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3 | Nothing Special | The only reason I picked up this game was because of the $19.99 price tag and the need for some hack 'n slash before God of War 3 (and chains of Olympus) comes out. Beowulf is not a bad game, but it's certainly not a very innovative title. The graphics are on par with a good PS2 game. Some of the controls are a little awkward. Learning the combos is easy (pretty simple button mashing). Beowulf is capable of fighting with "carnal fury", which is a state where he becomes very powerful and can inflict intense damage for a period of time. He can also give commands to his Thanes (army of buddies). The games uses contextual button presses during boss battles and certain sequences. That can be a little frustrating at times. If you don't time your button presses just right, you either die or have to start over. It seems to me that Ubisoft tried to rush this game out to coincide with the release of the film, and it shows. It needs more polish, but what do you expect for $19.99? | 983 | [
"The only reason I picked up this game was because of the $19.99 price tag and the need for some hack 'n slash before God of War 3 (and chains of Olympus) comes out.",
"Beowulf is not a bad game, but it's certainly not a very innovative title.",
"The graphics are on par with a good PS2 game.",
"Some of the controls are a little awkward.",
"Learning the combos is easy (pretty simple button mashing).",
"Beowulf is capable of fighting with \"carnal fury\", which is a state where he becomes very powerful and can inflict intense damage for a period of time.",
"He can also give commands to his Thanes (army of buddies).",
"The games uses contextual button presses during boss battles and certain sequences.",
"That can be a little frustrating at times.",
"If you don't time your button presses just right, you either die or have to start over.",
"It seems to me that Ubisoft tried to rush this game out to coincide with the release of the film, and it shows.",
"It needs more polish, but what do you expect for $19.99?"
] |
3 | Nice try, but ... | Mike de Wolf somehow falls down the rabbit hole and becomes a character in abook by a hack author. Unfortunately, the character is a nasty villain, quite unlikeMike in Real Life. A not-too-interesting premise, but Hubbard comes up with a cute twist.You see, Mike, playing cruel Miguel de Lobo in the pulp novel, fights against the cruel straitjacket of fate that is the plot of the book being written. Not just fighting for his life, but also struggling to break out of type by trying to be an enlightened mid-20th-century man and treating his fellow characters with fairness and consideration. Not wanting to rape and pillage as the Typewriter in the Sky demands!Hubbard probably didn't have this in mind, but it certainly has broader implications, such as whether we readers, Characters in Real Life, can break outof the mold and become better persons than Fate has shaped us to be. Elron Hubbardcertainly tried -- not content to be a lowly pulp writer he founded his own religion. | 983 | [
"Mike de Wolf somehow falls down the rabbit hole and becomes a character in abook by a hack author.",
"Unfortunately, the character is a nasty villain, quite unlikeMike in Real Life.",
"A not-too-interesting premise, but Hubbard comes up with a cute twist.You see, Mike, playing cruel Miguel de Lobo in the pulp novel, fights against the cruel straitjacket of fate that is the plot of the book being written.",
"Not just fighting for his life, but also struggling to break out of type by trying to be an enlightened mid-20th-century man and treating his fellow characters with fairness and consideration.",
"Not wanting to rape and pillage as the Typewriter in the Sky demands!",
"Hubbard probably didn't have this in mind, but it certainly has broader implications, such as whether we readers, Characters in Real Life, can break outof the mold and become better persons than Fate has shaped us to be.",
"Elron Hubbardcertainly tried -- not content to be a lowly pulp writer he founded his own religion."
] |
3 | Too Expensive For What It Is | I used to listen to this story as a child, and have very fond memories of it -- I remember being confused the first couple of times I listen to it because I thought it must have something to do with "the boy who cried wolf," after all there was a boy and a wolf! I had probably come across that story not long before this one. This is a decent version, though the sales pitch at the end is disconcerting, and blares out soon after the story ends. I could enjoy a different telling and would have, except I thought that there would be some booklet wih this since that's what it looks like, right? The CD is packaged with a styrofoam sheet to make the package look more bulky, like maybe a booklet comes with it or something! Don't be fooled. There's nothing to this but the classic recorded short story, the box, and some styrofoam. And while it is the very one I listened to as a child, so it has a bit of nostalgia connected to it for me, it really is too much money for what it is. | 983 | [
"I used to listen to this story as a child, and have very fond memories of it -- I remember being confused the first couple of times I listen to it because I thought it must have something to do with \"the boy who cried wolf,\" after all there was a boy and a wolf!",
"I had probably come across that story not long before this one.",
"This is a decent version, though the sales pitch at the end is disconcerting, and blares out soon after the story ends.",
"I could enjoy a different telling and would have, except I thought that there would be some booklet wih this since that's what it looks like, right?",
"The CD is packaged with a styrofoam sheet to make the package look more bulky, like maybe a booklet comes with it or something!",
"Don't be fooled.",
"There's nothing to this but the classic recorded short story, the box, and some styrofoam.",
"And while it is the very one I listened to as a child, so it has a bit of nostalgia connected to it for me, it really is too much money for what it is."
