first in America.",
"The final 5 episodes were shown at the start of Season 2 so they just appear to be Season 2 episodes.",
"Some of the episodes were reworked so that it looks like the new cast members were part of this.",
"If you look carefully, the new characters in Season 2 do not actually appear on screen with the old characters of Season 1 (Monica Potter, Rhona Mitra).",
"In fact those leftover 5 episodes were so butchered that they were merged into 4 episodes.",
"The episode \"Race to Ipsa\" actually has never aired.Anyway, it would have been nice to the DVD be released with either the full 22 episodes of Season 1 as intially made for television OR have the 17 episodes on the DVD with a 'bonus' 5 episodes in the special features section.AARON"
] |
3 | Almost useless | If you are more than a casual AC/DC fan than you didn't even purchase this one- you had all these tracks on the original Australian CDs already. If you didn't have these then you aren't really a big fan of AC/DC. Don't get me wrong, the songs here are all great early AC/DC, but this is just a compilation and not a great one at that. Where are School Days, Crabsody in Blue, Fling Thing, Cold Hearted Man, Rock In Peace and the rest of the missing Aussie tracks? They should have at least extended this thing for the CD release to make it full length and truly worthwhile, but they didn't, therefore I have no use for this thing. Although I have RIP, School Days and Crabsody in Blue on CD I'd still like to have Cold Hearted Man and Fling Thing on Cd- not just crackly LP. A real chance to do something nice for fans but Atlantic blew it big time. None of these tracks are even on Bonfire!!!! What kind of stupidity is that? They just give us a concert that we all had on bootleg anyway! | 989 | [
"If you are more than a casual AC/DC fan than you didn't even purchase this one- you had all these tracks on the original Australian CDs already.",
"If you didn't have these then you aren't really a big fan of AC/DC.",
"Don't get me wrong, the songs here are all great early AC/DC, but this is just a compilation and not a great one at that.",
"Where are School Days, Crabsody in Blue, Fling Thing, Cold Hearted Man, Rock In Peace and the rest of the missing Aussie tracks?",
"They should have at least extended this thing for the CD release to make it full length and truly worthwhile, but they didn't, therefore I have no use for this thing.",
"Although I have RIP, School Days and Crabsody in Blue on CD I'd still like to have Cold Hearted Man and Fling Thing on Cd- not just crackly LP.",
"A real chance to do something nice for fans but Atlantic blew it big time.",
"None of these tracks are even on Bonfire!!!",
"!",
"What kind of stupidity is that?",
"They just give us a concert that we all had on bootleg anyway!"
] |
3 | I have a mixed review | I used this book for the first time today. I made the recipe for the Chili Powder and I used the Chili Powder to make the recipe for Enchilada Sauce #1.Both recipes turned out well.For the Chili Powder it called for 6oz of dried chili pods. I used 2oz ea of New Mexico and Guajillo and 1oz each of Ancho and California. I thought it turned out good.I agree with one reviewer (the person who gave it only 1 star) that her measurements are off. The Author says that the recipe for the chili powder makes 2/3 cup of finished product. It was more like 2 cups. Just the other seasonings without the chilies comes out to 7 tablespoons and THAT's almost a 1/2 cup.And the recipe for the enchilada sauce says that it makes 1 1/4 cups of finished sauce. I don't know how you take a recipe that calls for 2 cups of water and seasonings and only simmer it for 5 minutes (covered) and get 1 1/4 cups of sauce. It was more like 2 cups.That all being said, I was happy with the turn out of both recipes. | 989 | [
"I used this book for the first time today.",
"I made the recipe for the Chili Powder and I used the Chili Powder to make the recipe for Enchilada Sauce #1.Both recipes turned out well.For the Chili Powder it called for 6oz of dried chili pods.",
"I used 2oz ea of New Mexico and Guajillo and 1oz each of Ancho and California.",
"I thought it turned out good.I agree with one reviewer (the person who gave it only 1 star) that her measurements are off.",
"The Author says that the recipe for the chili powder makes 2/3 cup of finished product.",
"It was more like 2 cups.",
"Just the other seasonings without the chilies comes out to 7 tablespoons and THAT's almost a 1/2 cup.And the recipe for the enchilada sauce says that it makes 1 1/4 cups of finished sauce.",
"I don't know how you take a recipe that calls for 2 cups of water and seasonings and only simmer it for 5 minutes (covered) and get 1 1/4 cups of sauce.",
"It was more like 2 cups.That all being said, I was happy with the turn out of both recipes."
] |
3 | Admirable Effort | This book is so bittersweet - isn't that the way of life? Ms. McCullough has weaved an intricate, captivating tale. The story was extremely compelling, dramatic, and tragic. The cursed love affair of Meggie and Ralf digs at the thorns all readers surely have in their own sides. As a Protestant, I was enthrawlled by the spiritual issues grappled with through Catholic theology. I so admire Ms. McCullough taking on such an epic story that it pains me to give it only 3 stars, but I did for the following reasons: 1. The last third of the book falls flat as the climax (Ralf and Meggie) occured too soon and Justine couldn't hold it together on her own. 2. I am a huge fan of description and detail, but the detail in this book became tedious at times. 3. Because the book spanned 60 years, it was hard at times for me to feel connected to the characters when say 8 years had passed without any knowledge of what had been going on in their lives. But on the whole, a very admirable effort! | 989 | [
"This book is so bittersweet - isn't that the way of life?",
"Ms.",
"McCullough has weaved an intricate, captivating tale.",
"The story was extremely compelling, dramatic, and tragic.",
"The cursed love affair of Meggie and Ralf digs at the thorns all readers surely have in their own sides.",
"As a Protestant, I was enthrawlled by the spiritual issues grappled with through Catholic theology.",
"I so admire Ms.",
"McCullough taking on such an epic story that it pains me to give it only 3 stars, but I did for the following reasons: 1.",
"The last third of the book falls flat as the climax (Ralf and Meggie) occured too soon and Justine couldn't hold it together on her own.",
"2.",
"I am a huge fan of description and detail, but the detail in this book became tedious at times.",
"3.",
"Because the book spanned 60 years, it was hard at times for me to feel connected to the characters when say 8 years had passed without any knowledge of what had been going on in their lives.",
"But on the whole, a very admirable effort!"
] |
3 | fast, but frustrating | I was enthusiastic about this book initially. The premise sounded intriguing and the writing itself is excellent. But, the story itself didn't work for me. I found the structure frustrating, the constant back and forth cuts between past and present seemed unnecessary and actually lessened the suspense for me rather than enhanced it. But the most irritating thing of all is that nothing is explained or resolved in this book. I kept reading, hoping for a revelation a surprise twist even as to what had happened to Kate. I suspected something must have happened at camp, but there was nothing. No reason for her to have done what she did, and we never find out if she really is crazy or if something happened to her. And why say what she did about her father? I think it was hugely unfair of the author to set all this up, and then never pay it off, to expect the reader to invest time and energy and then have the ending just fade away, with all the loose ends just dangling in the wind. | 989 | [
"I was enthusiastic about this book initially.",
"The premise sounded intriguing and the writing itself is excellent.",
"But, the story itself didn't work for me.",
"I found the structure frustrating, the constant back and forth cuts between past and present seemed unnecessary and actually lessened the suspense for me rather than enhanced it.",
"But the most irritating thing of all is that nothing is explained or resolved in this book.",
"I kept reading, hoping for a revelation a surprise twist even as to what had happened to Kate.",
"I suspected something must have happened at camp, but there was nothing.",
"No reason for her to have done what she did, and we never find out if she really is crazy or if something happened to her.",
"And why say what she did about her father?",
"I think it was hugely unfair of the author to set all this up, and then never pay it off, to expect the reader to invest time and energy and then have the ending just fade away, with all the loose ends just dangling in the wind."
] |
3 | Unapologetic Fun! | Mary Janice Davidson first hits gold with her compilation of sassy contemporary romance Under Cover that brought her under the wing of Brava. Her first full length novel with Berkeley, Undead and Unwed, retains the sass and the brio - manifested in the pert heroine Betsy Taylor who rises from the dead to battle with a 500-year old vampire, Nostro as well as her manipulative stepmother who stole her Manolo Blahniks upon her death. The laughs are fast and furious especially with an ensemble of secondary characters like her loyal friend Jess and a gay sidekick. It is a vampire parody that digs from the closets of Dracula 2000, Buffy and even a stab at fellow paranormal writers when Betsy has the power to defy holy water and sunlight. It is unfortunate that the end sags but the delicious romance with brooding hero Eric Sinclair more than compensates. This outing proves that Ms. Davidson is uncompromising and undaunted to be creative. It is macabre, refreshing and savagely funny. | 989 | [
"Mary Janice Davidson first hits gold with her compilation of sassy contemporary romance Under Cover that brought her under the wing of Brava.",
"Her first full length novel with Berkeley, Undead and Unwed, retains the sass and the brio - manifested in the pert heroine Betsy Taylor who rises from the dead to battle with a 500-year old vampire, Nostro as well as her manipulative stepmother who stole her Manolo Blahniks upon her death.",
"The laughs are fast and furious especially with an ensemble of secondary characters like her loyal friend Jess and a gay sidekick.",
"It is a vampire parody that digs from the closets of Dracula 2000, Buffy and even a stab at fellow paranormal writers when Betsy has the power to defy holy water and sunlight.",
"It is unfortunate that the end sags but the delicious romance with brooding hero Eric Sinclair more than compensates.",
"This outing proves that Ms.",
"Davidson is uncompromising and undaunted to be creative.",
"It is macabre, refreshing and savagely funny."
] |
3 | What, No Perry Como? | The quintessential Thanksgiving scene in my opinion was in Barry Levinson's "Avalon". The family patriarch carves the Thanksgiving turkey before his late arriving brother and his family come to dinner. When the brother arrives he is irate at such insolence and not only leaves but the two would never speak for the rest of their lives. What Levinson achieves in this singular moment is not even suggested in 103 minutes of "Home for the Holidays". It's not that director Jodie Foster doesn't try. She manages to keep things interesting and gets the most out of her talented ensemble cast. I will add, though, that Robert Downey Jr.'s gay brother is a cliched staple of films of this type. The problem here is W.D. Richter's script which is a little thin. Foster has to get mileage out of the Thanksgiving dinner scene which is fair-to-middling and a closing montage filmed in home movie stock. Foster's film is not a bad one in the least just a very average and ultimately forgettable one. | 989 | [
"The quintessential Thanksgiving scene in my opinion was in Barry Levinson's \"Avalon\".",
"The family patriarch carves the Thanksgiving turkey before his late arriving brother and his family come to dinner.",
"When the brother arrives he is irate at such insolence and not only leaves but the two would never speak for the rest of their lives.",
"What Levinson achieves in this singular moment is not even suggested in 103 minutes of \"Home for the Holidays\".",
"It's not that director Jodie Foster doesn't try.",
"She manages to keep things interesting and gets the most out of her talented ensemble cast.",
"I will add, though, that Robert Downey Jr.'s gay brother is a cliched staple of films of this type.",
"The problem here is W.D. Richter's script which is a little thin.",
"Foster has to get mileage out of the Thanksgiving dinner scene which is fair-to-middling and a closing montage filmed in home movie stock.",
"Foster's film is not a bad one in the least just a very average and ultimately forgettable one."
] |
3 | Beowulf...a reappraisal | The first time I read Heaney's Beowulf, I was possibly too shocked by what I saw as the translator's hubris. His renaming of characters and abbreviated notes in the margins put me off. I was not impressed by what I saw as the dumbing down of one of the greatest epics. Yet time has given me some clarity and perspective.The great value I now see to Heaney's Beowulf is that it speaks to the audience of today. More than just a poem, Beowulf has really become a myth of sorts. Its tale of courage in the grimmest of circumstances is timeless--and in some ways extra-literary. It deserves the wide audience Heaney has given it.Many of the choices that I felt were quirks in Heaney's translation have actually grown on me. When appreciated for its dynamic inventiveness, Heaney's translation becomes a special thing. The side by side text is an extremely valuable bonus to the student of Old English.Mea Culpa...I was wrong. Forgive me Seamus. I give this Beowulf my heartfelt recommendation. | 989 | [
"The first time I read Heaney's Beowulf, I was possibly too shocked by what I saw as the translator's hubris.",
"His renaming of characters and abbreviated notes in the margins put me off.",
"I was not impressed by what I saw as the dumbing down of one of the greatest epics.",
"Yet time has given me some clarity and perspective.The great value I now see to Heaney's Beowulf is that it speaks to the audience of today.",
"More than just a poem, Beowulf has really become a myth of sorts.",
"Its tale of courage in the grimmest of circumstances is timeless--and in some ways extra-literary.",
"It deserves the wide audience Heaney has given it.Many of the choices that I felt were quirks in Heaney's translation have actually grown on me.",
"When appreciated for its dynamic inventiveness, Heaney's translation becomes a special thing.",
"The side by side text is an extremely valuable bonus to the student of Old English.Mea Culpa...I was wrong.",
"Forgive me Seamus.",
"I give this Beowulf my heartfelt recommendation."
] |
3 | Lizard Music | The book that i am going to tell you about is called Lizard Music. It was a pretty good book. The setting of Lizard Music is in more than one place. The setting helps to make the story more exciting because because where victor goes is a little weird. Especially the the people. The Chicken man was a really weird character. He would walk around with his chicken Claudia on his head. Victor the main characterwent from being a scared little boy to a brave little boy. In the beginning he kept on getting scared because ke kept on seeing lizards all over the place. In the end he didn't mind seeing the lizards. I think that the moral of this book is do not judge a book by it's cover because the cover that I saw was a really boring cover,but if I saw the new cover I would probably want to read it. It ended up being a good book though. The end of the story ended up being very predictable. If Victor kept on seeing lizards everywhere then you could assume that he was going to meet them. | 989 | [
"The book that i am going to tell you about is called Lizard Music.",
"It was a pretty good book.",
"The setting of Lizard Music is in more than one place.",
"The setting helps to make the story more exciting because because where victor goes is a little weird.",
"Especially the the people.",
"The Chicken man was a really weird character.",
"He would walk around with his chicken Claudia on his head.",
"Victor the main characterwent from being a scared little boy to a brave little boy.",
"In the beginning he kept on getting scared because ke kept on seeing lizards all over the place.",
"In the end he didn't mind seeing the lizards.",
"I think that the moral of this book is do not judge a book by it's cover because the cover that I saw was a really boring cover,but if I saw the new cover I would probably want to read it.",
"It ended up being a good book though.",
"The end of the story ended up being very predictable.",
"If Victor kept on seeing lizards everywhere then you could assume that he was going to meet them."
] |
3 | Brilliant and bad | This movie made me cry. Not because I was emotionally struck by the characters or story, but because the movie is a battle between bad ideas and brilliance, between art and commercial sap, innovation and cliche; and it depressed me that ultimately the weaknesses of this movie overpower the strengths. So I'm giving it 2.25 stars for the good moments: the fact that the acting and singing new versions of Beatles songs were well done, the artistic brilliance of Julie Taymor was apparent, but too infrequently, and the script had a bit of wit. But so sad that the story is really just a string of cliches and scenes which exist only so a song can be fit in. The characters which had nothing to do and existed only because their name is in a song(Prudence, Jojo, Mr. Kite, Dr. Robert), and the overlong scenes which made me cringe and really should have been cut down or cut out (A Little Help From My Friends, and Blackbird). So sad. Please start with a better script next time Ms. Taymor. | 989 | [
"This movie made me cry.",
"Not because I was emotionally struck by the characters or story, but because the movie is a battle between bad ideas and brilliance, between art and commercial sap, innovation and cliche; and it depressed me that ultimately the weaknesses of this movie overpower the strengths.",
"So I'm giving it 2.25 stars for the good moments: the fact that the acting and singing new versions of Beatles songs were well done, the artistic brilliance of Julie Taymor was apparent, but too infrequently, and the script had a bit of wit.",
"But so sad that the story is really just a string of cliches and scenes which exist only so a song can be fit in.",
"The characters which had nothing to do and existed only because their name is in a song(Prudence, Jojo, Mr.",
"Kite, Dr.",
"Robert), and the overlong scenes which made me cringe and really should have been cut down or cut out (A Little Help From My Friends, and Blackbird).",
"So sad.",
"Please start with a better script next time Ms.",
"Taymor."
] |
3 | JarHead gets an OO-RAH! | Jaky Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain, Highway) stars as Anthony Swoffard who is in the deserts of Saudi Arabia where he is being trained by Sgt. Sykes played by Jamie Foxx (Ray, Collateral), to get ready for the on coming war. Swofford becomes a sniper and his spotter is Troy, played by Peter Sarsgaard (Skeleton Key, Shattered Glass). Darkly funny and some scenes with power make JarHead interesting and the direction is amazing, be it explosions or soldiers walking along burnt cars or oil fields at night on fire with is scary and beautiful at the same time. Also starring Chris Cooper (Capote, October Sky), Jacob Vargas (Nexy Friday, Traffic), Lucas Black (Crazy In Alabama, Sling Blade) and Dennis Haysbert (Tv's 24, Absolute Power) They got refrences from The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now and Giant with James Dean. Gyllenhaal gives one of his best performances so far, Sarsgaard is explosive and Jamie Foxx digs out of the BOMB pit that was the movie Stealth. "Welcome to the Suck!" | 989 | [
"Jaky Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain, Highway) stars as Anthony Swoffard who is in the deserts of Saudi Arabia where he is being trained by Sgt.",
"Sykes played by Jamie Foxx (Ray, Collateral), to get ready for the on coming war.",
"Swofford becomes a sniper and his spotter is Troy, played by Peter Sarsgaard (Skeleton Key, Shattered Glass).",
"Darkly funny and some scenes with power make JarHead interesting and the direction is amazing, be it explosions or soldiers walking along burnt cars or oil fields at night on fire with is scary and beautiful at the same time.",
"Also starring Chris Cooper (Capote, October Sky), Jacob Vargas (Nexy Friday, Traffic), Lucas Black (Crazy In Alabama, Sling Blade) and Dennis Haysbert (Tv's 24, Absolute Power) They got refrences from The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now and Giant with James Dean.",
"Gyllenhaal gives one of his best performances so far, Sarsgaard is explosive and Jamie Foxx digs out of the BOMB pit that was the movie Stealth.",
"\"Welcome to the Suck!",
"\""
] |
3 | It's fine. | I decided I wanted a second rabbit to be friends with my current one so I thought it'd be best to get a 2nd cage in case they don't get along. I had a limited amount to spend on a cage, so I saw this "complete kit" for $45 and jumped at it. The cage is way smaller than my current rabbits cage. I own a netherland dwarf and I'm getting a holland lop and I assume they should have at least the same amount of cage space but unfortunately no. The kit came with food, bedding a broken toy (oh well) a water bottle, a dish and a treat. Fine, all as expected and I'm sure if each product was purchased individually it would come out to about $40 so they were a great value in my opinion. The cage itself was flawed. The metal parts that were supposed to link together to keep the cage up were too wide so the cage wouldn't stay secured so I had to use pliers to permanently secure the cage. Kinda mad about that. Overall, I am satisfied, not overwhelmed with joy, not surprised, just satisfied. | 989 | [
"I decided I wanted a second rabbit to be friends with my current one so I thought it'd be best to get a 2nd cage in case they don't get along.",
"I had a limited amount to spend on a cage, so I saw this \"complete kit\" for $45 and jumped at it.",
"The cage is way smaller than my current rabbits cage.",
"I own a netherland dwarf and I'm getting a holland lop and I assume they should have at least the same amount of cage space but unfortunately no.",
"The kit came with food, bedding a broken toy (oh well) a water bottle, a dish and a treat.",
"Fine, all as expected and I'm sure if each product was purchased individually it would come out to about $40 so they were a great value in my opinion.",
"The cage itself was flawed.",
"The metal parts that were supposed to link together to keep the cage up were too wide so the cage wouldn't stay secured so I had to use pliers to permanently secure the cage.",
"Kinda mad about that.",
"Overall, I am satisfied, not overwhelmed with joy, not surprised, just satisfied."
] |
3 | flimsy but effective | I bought two of these fixtures to replace old broken ballast fixtures in my kitchen. They work fine, the ballast is silent, and they light up my fluorescent tubes just fine. Beautiful.Please be aware that this fixture is not designed to hang freely or look pretty. It should go above a kitchen diffusing lens, and not in a garage or shop. The metal is flimsy and you'll probably have to bend parts of it back into place during installation. The tube terminals wiggle a little bit and I think in an earthquake the lights may become loose or lose contact. You have to provide your own electrical cord to hook up to the ballast.I was lucky in my kitchen, I was replacing two similar fixtures, so I just salvaged the cord from those and put them up in no time. If you're looking for cheap working light, buy this. If you're looking for easy installation and an all inclusive kit, this is not for you. 5 stars for the good ballast (and the fact that it "works"), minus two for the construction. | 989 | [
"I bought two of these fixtures to replace old broken ballast fixtures in my kitchen.",
"They work fine, the ballast is silent, and they light up my fluorescent tubes just fine.",
"Beautiful.Please be aware that this fixture is not designed to hang freely or look pretty.",
"It should go above a kitchen diffusing lens, and not in a garage or shop.",
"The metal is flimsy and you'll probably have to bend parts of it back into place during installation.",
"The tube terminals wiggle a little bit and I think in an earthquake the lights may become loose or lose contact.",
"You have to provide your own electrical cord to hook up to the ballast.I was lucky in my kitchen, I was replacing two similar fixtures, so I just salvaged the cord from those and put them up in no time.",
"If you're looking for cheap working light, buy this.",
"If you're looking for easy installation and an all inclusive kit, this is not for you.",
"5 stars for the good ballast (and the fact that it \"works\"), minus two for the construction."
] |
3 | Works sort of ... | Fast shipping! This product sort of works. I'd been having ants in my kitchen and I didn't want to use anything around food that would be toxic so I order this product. I sprayed it on the ants and it did kill them but it took a little longer than traditional bug spray. The ants would still be alive for a few minutes after spraying them with this so the ants would crawl around and keeping coming until the product kicked in. The smell is pleasant and it doesn't leave a greasy sticky mess. I haven't tried it on any other insects, but black ants and I haven't tried it outdoors, just indoors. It's not a permanent solution to bug control. Eventually the ants kept coming into my kitchen and I had to call an exterminator. I'd recommend this product if you have just a couple of little bugs you want to get rid of and you don't want any toxic sprays around food, children or pets. Otherwise, for a large infestation or reoccurring infestation, this product doesn't really help with that. | 989 | [
"Fast shipping!",
"This product sort of works.",
"I'd been having ants in my kitchen and I didn't want to use anything around food that would be toxic so I order this product.",
"I sprayed it on the ants and it did kill them but it took a little longer than traditional bug spray.",
"The ants would still be alive for a few minutes after spraying them with this so the ants would crawl around and keeping coming until the product kicked in.",
"The smell is pleasant and it doesn't leave a greasy sticky mess.",
"I haven't tried it on any other insects, but black ants and I haven't tried it outdoors, just indoors.",
"It's not a permanent solution to bug control.",
"Eventually the ants kept coming into my kitchen and I had to call an exterminator.",
"I'd recommend this product if you have just a couple of little bugs you want to get rid of and you don't want any toxic sprays around food, children or pets.",
"Otherwise, for a large infestation or reoccurring infestation, this product doesn't really help with that."
] |
3 | The bible of selfishness | This book is a poem about the greatness of man and what it means to be human. Unfortunately, it is also an ode to selfishness. This book, I think, is a good example of the wealth of possibilities inherent in Rand's philosophy, but which Rand herself, in her attempts to justify continuing her adolescent attitude of selfishness and disdain for others, was unable to bring to the fore and to develop fully. Just as her philosophy would have been a great philosophy had she eventually outgrown this selfishness, this book would have been a great book had it not taken a nearly satanic turn. Rand, in her delusion, rather than extolling the greatness of man as mankind, extols instead the individual, man in the singular. Her language throughout is pervaded with biblical allusion and metaphor and a constant use of the word "sacred" and its synonyms. Unfortunately, however, all of this is employed in order to make a virtue -- even a holy duty -- of selfishness and of the first sin: pride. | 989 | [
"This book is a poem about the greatness of man and what it means to be human.",
"Unfortunately, it is also an ode to selfishness.",
"This book, I think, is a good example of the wealth of possibilities inherent in Rand's philosophy, but which Rand herself, in her attempts to justify continuing her adolescent attitude of selfishness and disdain for others, was unable to bring to the fore and to develop fully.",
"Just as her philosophy would have been a great philosophy had she eventually outgrown this selfishness, this book would have been a great book had it not taken a nearly satanic turn.",
"Rand, in her delusion, rather than extolling the greatness of man as mankind, extols instead the individual, man in the singular.",
"Her language throughout is pervaded with biblical allusion and metaphor and a constant use of the word \"sacred\" and its synonyms.",
"Unfortunately, however, all of this is employed in order to make a virtue -- even a holy duty -- of selfishness and of the first sin: pride."
] |
3 | Good things | This is the latest soft rock outfit from Melbourne, Australia. Like other bands such as Coldplay and Turin Brakes, they have been championed by Nic Harcourt and his "mornings become eclectic" radio shows on KCRW. Gersey is definitely come down music after the party and too much drugs. It's music to relax to and wonder why you are wide awake at 6am after three days of no sleep. They blend angular guitars and sensible melodies. Most of their songs are about desire and escaping to foreign lands. The best song here is probably "Trouble With Jonah" which is like a minimalist Badly Drawn Boy having coffee with Julee Cruise. Gersey are much like Damien Rice: they are dying to plant a flag in America. Why this is, who knows? The earlier record, Hope Springs, is probably better though much the same. Most people are just drunk off their ass and are wearing baseball caps and waiting to smoke a joint with the next Liars release. All the best of luck to Gersey for their delicate balance. | 989 | [
"This is the latest soft rock outfit from Melbourne, Australia.",
"Like other bands such as Coldplay and Turin Brakes, they have been championed by Nic Harcourt and his \"mornings become eclectic\" radio shows on KCRW.",
"Gersey is definitely come down music after the party and too much drugs.",
"It's music to relax to and wonder why you are wide awake at 6am after three days of no sleep.",
"They blend angular guitars and sensible melodies.",
"Most of their songs are about desire and escaping to foreign lands.",
"The best song here is probably \"Trouble With Jonah\" which is like a minimalist Badly Drawn Boy having coffee with Julee Cruise.",
"Gersey are much like Damien Rice: they are dying to plant a flag in America.",
"Why this is, who knows?",
"The earlier record, Hope Springs, is probably better though much the same.",
"Most people are just drunk off their ass and are wearing baseball caps and waiting to smoke a joint with the next Liars release.",
"All the best of luck to Gersey for their delicate balance."
] |
3 | Slightly Disappointed | I waited impatiently for Owlknight to come out. I have only in the last three years been reading and collecting the Valdemar series. I enjoy finding out what happened to characters from previous novels and seeing how the times have changed within Valdemar. I enjoyed reading the book, but like some of the previous reviews, I found some things lacking. I enjoy seeing how the characters develop and mature, but I feel that the characterization was too slow in this book. I also felt like the plot moved too quickly. I wanted to see reactions to certains situations which weren't there. Don't get me wrong. I really liked the book; I just wanted more. I wanted to see that happens with Keisha and Darien's relationship, and I wonder just how comfortable Darien really is with the situation with his parents. Like another reviewer, I liked learning about the Northern tribes. I also want to know what is to the west of Valdemar. And yes, I will go out and buy the fourth book in this series. | 989 | [
"I waited impatiently for Owlknight to come out.",
"I have only in the last three years been reading and collecting the Valdemar series.",
"I enjoy finding out what happened to characters from previous novels and seeing how the times have changed within Valdemar.",
"I enjoyed reading the book, but like some of the previous reviews, I found some things lacking.",
"I enjoy seeing how the characters develop and mature, but I feel that the characterization was too slow in this book.",
"I also felt like the plot moved too quickly.",
"I wanted to see reactions to certains situations which weren't there.",
"Don't get me wrong.",
"I really liked the book; I just wanted more.",
"I wanted to see that happens with Keisha and Darien's relationship, and I wonder just how comfortable Darien really is with the situation with his parents.",
"Like another reviewer, I liked learning about the Northern tribes.",
"I also want to know what is to the west of Valdemar.",
"And yes, I will go out and buy the fourth book in this series."
] |
3 | Turtles v. Simple Plan | I have to admit to only listening to this music as it was presented in the movie; I thought it was pretty good stuff.What I really want to talk about right about though is the Simple Plan cover of The Turtles "Happy Together." Let me begin by saying I have no problem with cover songs as long as they are better. The Simple Plan version is by no means better, it strips away the trumpet, the harmonies and all the other orchestration that made the original brilliant and haunting. The new version in no way achieves what the Lemonheads did with "Mrs. Robinson" instead it just turns a great song into a kitschy piece of corporate punk. The only band out there right now capable of handling such production is Belle and Sebastian and they are busy writing masterpieces of their own.While I don't think it would be fair to suggest you not buy this CD, I do suggest you boycott unnecessary covers that only cheapen the original song, as well as any other releases of this song by Simple Plan. | 989 | [
"I have to admit to only listening to this music as it was presented in the movie; I thought it was pretty good stuff.What I really want to talk about right about though is the Simple Plan cover of The Turtles \"Happy Together.\" Let me begin by saying I have no problem with cover songs as long as they are better.",
"The Simple Plan version is by no means better, it strips away the trumpet, the harmonies and all the other orchestration that made the original brilliant and haunting.",
"The new version in no way achieves what the Lemonheads did with \"Mrs.",
"Robinson\" instead it just turns a great song into a kitschy piece of corporate punk.",
"The only band out there right now capable of handling such production is Belle and Sebastian and they are busy writing masterpieces of their own.While I don't think it would be fair to suggest you not buy this CD, I do suggest you boycott unnecessary covers that only cheapen the original song, as well as any other releases of this song by Simple Plan."
] |
3 | In Service to Koba | A good but not great biography. Robert Service, while not gifted with a felicitous writing style, does bring a store of knowledge to this difficult subject. I do find fault with several points the author makes; for example, he views the U.S. as being driven mostly by commercial reasons in offering up the Marshall Plan after World War II. Somehow, this attempt at American "hegemony" understandably provoked Stalin into the Cold War. The idea that the West might have good reason to contain the murderous regime of Stalin and prevent the further extension of Communism does not fully register with Professor Service. Another example is about the concluding phase of World War II. Stalin's role in regard to Japan is not given an accurate depiction in light of the recent work by Professor Hasegawa in "Racing the Enemy."Somehow the millions of souls killed by Stalin get muted attention as this book strives to show Stalin as a person, however greatly flawed, not as a card board villain. | 989 | [
"A good but not great biography.",
"Robert Service, while not gifted with a felicitous writing style, does bring a store of knowledge to this difficult subject.",
"I do find fault with several points the author makes; for example, he views the U.S. as being driven mostly by commercial reasons in offering up the Marshall Plan after World War II.",
"Somehow, this attempt at American \"hegemony\" understandably provoked Stalin into the Cold War.",
"The idea that the West might have good reason to contain the murderous regime of Stalin and prevent the further extension of Communism does not fully register with Professor Service.",
"Another example is about the concluding phase of World War II.",
"Stalin's role in regard to Japan is not given an accurate depiction in light of the recent work by Professor Hasegawa in \"Racing the Enemy.\"Somehow the millions of souls killed by Stalin get muted attention as this book strives to show Stalin as a person, however greatly flawed, not as a card board villain."
] |
3 | Expected a little more | When the first topic you look up isn't in the book at all, it's already disappointing. I was eager to get this book because one of my sugar gliders had incurred a tail injury. The word "tail" isn't in the indexes at all, except for bobbing dogs. Since most animals can easily substain tail injuries (caught in doors, stepped on, bitten by another animal), it seems quite an oversight not to cover the topic at all. Seems a lot of "vet" books are bantering the topic "sugar gliders" in their listed coverage since the resources are still scare. This book has only a couple pages of general info. If you're looking for complete glider care, better to go with MacPherson's 'Suger Gliders: Everything about (etc)' from Barrons. Complete Home Vet is OK as a general reference, but if you're serious, I'd go for a more expensive real emergency / veterinary care book. CHECK INSIDE THE BOOK CONTENTS/INDEXES to be sure your pet category is adequately covered. It'll save money and disappointment. | 989 | [
"When the first topic you look up isn't in the book at all, it's already disappointing.",
"I was eager to get this book because one of my sugar gliders had incurred a tail injury.",
"The word \"tail\" isn't in the indexes at all, except for bobbing dogs.",
"Since most animals can easily substain tail injuries (caught in doors, stepped on, bitten by another animal), it seems quite an oversight not to cover the topic at all.",
"Seems a lot of \"vet\" books are bantering the topic \"sugar gliders\" in their listed coverage since the resources are still scare.",
"This book has only a couple pages of general info.",
"If you're looking for complete glider care, better to go with MacPherson's 'Suger Gliders: Everything about (etc)' from Barrons.",
"Complete Home Vet is OK as a general reference, but if you're serious, I'd go for a more expensive real emergency / veterinary care book.",
"CHECK INSIDE THE BOOK CONTENTS/INDEXES to be sure your pet category is adequately covered.",
"It'll save money and disappointment."
] |
3 | Decadent pleasures | Stella Dong's bid to enter the ever-burgeoning world of "lite" cultural histories of important world cities (such as the city studies of Jan Morris) is nothing if not entertaining, and her account of life in the "Old Shanghai" from between the Opium War and the Communist Revolution moves along with a wealth of all sorts of interesting social tidbits about a city that was notorious site of decadence and pleasure-seeking for decades in the West and East alike. Because the work is somewhat gossipy and lightweight in nature it might have benefitted from a sharper sense of humor and irony, or from a more personal point of view (all of which we see in Jan Morris's work). At the very least, it needs at least some photographs of its primary locales and figures, and also clearer chapter subdivisions--at times, the book just seems to grind along somewhat from topic to topic with little direction. But it still is a fun overview of a very fascinating site for the colonialist imagination | 989 | [
"Stella Dong's bid to enter the ever-burgeoning world of \"lite\" cultural histories of important world cities (such as the city studies of Jan Morris) is nothing if not entertaining, and her account of life in the \"Old Shanghai\" from between the Opium War and the Communist Revolution moves along with a wealth of all sorts of interesting social tidbits about a city that was notorious site of decadence and pleasure-seeking for decades in the West and East alike.",
"Because the work is somewhat gossipy and lightweight in nature it might have benefitted from a sharper sense of humor and irony, or from a more personal point of view (all of which we see in Jan Morris's work).",
"At the very least, it needs at least some photographs of its primary locales and figures, and also clearer chapter subdivisions--at times, the book just seems to grind along somewhat from topic to topic with little direction.",
"But it still is a fun overview of a very fascinating site for the colonialist imagination"
] |
3 | Arrogant Fella | Though his book is extremely well written, Bill Z. (Billsy :-) tends to overvalue "standard" English. In fact, he's downright arrogant.Here's an example of what Billsy writes in his book: "I can't handle an A-plus mind expressing itself in C-minus sentences." The mind and sentences being those of Richard Feynman.Ultimately, Zinsser unwittingly makes the statement of how very-very far we must go before educated people in positions of de facto power who spout things such as "writing to learn"/ "learning to write" and people doing hard core intellectual work, yet maintain their humanity, understand each other.Personally, I can't handle a C-minus mind expressing itself in A-plus sentences. A good example are the mind and sentences of Bill Zinsser.In short, arrogant "Fellas" like Bill should simply have a set of bongo-drums smashed down on their heads...just kidding.For less arrogance and better understanding read Rudolph Flesch's "How to Write, Speak and Think More Effectively." | 989 | [
"Though his book is extremely well written, Bill Z.",
"(Billsy :-) tends to overvalue \"standard\" English.",
"In fact, he's downright arrogant.Here's an example of what Billsy writes in his book: \"I can't handle an A-plus mind expressing itself in C-minus sentences.\" The mind and sentences being those of Richard Feynman.Ultimately, Zinsser unwittingly makes the statement of how very-very far we must go before educated people in positions of de facto power who spout things such as \"writing to learn\"/ \"learning to write\" and people doing hard core intellectual work, yet maintain their humanity, understand each other.Personally, I can't handle a C-minus mind expressing itself in A-plus sentences.",
"A good example are the mind and sentences of Bill Zinsser.In short, arrogant \"Fellas\" like Bill should simply have a set of bongo-drums smashed down on their heads...just kidding.For less arrogance and better understanding read Rudolph Flesch's \"How to Write, Speak and Think More Effectively.\""
] |
3 | Dragonwings | This was an excellent book written through the eyes of a Chinese boy who comes to America and lives among white people, adjusting to their ways and making new friends. Laurence Yep does a wonderful job of portraying the world through the eyes of and immigrant in a new place. He shows the hardships as well as the good times. After reading this book I looked at life a little bit differently. Moonshadow and his dad shared the same dream of flying. And Windrider his father is being tested in this life to become a dragon in the next and by flying he might be able to accomplish this. Windrider shares wonderful dreams woth Moonshadow about being a dragon. The story is filled with love, trust and dishonesty. This is a book I would reccommend to anyone. This book helped me in my personal life as well. Now i know what it's like to be in a new place, and I will help people in a similar situation out and not make fun of them becausce I know I wouldn't want to be treated that way myself. | 989 | [
"This was an excellent book written through the eyes of a Chinese boy who comes to America and lives among white people, adjusting to their ways and making new friends.",
"Laurence Yep does a wonderful job of portraying the world through the eyes of and immigrant in a new place.",
"He shows the hardships as well as the good times.",
"After reading this book I looked at life a little bit differently.",
"Moonshadow and his dad shared the same dream of flying.",
"And Windrider his father is being tested in this life to become a dragon in the next and by flying he might be able to accomplish this.",
"Windrider shares wonderful dreams woth Moonshadow about being a dragon.",
"The story is filled with love, trust and dishonesty.",
"This is a book I would reccommend to anyone.",
"This book helped me in my personal life as well.",
"Now i know what it's like to be in a new place, and I will help people in a similar situation out and not make fun of them becausce I know I wouldn't want to be treated that way myself."