] |
3 | Can't really chat on it | I had a Motorola H700 before, and Jabra BT8010. I loved the Motorola, but I lost it, then I got the Jabra, it doesn't sit as nicely on my ear, always struggle to put it on and drop it easily. So I decided to get T305, to avoid the whole problem of trying to dangle something on my ear.Because of where it's mounted, on the visor, the mic on the device is actually quite far away from your mouth, so the other person on the phone can't really hear you very well. I'm a short person, which makes it even worst. With a little bit of practice, I can now use the voice dial with out problem. I can hear the other person very clearly, but they can't hear my very well. If the person on the phone knows you are using this device, and has the patient, this can work in a pinch. But don't expect to carry a normal conversation with it.I used to be able to talk with my Motorola T710, and the other person wouldn't even notice that I was using a hands free. Maybe I will get another one again. | 983 | [
"I had a Motorola H700 before, and Jabra BT8010.",
"I loved the Motorola, but I lost it, then I got the Jabra, it doesn't sit as nicely on my ear, always struggle to put it on and drop it easily.",
"So I decided to get T305, to avoid the whole problem of trying to dangle something on my ear.Because of where it's mounted, on the visor, the mic on the device is actually quite far away from your mouth, so the other person on the phone can't really hear you very well.",
"I'm a short person, which makes it even worst.",
"With a little bit of practice, I can now use the voice dial with out problem.",
"I can hear the other person very clearly, but they can't hear my very well.",
"If the person on the phone knows you are using this device, and has the patient, this can work in a pinch.",
"But don't expect to carry a normal conversation with it.I used to be able to talk with my Motorola T710, and the other person wouldn't even notice that I was using a hands free.",
"Maybe I will get another one again."
] |
3 | Make them Self-Inking | I love the fact that these stamps have a handle, as so many wooden stamps do not. However, it would be much better if they were also self-inking. I bought this set after searching high and low for "fun" self-inking stamps for the office (the standard red inked "Entered" was beyond boring), and the excitement was palpable when I ran across this set. Once the set was received, the excitement wore down quite rapidly as the ink pad that is shown in the picture, was dry as a bone, and a trip to the store was needed in order to use the stamps.I don't know why "fun" self-inking stamps have gone out of fashion, to be replaced by the bulky square wooden, and all the awkward wooden stamps. If versatility of ink color is an issue, rather than a child's-watercolor-set of ink pads, have a strip of individually packaged cartridge-ink-pads!!This is just my opinion, I could be wrong.......but I bought two of these sets, and both ink-pad-strips were completely dry and a waste of money. | 983 | [
"I love the fact that these stamps have a handle, as so many wooden stamps do not.",
"However, it would be much better if they were also self-inking.",
"I bought this set after searching high and low for \"fun\" self-inking stamps for the office (the standard red inked \"Entered\" was beyond boring), and the excitement was palpable when I ran across this set.",
"Once the set was received, the excitement wore down quite rapidly as the ink pad that is shown in the picture, was dry as a bone, and a trip to the store was needed in order to use the stamps.I don't know why \"fun\" self-inking stamps have gone out of fashion, to be replaced by the bulky square wooden, and all the awkward wooden stamps.",
"If versatility of ink color is an issue, rather than a child's-watercolor-set of ink pads, have a strip of individually packaged cartridge-ink-pads!!",
"This is just my opinion, I could be wrong.......but I bought two of these sets, and both ink-pad-strips were completely dry and a waste of money."
] |
3 | Step Forward and Step Back | However, Alanna takes a step back from the subject. The book is written by a journalist - and it feels like it. The book could have been so much more with more soul, feeling, emotion, and conviction dripping from the words. The final chapter makes an attempt at this. I get the feeling that the book was edited so that it would not offend anyone.It doesn't. But this is a book with a subject that should attempt to make some waves. Perhaps, if the reader already has a connection with Darwin or with some of the locations described in the book, there would be more of an impact.For me, I think the book only lightly touched the more important journey. From I can gather, the writer was recently divorced and on a journey to heal herself. The title of the book "Dancing at the Dead Sea" described an enchanting inspired moment at the Dead Sea. Later, Alanna dipped into piranha-infested waters to cool down - facing one of her grandest fears and conquering to the melodies of "pings". | 983 | [
"However, Alanna takes a step back from the subject.",
"The book is written by a journalist - and it feels like it.",
"The book could have been so much more with more soul, feeling, emotion, and conviction dripping from the words.",
"The final chapter makes an attempt at this.",
"I get the feeling that the book was edited so that it would not offend anyone.It doesn't.",
"But this is a book with a subject that should attempt to make some waves.",
"Perhaps, if the reader already has a connection with Darwin or with some of the locations described in the book, there would be more of an impact.For me, I think the book only lightly touched the more important journey.",
"From I can gather, the writer was recently divorced and on a journey to heal herself.",
"The title of the book \"Dancing at the Dead Sea\" described an enchanting inspired moment at the Dead Sea.",
"Later, Alanna dipped into piranha-infested waters to cool down - facing one of her grandest fears and conquering to the melodies of \"pings\"."