] |
3 | A Walk In The Woods | A Walk In The Woods is a personal account of the author's adventures on the Appalachian Trail, or AT. The author, Bill Bryson, humorously recounts his mishaps, triumphs, and encounters on over 500 miles of this 2000+ mile trail. Not an experienced backpacker, the author and his friend, Katz, heroically adjust to trail life, and in very little time fall into the backpacking routine: walk, walk, walk, rest, eat, walk, walk, walk, eat, sleep, lather, rinse, and repeat.The author peppers his tale with interesting facts about the U.S. Forest Service, the history of the trail itself, mankind's abuses of nature, and information on various areas that he passes through.While I would have enjoyed a bit more detail at times, I was very happy with the overall content of the book. It is a very quick and enjoyable read, not to mention funny, and has a broad enough appeal for a very general audience. I can easily recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy an easy, relatively funny read. | 989 | [
"A Walk In The Woods is a personal account of the author's adventures on the Appalachian Trail, or AT.",
"The author, Bill Bryson, humorously recounts his mishaps, triumphs, and encounters on over 500 miles of this 2000+ mile trail.",
"Not an experienced backpacker, the author and his friend, Katz, heroically adjust to trail life, and in very little time fall into the backpacking routine: walk, walk, walk, rest, eat, walk, walk, walk, eat, sleep, lather, rinse, and repeat.The author peppers his tale with interesting facts about the U.S. Forest Service, the history of the trail itself, mankind's abuses of nature, and information on various areas that he passes through.While I would have enjoyed a bit more detail at times, I was very happy with the overall content of the book.",
"It is a very quick and enjoyable read, not to mention funny, and has a broad enough appeal for a very general audience.",
"I can easily recommend this book to anyone who would enjoy an easy, relatively funny read."
] |
3 | Holy Wrinkles! | Overall, this product is wonderful. I'm a bit of a sheet freak and have all sorts of sheets in my house. Expensive, inexpensive, flannel, low thread count, high thread count, silky smooth, rough and itchy... These arrived and I took them out of the packaging and was very impressed by the weight of them. They are smoother and softer than I thought they would be, but...holy moly...can we say wrinkles? I washed and dried them, knowing from the reviews that they would need pressing. But, I didn't know just to what extent they would need it. I was ironing all night (because I purchased the matching duvet set, as well). These aren't just "a light pressing will do" sort of set...it's a "haul out the big guns and steam the ever loving tar out of them" set.Once washed and ironed, this is, indeed, a gorgeous sheet set, but let me just say this loud and clear...I am not looking forward to ironing these every week. The maintenance is what has knocked two stars off of this review/rating. | 989 | [
"Overall, this product is wonderful.",
"I'm a bit of a sheet freak and have all sorts of sheets in my house.",
"Expensive, inexpensive, flannel, low thread count, high thread count, silky smooth, rough and itchy... These arrived and I took them out of the packaging and was very impressed by the weight of them.",
"They are smoother and softer than I thought they would be, but...holy moly...can we say wrinkles?",
"I washed and dried them, knowing from the reviews that they would need pressing.",
"But, I didn't know just to what extent they would need it.",
"I was ironing all night (because I purchased the matching duvet set, as well).",
"These aren't just \"a light pressing will do\" sort of set...it's a \"haul out the big guns and steam the ever loving tar out of them\" set.Once washed and ironed, this is, indeed, a gorgeous sheet set, but let me just say this loud and clear...I am not looking forward to ironing these every week.",
"The maintenance is what has knocked two stars off of this review/rating."
] |
3 | Overkill | The book is well organized, highly researched, and well written, but very boring! It simply analyzes biblical literature to death and makes many of the not so interesting and not so well written parts of the Bible out to be much more than they really are. It's a bit like trying to make the phone book out to be a great piece of literature. It isn't. It is a good source of information and that's all. The Bible has some nice literary parts to it to be sure, but the author stretches the value of much of the literature in the Bible. Her focus on the mundane, was tedious, and left much to be desired. I would have much rather had her be less detailed and cover the more interesting and valid aspects of Biblical literature rather than trying to make even Geneologies and redundant historical accounts out to be more interesting than they really are. Frankly, many of the stories in the Bible are really not that well written and to try and make it seem as though they are is just delusion | 989 | [
"The book is well organized, highly researched, and well written, but very boring!",
"It simply analyzes biblical literature to death and makes many of the not so interesting and not so well written parts of the Bible out to be much more than they really are.",
"It's a bit like trying to make the phone book out to be a great piece of literature.",
"It isn't.",
"It is a good source of information and that's all.",
"The Bible has some nice literary parts to it to be sure, but the author stretches the value of much of the literature in the Bible.",
"Her focus on the mundane, was tedious, and left much to be desired.",
"I would have much rather had her be less detailed and cover the more interesting and valid aspects of Biblical literature rather than trying to make even Geneologies and redundant historical accounts out to be more interesting than they really are.",
"Frankly, many of the stories in the Bible are really not that well written and to try and make it seem as though they are is just delusion"
] |
3 | so so.... | After reading all these reviews... major are talking very good about product. But... First of all: size- very huge, mine is 7,5(B) for open toes shoes and 8 for all the other... so, this shoes I've ordered 7,5 and they are really huge, I can enter my finger between my heel and shoe heel counter area.... which is very bad considering Nine West size chart.Second: The color is not the same as on a picture, I choosed taupe and if You choose this option You will see beautiful taupe-beige tone... So, in a real is not, it's more faded greyish taupe tone, like it was used before (My opinion only)...The quality looks good, comfortability - i'm not sure because the heel counter area is very hard and due to wrong size I can't say how is.All over, I can't send them back, because I'm in Dominican Republic, so the price to send'em back is very high, it will cost me a fortune of money, so I'll keep them as a Money spent monument...Be warned anyone who buy any item and can't change later... | 989 | [
"After reading all these reviews... major are talking very good about product.",
"But... First of all: size- very huge, mine is 7,5(B) for open toes shoes and 8 for all the other... so, this shoes I've ordered 7,5 and they are really huge, I can enter my finger between my heel and shoe heel counter area.... which is very bad considering Nine West size chart.Second: The color is not the same as on a picture, I choosed taupe and if You choose this option You will see beautiful taupe-beige tone... So, in a real is not, it's more faded greyish taupe tone, like it was used before (My opinion only)...The quality looks good, comfortability - i'm not sure because the heel counter area is very hard and due to wrong size I can't say how is.All over, I can't send them back, because I'm in Dominican Republic, so the price to send'em back is very high, it will cost me a fortune of money, so I'll keep them as a Money spent monument...Be warned anyone who buy any item and can't change later..."
] |
3 | One glaring flaw... | As a Chinese language (and history) student of a couple years I understand the importance of learning the characters (and I do appreciate that this book uses traditional ones), but, pīnyīn without the tone markings just makes matters worse. I don't like pīnyīn personally (I prefer Zhùyīn fúhào) but it can be a useful transitional tool if used properly. Ignoring the tone markings is just lazy or uneducated! Mandarin Chinese is a "tonal" language! When I learn any character I need to "hear" it also. In this computerized era there is no rational reason to ignore the tone markings!I would really love to have this book handy as a reference but cannot rationalize spending 60+ dollars for it in its present guise. I see it as distracting and a detriment to my learning. It certainly is not the scholarly work it should have been.I do not own this book but many pages of it are available online.So, shame on you Stanford University Press for not getting it right! | 989 | [
"As a Chinese language (and history) student of a couple years I understand the importance of learning the characters (and I do appreciate that this book uses traditional ones), but, pīnyīn without the tone markings just makes matters worse.",
"I don't like pīnyīn personally (I prefer Zhùyīn fúhào) but it can be a useful transitional tool if used properly.",
"Ignoring the tone markings is just lazy or uneducated!",
"Mandarin Chinese is a \"tonal\" language!",
"When I learn any character I need to \"hear\" it also.",
"In this computerized era there is no rational reason to ignore the tone markings!",
"I would really love to have this book handy as a reference but cannot rationalize spending 60+ dollars for it in its present guise.",
"I see it as distracting and a detriment to my learning.",
"It certainly is not the scholarly work it should have been.I do not own this book but many pages of it are available online.So, shame on you Stanford University Press for not getting it right!"
] |
3 | not as bad as I expected | I received this book as a gift, and I expected it to be a mess of poorly written ignorant rantings. And to be sure, the book is written badly enough to be a source of amusement, with knee-slappingly silly sentences such as "Kurt [Cobain's] death was a giant media affair. Someone remarked that it was like the Kennedy assassination..."But once Novoselic goes beyond his autobiography he has a mildly interesting story to tell: after becoming a successful musician, he learned that the music business, just like Philip Morris or Exxon, has interests that can be affected by politics, and he learned how to lobby politicians and otherwise become part of the democratic process.The last half of the book discusses various flaws in the democratic process (in particular the "wasted votes" that result when voters are packed into districts or states that are "safe" for one party or the other) and gives an OK introduction to issues that professors and pundits have discussed more articulately. | 989 | [
"I received this book as a gift, and I expected it to be a mess of poorly written ignorant rantings.",
"And to be sure, the book is written badly enough to be a source of amusement, with knee-slappingly silly sentences such as \"Kurt [Cobain's] death was a giant media affair.",
"Someone remarked that it was like the Kennedy assassination...\"But once Novoselic goes beyond his autobiography he has a mildly interesting story to tell: after becoming a successful musician, he learned that the music business, just like Philip Morris or Exxon, has interests that can be affected by politics, and he learned how to lobby politicians and otherwise become part of the democratic process.The last half of the book discusses various flaws in the democratic process (in particular the \"wasted votes\" that result when voters are packed into districts or states that are \"safe\" for one party or the other) and gives an OK introduction to issues that professors and pundits have discussed more articulately."
] |
3 | Not Really Sure | I've waited 6 weeks or so to write this review to give this item a chance to work. First I used in it my bedroom, which just about matches the dimensions it is supposed to be able to clean. I noticed some difference in the amount of dust that settled next to it but not overall in my room. Nor did I feel it changed my allergy symptoms much when I woke up.Then I tried it in my living room, within about 8 feet of where I sit when I am awake, on the high setting. There it did help. I have definitely felt a change in my allergies (symptoms pretty much gone)when I do that. If I can find a convenient place to put it permently near me in the living room I might do that. It is pretty compact, but on high it is a little noisy for the living room - yes, it is white noise, kind of like a refrigerator humming or the faucet on -- but it is definitely loud enough on high to use it only when you are alone. I haven't tried the lower settings yet to see if it works that well that close to me. | 989 | [
"I've waited 6 weeks or so to write this review to give this item a chance to work.",
"First I used in it my bedroom, which just about matches the dimensions it is supposed to be able to clean.",
"I noticed some difference in the amount of dust that settled next to it but not overall in my room.",
"Nor did I feel it changed my allergy symptoms much when I woke up.Then I tried it in my living room, within about 8 feet of where I sit when I am awake, on the high setting.",
"There it did help.",
"I have definitely felt a change in my allergies (symptoms pretty much gone)when I do that.",
"If I can find a convenient place to put it permently near me in the living room I might do that.",
"It is pretty compact, but on high it is a little noisy for the living room - yes, it is white noise, kind of like a refrigerator humming or the faucet on -- but it is definitely loud enough on high to use it only when you are alone.",
"I haven't tried the lower settings yet to see if it works that well that close to me."
] |
3 | Dated | Collection of science fiction short stories. A bit tricky to assess at this point, while they contain a lot of neat ideas they're also ideas I've seen used a lot since, and in many cases a lot better. Blish is pretty good at executing a story and his prose is competent, but there's not enough humor, raw creativity or bite to his descriptions to make his short fiction stand the test of time like an Asimov or a Philip K. Dick. While I liked Blish's A Case of Conscience quite a deal, this particular anthology left me much colder, and is probably part of the reason I didn't get around to read it until four years after I bought this volume.Still, if I was reading this in 1959 I'm sure I would have had my mind blown several times, and none of the stories stand out as bad, or even boring. I was most found of Beep. Overall, I'd say this collection was worth the look.Similar to and better than: Fritz Leiber's Gather, Darkness!Similar to and worse than: Isaac Asimov's The Early Asimov | 989 | [
"Collection of science fiction short stories.",
"A bit tricky to assess at this point, while they contain a lot of neat ideas they're also ideas I've seen used a lot since, and in many cases a lot better.",
"Blish is pretty good at executing a story and his prose is competent, but there's not enough humor, raw creativity or bite to his descriptions to make his short fiction stand the test of time like an Asimov or a Philip K.",
"Dick.",
"While I liked Blish's A Case of Conscience quite a deal, this particular anthology left me much colder, and is probably part of the reason I didn't get around to read it until four years after I bought this volume.Still, if I was reading this in 1959 I'm sure I would have had my mind blown several times, and none of the stories stand out as bad, or even boring.",
"I was most found of Beep.",
"Overall, I'd say this collection was worth the look.Similar to and better than: Fritz Leiber's Gather, Darkness!",
"Similar to and worse than: Isaac Asimov's The Early Asimov"
] |
3 | Mixed feelings | On the one hand, Silent Night, Bloody Night is a superb slice (pardon the pun) of seventies' slasher fare. Definitely a cut (there I go punning again) above the rest. While the storyline is hardly original, it unfolds in a very unique manner and the film just oozes creepiness, with several good jolts along the way. On the other hand, this DVD release from Diamond Entertainment has to be one of the ugliest transfers I've ever seen. The film print is riddled with scratches and some scenes are so dark that you can barely see the action. However, if it's any consolation, the old VHS version on the Paragon label wasn't much better and since the film is highly recommended for any slasher fan, you'll just have to be content with this sub-par release until a reputable company such as Anchor Bay or Elite give it the proper remastering treatment it so rightfully deserves. I only gave it 3 stars because of the poor print quality. Otherwise, this baby would easily make the 5-star grade. | 989 | [
"On the one hand, Silent Night, Bloody Night is a superb slice (pardon the pun) of seventies' slasher fare.",
"Definitely a cut (there I go punning again) above the rest.",
"While the storyline is hardly original, it unfolds in a very unique manner and the film just oozes creepiness, with several good jolts along the way.",
"On the other hand, this DVD release from Diamond Entertainment has to be one of the ugliest transfers I've ever seen.",
"The film print is riddled with scratches and some scenes are so dark that you can barely see the action.",
"However, if it's any consolation, the old VHS version on the Paragon label wasn't much better and since the film is highly recommended for any slasher fan, you'll just have to be content with this sub-par release until a reputable company such as Anchor Bay or Elite give it the proper remastering treatment it so rightfully deserves.",
"I only gave it 3 stars because of the poor print quality.",
"Otherwise, this baby would easily make the 5-star grade."
] |
3 | Its not the dogs.... | I'm a dog owner myself, not that I show my dogs. I couldn't they're Mutts. However, I do enjoy watching the occasional Dog Show. I was a little skeptical about this movie, because I just didn't think the material lent itself to a feature film.The movie chronicles four different groups of dog owners and their adventures and misadventures on the way to the Mayflower Dog Show in Philadelphia. The story continues with the actual competition. The commentators for the show are actually the best part of the movie.Given this, I would say that this is a pretty good movie. Its not hysterical by any means, but it is enjoyable. The movie is slow going for the first 30 minutes or so, but by the time the actual Dog Show starts, it has developed into a funny tale in which you realize its not the dog's fault, it's just that humans are insane to put this much crazy effort into showing a dog. With this movie, as with any dog show, don't get your expectations too high, and you should enjoy it. | 989 | [
"I'm a dog owner myself, not that I show my dogs.",
"I couldn't they're Mutts.",
"However, I do enjoy watching the occasional Dog Show.",
"I was a little skeptical about this movie, because I just didn't think the material lent itself to a feature film.The movie chronicles four different groups of dog owners and their adventures and misadventures on the way to the Mayflower Dog Show in Philadelphia.",
"The story continues with the actual competition.",
"The commentators for the show are actually the best part of the movie.Given this, I would say that this is a pretty good movie.",
"Its not hysterical by any means, but it is enjoyable.",
"The movie is slow going for the first 30 minutes or so, but by the time the actual Dog Show starts, it has developed into a funny tale in which you realize its not the dog's fault, it's just that humans are insane to put this much crazy effort into showing a dog.",
"With this movie, as with any dog show, don't get your expectations too high, and you should enjoy it."
] |
3 | Not bad | I have been using a Biowheel 150 on my 29-gallon aquarium for well over a year, and find that for the price, it's an okay product. It keeps the aquarium clean, changing filter inserts (I put two in my unit) is easy, and haven't had any problems with the impeller. The only drawbacks I've seen with this particular power filter is the fact that, as one other reviewer stated, if the electricity happens to go out in the home, the filter doesn't always start up again on its own once the power comes back on. And I also find that unless the water level in the tank reaches the outflow part of the filter (which means the water level has to be at absolute maximum in the tank at all times), the filter is noisy...the sound of the water splashing into the tank from the filter is distracting. It's certainly not as quiet as some other filters I've used in the past, but for overall performance, it's not a bad product. I'd rate it at 3-1/2 stars if the option was available for half-stars. ;o) | 989 | [
"I have been using a Biowheel 150 on my 29-gallon aquarium for well over a year, and find that for the price, it's an okay product.",
"It keeps the aquarium clean, changing filter inserts (I put two in my unit) is easy, and haven't had any problems with the impeller.",
"The only drawbacks I've seen with this particular power filter is the fact that, as one other reviewer stated, if the electricity happens to go out in the home, the filter doesn't always start up again on its own once the power comes back on.",
"And I also find that unless the water level in the tank reaches the outflow part of the filter (which means the water level has to be at absolute maximum in the tank at all times), the filter is noisy...the sound of the water splashing into the tank from the filter is distracting.",
"It's certainly not as quiet as some other filters I've used in the past, but for overall performance, it's not a bad product.",
"I'd rate it at 3-1/2 stars if the option was available for half-stars.",
";o)"
] |
3 | Is it just me?.... | ...or were other readers put off by the self-congratulatory, faux-humble erotic obsessions of the narrator? Did anyone else have trouble imagining that this viewpoint was other than an extension of the author's fantasies...all the more icky since he's, like, 4 or 5 times the age of the frolicing tahitian playmates in the book. I don't think I'm a prude and enjoy the racy scene as much as the next reader, but I thought this was spookily voyeuristic, occasionally pedophiliac (is that a word?)This is one of several books I read before a trip to Tahiti and there were aspects I enjoyed. Bougainville's explorations seem to have been represented pretty faithfully, and gave me a wonderful historic foundation for our own trip. The details were striking enough to stay in my mind even through all the Mai-Tais - and I was certainly ready to forgive errors of first-novel-itis (clumsy backstory opening, occasionally heavy narrative etc.)But I never did manage to get rid of the ick factor. | 989 | [
"...or were other readers put off by the self-congratulatory, faux-humble erotic obsessions of the narrator?",
"Did anyone else have trouble imagining that this viewpoint was other than an extension of the author's fantasies...all the more icky since he's, like, 4 or 5 times the age of the frolicing tahitian playmates in the book.",
"I don't think I'm a prude and enjoy the racy scene as much as the next reader, but I thought this was spookily voyeuristic, occasionally pedophiliac (is that a word?",
")This is one of several books I read before a trip to Tahiti and there were aspects I enjoyed.",
"Bougainville's explorations seem to have been represented pretty faithfully, and gave me a wonderful historic foundation for our own trip.",
"The details were striking enough to stay in my mind even through all the Mai-Tais - and I was certainly ready to forgive errors of first-novel-itis (clumsy backstory opening, occasionally heavy narrative etc.)But I never did manage to get rid of the ick factor."
] |
3 | Hotter than the original | The charger works OK. It just gets hotter than the original did. Not enough to worry about, just significantly warmer. This charger has a heavy duty wire between the charger and the computer and it's much shorter than the original, so the charger has to be on the table with the computer most of the time instead of on the floor. With this heavy duty wire, it is easy for it to become unplugged from the computer if the laptop is moved. Especially when moving the computer so someone else can see the screen. The wire going from the outlet to the charger is plenty long, so you still can be away from an outlet. With the charger on the table, if someone trips over the plug-in wire, it will almost always pull the charger off the table and drop to the floor. I liked the original charger better where it naturally just sat on the floor, and the wire going to the computer was much smaller and longer. But this one was one fourth the cost, so I got what I paid for. I would buy another one. | 989 | [
"The charger works OK.",
"It just gets hotter than the original did.",
"Not enough to worry about, just significantly warmer.",
"This charger has a heavy duty wire between the charger and the computer and it's much shorter than the original, so the charger has to be on the table with the computer most of the time instead of on the floor.",
"With this heavy duty wire, it is easy for it to become unplugged from the computer if the laptop is moved.",
"Especially when moving the computer so someone else can see the screen.",
"The wire going from the outlet to the charger is plenty long, so you still can be away from an outlet.",
"With the charger on the table, if someone trips over the plug-in wire, it will almost always pull the charger off the table and drop to the floor.",
"I liked the original charger better where it naturally just sat on the floor, and the wire going to the computer was much smaller and longer.",
"But this one was one fourth the cost, so I got what I paid for.",
"I would buy another one."
] |
3 | A Disappointing Effort | I gave the CD two stars because there are about 3 or 4 good songs on the record. "Can't stop the sun" is great, "Have love will travel" is great, "The Last DJ" is good, "The Man Who Loves Women" is good but that's about it. I'm 23 years old and I love me some Tom Petty, but these lyrics are lame! I know it's a concept album, but the lyrics and the music just don't have the weight to back up the concept. Overall, this is boring album, with few highlights, especially when compared to Tom Petty's last few albums, the underrated "Echo" and the intimacy of "Wildflowers". "She's the One" is a very entertaining and classy record. I just hope that Tom and The Heartbreakers get a chance to redeem themselves with another record. To me, Tom doesn't sound angry, he sounds like he needs some inspiration. "When Money Became King", "Joe", and "Dreamville" are repetitive and in my opinion, boring and kind of cheesy songs. I can't really recall the rest of the songs, which speaks for itself. | 989 | [
"I gave the CD two stars because there are about 3 or 4 good songs on the record.",
"\"Can't stop the sun\" is great, \"Have love will travel\" is great, \"The Last DJ\" is good, \"The Man Who Loves Women\" is good but that's about it.",
"I'm 23 years old and I love me some Tom Petty, but these lyrics are lame!",
"I know it's a concept album, but the lyrics and the music just don't have the weight to back up the concept.",
"Overall, this is boring album, with few highlights, especially when compared to Tom Petty's last few albums, the underrated \"Echo\" and the intimacy of \"Wildflowers\".",
"\"She's the One\" is a very entertaining and classy record.",
"I just hope that Tom and The Heartbreakers get a chance to redeem themselves with another record.",
"To me, Tom doesn't sound angry, he sounds like he needs some inspiration.",
"\"When Money Became King\", \"Joe\", and \"Dreamville\" are repetitive and in my opinion, boring and kind of cheesy songs.",
"I can't really recall the rest of the songs, which speaks for itself."
] |
3 | Carmen | The recent 2011 version of Carlos Saura's Carmen (Blu-ray) is a poor substitute for the 1983 original film version. The original version is not currently available at a reasonable price. Netflix only owns a few of the originals and one of those was cracked and a replacement had to be resent to us. The 1983 film is available on YouTube [...] (not downloadable in the US), but the screen resolution is not as good as the DVD.This is a plea for someone to reissue the original 1983 film in which one can actually watch Antonio Gades, Paco de Lucia, Cristina Hoyos and Laura del Sol in a fantastic performance we have watched a number of times while other Netflix users wait. We would love to own a DVD of this excellent film.The new stage performance is interesting but leaves one unlikely to watch it again. Carmen's relationship with her jailed husband before and after his release is very unclear in the new production. One is never sure who is fighting whom in several of the sequences. | 989 | [
"The recent 2011 version of Carlos Saura's Carmen (Blu-ray) is a poor substitute for the 1983 original film version.",
"The original version is not currently available at a reasonable price.",
"Netflix only owns a few of the originals and one of those was cracked and a replacement had to be resent to us.",
"The 1983 film is available on YouTube [...] (not downloadable in the US), but the screen resolution is not as good as the DVD.This is a plea for someone to reissue the original 1983 film in which one can actually watch Antonio Gades, Paco de Lucia, Cristina Hoyos and Laura del Sol in a fantastic performance we have watched a number of times while other Netflix users wait.",
"We would love to own a DVD of this excellent film.The new stage performance is interesting but leaves one unlikely to watch it again.",
"Carmen's relationship with her jailed husband before and after his release is very unclear in the new production.",
"One is never sure who is fighting whom in several of the sequences."
] |
3 | Works, sort of ... | Fast shipping! This product sort of works. I'd been having ants in my kitchen and I didn't want to use anything around food that would be toxic so I order this product. I sprayed it on the ants and it did kill them but it took a little longer than traditional bug spray. The ants would still be alive for a few minutes after spraying them with this so the ants would crawl around and keeping coming until the product kicked in. The smell is pleasant and it doesn't leave a greasy sticky mess. I haven't tried it on any other insects, but black ants and I haven't tried it outdoors, just indoors. It's not a permanent solution to bug control. Eventually the ants kept coming into my kitchen and I had to call an exterminator. I'd recommend this product if you have just a couple of little bugs you want to get rid of and you don't want any toxic sprays around food, children or pets. Otherwise, for a large infestation or reoccurring infestation, this product doesn't really help with that. | 989 | [
"Fast shipping!",
"This product sort of works.",
"I'd been having ants in my kitchen and I didn't want to use anything around food that would be toxic so I order this product.",
"I sprayed it on the ants and it did kill them but it took a little longer than traditional bug spray.",
"The ants would still be alive for a few minutes after spraying them with this so the ants would crawl around and keeping coming until the product kicked in.",
"The smell is pleasant and it doesn't leave a greasy sticky mess.",
"I haven't tried it on any other insects, but black ants and I haven't tried it outdoors, just indoors.",
"It's not a permanent solution to bug control.",
"Eventually the ants kept coming into my kitchen and I had to call an exterminator.",
"I'd recommend this product if you have just a couple of little bugs you want to get rid of and you don't want any toxic sprays around food, children or pets.",
"Otherwise, for a large infestation or reoccurring infestation, this product doesn't really help with that."
] |
3 | So-so book | This is a great book for general content and advice on how to write a contract. Do not expect to take this book and copy the forms and have them be applicable to your business needs today. If I recall correctly, this book has a copyright date of 2001. At that point in time, there was not a heavy contingency of professional photographers shooting digital. The contracts contained within the book are geared towards film and negatives, and proofing books, which are largely becoming obsolete as digital continues to march ahead.Furthermore, the included CD-ROM of forms, do not port over to modern versions of Office suite products. I tried opening the forms in Office XP, Office 2007 and Office 2008 for Mac, and the formatting was largely lost. Check boxes were no longer recognized, and borders were lost.I'd recommend the book if you're looking for advice on what to put into a contract, not something that you can open the documents, make some edits, and be ready to go in 30 minutes. | 989 | [
"This is a great book for general content and advice on how to write a contract.",
"Do not expect to take this book and copy the forms and have them be applicable to your business needs today.",
"If I recall correctly, this book has a copyright date of 2001.",
"At that point in time, there was not a heavy contingency of professional photographers shooting digital.",
"The contracts contained within the book are geared towards film and negatives, and proofing books, which are largely becoming obsolete as digital continues to march ahead.Furthermore, the included CD-ROM of forms, do not port over to modern versions of Office suite products.",
"I tried opening the forms in Office XP, Office 2007 and Office 2008 for Mac, and the formatting was largely lost.",
"Check boxes were no longer recognized, and borders were lost.I'd recommend the book if you're looking for advice on what to put into a contract, not something that you can open the documents, make some edits, and be ready to go in 30 minutes."
] |
3 | crackback | The book crackback has a realistic genre. It was written by John Coy. Also it was illustated by Marijka Kostiw. You got to give them both credit for this book. Because this book is an exciting novel that keeps you focused throughout the time you read. It's a high school and sports book. So if you like sports you will love this book. The sport they are playing in this book is football. High school football is one of the best times for football. The story is revolved around a young tennager fighting for a spot on the varsity fooball team for his school. The coach got sick and a new coach came in and made his life and tough one. The coach did not like the player, and it was a hard ride thoughout the year for the player. If I was looking at this book and I was deciding if i was going to read it or not. Since I have read it I would choose to read it again. I would recomened this book to anyone that love sports and who is addicted to it and remembers high school to read this book. | 989 | [
"The book crackback has a realistic genre.",
"It was written by John Coy.",
"Also it was illustated by Marijka Kostiw.",
"You got to give them both credit for this book.",
"Because this book is an exciting novel that keeps you focused throughout the time you read.",
"It's a high school and sports book.",
"So if you like sports you will love this book.",
"The sport they are playing in this book is football.",
"High school football is one of the best times for football.",
"The story is revolved around a young tennager fighting for a spot on the varsity fooball team for his school.",
"The coach got sick and a new coach came in and made his life and tough one.",
"The coach did not like the player, and it was a hard ride thoughout the year for the player.",
"If I was looking at this book and I was deciding if i was going to read it or not.",
"Since I have read it I would choose to read it again.",
"I would recomened this book to anyone that love sports and who is addicted to it and remembers high school to read this book."
] |
3 | Major design flaw | There are some things I really like about the Multi Mirror. The ball joint and pivot tend to stay in place while riding, but can also be easily adjusted if needed. When adjusted almost straight down, I get very little vibration and can see clearly a long way back.But as others have stated, the way it attaches to the bar end is seriously flawed. The expansion system simply does not expand enough for a solid attachment. I lost my first Multi Mirror when it fell off my bike in traffic. Blackburn support was great and quickly sent a replacement - which I modified.I loosened the thumbscrew and got rid of threaded rod. I installed a longer threaded rod and replaced the the inner 'expander cone' with a brass fitting of a slightly larger size and put a nut on the end to hold it. Now when tightened, the brass fitting expands the 4 tabs with much more force.It really should be simple and inexpensive for the folks at Blackburn to improve this aspect and make this a much better product. | 989 | [
"There are some things I really like about the Multi Mirror.",
"The ball joint and pivot tend to stay in place while riding, but can also be easily adjusted if needed.",
"When adjusted almost straight down, I get very little vibration and can see clearly a long way back.But as others have stated, the way it attaches to the bar end is seriously flawed.",
"The expansion system simply does not expand enough for a solid attachment.",
"I lost my first Multi Mirror when it fell off my bike in traffic.",
"Blackburn support was great and quickly sent a replacement - which I modified.I loosened the thumbscrew and got rid of threaded rod.",
"I installed a longer threaded rod and replaced the the inner 'expander cone' with a brass fitting of a slightly larger size and put a nut on the end to hold it.",
"Now when tightened, the brass fitting expands the 4 tabs with much more force.It really should be simple and inexpensive for the folks at Blackburn to improve this aspect and make this a much better product."
] |
3 | Playing Games | Who needs a love that only brings hurt, sadness, pain and sorrow? Where are the joy, excitement, smiles, giggles, fun and love? Not in ARE YOU SATISFIED, YET? by M. Bridges.Betty Jean , Ezekiel Johnson, (Zeke) and Carla are running on the same track, in the same lane, at the same speed with no reguards to any one but thenselves. Each one of them is so concerned about what they want, who hurt them, and I can not believe he or she did that to me.Not being a selfish person, I could garner no love, repect , nor feelings of sympathy for the main characters. At one point I was so disgusted with Carla, Betty Jean and Zeke, I put the book down. The secondary characters Sheila and Thomas were the strong ones who showed feelings for others and live in th real world.A superbly written book ARE YOU SATISFIED, YET is the first in a series of books about Betty Jean. I hope in the return of Betty Jean in GETTING UP AND GETTING ON, Betty Jean becomes a character that can be identified with. | 989 | [
"Who needs a love that only brings hurt, sadness, pain and sorrow?",
"Where are the joy, excitement, smiles, giggles, fun and love?",
"Not in ARE YOU SATISFIED, YET?",
"by M.",
"Bridges.Betty Jean , Ezekiel Johnson, (Zeke) and Carla are running on the same track, in the same lane, at the same speed with no reguards to any one but thenselves.",
"Each one of them is so concerned about what they want, who hurt them, and I can not believe he or she did that to me.Not being a selfish person, I could garner no love, repect , nor feelings of sympathy for the main characters.",
"At one point I was so disgusted with Carla, Betty Jean and Zeke, I put the book down.",
"The secondary characters Sheila and Thomas were the strong ones who showed feelings for others and live in th real world.A superbly written book ARE YOU SATISFIED, YET is the first in a series of books about Betty Jean.",
"I hope in the return of Betty Jean in GETTING UP AND GETTING ON, Betty Jean becomes a character that can be identified with."
] |
3 | BBD - Hootie Whack? | When you talk about pioneers of todays current Hip Hop format, you've got to include Bell Biv Devoe in that discussion. One could argue that BBD helped start the whole "sing a verse, rap a versue" genre that is extremely popular. If you rocked "Poison" and "Do Me" back in the day, then you know what I mean. So why does their 4th effort just seem outdated? Don't get me wrong, there are a couple of banging dance tracks, but what ever happend to the singing part of the equation? Ricky Bel is the lead singer here, but he often sounds disjointed. BBD used to always have the hot slow jams ("When Will I See You Smile", "Something In Your Eyes" & "I Do"), but this effort only gives us one groove track ("I Ain't Going No Where"). What gives? Instead of sounding hot, BBD sounds like a group that has reached a midlife crisis, they have no identity. Who ever told Ronnie Devoe and Michael Bivins that they could rap anyway? This makes me long for the days of old....bring back New Edition! | 989 | [
"When you talk about pioneers of todays current Hip Hop format, you've got to include Bell Biv Devoe in that discussion.",
"One could argue that BBD helped start the whole \"sing a verse, rap a versue\" genre that is extremely popular.",
"If you rocked \"Poison\" and \"Do Me\" back in the day, then you know what I mean.",
"So why does their 4th effort just seem outdated?",
"Don't get me wrong, there are a couple of banging dance tracks, but what ever happend to the singing part of the equation?",
"Ricky Bel is the lead singer here, but he often sounds disjointed.",
"BBD used to always have the hot slow jams (\"When Will I See You Smile\", \"Something In Your Eyes\" & \"I Do\"), but this effort only gives us one groove track (\"I Ain't Going No Where\").",
"What gives?",
"Instead of sounding hot, BBD sounds like a group that has reached a midlife crisis, they have no identity.",
"Who ever told Ronnie Devoe and Michael Bivins that they could rap anyway?",
"This makes me long for the days of old....bring back New Edition!"
] |
3 | good... | This film was good...although this feels like it should have been a part 2 (tarantino I believe already had volume 2 partly done and partly thought out). I don't know why but this film feels slightly rushed.Bascially you have a woman, who was going to get married but got brutally battered and left for dead by a bunch of assains. Waking up after a 4 year coma she vows revenge. The music in this movie was good (classic stuff). the hanzo sword scenes weren't bad but not as good as part 2. You have a little comedy, a little sass, and a lot of attitude. I read a few reviews were people misread the animation scene (cause there is one and it surprised me cause you don't expect it in a film). Anyway some were saying it was porn. There was no sex, no talk of sex, and no sounds of it. So how can someone see it that way is a mystery. My only guess is those people didn't actually see the whole film (you know how some are, they see 2 seconds of a one hour film and want to give a review). | 989 | [
"This film was good...although this feels like it should have been a part 2 (tarantino I believe already had volume 2 partly done and partly thought out).",
"I don't know why but this film feels slightly rushed.Bascially you have a woman, who was going to get married but got brutally battered and left for dead by a bunch of assains.",
"Waking up after a 4 year coma she vows revenge.",
"The music in this movie was good (classic stuff).",
"the hanzo sword scenes weren't bad but not as good as part 2.",
"You have a little comedy, a little sass, and a lot of attitude.",
"I read a few reviews were people misread the animation scene (cause there is one and it surprised me cause you don't expect it in a film).",
"Anyway some were saying it was porn.",
"There was no sex, no talk of sex, and no sounds of it.",
"So how can someone see it that way is a mystery.",
"My only guess is those people didn't actually see the whole film (you know how some are, they see 2 seconds of a one hour film and want to give a review)."
] |
3 | Wild Hogs | The Wild Hogs is a motorcycle gang made up of four middle-aged men. Doug (Allen) is a dentist. Woody (Travolta) is unemployed. Bobby (Lawrence) is a sewage engineer. Dudley (Macy) is a computer engineer. They embark on a road trip to put some excitement into their lives. Along the way, they run into the Del Fuegos, a real motorcycle gang, and barely manage to survive the encounter. They seek refuge in Madrid, where Dudley meets Maggie (Tomei) and takes a liking to her. Meanwhile, the Del Fuegos find out where the Hogs are, and come looking for them."Wild Hogs" is an uneven movie that has some good moments, but they are balanced out by some unfunny ones. Most of the major laughs can be seen in the previews, and that is never a good sign. The four leads have a camaraderie that is believeable, and that is perhaps what saves the movie in the end. This is by no means the best movie for any of them, but there is enough here that many will enjoy it. I recommend waiting for the DVD. | 989 | [
"The Wild Hogs is a motorcycle gang made up of four middle-aged men.",
"Doug (Allen) is a dentist.",
"Woody (Travolta) is unemployed.",
"Bobby (Lawrence) is a sewage engineer.",
"Dudley (Macy) is a computer engineer.",
"They embark on a road trip to put some excitement into their lives.",
"Along the way, they run into the Del Fuegos, a real motorcycle gang, and barely manage to survive the encounter.",
"They seek refuge in Madrid, where Dudley meets Maggie (Tomei) and takes a liking to her.",
"Meanwhile, the Del Fuegos find out where the Hogs are, and come looking for them.\"Wild Hogs\" is an uneven movie that has some good moments, but they are balanced out by some unfunny ones.",
"Most of the major laughs can be seen in the previews, and that is never a good sign.",
"The four leads have a camaraderie that is believeable, and that is perhaps what saves the movie in the end.",
"This is by no means the best movie for any of them, but there is enough here that many will enjoy it.",
"I recommend waiting for the DVD."