] |
3 | Buyer beware | Like most avid sim fans. I eagerly awaited this release. Strong word of caution. My own stupidity for not realizing this, but this game is not available in CD-ROM. So if you pc does not have a DVD drive, you are out of luck. I purchased mine at Walmart, because the description on what was required stated CD-ROM drive. Sure the box clearly states DVD, and I should have caught that, but I just could not bring myself to think that the genuises at Microsoft assumed everyone has a DVD drive in their pc right. Anyway, the catch 22 is that once you open the software, the retailer will not take it back, so your are stuck with a useless $50.00 game you can not use. To be fair, I did finally find a number at Microsoft to call for product returns and got an authorization to return it and in about a month I might get my money back. Buyer beware, don't be as dumb as me. If you only have a CD drive, you are out of luck on this game, Microsoft don't think you are worth their trouble. | 983 | [
"Like most avid sim fans.",
"I eagerly awaited this release.",
"Strong word of caution.",
"My own stupidity for not realizing this, but this game is not available in CD-ROM.",
"So if you pc does not have a DVD drive, you are out of luck.",
"I purchased mine at Walmart, because the description on what was required stated CD-ROM drive.",
"Sure the box clearly states DVD, and I should have caught that, but I just could not bring myself to think that the genuises at Microsoft assumed everyone has a DVD drive in their pc right.",
"Anyway, the catch 22 is that once you open the software, the retailer will not take it back, so your are stuck with a useless $50.00 game you can not use.",
"To be fair, I did finally find a number at Microsoft to call for product returns and got an authorization to return it and in about a month I might get my money back.",
"Buyer beware, don't be as dumb as me.",
"If you only have a CD drive, you are out of luck on this game, Microsoft don't think you are worth their trouble."
] |
3 | Better blower than a vac | Prior to this, I had the B&D; blower/vac that I bought locally. After about 2 years, it just sort of fell apart. I bought the Toro because of the metal impeller. As a vac, I liked the B&D; model better. The Toro doesn't do much to grind up the leaves - important IMHO for more rapid composting. Also, the suction tube narrows about half way up. Leaves tend to plug there. After about four uses, the connection between the bag and the bag attachment is leaking bits of leaves and dust.On the other hand, the blower function is great. It move lots and lots of air. The variable speed control is handy. I wasn't expecting to use the blower feature at all, but have found it quite helpful.All said and done, for my purposes, I'd buy the B&D; again. It's less money and does a better job of reducing leaves. However, if you're looking for a blower, this seems to be a good one. If you don't need a lot of reduction, the metal impeller has sucked a lot of leaves without any signs of wear. | 983 | [
"Prior to this, I had the B&D; blower/vac that I bought locally.",
"After about 2 years, it just sort of fell apart.",
"I bought the Toro because of the metal impeller.",
"As a vac, I liked the B&D; model better.",
"The Toro doesn't do much to grind up the leaves - important IMHO for more rapid composting.",
"Also, the suction tube narrows about half way up.",
"Leaves tend to plug there.",
"After about four uses, the connection between the bag and the bag attachment is leaking bits of leaves and dust.On the other hand, the blower function is great.",
"It move lots and lots of air.",
"The variable speed control is handy.",
"I wasn't expecting to use the blower feature at all, but have found it quite helpful.All said and done, for my purposes, I'd buy the B&D; again.",
"It's less money and does a better job of reducing leaves.",
"However, if you're looking for a blower, this seems to be a good one.",
"If you don't need a lot of reduction, the metal impeller has sucked a lot of leaves without any signs of wear."