] |
3 | well.... | well, these books were a little hard getting into...the first book i thought the characters were all kinda shallow and the plot kinda thin--not to mention how obvious it was that these books were done by a female author--but by the second book (nearly midway through) i realized that the characteres were actually very complex, so maybe it just slipped by me to begin with...also, ive read other reviews that have commented on the the vellantim being so dull, and i understand the importance of having the 'bad guys' bein someone you can understand, but i really dont think that they are the 'bad guys.' the conflicts are for the most part internal with the major external being between pol and andry. so, with that said, ill go on with my own personal ravings about what ruined this whole book for me and just about made me not finish it--KAZANDER DIES!! thats the most depressing part...along with all the other favorites that die..but he was my personal favorite....so there's my review | 989 | [
"well, these books were a little hard getting into...the first book i thought the characters were all kinda shallow and the plot kinda thin--not to mention how obvious it was that these books were done by a female author--but by the second book (nearly midway through) i realized that the characteres were actually very complex, so maybe it just slipped by me to begin with...also, ive read other reviews that have commented on the the vellantim being so dull, and i understand the importance of having the 'bad guys' bein someone you can understand, but i really dont think that they are the 'bad guys.' the conflicts are for the most part internal with the major external being between pol and andry.",
"so, with that said, ill go on with my own personal ravings about what ruined this whole book for me and just about made me not finish it--KAZANDER DIES!!",
"thats the most depressing part...along with all the other favorites that die..but he was my personal favorite....so there's my review"
] |
3 | check the numbers ! | Firestorm at Peshtigo, by novelist Denise Gess, and Professor William Lutz, purportedly "tells the human, political, and scientific story behind America's deadliest fire."The book is an interesting and seemingly well-documented read about a natural disaster otherwise little known except to forest historians. However, it contains some very non-scientific information about forestry. In the Notes for Chapter 1, they use "an average of approximately 640 trees in a square(sic) acre" to conclude the Peshtigo forest as being "far denser than any forest in the U.S. today", and that "the estimate of 1 billion trees destroyed is no exaggeration". Then a photograph facing page 141 of, apparently, a multi-stem clump of hardwood (elm?) stumps in a cementary, "reveals the size of the 1 billion trees destroyed", which are generally described as virgin white pines.These statements are not factually supportable and could have been easily vetted by a number of the cited bibliographic sources. | 989 | [
"Firestorm at Peshtigo, by novelist Denise Gess, and Professor William Lutz, purportedly \"tells the human, political, and scientific story behind America's deadliest fire.\"The book is an interesting and seemingly well-documented read about a natural disaster otherwise little known except to forest historians.",
"However, it contains some very non-scientific information about forestry.",
"In the Notes for Chapter 1, they use \"an average of approximately 640 trees in a square(sic) acre\" to conclude the Peshtigo forest as being \"far denser than any forest in the U.S. today\", and that \"the estimate of 1 billion trees destroyed is no exaggeration\".",
"Then a photograph facing page 141 of, apparently, a multi-stem clump of hardwood (elm?",
") stumps in a cementary, \"reveals the size of the 1 billion trees destroyed\", which are generally described as virgin white pines.These statements are not factually supportable and could have been easily vetted by a number of the cited bibliographic sources."
] |
3 | Just A Little Upset | No, not about the downer of an ending, (which I should thank the last reviewer for giving away to us). It's me The guy with the constant reviews for the Pete & Pete DVDs, yeah, that's right, the same J Wood. I'm upset that this was the first of The Blair Witch Files to be cancelled, especially since it was cancelled before, SOME OF US, had a chance to even lay eyes on it!! Not that I'm, BITTER, or anything. I mean how long was this out for, less than a month? and then BOOM it's of the shelves already. not to mention the fact that it was part of a series. It's like starting a submarine sandwich in the middle, it just doesn't work. Did Bantam ever stop to think that maybe that was why they lost so many sales on this series? Also, I know this title is rare, but twenty five bucks for something that used to cost five? What are you nuts?! That's way too much!! I mean I'd like to get my hands on this book, but I'd also like to meet the person who would pay twenty five bucks for it. | 989 | [
"No, not about the downer of an ending, (which I should thank the last reviewer for giving away to us).",
"It's me The guy with the constant reviews for the Pete & Pete DVDs, yeah, that's right, the same J Wood.",
"I'm upset that this was the first of The Blair Witch Files to be cancelled, especially since it was cancelled before, SOME OF US, had a chance to even lay eyes on it!!",
"Not that I'm, BITTER, or anything.",
"I mean how long was this out for, less than a month?",
"and then BOOM it's of the shelves already.",
"not to mention the fact that it was part of a series.",
"It's like starting a submarine sandwich in the middle, it just doesn't work.",
"Did Bantam ever stop to think that maybe that was why they lost so many sales on this series?",
"Also, I know this title is rare, but twenty five bucks for something that used to cost five?",
"What are you nuts?!",
"That's way too much!!",
"I mean I'd like to get my hands on this book, but I'd also like to meet the person who would pay twenty five bucks for it."
] |
3 | Collectorama | Former wife of guitar legend Richard Thompson, and ace singer in her own right, Linda Thompson's Give Me a Sad Song is a companion piece of sorts to Hannibal's 1996 collection Dreams Fly Away. Neither compilation captures Thompson's best. Both are baited with collectorama and `previously unreleased's'. Give Me a Sad Song is not the place to start for the Thompson novice, yet it does showcase a natural talent deepening her already impressive contralto on folk tales, cover songs, sung poems, etc. Her version of Lucinda Williams' "Abandoned" is top notch, and her phrasing on "Her Father Was a Sailor" shows the vocal chops of a simple interpreter before the producer drowns her in echo. Thompson's voice is a pure instrument. It hardly needs studio trickery. If you want to hear an interpretive artist in full bloom (and hear the most damning divorce record ever made), get Richard and Linda Thompson's Shoot Out the Lights. If you're already a fan, here's another CD for your shelves. | 989 | [
"Former wife of guitar legend Richard Thompson, and ace singer in her own right, Linda Thompson's Give Me a Sad Song is a companion piece of sorts to Hannibal's 1996 collection Dreams Fly Away.",
"Neither compilation captures Thompson's best.",
"Both are baited with collectorama and `previously unreleased's'.",
"Give Me a Sad Song is not the place to start for the Thompson novice, yet it does showcase a natural talent deepening her already impressive contralto on folk tales, cover songs, sung poems, etc.",
"Her version of Lucinda Williams' \"Abandoned\" is top notch, and her phrasing on \"Her Father Was a Sailor\" shows the vocal chops of a simple interpreter before the producer drowns her in echo.",
"Thompson's voice is a pure instrument.",
"It hardly needs studio trickery.",
"If you want to hear an interpretive artist in full bloom (and hear the most damning divorce record ever made), get Richard and Linda Thompson's Shoot Out the Lights.",
"If you're already a fan, here's another CD for your shelves."
] |
3 | Meh. | (1) The 20-inch frame is actually 26x20, and is too large for me (I am 5'10").(2) Assembly was not rocket science, however ...I was 2 miles into a 4-mile ride this afternoon. I shifted gears for a hill, and the gear change mechanism moved into the path of the rear wheel spokes, bringing the bike to a sudden and untimely halt. Various parts were entangled. I spent 20 minutes on the side of the road re-positioning bent and broken metal so I could push what was left of my bike home.If you're going to buy a bike on Amazon, I strongly suggest you take it to a bike shop for adjustments and a safety inspection after you've assembled it. If you insist on doing what I did (i.e. figuring it out on your own), be sure to spend some time making sure everything is properly adjusted. I'm not the most mechanically inclined person, but neither is the average consumer buying a bicycle online.Overall, not a bad bike for $200. I wish I could have gotten more than 15 minutes of riding out of it. | 989 | [
"(1) The 20-inch frame is actually 26x20, and is too large for me (I am 5'10\").(2) Assembly was not rocket science, however ...I was 2 miles into a 4-mile ride this afternoon.",
"I shifted gears for a hill, and the gear change mechanism moved into the path of the rear wheel spokes, bringing the bike to a sudden and untimely halt.",
"Various parts were entangled.",
"I spent 20 minutes on the side of the road re-positioning bent and broken metal so I could push what was left of my bike home.If you're going to buy a bike on Amazon, I strongly suggest you take it to a bike shop for adjustments and a safety inspection after you've assembled it.",
"If you insist on doing what I did (i.e. figuring it out on your own), be sure to spend some time making sure everything is properly adjusted.",
"I'm not the most mechanically inclined person, but neither is the average consumer buying a bicycle online.Overall, not a bad bike for $200.",
"I wish I could have gotten more than 15 minutes of riding out of it."
] |
3 | Need a bit more help | Having been out of the dating scene for awhile I thought I might pick this up. Ok, so it's been 10 years. I've been wrapped up in alot of things and just didn't have the time. This book is one I picked up just to bring me up to date on whats going on. There is alot of useful information for me but like I said I've been in the dark ages for awhile. It's a good book and one you should read if you've been dateless for some time.Truth is the one I missed on was this whole switch to online dating and let me tell you I was lost. But I picked up a few more books on this subject so I wouldn't get blindsighted out there. I would strongly recommend to any man or woman out there the one that got me off the ground and soring so to speak. " How to get the Woman of your dreams using the Internet" and "How to get the Man of your dreams using the Internet" What mroe can I say but there is nothing that isn't covered in this book, and when your done you can't keep up with all the responses :) | 989 | [
"Having been out of the dating scene for awhile I thought I might pick this up.",
"Ok, so it's been 10 years.",
"I've been wrapped up in alot of things and just didn't have the time.",
"This book is one I picked up just to bring me up to date on whats going on.",
"There is alot of useful information for me but like I said I've been in the dark ages for awhile.",
"It's a good book and one you should read if you've been dateless for some time.Truth is the one I missed on was this whole switch to online dating and let me tell you I was lost.",
"But I picked up a few more books on this subject so I wouldn't get blindsighted out there.",
"I would strongly recommend to any man or woman out there the one that got me off the ground and soring so to speak.",
"\" How to get the Woman of your dreams using the Internet\" and \"How to get the Man of your dreams using the Internet\" What mroe can I say but there is nothing that isn't covered in this book, and when your done you can't keep up with all the responses :)"
] |
3 | Decent | *As with all my DVD review I do not review the content of the movie, yet the quality of the DVD*The Scream Boxed Set comes in an attractive package from Dimension and is a steal ... . Each film has its own DVD, with an extra bonus disc thrown in the mix. While the picture and sound transfers are excellent, there are some notable problems. The Dual Layer switch in Scream 2 is so distracting I wondered if it was a skip in the disc. Also the sound is very loud and basserific, (especially in Scream 3) which kinda scared my cat. It's not a problem, but somewhat annoying. The most annnoying feature is that you cannot switch from the commentary to regular audio using the AUDIO button on any of the discs. The commentary tracks are excellent, yet hidden away in the Bonus Features menu selection. The menu design on discs 2 and 3 is very clunky. But the features are stellar, especially the plethora of outtakes on Scream 2. All in all it's a worthy buy if you're a fan like me.._cameron_ | 989 | [
"*As with all my DVD review I do not review the content of the movie, yet the quality of the DVD*The Scream Boxed Set comes in an attractive package from Dimension and is a steal ....",
"Each film has its own DVD, with an extra bonus disc thrown in the mix.",
"While the picture and sound transfers are excellent, there are some notable problems.",
"The Dual Layer switch in Scream 2 is so distracting I wondered if it was a skip in the disc.",
"Also the sound is very loud and basserific, (especially in Scream 3) which kinda scared my cat.",
"It's not a problem, but somewhat annoying.",
"The most annnoying feature is that you cannot switch from the commentary to regular audio using the AUDIO button on any of the discs.",
"The commentary tracks are excellent, yet hidden away in the Bonus Features menu selection.",
"The menu design on discs 2 and 3 is very clunky.",
"But the features are stellar, especially the plethora of outtakes on Scream 2.",
"All in all it's a worthy buy if you're a fan like me.._cameron_"
] |
3 | Not MY Diana | This is the first time I've written a review, but I just don't agree with the other reviews here.I am a huge Diana Krall fan or perhaps I should say was a huge fan, because after buying both Quiet Nights and Live in Rio, I'm starting to reexamine my position.I have all her early CD's as well as Live in Paris, which I've watched at least 50 times. I should state that I don't care for her newer CD's, but her rendition of the American Songbook songs are superb.However, Live in Rio was a disappointment. Though it used the same artists as Live in Paris, it lacked the energy and creativity of Live in Paris, and I expected to see the passion of the environment that spawned the Bossa Nova rythms that seemed to imbue her earlier work.Finally, the quality of the lighting and camera work was not even in the same league as Live in Paris. The Blue Ray (which I purchased) was much worse than the standard DVD of Live in Paris.In summary, nice but not the Diana I came to love. Uninspired!!! | 989 | [
"This is the first time I've written a review, but I just don't agree with the other reviews here.I am a huge Diana Krall fan or perhaps I should say was a huge fan, because after buying both Quiet Nights and Live in Rio, I'm starting to reexamine my position.I have all her early CD's as well as Live in Paris, which I've watched at least 50 times.",
"I should state that I don't care for her newer CD's, but her rendition of the American Songbook songs are superb.However, Live in Rio was a disappointment.",
"Though it used the same artists as Live in Paris, it lacked the energy and creativity of Live in Paris, and I expected to see the passion of the environment that spawned the Bossa Nova rythms that seemed to imbue her earlier work.Finally, the quality of the lighting and camera work was not even in the same league as Live in Paris.",
"The Blue Ray (which I purchased) was much worse than the standard DVD of Live in Paris.In summary, nice but not the Diana I came to love.",
"Uninspired!!!"
] |
3 | More Information | Preface 7 (2)Babylonia: The Dawn of AstrologyThe Sacred Writing9 (3)The Gods of the Sky12 (3)The Astronomical Framework15 (6)Zodiac and Horoscope21 (5)Greece: The System PerfectedBabylonia and Greece26 (7)The Philosophical Background to Greek Astrology33 (6)Marcus Manilius: the First Astrological Treatise39 (16)The Scientific Astrology of Claudius Ptolemy55 (12)The Political Dimension: Astrology in Rome67 (10)The Middle Ages: Eclipse and Re-EmergenceThe Post-Classical Crisis77 (5)Astrology in the Islamic World82 (14)The Revival of Astrology in the Latin West96 (5)God or Destiny: the Debate about the Limits of Astrology101 (13)Astrology and Medieval Science114 (12)The Renaissance: Triumph and DownfallAstrology and Power Politics in England and France126 (18)Philosophical Renewal from Italy144 (21)Astrology in England 1550-1700165 (12)The Scientific Revolution and the Death of Astrology177 (11)Undefeated: Astrology in the Modern Era188 (16)Bibliographical note 204 (1)Index 205 | 989 | [
"Preface 7 (2)Babylonia: The Dawn of AstrologyThe Sacred Writing9 (3)The Gods of the Sky12 (3)The Astronomical Framework15 (6)Zodiac and Horoscope21 (5)Greece: The System PerfectedBabylonia and Greece26 (7)The Philosophical Background to Greek Astrology33 (6)Marcus Manilius: the First Astrological Treatise39 (16)The Scientific Astrology of Claudius Ptolemy55 (12)The Political Dimension: Astrology in Rome67 (10)The Middle Ages: Eclipse and Re-EmergenceThe Post-Classical Crisis77 (5)Astrology in the Islamic World82 (14)The Revival of Astrology in the Latin West96 (5)God or Destiny: the Debate about the Limits of Astrology101 (13)Astrology and Medieval Science114 (12)The Renaissance: Triumph and DownfallAstrology and Power Politics in England and France126 (18)Philosophical Renewal from Italy144 (21)Astrology in England 1550-1700165 (12)The Scientific Revolution and the Death of Astrology177 (11)Undefeated: Astrology in the Modern Era188 (16)Bibliographical note 204 (1)Index 205"
] |
3 | I'm sorry But.., | With deepest regret, I am being generous by giving this CD a 3 star rating. I'm a Jethro Tull junkie. It is quite possible I have been listening to them on a daily basis for over 30 years. This remake of Aqualung with a live feel to it, is borderline boring. There is no passion in the playing. Ian's throat problems have returned making his voice pretty shoddy. And a few of the new arrangements are just so so. I recently saw them in concert early October and Ian's voice was even worse. They gave this CD as a freebie. I'm so dissapointed I am ending this review momentarily. I guess, just making an attempt to recreate some early magic is worthy of this recording but.., Ah forget it. All this being said Jethro Tull is still the greatest musical group of the century. Even on a bad night, they are more entertaining and have more talent in their little pinkies than 99% of the perfomers who make it popular today. Buy the CD anyway, if your a fan. The money is going to a great cause. | 989 | [
"With deepest regret, I am being generous by giving this CD a 3 star rating.",
"I'm a Jethro Tull junkie.",
"It is quite possible I have been listening to them on a daily basis for over 30 years.",
"This remake of Aqualung with a live feel to it, is borderline boring.",
"There is no passion in the playing.",
"Ian's throat problems have returned making his voice pretty shoddy.",
"And a few of the new arrangements are just so so.",
"I recently saw them in concert early October and Ian's voice was even worse.",
"They gave this CD as a freebie.",
"I'm so dissapointed I am ending this review momentarily.",
"I guess, just making an attempt to recreate some early magic is worthy of this recording but.., Ah forget it.",
"All this being said Jethro Tull is still the greatest musical group of the century.",
"Even on a bad night, they are more entertaining and have more talent in their little pinkies than 99% of the perfomers who make it popular today.",
"Buy the CD anyway, if your a fan.",
"The money is going to a great cause."
] |
3 | Post-Rock Exhibit | Hefty Records, a small independant label out of Chicago was the prime reason for picking this. Its catalogue (in most) caters to the more 'experimental' side of groovy things. Victor Bermon's debut is your typical post-rock offering, and then some more. With its Tortoise-meets-Eno syndrome slapped all over it, Bermon induces some great soundscapes typical of this music: lost highways, infinite spaces, mind-benders...all held together with some ethereal melodies. Listners of aformentioned artists might find have a hard time digging anything new out of this (hell, its 2008 - we've been through the post-rock excesses), yet Bermon creates lysergic sounds enough to satisfy late night loners and post-clubbing downers, equally. Its the kind of music that propels NPR's Echoes series...not really cheesy enough for the New Age tag, but neither as strong as some of the ambient works of Laswell or Eno.For a more adventurous session, I would recommend fellow label mate and producerOdori. | 989 | [
"Hefty Records, a small independant label out of Chicago was the prime reason for picking this.",
"Its catalogue (in most) caters to the more 'experimental' side of groovy things.",
"Victor Bermon's debut is your typical post-rock offering, and then some more.",
"With its Tortoise-meets-Eno syndrome slapped all over it, Bermon induces some great soundscapes typical of this music: lost highways, infinite spaces, mind-benders...all held together with some ethereal melodies.",
"Listners of aformentioned artists might find have a hard time digging anything new out of this (hell, its 2008 - we've been through the post-rock excesses), yet Bermon creates lysergic sounds enough to satisfy late night loners and post-clubbing downers, equally.",
"Its the kind of music that propels NPR's Echoes series...not really cheesy enough for the New Age tag, but neither as strong as some of the ambient works of Laswell or Eno.For a more adventurous session, I would recommend fellow label mate and producerOdori."
] |
3 | Could Have Been Better | I enjoyed several of the performances on this DVD as well as the interaction between M. McDonald and his friends. The elegant P. Labelle's voice is fine form here and the guest of honor seems to appreciate her energy. T. Sims' and M. McDonald's collaboration is one of the more soulful moments of the evening; The melody and harmonies of "All I Need," evoke the feel of many r & b songs from the 1970s. There was noticeable warmth between M. McDonald and C. Cross, who sings well and plays a nice guitar solo on "Ride Like the Wind." Kenny Loggins was a welcome presence, although I would have liked to have heard more of his singing on "Heart to Heart," and "This is It." Low points include J. Bridge's "She Lay Her Whip Down," E. McCain's "Holy City," and an a cappella rendition of L. Bernstein's "Maria." How devastating to learn that Steely Dan, Ray Charles and Toto performed and do not appear on this DVD. Its a shame that mic and editing problems plagued a concert of this caliber. | 989 | [
"I enjoyed several of the performances on this DVD as well as the interaction between M.",
"McDonald and his friends.",
"The elegant P.",
"Labelle's voice is fine form here and the guest of honor seems to appreciate her energy.",
"T.",
"Sims' and M.",
"McDonald's collaboration is one of the more soulful moments of the evening; The melody and harmonies of \"All I Need,\" evoke the feel of many r & b songs from the 1970s.",
"There was noticeable warmth between M.",
"McDonald and C.",
"Cross, who sings well and plays a nice guitar solo on \"Ride Like the Wind.\" Kenny Loggins was a welcome presence, although I would have liked to have heard more of his singing on \"Heart to Heart,\" and \"This is It.\" Low points include J.",
"Bridge's \"She Lay Her Whip Down,\" E.",
"McCain's \"Holy City,\" and an a cappella rendition of L.",
"Bernstein's \"Maria.\" How devastating to learn that Steely Dan, Ray Charles and Toto performed and do not appear on this DVD.",
"Its a shame that mic and editing problems plagued a concert of this caliber."
] |
3 | De-Phazz - Days Of Twang | De-Phazz's sixth album, DAYS OF TWANG, starts off promisingly, with the slide guitar of "Twang" -- country-western might be the new jazz! But it then quickly devolves with the wan disco of "Boogie Philosophy." The album vacillates between these two poles: from the dreaminess of "Nonsensical Thing" and "Shadow of a Lie" to the bland "It Will Turn Out Right." But things do perk up: "Hell Alright" has a pleasing anger to it, with a bit of swing that's been missing from his two previous albums, and Paul St. Hilare's appearance on "Better World" gives a nice contrast to De-Phazz's regular vocalists. The instrumentals do indeed lean heavily on the country side of the musical spectrum, but occasionally he can dull the interest (with the lame vocals on "Rock'n'Roll Dude," for instance). But the crazed banjo on "What's the Use Of...?" shows how far he can push the idea and still have it work. Even the short "Devil's Music #58 Reprise" manages to recapture some of that De-Phazz magic. | 989 | [
"De-Phazz's sixth album, DAYS OF TWANG, starts off promisingly, with the slide guitar of \"Twang\" -- country-western might be the new jazz!",
"But it then quickly devolves with the wan disco of \"Boogie Philosophy.\" The album vacillates between these two poles: from the dreaminess of \"Nonsensical Thing\" and \"Shadow of a Lie\" to the bland \"It Will Turn Out Right.\" But things do perk up: \"Hell Alright\" has a pleasing anger to it, with a bit of swing that's been missing from his two previous albums, and Paul St.",
"Hilare's appearance on \"Better World\" gives a nice contrast to De-Phazz's regular vocalists.",
"The instrumentals do indeed lean heavily on the country side of the musical spectrum, but occasionally he can dull the interest (with the lame vocals on \"Rock'n'Roll Dude,\" for instance).",
"But the crazed banjo on \"What's the Use Of...?\" shows how far he can push the idea and still have it work.",
"Even the short \"Devil's Music #58 Reprise\" manages to recapture some of that De-Phazz magic."
] |
3 | not so perfectly queer | In the third season the best show begins to show its age. It starts with Justin leaving Brian. And Ted and Emmitt trying to have a relationship. Are we to believe Brian is broken hearted over Justin? Is Ethan the perfect match for Justin?What started out as a great study of life for young gays in smalltown America has fizzled to a soap opera for its straight female fans. The two scenes hit bottom for me are Lindsay and Melanie asking Brian to be the father of their second child. Why would any man agree after the hell they put Brian through with Gus? And even more unbelievable is the reunion of Brian and Justin. How many times must we endure the breakup and reunion of Brian and Justin? I'm sure the straight female fans gushing over the nudity are thrilled. But for the rest of us it is very old news. The show works better when it strays from the soap opera like watching Brian taking down Stockwell. For me those are the best moments of the series. Just skip over the soap opera. | 989 | [
"In the third season the best show begins to show its age.",
"It starts with Justin leaving Brian.",
"And Ted and Emmitt trying to have a relationship.",
"Are we to believe Brian is broken hearted over Justin?",
"Is Ethan the perfect match for Justin?",
"What started out as a great study of life for young gays in smalltown America has fizzled to a soap opera for its straight female fans.",
"The two scenes hit bottom for me are Lindsay and Melanie asking Brian to be the father of their second child.",
"Why would any man agree after the hell they put Brian through with Gus?",
"And even more unbelievable is the reunion of Brian and Justin.",
"How many times must we endure the breakup and reunion of Brian and Justin?",
"I'm sure the straight female fans gushing over the nudity are thrilled.",
"But for the rest of us it is very old news.",
"The show works better when it strays from the soap opera like watching Brian taking down Stockwell.",
"For me those are the best moments of the series.",
"Just skip over the soap opera."
] |
3 | Gospel Message Lacking | Aside from the the technical aspects of the making of the film (some good points regarding those issues already being addressed)as well as the lack of sound Biblical doctrine and theology the film was sorely lacking within the pure Gospel message that the books possessed. (And I have read all of them thus far save for "The Mark") The fact that we are saved by grace though faith in Jesus Christ alone was not adequately presented. Instead, the focus was on the dissappearances and who was behind them. Little thought was realy gone into the why.I'm an Amillennialist. I enjoy the books as ficton. I see both the Law and Gospel within them and am glad of that. However, I did not find that within this film. The name of Jesus Christ was mentioned only once. Now, true, I have read the writers did so in order not to be "preachy". But it's a bit sad when Christians refuse to proclaim Jesus's name.Although I understand how and why some of the changes were made...that's one that I do not. | 989 | [
"Aside from the the technical aspects of the making of the film (some good points regarding those issues already being addressed)as well as the lack of sound Biblical doctrine and theology the film was sorely lacking within the pure Gospel message that the books possessed.",
"(And I have read all of them thus far save for \"The Mark\") The fact that we are saved by grace though faith in Jesus Christ alone was not adequately presented.",
"Instead, the focus was on the dissappearances and who was behind them.",
"Little thought was realy gone into the why.I'm an Amillennialist.",
"I enjoy the books as ficton.",
"I see both the Law and Gospel within them and am glad of that.",
"However, I did not find that within this film.",
"The name of Jesus Christ was mentioned only once.",
"Now, true, I have read the writers did so in order not to be \"preachy\".",
"But it's a bit sad when Christians refuse to proclaim Jesus's name.Although I understand how and why some of the changes were made...that's one that I do not."
] |
3 | Don't be fooled... | Don't let the 30 second audio samples fool you. They seem to emphasize only the percussion, and completely miss the unique and flavorful jazz/world elements of the Madrid collection.I was pleasantly surprised with Disc 1. The mix is very eclectic, with a range of influences from chill/lounge to euro-house to tribal/worldbeat. Expect to hear a few accents of flamenco guitar and loud trumpets, as well as upbeat flutes, jazzy piano, and both crooning and hip-hop sounding vocals.Disc 2, as mentioned by other reviews, was an immense disappointment for me personally. The overall style does not follow Afterdark's successful formula, but enters the realm of pure electronica. (In my own view, it certainly does not seem representative of Madrid. But then again, I've never been there.) If you're a fan of electronic/progessive music, I'd consider it a bonus. But even if you're looking for another taste of Afterdark, Madrid is still worth adding to your collection, if even as a 1-CD set. | 989 | [
"Don't let the 30 second audio samples fool you.",
"They seem to emphasize only the percussion, and completely miss the unique and flavorful jazz/world elements of the Madrid collection.I was pleasantly surprised with Disc 1.",
"The mix is very eclectic, with a range of influences from chill/lounge to euro-house to tribal/worldbeat.",
"Expect to hear a few accents of flamenco guitar and loud trumpets, as well as upbeat flutes, jazzy piano, and both crooning and hip-hop sounding vocals.Disc 2, as mentioned by other reviews, was an immense disappointment for me personally.",
"The overall style does not follow Afterdark's successful formula, but enters the realm of pure electronica.",
"(In my own view, it certainly does not seem representative of Madrid.",
"But then again, I've never been there.) If you're a fan of electronic/progessive music, I'd consider it a bonus.",
"But even if you're looking for another taste of Afterdark, Madrid is still worth adding to your collection, if even as a 1-CD set."
] |
3 | Almost well-done | Jeff Long could have ascended to great author status with this intelligent, well-designed story of a subterranean world that incorporates all of our worst fears of Hell. He didn't, however, because of a lack of attention to details. Not only our heroes, but all characters in the book seem to be the ideal manifestations of the dreams of a liberal baby-boomer. From our Himalayan mountain climber guide (is this Jeff Long's idea of himself?) to the well-spoken, dignified congresswoman; through the military types that never seem to know anything, to the anti-Catholic sentiment that lines the entire story; it is obvious that there is a great book here if one can just make it through all of the rhetoric. Additionally, most of the names of the characters portray obvious stereotypes. Mustafah, Ali, Santos, and just about every member of the scholarly Beowulf Circle illustrate this point. In short, Jeff Long simply doesn't do himself justice as a writer by short-changing a great plot. | 989 | [
"Jeff Long could have ascended to great author status with this intelligent, well-designed story of a subterranean world that incorporates all of our worst fears of Hell.",
"He didn't, however, because of a lack of attention to details.",
"Not only our heroes, but all characters in the book seem to be the ideal manifestations of the dreams of a liberal baby-boomer.",
"From our Himalayan mountain climber guide (is this Jeff Long's idea of himself?",
") to the well-spoken, dignified congresswoman; through the military types that never seem to know anything, to the anti-Catholic sentiment that lines the entire story; it is obvious that there is a great book here if one can just make it through all of the rhetoric.",
"Additionally, most of the names of the characters portray obvious stereotypes.",
"Mustafah, Ali, Santos, and just about every member of the scholarly Beowulf Circle illustrate this point.",
"In short, Jeff Long simply doesn't do himself justice as a writer by short-changing a great plot."
] |
3 | Spellbinder is... | Well, let me just say that a lot of the reviews AND the back cover of the book are a teensy bit misleading. I mean they lead people to believe that Blaise is just bad and doing what she does out of spite which is NOT true and they also make the book sound cliche you know two dogs one bone, the horror! This book isn't like that, I mean it is good althought the male characters were a bit ah wimpy? Of course that's to be expected with two dynamic witches around. The plot could've used a teensy bit of work, but it's not like Smith didn't really know what she was talking about because it seems like she did (I have a friend who's into wicca and stuff). The two cousins are well developed characters and for the most part the connections between the characters are very well done. All in all I'd say this book is worth a read if you've got free time and nothing much else to do. Especially if you're into romance stuff, which I'm not... If I were I'd have probably given it another star. | 988 | [
"Well, let me just say that a lot of the reviews AND the back cover of the book are a teensy bit misleading.",
"I mean they lead people to believe that Blaise is just bad and doing what she does out of spite which is NOT true and they also make the book sound cliche you know two dogs one bone, the horror!",
"This book isn't like that, I mean it is good althought the male characters were a bit ah wimpy?",
"Of course that's to be expected with two dynamic witches around.",
"The plot could've used a teensy bit of work, but it's not like Smith didn't really know what she was talking about because it seems like she did (I have a friend who's into wicca and stuff).",
"The two cousins are well developed characters and for the most part the connections between the characters are very well done.",
"All in all I'd say this book is worth a read if you've got free time and nothing much else to do.",
"Especially if you're into romance stuff, which I'm not... If I were I'd have probably given it another star."
] |
3 | It's no Scream. . . | At the begining of this movie, the narrator reveals that everyone is going to get killed. This makes the story less suspenseful. Maybe the idea was to create a sort of Greek tragedy where we feel bad because we already know that everyone is doomed. Unfortunately, these characters aren't all that interesting. This isn't the sort of slasher movie where you get upset because you see nice kids getting slaughtered. Nor,for that matter, is it the sort where you can't help feeling happy that obnoxious kids are being slaughtered. The protagonists of this movie are neither sweet nor obnoxious. They're just warm bodies. This is particularly true of Sally and her invalid brother Franklin. The movie tells us nothing about their relationship. What saves this movie is the ending where Sally is the last one alive. The narrator doesn't prepare us for the long ordeal that she will go through and it was definitely more bizarre then I expected. This movie is no "Scream" but it's worth a look. | 988 | [
"At the begining of this movie, the narrator reveals that everyone is going to get killed.",
"This makes the story less suspenseful.",
"Maybe the idea was to create a sort of Greek tragedy where we feel bad because we already know that everyone is doomed.",
"Unfortunately, these characters aren't all that interesting.",
"This isn't the sort of slasher movie where you get upset because you see nice kids getting slaughtered.",
"Nor,for that matter, is it the sort where you can't help feeling happy that obnoxious kids are being slaughtered.",
"The protagonists of this movie are neither sweet nor obnoxious.",
"They're just warm bodies.",
"This is particularly true of Sally and her invalid brother Franklin.",
"The movie tells us nothing about their relationship.",
"What saves this movie is the ending where Sally is the last one alive.",
"The narrator doesn't prepare us for the long ordeal that she will go through and it was definitely more bizarre then I expected.",
"This movie is no \"Scream\" but it's worth a look."
] |
3 | A mixed bag. | This is not Focus' finest hour. Such claims could be made of Hamburger Concerto or even Focus III. This recording is not without it's merit however. The problem lies in the inconsistency in the compositions. The This Van Leer and Jan Akkerman compositions are up to the standard that one would expect of these two brilliant musicians(Bennie Helder aside). Where the passion and fire in the performances between the two is not as evident as on earlier recordings their efforts are still exceptional. The difficulty lies with the Bert Ruiter compositions. I Need A Bathroom is a blues number with inane lyrics about the need that is made clear in the title. The other Ruiter compositons, Soft Vanilla, Hard Vanilla, Tropic Bird are nothing more than Fuzak. There is one composition by a Paul Stoppelman that is quite good. Overall, it's a good record, not a great one. Still it's worth the purchase but start with Hamburger Concerto (which is now back in print) or Focus III (which is not). | 988 | [
"This is not Focus' finest hour.",
"Such claims could be made of Hamburger Concerto or even Focus III.",
"This recording is not without it's merit however.",
"The problem lies in the inconsistency in the compositions.",
"The This Van Leer and Jan Akkerman compositions are up to the standard that one would expect of these two brilliant musicians(Bennie Helder aside).",
"Where the passion and fire in the performances between the two is not as evident as on earlier recordings their efforts are still exceptional.",
"The difficulty lies with the Bert Ruiter compositions.",
"I Need A Bathroom is a blues number with inane lyrics about the need that is made clear in the title.",
"The other Ruiter compositons, Soft Vanilla, Hard Vanilla, Tropic Bird are nothing more than Fuzak.",
"There is one composition by a Paul Stoppelman that is quite good.",
"Overall, it's a good record, not a great one.",
"Still it's worth the purchase but start with Hamburger Concerto (which is now back in print) or Focus III (which is not)."
] |
3 | Just ok | I'm not sure really what to think of this book. The description makes it sound like it is told from Daisy's point of view, but really it is not. It almost like an outsider wrote it that knew everything about Daisy. While I liked the book, I felt next to nothing for Daisy herself. I found those surrounding her to be far more interesting. They gave the story life. Thankfully you get a few clips of the story told from varying viewpoints. I got the most from the letters, etc that are throughout the story. I kept hoping the Daisy would eventually find something to tie her to this world. Most people I think go through life trying to make their mark, something that says they were here long after they're gone. With Daisy it was like she knew she would never been remembered, so why try. She even felt her children and grandchildren would eventually forget about her. She was content to just exist for the moment. It was not depressing, I just felt sorry for her. Still, not a bad story. | 988 | [
"I'm not sure really what to think of this book.",
"The description makes it sound like it is told from Daisy's point of view, but really it is not.",
"It almost like an outsider wrote it that knew everything about Daisy.",
"While I liked the book, I felt next to nothing for Daisy herself.",
"I found those surrounding her to be far more interesting.",
"They gave the story life.",
"Thankfully you get a few clips of the story told from varying viewpoints.",
"I got the most from the letters, etc that are throughout the story.",
"I kept hoping the Daisy would eventually find something to tie her to this world.",
"Most people I think go through life trying to make their mark, something that says they were here long after they're gone.",
"With Daisy it was like she knew she would never been remembered, so why try.",
"She even felt her children and grandchildren would eventually forget about her.",
"She was content to just exist for the moment.",
"It was not depressing, I just felt sorry for her.",
"Still, not a bad story."
] |
3 | Total mind candy | This is speculative fiction in which it's postulated that the South has won the Civil War. It's a fun book. The analysis of the battle of Gettysburg is interesting -- that's obviously where Skimin did his research -- and the maps are good. The courtroom drama scenes are exciting, and one ends up wishing the author had included an epilogue telling us whether his imaginary CSA really made it. Now, the faults -- Skimin didn't really do his research on social behavior. His characters are astonishingly promiscuous for higher-class people of the time, especially the women. Also, his historical characters, particulary Stuart and Mosby, while reasonably engaging as imaginary people, don't really resemble the real-life version of themselves very much. His Stuart is too humorless, his Mosby too benevolent, his Breckenridge far too malevolent, his Longstreet too crazy. Nevertheless, if you take it as mind candy and not a serious work of literature, Gray Victory is quite a page-turner. | 988 | [
"This is speculative fiction in which it's postulated that the South has won the Civil War.",
"It's a fun book.",
"The analysis of the battle of Gettysburg is interesting -- that's obviously where Skimin did his research -- and the maps are good.",
"The courtroom drama scenes are exciting, and one ends up wishing the author had included an epilogue telling us whether his imaginary CSA really made it.",
"Now, the faults -- Skimin didn't really do his research on social behavior.",
"His characters are astonishingly promiscuous for higher-class people of the time, especially the women.",
"Also, his historical characters, particulary Stuart and Mosby, while reasonably engaging as imaginary people, don't really resemble the real-life version of themselves very much.",
"His Stuart is too humorless, his Mosby too benevolent, his Breckenridge far too malevolent, his Longstreet too crazy.",
"Nevertheless, if you take it as mind candy and not a serious work of literature, Gray Victory is quite a page-turner."
] |
3 | Oh Please | While most of these books tend to drone on about what has already been printed previously, there is a nice mix of culture and specific application that makes this book work. Anyone with domestic negotiation experience could probably do just as well with the following, however.Look, if you want to negotiate with Asians, it is not that difficult. First, don't treat them like they are idiots. A lack of native English does not mean they are stupid. How good is YOUR Chinese, or Korean? Second, understand that they are motivated by many things, JUST LIKE YOU. The key is what do they want - short-term profits in foreign currency? Long term business contacts for down the line when they expand to a foreign branch? Maybe Tech transfer? Third, who is pulling the strings, and what are the limitations to your contacts negotiating power? Everything else is no different than your own country: think of ways to expand the pie, think of their perspective, blah blah blah.This was a good read. | 988 | [
"While most of these books tend to drone on about what has already been printed previously, there is a nice mix of culture and specific application that makes this book work.",
"Anyone with domestic negotiation experience could probably do just as well with the following, however.Look, if you want to negotiate with Asians, it is not that difficult.",
"First, don't treat them like they are idiots.",
"A lack of native English does not mean they are stupid.",
"How good is YOUR Chinese, or Korean?",
"Second, understand that they are motivated by many things, JUST LIKE YOU.",
"The key is what do they want - short-term profits in foreign currency?",
"Long term business contacts for down the line when they expand to a foreign branch?",
"Maybe Tech transfer?",
"Third, who is pulling the strings, and what are the limitations to your contacts negotiating power?",
"Everything else is no different than your own country: think of ways to expand the pie, think of their perspective, blah blah blah.This was a good read."