] |
3 | whoa, out there.... | this cd truly defines phish as the ultimate cult band gone popular. while this cd came out several years before they made it big, it has the most phishy smell of any of their studio releases to date. speaking truthfully, you will either love this album with all your heart or hate it with such a passion you will smash it to pieces. the songs are all amazing, precise, and as original as rock based music can be. the lyrics are so quirky that you will find yourself having strange dreams for weeks to come after listening to this. while certainly not phish's most easy listening, or radio friendly cd (i realize they are as far from radio friendly as could be), this may be their most defining one. to try to define musical influences on this cd would be like trying to look bassist mike gordon in the face and not laugh. definitely buy it....at worst you'll have something considered inferior to a weird al christmas album, at best you'll have the best cd in your entire collection. | 983 | [
"this cd truly defines phish as the ultimate cult band gone popular.",
"while this cd came out several years before they made it big, it has the most phishy smell of any of their studio releases to date.",
"speaking truthfully, you will either love this album with all your heart or hate it with such a passion you will smash it to pieces.",
"the songs are all amazing, precise, and as original as rock based music can be.",
"the lyrics are so quirky that you will find yourself having strange dreams for weeks to come after listening to this.",
"while certainly not phish's most easy listening, or radio friendly cd (i realize they are as far from radio friendly as could be), this may be their most defining one.",
"to try to define musical influences on this cd would be like trying to look bassist mike gordon in the face and not laugh.",
"definitely buy it....at worst you'll have something considered inferior to a weird al christmas album, at best you'll have the best cd in your entire collection."
] |
3 | Walk a Mile | District 9 was filmed using a handheld camera for the documentary part of the movie, which works, giving an authentic feel to the interview sequences. Then it switches to traditional filming. Pay close attention to the documentary section; otherwise, questions such as "why didn't the aliens...?" will distract from enjoying the movie. Also, keep in mind, that this movie was made on a low budget.PLOT - MAY BE CONSIDERED SPOILERS:The aliens of a stranded spaceship struggle to live among humans as they search for a way to go home. Native Earthlings, realizing the aliens have nowhere else to go, place them on a reservation called District 9. The Earthlings then repeat history by making irrational assumptions to uphold racist beliefs and justify their poor treatment of the newcomers.The film stops just short of making a grand political statement and allows some humor to offset the tone just enough to keep it entertaining. It also contains squeamish and violent bloody scenes. | 983 | [
"District 9 was filmed using a handheld camera for the documentary part of the movie, which works, giving an authentic feel to the interview sequences.",
"Then it switches to traditional filming.",
"Pay close attention to the documentary section; otherwise, questions such as \"why didn't the aliens...?\" will distract from enjoying the movie.",
"Also, keep in mind, that this movie was made on a low budget.PLOT - MAY BE CONSIDERED SPOILERS:The aliens of a stranded spaceship struggle to live among humans as they search for a way to go home.",
"Native Earthlings, realizing the aliens have nowhere else to go, place them on a reservation called District 9.",
"The Earthlings then repeat history by making irrational assumptions to uphold racist beliefs and justify their poor treatment of the newcomers.The film stops just short of making a grand political statement and allows some humor to offset the tone just enough to keep it entertaining.",
"It also contains squeamish and violent bloody scenes."
] |
3 | Miss Daniel Jackson! | Season Six and Season Ten were the worst seasons of Stargate SG-1. Not only did we miss out on Daniel Jackson (for the most part), having an "alien" like Jonas Quinn that was more American than the Russian team members in "Metamorphosis" was inexcusable. In that episode, by the way, the Russians pass through the Stargate and still speak Russian. (If the stargate programmed one's speech, or language, to match the worlds to which it was connected, it should have made the Russians perfectly easy to understand once they had passed through its event horizon.) But the Russians couldn't communicate with the world's inhabitants while the Americans could.The best episodes were the ones with guest appearances by Michael Shanks. Jonas pulled down the season, but it's still worth owning, even if one has to swallow an "American" alien.Dumb idea, but the show recovered and even survived the addition of the insufferable Ben Browder and Claudia Black, who, unlike Browder, grew on you. | 983 | [
"Season Six and Season Ten were the worst seasons of Stargate SG-1.",
"Not only did we miss out on Daniel Jackson (for the most part), having an \"alien\" like Jonas Quinn that was more American than the Russian team members in \"Metamorphosis\" was inexcusable.",
"In that episode, by the way, the Russians pass through the Stargate and still speak Russian.",
"(If the stargate programmed one's speech, or language, to match the worlds to which it was connected, it should have made the Russians perfectly easy to understand once they had passed through its event horizon.) But the Russians couldn't communicate with the world's inhabitants while the Americans could.The best episodes were the ones with guest appearances by Michael Shanks.",
"Jonas pulled down the season, but it's still worth owning, even if one has to swallow an \"American\" alien.Dumb idea, but the show recovered and even survived the addition of the insufferable Ben Browder and Claudia Black, who, unlike Browder, grew on you."