] |
3 | A good album | This second album from Kingdom Come, In Your Face, was released in 1989. The material is in a straight-ahead hard rock musical direction. Overall, I find the songwriting to be tight, the musicianship to be solid, and the sound quality to be worthy. Of the ten tracks, there are no power ballads. Some of the cuts include nice keyboard work. Lenny Wolf does a gratifying and industrious job with the vocals. The guitar playing is also pleasing throughout. Although I like every one of the songs, my favorites are "Do You Like It," "Who Do You Love," "The Wind," and "Gotta Go (Can't Wage a War)." "Do You Like It"--the opening composition--is a catchy, energetic, and ambitious one that sports a memorable, engaging guitar riff. "Who Do You Love" displays a charming section of stately guitar work and smooth keyboard playing. "The Wind" exhibits appealing rhythm guitar work, while "Gotta Go (Can't Wage a War)" has a pleasant chorus. In Your Face is an enjoyable album from Kingdom Come. | 988 | [
"This second album from Kingdom Come, In Your Face, was released in 1989.",
"The material is in a straight-ahead hard rock musical direction.",
"Overall, I find the songwriting to be tight, the musicianship to be solid, and the sound quality to be worthy.",
"Of the ten tracks, there are no power ballads.",
"Some of the cuts include nice keyboard work.",
"Lenny Wolf does a gratifying and industrious job with the vocals.",
"The guitar playing is also pleasing throughout.",
"Although I like every one of the songs, my favorites are \"Do You Like It,\" \"Who Do You Love,\" \"The Wind,\" and \"Gotta Go (Can't Wage a War).\" \"Do You Like It\"--the opening composition--is a catchy, energetic, and ambitious one that sports a memorable, engaging guitar riff.",
"\"Who Do You Love\" displays a charming section of stately guitar work and smooth keyboard playing.",
"\"The Wind\" exhibits appealing rhythm guitar work, while \"Gotta Go (Can't Wage a War)\" has a pleasant chorus.",
"In Your Face is an enjoyable album from Kingdom Come."
] |
3 | Enjoyable flick | I can't give out half-stars, because if I could, this would actually be 3.5, not just 3 stars. I can't quite bring myself to give a 4, but it is definitely better than a 3. It was a pretty good flick for its time, and though it's cheesy today, it was a very enjoyable watch. The actor who does Leprechaun is AWESOME, and frankly, he was the best character in the movie.The premise is actually rather believable/enjoyable, so I can't complain about the backstory. Seeing Jennifer Aniston was an unexpected treat (I caught this on TV by pure chance, never having heard of it before) and again, the Leprechaun is fun. I WANT ME GOLD!I can't say that this is a great horror flick because it made me laugh. It's one of these horror movies that you just can't help but enjoy and laugh at, and that's what I liked about it. So really, it's not a horror in the genre of Saw, Hostel, or Dracula, but it can be appropriately called a horror-comedy. If you like leprechauns, you'll enjoy this movie. | 988 | [
"I can't give out half-stars, because if I could, this would actually be 3.5, not just 3 stars.",
"I can't quite bring myself to give a 4, but it is definitely better than a 3.",
"It was a pretty good flick for its time, and though it's cheesy today, it was a very enjoyable watch.",
"The actor who does Leprechaun is AWESOME, and frankly, he was the best character in the movie.The premise is actually rather believable/enjoyable, so I can't complain about the backstory.",
"Seeing Jennifer Aniston was an unexpected treat (I caught this on TV by pure chance, never having heard of it before) and again, the Leprechaun is fun.",
"I WANT ME GOLD!",
"I can't say that this is a great horror flick because it made me laugh.",
"It's one of these horror movies that you just can't help but enjoy and laugh at, and that's what I liked about it.",
"So really, it's not a horror in the genre of Saw, Hostel, or Dracula, but it can be appropriately called a horror-comedy.",
"If you like leprechauns, you'll enjoy this movie."
] |
3 | Beetles lightly toasted | The novel, Beetles lightly Toasted, is one of the worst books I've ever read! The book described, the setting just ok, but did horrible with the characters. With sections like `Andy walked down the hall, a hall covered with, disgusting germs and the people, oh! The people were just as bad. This story was, is and, will always be, the worst book ever!The main Character wasn't very interesting and believable. The author, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, wasn't doing so well with creating and introducing characters throughout the story. Earl was the worst of them all. Naylor described him as an overweight older brother of Andy.I wouldn't recommend cow-manure so, I certainty wouldn't recommend this book! Yes, yes I know what you are thinking, but, the book is that bad! I hate books that "make" you imagine what you already have imagined with a different book (nothing new).If you want to read a terrible novel, be my guest but beware, authors like, Madeline L`engel, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | 988 | [
"The novel, Beetles lightly Toasted, is one of the worst books I've ever read!",
"The book described, the setting just ok, but did horrible with the characters.",
"With sections like `Andy walked down the hall, a hall covered with, disgusting germs and the people, oh!",
"The people were just as bad.",
"This story was, is and, will always be, the worst book ever!",
"The main Character wasn't very interesting and believable.",
"The author, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, wasn't doing so well with creating and introducing characters throughout the story.",
"Earl was the worst of them all.",
"Naylor described him as an overweight older brother of Andy.I wouldn't recommend cow-manure so, I certainty wouldn't recommend this book!",
"Yes, yes I know what you are thinking, but, the book is that bad!",
"I hate books that \"make\" you imagine what you already have imagined with a different book (nothing new).If you want to read a terrible novel, be my guest but beware, authors like, Madeline L`engel, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor"
] |
3 | Warning - SPOILER ALERT | I really enjoy the In Death series, so I was surprised when the conclusion of this one left a bad taste. The story was engrossing because we already know who the killer is right from the beginning, and therefore the story was more focused on the investigation as Eve pieced together how to get him. However, I can't explain why the book disappointed me without spoiling......SPOILER: I enjoy the satisfaction that comes when Eve catches the killer and he/she gets what they deserve. So, I felt cheated when the killer offed himself in the end to avoid jail. Considering how he killed his victims, it seemed wrong that he got off so easy. Some might say, that's realistic. But, come on, these books aren't realistic--Eve solves every case! Unfortunately, this isn't the first one of these novels to end this way, nor is it likely to be the last. I'm hopeful it remains a rarity, though. Recommended to fans of the series who just have to read every book, but I wish I had skipped this one. | 988 | [
"I really enjoy the In Death series, so I was surprised when the conclusion of this one left a bad taste.",
"The story was engrossing because we already know who the killer is right from the beginning, and therefore the story was more focused on the investigation as Eve pieced together how to get him.",
"However, I can't explain why the book disappointed me without spoiling......SPOILER: I enjoy the satisfaction that comes when Eve catches the killer and he/she gets what they deserve.",
"So, I felt cheated when the killer offed himself in the end to avoid jail.",
"Considering how he killed his victims, it seemed wrong that he got off so easy.",
"Some might say, that's realistic.",
"But, come on, these books aren't realistic--Eve solves every case!",
"Unfortunately, this isn't the first one of these novels to end this way, nor is it likely to be the last.",
"I'm hopeful it remains a rarity, though.",
"Recommended to fans of the series who just have to read every book, but I wish I had skipped this one."
] |
3 | ehhh, not their best | This is no where near blink 182's best album. I remember seeing blink play in small clubs way back in the day when no one knew who they were. Those were the days. Chesire Cat was such a great album, then Dude Ranch came along and was even better. Those were blink's finest days. This album doesn't even come close to the greatness of those albums. Tom's voice sounds really bad on this album. I actually skip over Feeling This because his voice is so damn annoying on that song. I do like how they've matured over the years and wern't afraid to change their sound on this album. Some of the lyrics were well written and actually had some meaning behind them, and I like the little techno sounding intro to Violence, which is probably my favorite song on the album. The song they did with Robert Smith was really good too. Travis's drumming was excellent and I kinda like Tom's new guitar style. This album was everything I expected it to be. Not their best, but not totally dissapointing. | 988 | [
"This is no where near blink 182's best album.",
"I remember seeing blink play in small clubs way back in the day when no one knew who they were.",
"Those were the days.",
"Chesire Cat was such a great album, then Dude Ranch came along and was even better.",
"Those were blink's finest days.",
"This album doesn't even come close to the greatness of those albums.",
"Tom's voice sounds really bad on this album.",
"I actually skip over Feeling This because his voice is so damn annoying on that song.",
"I do like how they've matured over the years and wern't afraid to change their sound on this album.",
"Some of the lyrics were well written and actually had some meaning behind them, and I like the little techno sounding intro to Violence, which is probably my favorite song on the album.",
"The song they did with Robert Smith was really good too.",
"Travis's drumming was excellent and I kinda like Tom's new guitar style.",
"This album was everything I expected it to be.",
"Not their best, but not totally dissapointing."
] |
3 | Their best Work | Like De la, Das EFX, and a tribe call quest, naughty by nature's sophomore CD, to my mind, was way superior to their debut. Yes I know that that debut included 'O.P.P' but as an album it's not one that i kept in heavy rotation. But listening to this CD reminds me of the days when I would LOVED Hip hop. Now I would never say that Treach was in my top tem MC's of all time, and, even after all this time I couldn't quote you a memorable line from any of his rhymes, but he has a nice flow that accompanies the joints on this CD( Vin Rock would come in every now & then, more so on this CD, similar, but to a lesser effect than Phife Dawg on tribe's excellent 'Low End Theory CD') Kay Gee's production is a mixture of Horns breaks, and piano samples, that still sound fresh. Tracks I dig are: Hip Hop Horary (great video by Spike Lee) it's on (with a great horn break) and Hot Potato, with an excellent cameo by Mr. Bumpy Knuckles himself, Freddie Foxxx. These toons standout on a good CD. | 988 | [
"Like De la, Das EFX, and a tribe call quest, naughty by nature's sophomore CD, to my mind, was way superior to their debut.",
"Yes I know that that debut included 'O.P.P' but as an album it's not one that i kept in heavy rotation.",
"But listening to this CD reminds me of the days when I would LOVED Hip hop.",
"Now I would never say that Treach was in my top tem MC's of all time, and, even after all this time I couldn't quote you a memorable line from any of his rhymes, but he has a nice flow that accompanies the joints on this CD( Vin Rock would come in every now & then, more so on this CD, similar, but to a lesser effect than Phife Dawg on tribe's excellent 'Low End Theory CD') Kay Gee's production is a mixture of Horns breaks, and piano samples, that still sound fresh.",
"Tracks I dig are: Hip Hop Horary (great video by Spike Lee) it's on (with a great horn break) and Hot Potato, with an excellent cameo by Mr.",
"Bumpy Knuckles himself, Freddie Foxxx.",
"These toons standout on a good CD."
] |
3 | Quite good and tough | This is a simple piece of entertainment, that with the exception of a few key scenes you would never guess has anything to with Marvel Comics, unless you have read them. The plot as outlined many times before is that special forces guy Frank Castle kills a gangsters son in his last mission and the Gangster (John Travolta) attempts to kill all of Castles family as well as him in revenge. Castle survives and seeks his own revenge.Its reasonable well done, and certainly entertaining. I was particularly fond of Castles relationship with his oddball neighbours and the loyalty that they both show to each other in the end. However in my view it was let down by a slightly wooden performance from Thomas Jane in the leading role. I never really believed in him... I could imagine this role being done very well by Hugh Jackman. Naturally John Travolta is good in his role.Look out for Kevin Nash, an ex professional wrestler as "The Russian" who is almost a foot taller then The Punisher! | 988 | [
"This is a simple piece of entertainment, that with the exception of a few key scenes you would never guess has anything to with Marvel Comics, unless you have read them.",
"The plot as outlined many times before is that special forces guy Frank Castle kills a gangsters son in his last mission and the Gangster (John Travolta) attempts to kill all of Castles family as well as him in revenge.",
"Castle survives and seeks his own revenge.Its reasonable well done, and certainly entertaining.",
"I was particularly fond of Castles relationship with his oddball neighbours and the loyalty that they both show to each other in the end.",
"However in my view it was let down by a slightly wooden performance from Thomas Jane in the leading role.",
"I never really believed in him... I could imagine this role being done very well by Hugh Jackman.",
"Naturally John Travolta is good in his role.Look out for Kevin Nash, an ex professional wrestler as \"The Russian\" who is almost a foot taller then The Punisher!"
] |
3 | OFF THE BEATEN PATH | Hal Hartley is a talented and unconventional director... and one whom most Americans have never heard of. Henry Fool is one of Hartley's quirky pictures with an astoundingly strange range of characters. Unfortunately the film's storytelling drags its feet a little bit to the detrimental of the overall quality and watchability of the picture. There are sufficient twists and turns in this film and in the lives of its characters, particularly the title character and Simon, to make it worthwhile and interesting. This is, however, not Hartley's best. Parker Posey is her usual, satisfying self as Simon's sister. The cast is comprised of relative nobodies (people we have seen perhaps but cannot remember their names) and this serves the film well. You don't go into it with any expectations and leave surprised because of some of the hideous and sometimes outrageous and grotesque occurrences. You will just have to see it to believe it. This is a thoroughly quirky and surprising film. | 988 | [
"Hal Hartley is a talented and unconventional director... and one whom most Americans have never heard of.",
"Henry Fool is one of Hartley's quirky pictures with an astoundingly strange range of characters.",
"Unfortunately the film's storytelling drags its feet a little bit to the detrimental of the overall quality and watchability of the picture.",
"There are sufficient twists and turns in this film and in the lives of its characters, particularly the title character and Simon, to make it worthwhile and interesting.",
"This is, however, not Hartley's best.",
"Parker Posey is her usual, satisfying self as Simon's sister.",
"The cast is comprised of relative nobodies (people we have seen perhaps but cannot remember their names) and this serves the film well.",
"You don't go into it with any expectations and leave surprised because of some of the hideous and sometimes outrageous and grotesque occurrences.",
"You will just have to see it to believe it.",
"This is a thoroughly quirky and surprising film."
] |
3 | Good...but not great | Good? Yes. Enjoyable? Yes. Great? No.Set in a dreary, early pre-Christmas England, this movie about 'let's put on a play' I think will appeal mostly to those addicted to the theater, since it concerns the whys, wherefores, and how-tos about auditioning, casting, gathering together, surmounting difficulties, and, finally, putting on a play. The comedy, the drama, the personalities, and the pathos are all muted, in keeping with the colorless black and white film.I suppose this is what passes for typical British humor and drama. Yes, I liked the film; yes, I recommend it, but to be honest, I expected more.I'm a sucker for movies about making movies or plays, because I want to see the action behind the action. We get a little of this (the auditions ARE hilarious), but I didn't feel I got a really good insight into why a group of actors would traipse around rural England and put up with weeks of acting for nothing except room and board, what they could get in audience donations. | 988 | [
"Good?",
"Yes.",
"Enjoyable?",
"Yes.",
"Great?",
"No.Set in a dreary, early pre-Christmas England, this movie about 'let's put on a play' I think will appeal mostly to those addicted to the theater, since it concerns the whys, wherefores, and how-tos about auditioning, casting, gathering together, surmounting difficulties, and, finally, putting on a play.",
"The comedy, the drama, the personalities, and the pathos are all muted, in keeping with the colorless black and white film.I suppose this is what passes for typical British humor and drama.",
"Yes, I liked the film; yes, I recommend it, but to be honest, I expected more.I'm a sucker for movies about making movies or plays, because I want to see the action behind the action.",
"We get a little of this (the auditions ARE hilarious), but I didn't feel I got a really good insight into why a group of actors would traipse around rural England and put up with weeks of acting for nothing except room and board, what they could get in audience donations."
] |
3 | A little dry | This is an ambitious book, taking the theme of six degrees of separation, that we are all (at least in a big city like London) linked to eachother through strangers. It also attempts to show how several contemporary London characters are linked to history and to other cultures.Don't get me wrong, Ms Stevenson can write crisp dialogue and does excellent characterizations. But (I read on the cover blurb) she is an academic and boy does it show. Couldn't she think of anything less dry than some mind bogglingly dull plot about a fight for the land rights of an old church? All the legal stuff is gone into in great detail and she spends many pages describing the history of every house, tower and square of pavement in the story. Sorry, but having an excellent knowledge of history does not make a city come alive and I wonder why she put this extraneous detail in.So I skim read most of it ... I await her next book, because she is a talented writer. If only she could loosen up a bit. | 988 | [
"This is an ambitious book, taking the theme of six degrees of separation, that we are all (at least in a big city like London) linked to eachother through strangers.",
"It also attempts to show how several contemporary London characters are linked to history and to other cultures.Don't get me wrong, Ms Stevenson can write crisp dialogue and does excellent characterizations.",
"But (I read on the cover blurb) she is an academic and boy does it show.",
"Couldn't she think of anything less dry than some mind bogglingly dull plot about a fight for the land rights of an old church?",
"All the legal stuff is gone into in great detail and she spends many pages describing the history of every house, tower and square of pavement in the story.",
"Sorry, but having an excellent knowledge of history does not make a city come alive and I wonder why she put this extraneous detail in.So I skim read most of it ... I await her next book, because she is a talented writer.",
"If only she could loosen up a bit."
] |
3 | As good as it can GET! | This is IT! The Blues left the Delta,went to Chicago and became something different(but better!)It came back to the Delta but got off ONE station short of Clarksdale! The combination of Delta influences,Chicago influences AND the eerie influence of the North Mississippi Hill country Blues is an unbeatable combination! This is like a GREAT mixture of Marvin Pontiac,Muddy Waters and a super player like Buddy Guy!.The best of ALL three worlds!I don't think there is a category for this kind of music at the Grammys,but,they better come up with one! I haven't been this excited about a new recording since"Electric Mud"(Muddy's First Electric Album!). I know that dates me,but,I'm serious.This is some great stuff and if you think you have ever heard something like this before,please let me know where I can find it! If you like Buddy Guy,Delta Blues,Chicago blues OR Marvin Pontiac,you had BETTER buy this CD! I will not profit from this review unless you enjoy the CD as much as I did! | 988 | [
"This is IT!",
"The Blues left the Delta,went to Chicago and became something different(but better!",
")It came back to the Delta but got off ONE station short of Clarksdale!",
"The combination of Delta influences,Chicago influences AND the eerie influence of the North Mississippi Hill country Blues is an unbeatable combination!",
"This is like a GREAT mixture of Marvin Pontiac,Muddy Waters and a super player like Buddy Guy!",
".The best of ALL three worlds!",
"I don't think there is a category for this kind of music at the Grammys,but,they better come up with one!",
"I haven't been this excited about a new recording since\"Electric Mud\"(Muddy's First Electric Album!",
").",
"I know that dates me,but,I'm serious.This is some great stuff and if you think you have ever heard something like this before,please let me know where I can find it!",
"If you like Buddy Guy,Delta Blues,Chicago blues OR Marvin Pontiac,you had BETTER buy this CD!",
"I will not profit from this review unless you enjoy the CD as much as I did!"