] |
3 | BoxWave Capacitive iPad Styra | The pen is well made and is a pleasure to use. However it's not very useful as a stylus. The touch screen of my HTC Touch HD2 Leo responds better to a finger, than to the stylus. I can't be sure if it's the deficiency of the stylus or the screen itself, but the fact remains...I've used a stylus for a long time. Getting to use a finger (and leaving smudges on the screen) took a lot of getting used to. There is no precision to the touch interface that I used to enjoy previously. You can't draw a staight line, for a example. You can't use a virtual keyboard with small keys (to keep a large part of the screen free). I was hoping that the stylus will improve on that...But no, the lack of precision remained and added to that are numerous screen 'misses' - when the screen fails to respond to the stylus all together.Whoever thinks that capacitive screens are an improvement on resistive ones has to have his head examined. Give me a resistive screen with a normal stylus any day! | 983 | [
"The pen is well made and is a pleasure to use.",
"However it's not very useful as a stylus.",
"The touch screen of my HTC Touch HD2 Leo responds better to a finger, than to the stylus.",
"I can't be sure if it's the deficiency of the stylus or the screen itself, but the fact remains...I've used a stylus for a long time.",
"Getting to use a finger (and leaving smudges on the screen) took a lot of getting used to.",
"There is no precision to the touch interface that I used to enjoy previously.",
"You can't draw a staight line, for a example.",
"You can't use a virtual keyboard with small keys (to keep a large part of the screen free).",
"I was hoping that the stylus will improve on that...But no, the lack of precision remained and added to that are numerous screen 'misses' - when the screen fails to respond to the stylus all together.Whoever thinks that capacitive screens are an improvement on resistive ones has to have his head examined.",
"Give me a resistive screen with a normal stylus any day!"
] |
3 | The secret of the ooze? | The turtles return in this action but yet comic movie return. While the story picks up where our heroes were pretty much left off, like where they're staying at and what lays ahead for our favorite reptiles. Though the story focuses on the story on how the turtles came about to their present state and the foot trying their best to get their hands on the last canister of the stuff better known as 'the ooze'. Although the foot got the ooze and created two new mutants known as 'Tokka' and 'Rahza' to tackle their enemies. One of my complaints with the movie is that there's no Casey Jones in the movie, and it don't feel the same without that nut making an appearence in the movie, though the movie I felt that it was still good even with the flaws that the movie has. My other complaint is that Shredder didn't get a proper death but I can't go about changing that. As for any extras, there aren't that many extras to go with in this release. Overall I give this 3 stars out of 5. | 983 | [
"The turtles return in this action but yet comic movie return.",
"While the story picks up where our heroes were pretty much left off, like where they're staying at and what lays ahead for our favorite reptiles.",
"Though the story focuses on the story on how the turtles came about to their present state and the foot trying their best to get their hands on the last canister of the stuff better known as 'the ooze'.",
"Although the foot got the ooze and created two new mutants known as 'Tokka' and 'Rahza' to tackle their enemies.",
"One of my complaints with the movie is that there's no Casey Jones in the movie, and it don't feel the same without that nut making an appearence in the movie, though the movie I felt that it was still good even with the flaws that the movie has.",
"My other complaint is that Shredder didn't get a proper death but I can't go about changing that.",
"As for any extras, there aren't that many extras to go with in this release.",
"Overall I give this 3 stars out of 5."
] |
3 | I Wish They Had Told Me... | Overall I enjoyed the book, but there is nothing on the cover or the anywhere else to let you know that it is one in a series. I was really ticked-off. I expected a conclusion to the various and interesting dilemas and storylines, and as the other reviewers have stated, the book has no ending! That is fine if the publisher makes it clear to the book buyers up-front (book 2 of a trilogy) or (book 9 of a series of 12) or whatever, but there was no indication at all that this book would not stand on its own, and I was very disappointed and even angry that I was not warned ahead of time. I don't mind series or trilogies, but I want to be told up front that is what I am buying.Two other observations 1) I knew as soon as they were married that Tachini (sp) was a goner (Kirk can never be married. The times he was in the original series, his wife and/or beloved died that very episode); and 2) If Tiberius had that many children, Kirk must have them also. Hmmm, makes you wonder. | 983 | [
"Overall I enjoyed the book, but there is nothing on the cover or the anywhere else to let you know that it is one in a series.",
"I was really ticked-off.",
"I expected a conclusion to the various and interesting dilemas and storylines, and as the other reviewers have stated, the book has no ending!",
"That is fine if the publisher makes it clear to the book buyers up-front (book 2 of a trilogy) or (book 9 of a series of 12) or whatever, but there was no indication at all that this book would not stand on its own, and I was very disappointed and even angry that I was not warned ahead of time.",
"I don't mind series or trilogies, but I want to be told up front that is what I am buying.Two other observations 1) I knew as soon as they were married that Tachini (sp) was a goner (Kirk can never be married.",
"The times he was in the original series, his wife and/or beloved died that very episode); and 2) If Tiberius had that many children, Kirk must have them also.",
"Hmmm, makes you wonder."
] |
3 | Rush in rio in a fishbowl | Ok, theres a guy on here with a review that says there are no 20k home theater setups. That 20k worth of audio wont fit in a living room. This is obviously the rantings a person who buys everything at best buy. If you buy high end receivers an speakers at a specialty store, 20 k goes real quick. I spent close to that on my system and i will tell you that this dvd sounds pathetic! It sounds like its coming out of a fishbowl. And no i am not afraid to adjust my eq.If you dont believe me put in Peter Gabriels Secret World dvd and then listen to this one. I dont expect every note to be perfect on a concert dvd. But i waited for what seemed like forever for this dvd. When i put it in my system and played it, i could not believe this thing was produced after 1975. Its hard to beleieve the band would put this thing out.As far as concert dvds go, listen to Gabriel, U2 in boston, even REM roadshow to hear how well these things can be done.3 out 5 stars only because i love rush. | 983 | [
"Ok, theres a guy on here with a review that says there are no 20k home theater setups.",
"That 20k worth of audio wont fit in a living room.",
"This is obviously the rantings a person who buys everything at best buy.",
"If you buy high end receivers an speakers at a specialty store, 20 k goes real quick.",
"I spent close to that on my system and i will tell you that this dvd sounds pathetic!",
"It sounds like its coming out of a fishbowl.",
"And no i am not afraid to adjust my eq.If you dont believe me put in Peter Gabriels Secret World dvd and then listen to this one.",
"I dont expect every note to be perfect on a concert dvd.",
"But i waited for what seemed like forever for this dvd.",
"When i put it in my system and played it, i could not believe this thing was produced after 1975.",
"Its hard to beleieve the band would put this thing out.As far as concert dvds go, listen to Gabriel, U2 in boston, even REM roadshow to hear how well these things can be done.3 out 5 stars only because i love rush."
] |
3 | One Epic Story Plus Filler | The back-drop for the three short stories involve aliens studying galactic history in a university, and I couldn't really connect well with Tiptree's xenobiological environment. A solid 'meh', but it served for introduction.The first story "The Only Neat Thing To Do" is amazing. It follows the perspective of a young fifteen year old space-crazy rich girl who ends up saving her Federation from a Brain-Plague type alien threat. It is emotional moving. Five stars.The second story deals with cold sleep, freedom, and pirates. It relies too heavily on technical science for plot movement, and I could not picture the climax well because it depended upon advanced technological quirks, and I'm not even sure the science holds up. Three stars.The third story deals with aliens and war and first contact. It has too many 'just so' coincidences, and I didn't enjoy it that much. Two and a half stars.Overall, I highly recommend the first short story. The rest of the book can be ignored. | 983 | [
"The back-drop for the three short stories involve aliens studying galactic history in a university, and I couldn't really connect well with Tiptree's xenobiological environment.",
"A solid 'meh', but it served for introduction.The first story \"The Only Neat Thing To Do\" is amazing.",
"It follows the perspective of a young fifteen year old space-crazy rich girl who ends up saving her Federation from a Brain-Plague type alien threat.",
"It is emotional moving.",
"Five stars.The second story deals with cold sleep, freedom, and pirates.",
"It relies too heavily on technical science for plot movement, and I could not picture the climax well because it depended upon advanced technological quirks, and I'm not even sure the science holds up.",
"Three stars.The third story deals with aliens and war and first contact.",
"It has too many 'just so' coincidences, and I didn't enjoy it that much.",
"Two and a half stars.Overall, I highly recommend the first short story.",
"The rest of the book can be ignored."
] |
3 | Size does matter. | After much research I thought I had found the perfect bounce house for my soon to be 4year old son. What boy wouldn't want an inflatable with a punching bag inside. Plus looked big enough to allow for up to four children with plenty of room to go crazy......Was I suprised at how small it was compared to the photo on website. It is half the size of the picture and the slide is so small that you dont even slide down it. Very,very dissapointed and was about to put it back in the box to send back when unfortuately for me as I was postioning it in our back yard it ripped across a down spout and needed a repair. There is a plus side to this story! The repair kit come in very usefull with lots of patches but not enough glue( one tiny poxy tube) but it is super sticky and seems to be holding up extremely well!Plus my son loves his bounce house and fingers crossed we shall get our moneys worth. Please oh Please could you post the correct pictures with accurate sizing in future! | 983 | [
"After much research I thought I had found the perfect bounce house for my soon to be 4year old son.",
"What boy wouldn't want an inflatable with a punching bag inside.",
"Plus looked big enough to allow for up to four children with plenty of room to go crazy......Was I suprised at how small it was compared to the photo on website.",
"It is half the size of the picture and the slide is so small that you dont even slide down it.",
"Very,very dissapointed and was about to put it back in the box to send back when unfortuately for me as I was postioning it in our back yard it ripped across a down spout and needed a repair.",
"There is a plus side to this story!",
"The repair kit come in very usefull with lots of patches but not enough glue( one tiny poxy tube) but it is super sticky and seems to be holding up extremely well!",
"Plus my son loves his bounce house and fingers crossed we shall get our moneys worth.",
"Please oh Please could you post the correct pictures with accurate sizing in future!"