] |
3 | Barry's back-again | 1983 Barry was back with Bond, he din't to the score to For Your Eyes Only. I must begin saying that I have the original soundtrack, so i have never hurd songs nr. 3. 6. and 9., which are bonus on the CD. This soundtrack is good. Real good. When you listen to it, it reminds you about Barry's work for "From Russia With Love". In those two soundtracks you have many dark and mystery tunes, which work splendide. In this album you also have a very good action-theme, which you hear for the first time on Track nr. 2: "009 gets the knife and Gobinda attacks". The theme returns in two more songs, "Yo-Yo fight and death of Vijay" and "Palace Fight". Good soft songs are Track nr. 8. "Bond at Monsoon Palace" and track nr. 10 "Bond meets Octopussy". In Track nr. 13. works Barry very good with his action-theme together with James Bond Theme. The three best songs: Track nr. 2 "Bond look-alike" Track nr. 12 "The chase bomb theme" and Track nr. 13. "Palace Fight". A traditional Barry score! | 988 | [
"1983 Barry was back with Bond, he din't to the score to For Your Eyes Only.",
"I must begin saying that I have the original soundtrack, so i have never hurd songs nr.",
"3.",
"6.",
"and 9., which are bonus on the CD.",
"This soundtrack is good.",
"Real good.",
"When you listen to it, it reminds you about Barry's work for \"From Russia With Love\".",
"In those two soundtracks you have many dark and mystery tunes, which work splendide.",
"In this album you also have a very good action-theme, which you hear for the first time on Track nr.",
"2: \"009 gets the knife and Gobinda attacks\".",
"The theme returns in two more songs, \"Yo-Yo fight and death of Vijay\" and \"Palace Fight\".",
"Good soft songs are Track nr.",
"8.",
"\"Bond at Monsoon Palace\" and track nr.",
"10 \"Bond meets Octopussy\".",
"In Track nr.",
"13.",
"works Barry very good with his action-theme together with James Bond Theme.",
"The three best songs: Track nr.",
"2 \"Bond look-alike\" Track nr.",
"12 \"The chase bomb theme\" and Track nr.",
"13.",
"\"Palace Fight\".",
"A traditional Barry score!"
] |
3 | so so | FLAW? Why didn't Joseph Antonelli stop them from committing Elliott Winston to an insane asylum when he was charged with Antonelli's attempted murder? Wasn't he called as a witness? Didn't he have any say so as to whether Winston would be charged or not? Couldn't he have refused to press charges? Or am I wrong?Why didn't he do anything to help his good friend Winston? I mean Antonelli hired Winston cuz he thought he was the best young lawyer going and as the years go by comes to really like this kid. Yet stands by and does nothing when Winston needs him. He doesn't even visit him in the asylum for 12 yrs. Doesn't make any sense to me. What kind of a friend is that? Doesn't make the character of Antonelli very appealing.I've read a couple of Buffas's Joseph Antonelli books and have yet to really feel/know any of the characters. For such a successful lawyer he doesn't seem to have his act together, do any serious investigating etc. . He just seems to stumble onto information. | 988 | [
"FLAW?",
"Why didn't Joseph Antonelli stop them from committing Elliott Winston to an insane asylum when he was charged with Antonelli's attempted murder?",
"Wasn't he called as a witness?",
"Didn't he have any say so as to whether Winston would be charged or not?",
"Couldn't he have refused to press charges?",
"Or am I wrong?",
"Why didn't he do anything to help his good friend Winston?",
"I mean Antonelli hired Winston cuz he thought he was the best young lawyer going and as the years go by comes to really like this kid.",
"Yet stands by and does nothing when Winston needs him.",
"He doesn't even visit him in the asylum for 12 yrs.",
"Doesn't make any sense to me.",
"What kind of a friend is that?",
"Doesn't make the character of Antonelli very appealing.I've read a couple of Buffas's Joseph Antonelli books and have yet to really feel/know any of the characters.",
"For such a successful lawyer he doesn't seem to have his act together, do any serious investigating etc.",
".",
"He just seems to stumble onto information."
] |
3 | On second thought... | I am actually going to revise my earlier review a bit, as I recently screened this documentary again, after doing more research on the topic. My earlier comments remain mostly valid, but I need to add a few more concerns. As another reviewer noted, the narrative of the documentary sometimes presents speculative conclusions as verified fact. Granted, the conclusions are based on some evidence, but that evidence is not always so reliable as the documentary would suggest. The annoying phrases "most historians agree" or "most historians now accept" are misleading. Historians always argue and almost never agree...especially on a topic so controversial. I guess the idea was to make the documentary seem authoritative. Watch the documentary, but don't accept everything presented without finding out more about the Alamo. I've been reading about the Alamo for over 40 years now, and the more I learn the more I am convinced that there is still much solid research that needs to be done. | 988 | [
"I am actually going to revise my earlier review a bit, as I recently screened this documentary again, after doing more research on the topic.",
"My earlier comments remain mostly valid, but I need to add a few more concerns.",
"As another reviewer noted, the narrative of the documentary sometimes presents speculative conclusions as verified fact.",
"Granted, the conclusions are based on some evidence, but that evidence is not always so reliable as the documentary would suggest.",
"The annoying phrases \"most historians agree\" or \"most historians now accept\" are misleading.",
"Historians always argue and almost never agree...especially on a topic so controversial.",
"I guess the idea was to make the documentary seem authoritative.",
"Watch the documentary, but don't accept everything presented without finding out more about the Alamo.",
"I've been reading about the Alamo for over 40 years now, and the more I learn the more I am convinced that there is still much solid research that needs to be done."
] |
3 | Useful, But Narrow | A book such as this is somewhat valuable, but I was disappointed by the narrowness of the people included. It's as if only Leftists in universities had any experience of the Cold War, and since we know this to be false, why not call this book "Leftist Academics and The Cold War University" or something? What about the old guys reading Latin texts in their offices who thought the world was going mad? What about old-fashioned Liberals who were profoundly ambivilent towards both the American Right and the Stalinist (and post-Stalinist)American Left? The editor was more interested, I suppose, in gathering lefty celebs with high name recognition than he was in getting a ground level view, and that mention of Studs Terkel in the above editorial comments made me yearn for some of Terkel's interest in the folks who are usually overlooked in the rush to sign up the people who've already had their say. Until a good oral history of that sort comes around, I guess this will have to do. | 988 | [
"A book such as this is somewhat valuable, but I was disappointed by the narrowness of the people included.",
"It's as if only Leftists in universities had any experience of the Cold War, and since we know this to be false, why not call this book \"Leftist Academics and The Cold War University\" or something?",
"What about the old guys reading Latin texts in their offices who thought the world was going mad?",
"What about old-fashioned Liberals who were profoundly ambivilent towards both the American Right and the Stalinist (and post-Stalinist)American Left?",
"The editor was more interested, I suppose, in gathering lefty celebs with high name recognition than he was in getting a ground level view, and that mention of Studs Terkel in the above editorial comments made me yearn for some of Terkel's interest in the folks who are usually overlooked in the rush to sign up the people who've already had their say.",
"Until a good oral history of that sort comes around, I guess this will have to do."
] |
3 | A question, please? | Admired this book. Enjoyed it. But why does the author assume Mary is from Magdala? This bothers me. If in all her obvious research, she's found proof of Mary having anything at all to do with the little town of Magdala I'd like to know what that is. Magdala might not even have been the name of the town at the time. Magdala comes from a root word meaning tower. The name Magdalene, with its obvious reference to a tower, could have come from any number of sources. The one that springs to my mind is Magdal-eder, She of the Temple Tower...which would connect rather well to a sect around at the time led by a Mariamne, called "priest." To decide Mary was born in a small Galilean fishing village called Magdala is, well, to be blunt, sloppy scholarship. Not that it might not be true, but that it's so much accepted as true by Ms. King, she uses it in her title, thus making it appear true. This makes all the rest of her work somewhat suspect to me. So I had to settle for three stars. | 988 | [
"Admired this book.",
"Enjoyed it.",
"But why does the author assume Mary is from Magdala?",
"This bothers me.",
"If in all her obvious research, she's found proof of Mary having anything at all to do with the little town of Magdala I'd like to know what that is.",
"Magdala might not even have been the name of the town at the time.",
"Magdala comes from a root word meaning tower.",
"The name Magdalene, with its obvious reference to a tower, could have come from any number of sources.",
"The one that springs to my mind is Magdal-eder, She of the Temple Tower...which would connect rather well to a sect around at the time led by a Mariamne, called \"priest.\" To decide Mary was born in a small Galilean fishing village called Magdala is, well, to be blunt, sloppy scholarship.",
"Not that it might not be true, but that it's so much accepted as true by Ms.",
"King, she uses it in her title, thus making it appear true.",
"This makes all the rest of her work somewhat suspect to me.",
"So I had to settle for three stars."
] |
3 | Sorry to dissent, but... | Adventure fiction written anywhere from 1890 to 1944 is a favorite of mine. I DO love Rohmer, Howard and Burroughs and am constantly on the lookout for a new author. When a little bit of research led me to Talbot Mundy (and a little more research led me to Khyber Rifles) I was excited. I got over it. While the plot and story are passable, almost nothing happens. The entire novel is an exercise in "what happens next?" while nothing happens next.My other complaint is in the character development. While the author creates many memorable characters throughout the book, Athelstan King, the principle character, isn't one of them. For the most part Mundy never really lets us "see" who King is. He tells us. Every other page has a paragraph telling us how witty he is or noble he is. I'd rather infer through his actions, personally.On the plus side, Mundy truly creates the look and feel of India. If that is enough, you will enjoy this book. If you are expecting Haggard, you will not. | 988 | [
"Adventure fiction written anywhere from 1890 to 1944 is a favorite of mine.",
"I DO love Rohmer, Howard and Burroughs and am constantly on the lookout for a new author.",
"When a little bit of research led me to Talbot Mundy (and a little more research led me to Khyber Rifles) I was excited.",
"I got over it.",
"While the plot and story are passable, almost nothing happens.",
"The entire novel is an exercise in \"what happens next?",
"\" while nothing happens next.My other complaint is in the character development.",
"While the author creates many memorable characters throughout the book, Athelstan King, the principle character, isn't one of them.",
"For the most part Mundy never really lets us \"see\" who King is.",
"He tells us.",
"Every other page has a paragraph telling us how witty he is or noble he is.",
"I'd rather infer through his actions, personally.On the plus side, Mundy truly creates the look and feel of India.",
"If that is enough, you will enjoy this book.",
"If you are expecting Haggard, you will not."
] |
3 | Least they don't sparkle. | This movie is pretty fast paced, if you blink for too long, you can miss quite a lot. I am part of the MTV generation, so faster pace does keep me more interesting in a film, but this one I felt could have been slowed down a little bit. Not just that, but you go from Abe's childhood, to a young man to him being president very quickly, and it feels like something has been missed out on in-between... maybe someday a director cut will come out that gives the pace of the film a reasonable flow, but I felt this one just goes a bit too fast. The beginning and middle I didn't enjoy that much, but the final action scenes where done nice enough to keep me away from twiddling my thumbs and just enjoy the excitement.I don't have to explain the plot to you do I? I'm sure you know who its about and what he does.Overall, I'd say rent it before making any decision to purchase your own copy. For me, it's not one I would watch again for a while, but it was good for one nights entertainment. | 988 | [
"This movie is pretty fast paced, if you blink for too long, you can miss quite a lot.",
"I am part of the MTV generation, so faster pace does keep me more interesting in a film, but this one I felt could have been slowed down a little bit.",
"Not just that, but you go from Abe's childhood, to a young man to him being president very quickly, and it feels like something has been missed out on in-between... maybe someday a director cut will come out that gives the pace of the film a reasonable flow, but I felt this one just goes a bit too fast.",
"The beginning and middle I didn't enjoy that much, but the final action scenes where done nice enough to keep me away from twiddling my thumbs and just enjoy the excitement.I don't have to explain the plot to you do I?",
"I'm sure you know who its about and what he does.Overall, I'd say rent it before making any decision to purchase your own copy.",
"For me, it's not one I would watch again for a while, but it was good for one nights entertainment."
] |
3 | Flat !! | There is only one word that comes to mind when reviewing this movie........... FLAT !It's not funny, not scary, not action packed, not a drama.... I don't know what they were aiming for here.I wanted to love this movie because I am a Haunted Mansion fanatic... I own every souvenier, sound effects album, copy of blueprints, etc.... available on the Haunted Mansion attraction and it's history.Regarding the movie, it was nice to see them use Walt's original idea for the architecture and the original 1950's Gracey mansion legend.Maybe only die-hard Doombuggy fans picked up on this dedication trivia.... BUT... the movie just did not come together in a successful way like Pirates did last year.It is probably still good family entertainment for 90 minutes or so... but nothing that will leave a lasting memory or impression.It felt like a movie "made by committee" where so many different people's input collided in such a way the movie just plodded along with no real life or "spark". | 988 | [
"There is only one word that comes to mind when reviewing this movie........... FLAT!",
"It's not funny, not scary, not action packed, not a drama.... I don't know what they were aiming for here.I wanted to love this movie because I am a Haunted Mansion fanatic... I own every souvenier, sound effects album, copy of blueprints, etc.... available on the Haunted Mansion attraction and it's history.Regarding the movie, it was nice to see them use Walt's original idea for the architecture and the original 1950's Gracey mansion legend.Maybe only die-hard Doombuggy fans picked up on this dedication trivia.... BUT... the movie just did not come together in a successful way like Pirates did last year.It is probably still good family entertainment for 90 minutes or so... but nothing that will leave a lasting memory or impression.It felt like a movie \"made by committee\" where so many different people's input collided in such a way the movie just plodded along with no real life or \"spark\"."
] |
3 | Ry, oh ry! | oh WHY did you do this? Who flies all the way to cuba, tracks down some great musicians, makes a fantastic documentary about cuban music, then plays incongruous guitar parts all over their work on the soundtrack album?Chan Chan is a wonderful piece of music, well rendered, with a bizarra addition of a blues slide guitar on it... oo I wonder WHO could've been the culprit. Whoever that guitarist is, he musta been friendly with the producer to get THAT onto the track...Track 2 I thought had escaped his attention until on the second listen I hear tuneless twanging of the parts of the guitar strings the wrong side of the neck or nut. Clearly TRYing to sound like a cowbell, and doing a reasonable job. They sound a lot like a cowbell being played by someone who's not played a cowbell much before. Even more, they sound like a pasty white guy trying to get in on the party with these consummate cubanos.Gah. That's enough for now. I'm off to listen to some nuyoricanmambo to cool down. | 988 | [
"oh WHY did you do this?",
"Who flies all the way to cuba, tracks down some great musicians, makes a fantastic documentary about cuban music, then plays incongruous guitar parts all over their work on the soundtrack album?",
"Chan Chan is a wonderful piece of music, well rendered, with a bizarra addition of a blues slide guitar on it... oo I wonder WHO could've been the culprit.",
"Whoever that guitarist is, he musta been friendly with the producer to get THAT onto the track...Track 2 I thought had escaped his attention until on the second listen I hear tuneless twanging of the parts of the guitar strings the wrong side of the neck or nut.",
"Clearly TRYing to sound like a cowbell, and doing a reasonable job.",
"They sound a lot like a cowbell being played by someone who's not played a cowbell much before.",
"Even more, they sound like a pasty white guy trying to get in on the party with these consummate cubanos.Gah.",
"That's enough for now.",
"I'm off to listen to some nuyoricanmambo to cool down."
] |
3 | Don't Believe The Hype | This is an excellent album for a solo debut, regardless of genre, but I gave it only 3 stars for a specific reason. A lot has been made of Mos Def singing and playing instruments on his album. I enjoyed "Umi Says" until I saw him perform it on Conan O'Brien. It was the worst vocal performance I've ever heard off of television. Moby has a better singing voice. Anyways, the first three tracks, plus "Mr. Nigga" and "Numbers" are some the best hip hop tracks I've ever heard, but a lot of the rest of the album gets soft-pedaled by uninteresting beats, and I don't really care if he did play some instruments. He's benefiting from an absurd double standard that applies to hip hop 'musicians'. He can say what he wants about the Rolling Stones, but at least they could play their instruments well. On a final note, that closing instrumental isn't hip hop, it's muzak. I wouldn't give this album such a harsh review, but his criticisms of other artists begs a closer look at his own music. | 988 | [
"This is an excellent album for a solo debut, regardless of genre, but I gave it only 3 stars for a specific reason.",
"A lot has been made of Mos Def singing and playing instruments on his album.",
"I enjoyed \"Umi Says\" until I saw him perform it on Conan O'Brien.",
"It was the worst vocal performance I've ever heard off of television.",
"Moby has a better singing voice.",
"Anyways, the first three tracks, plus \"Mr.",
"Nigga\" and \"Numbers\" are some the best hip hop tracks I've ever heard, but a lot of the rest of the album gets soft-pedaled by uninteresting beats, and I don't really care if he did play some instruments.",
"He's benefiting from an absurd double standard that applies to hip hop 'musicians'.",
"He can say what he wants about the Rolling Stones, but at least they could play their instruments well.",
"On a final note, that closing instrumental isn't hip hop, it's muzak.",
"I wouldn't give this album such a harsh review, but his criticisms of other artists begs a closer look at his own music."
] |
3 | PRETTY STANDARD FARE | THE ROOKIE might have been better had it been about twenty minutes shorter. Director and star Clint Eastwood who usually keeps his action movies a little livelier allows the story to slow down with inexplicably unnecessary scenes and an extended climax that become tedious rather than exhilarating. Charlie Sheen does a decent job as the titular rookie, whose guilt over the death of his brother handicaps his performance as a cop. Lara Flynn Boyle does well with an underdeveloped role as Sheen's live-in girlfriend. Raul Julia and Sonia Braga are horribly miscast as Germans (?) but admittedly Braga is a seminally effective bitch villainess whose "rape" of Eastwood is something one doesn't expect from Dirty Harry. The trivia for the movie boasts that the movie had twice as many stuntmen as actors and one can see why---there are a lot of high fallutin action sequences but they don't come often enough to save the movie's otherwise tepid pacing. Not one of Eastwood's finer moments. | 988 | [
"THE ROOKIE might have been better had it been about twenty minutes shorter.",
"Director and star Clint Eastwood who usually keeps his action movies a little livelier allows the story to slow down with inexplicably unnecessary scenes and an extended climax that become tedious rather than exhilarating.",
"Charlie Sheen does a decent job as the titular rookie, whose guilt over the death of his brother handicaps his performance as a cop.",
"Lara Flynn Boyle does well with an underdeveloped role as Sheen's live-in girlfriend.",
"Raul Julia and Sonia Braga are horribly miscast as Germans (?",
") but admittedly Braga is a seminally effective bitch villainess whose \"rape\" of Eastwood is something one doesn't expect from Dirty Harry.",
"The trivia for the movie boasts that the movie had twice as many stuntmen as actors and one can see why---there are a lot of high fallutin action sequences but they don't come often enough to save the movie's otherwise tepid pacing.",
"Not one of Eastwood's finer moments."
] |
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