] |
3 | A FAIRLY ENGAGING 1938 COMEDY. | Dunne plays a very successful radio show star who earns half a mill a year. Her family are a bunch of lazy ne'er-do-wells who leech off her earnings and her income tax problems are astronomical. After Fairbanks is arrested for being a "masher" among the mob of Dunne's adoring fans, Dunne is, rather absurdly, appointed as Fairbank's parole officer, a plot twist which gives the duo a chance to meet in watering holes, get drunk and fall in love...With several tunes by Jerome Kern, one would expect that this rather forced little comedy would have more classy attributes. The picture was expensive to shoot, and it shows; it lost a fortune at the box-office. Even the comedic talents of Pangborn, Kibbee, Gilbert, Blore, and, in a very short bit - Lucille Ball - fail to raise the level of slapstick. Disappointingly flat and ludicrously corny. The original title of this film was to be THE JOY OF LOVING, but the censors of 1938 made it clear that there should be no joy in loving! | 983 | [
"Dunne plays a very successful radio show star who earns half a mill a year.",
"Her family are a bunch of lazy ne'er-do-wells who leech off her earnings and her income tax problems are astronomical.",
"After Fairbanks is arrested for being a \"masher\" among the mob of Dunne's adoring fans, Dunne is, rather absurdly, appointed as Fairbank's parole officer, a plot twist which gives the duo a chance to meet in watering holes, get drunk and fall in love...With several tunes by Jerome Kern, one would expect that this rather forced little comedy would have more classy attributes.",
"The picture was expensive to shoot, and it shows; it lost a fortune at the box-office.",
"Even the comedic talents of Pangborn, Kibbee, Gilbert, Blore, and, in a very short bit - Lucille Ball - fail to raise the level of slapstick.",
"Disappointingly flat and ludicrously corny.",
"The original title of this film was to be THE JOY OF LOVING, but the censors of 1938 made it clear that there should be no joy in loving!"
] |
3 | The Solist | Piano virtuoso Max Randall,has gone for years with the suspension of his career while his personal life grows more and more complex. His preparation for a comeback is disrupted by his many relations with the women whose roles in his life confuse him in his search for his self identity as a musician and a man. The book is written with great intensity and much soul searching as it is juxtaposed against the preparation to return to the concert stage. This book is not only a tome with which most musicians will identify. It also represents the struggle of a man who is searching to find himself in the midst of all his life's turmoil and chaos. It is imbued with a sense of such authenticity that I had to question what seemed to me like an autobiographical portrayal of the author's own life. This is a book with which musicians will identify but it is also a book that depicts artist's life as an ordinary person struggling for perfection.Louise CabralAuthor,Teacher,Speaker[...]. | 983 | [
"Piano virtuoso Max Randall,has gone for years with the suspension of his career while his personal life grows more and more complex.",
"His preparation for a comeback is disrupted by his many relations with the women whose roles in his life confuse him in his search for his self identity as a musician and a man.",
"The book is written with great intensity and much soul searching as it is juxtaposed against the preparation to return to the concert stage.",
"This book is not only a tome with which most musicians will identify.",
"It also represents the struggle of a man who is searching to find himself in the midst of all his life's turmoil and chaos.",
"It is imbued with a sense of such authenticity that I had to question what seemed to me like an autobiographical portrayal of the author's own life.",
"This is a book with which musicians will identify but it is also a book that depicts artist's life as an ordinary person struggling for perfection.Louise CabralAuthor,Teacher,Speaker[...]."
] |
3 | IE Shouldn't Look Back | If the new single is an indication of what to expect from the new album, then this will probably be the best since 'Wicked'. The problem with this disk lies in the re-recorded material. When judged on his own merits, Ripper has a great voice, and he shows it off on the first track. However, the 'Something Wicked' trilogy can't be listened to without comparing it directly to Barlow's version, and in this context, the Ripper just can't win. The original was nothing short of amazing, and could hardly be improved upon, Barlow's voice thick and powerful. In comparison, Ripper sounds hollow and weak. It's not a fair comparison to make, because the two singers have completely different styles, but it's a comparison that's impossible not to make when Ripper sings Matt's songs.If Iced Earth and its fans can manage to look forward to the future instead of looking back at what was, then there is reason to be optimistic. This single will serve as a good primer for the full-length. | 983 | [
"If the new single is an indication of what to expect from the new album, then this will probably be the best since 'Wicked'.",
"The problem with this disk lies in the re-recorded material.",
"When judged on his own merits, Ripper has a great voice, and he shows it off on the first track.",
"However, the 'Something Wicked' trilogy can't be listened to without comparing it directly to Barlow's version, and in this context, the Ripper just can't win.",
"The original was nothing short of amazing, and could hardly be improved upon, Barlow's voice thick and powerful.",
"In comparison, Ripper sounds hollow and weak.",
"It's not a fair comparison to make, because the two singers have completely different styles, but it's a comparison that's impossible not to make when Ripper sings Matt's songs.If Iced Earth and its fans can manage to look forward to the future instead of looking back at what was, then there is reason to be optimistic.",
"This single will serve as a good primer for the full-length."
] |
3 | Interesting premise | I owned this book for a long time before I could muster up the desire to read it. The premise sounded very interesting and the historical facts behind it were new to me, but something about reading about WWII sounded depressing.The book was anything but depressing. It started off alittle slow and picked up great speed after Chapter 5 or so. The characters were well-developed, although somewhat stereotypical and predictable. The story was less about war than about loyalty and honor. I have to disagree with other viewers when they stated that too much detail was devoted to the descriptions of art and their forgeries-I found it all very interesting. The plot was quick-paced, but when I thought only days were passing, it turned out to be years.I do recommend this book. I must admit that I did look forward to picking it up and continuing to read it once I started. While suitable for both, I think that men might find the plot and wartime atmosphere more appealing than women. | 983 | [
"I owned this book for a long time before I could muster up the desire to read it.",
"The premise sounded very interesting and the historical facts behind it were new to me, but something about reading about WWII sounded depressing.The book was anything but depressing.",
"It started off alittle slow and picked up great speed after Chapter 5 or so.",
"The characters were well-developed, although somewhat stereotypical and predictable.",
"The story was less about war than about loyalty and honor.",
"I have to disagree with other viewers when they stated that too much detail was devoted to the descriptions of art and their forgeries-I found it all very interesting.",
"The plot was quick-paced, but when I thought only days were passing, it turned out to be years.I do recommend this book.",
"I must admit that I did look forward to picking it up and continuing to read it once I started.",
"While suitable for both, I think that men might find the plot and wartime atmosphere more appealing than women."
] |
3 | Fair Full Moon Release | I always look for the fun in Full Moon releases, but Horrorvision was all serious. In fact, I think this is the first Full Moon release I've seen that took a serious stride. HorrorVision tells the story of Sed, a technology freak who is losing friends to a mysterious website. After he loses his girlfriend, it looks like all hope is lost from this guy. After being attacked by a techno-pede (my word for the creature that resembled a centipede but was all metal), he runs into a mysterious man who helps him on his quest to discover the truth behind HorrorVision.com. I believe if they worked on this a bit more, and made the gore a bit more believable, it would've worked well if it had been widely released. The acting was real good for Full Moon, and the directing was quiet good also. Although there were things not needed in the movie, I think it was a pretty fair release from Full Moon. The ending left it open for a sequel, which I hope will be a tad better if there is one. | 983 | [
"I always look for the fun in Full Moon releases, but Horrorvision was all serious.",
"In fact, I think this is the first Full Moon release I've seen that took a serious stride.",
"HorrorVision tells the story of Sed, a technology freak who is losing friends to a mysterious website.",
"After he loses his girlfriend, it looks like all hope is lost from this guy.",
"After being attacked by a techno-pede (my word for the creature that resembled a centipede but was all metal), he runs into a mysterious man who helps him on his quest to discover the truth behind HorrorVision.com.",
"I believe if they worked on this a bit more, and made the gore a bit more believable, it would've worked well if it had been widely released.",
"The acting was real good for Full Moon, and the directing was quiet good also.",
"Although there were things not needed in the movie, I think it was a pretty fair release from Full Moon.",
"The ending left it open for a sequel, which I hope will be a tad better if there is one."
] |
3 | Pedestrian Starter for Edwards | Harry Devlin is an attorney who married a beautiful woman with a mischievous and magnetic personality. He can't quit her, even though she left him for a few other men with zero regard for his feelings. When she's murdered, Devlin is possessed by the desire to find her killer.Devlin's quest for justice seems a little unbelievable. She was a horrible person who deeply wounded her husband with her infidelities, and I found it hard to believe he "could not rest until he found the killer!" The writing style is O.K., but there are too many forced similes that grate on the reader after a few chapters. Ending a chapter with a "mysterious" question is also a thriller no-no--"Could it be that our hero was wrong in his suspicion of Bob as the killer?!" Kind of corny.The criminal would have been quite easy to identify, for both the police and Devlin, if Edwards would not have withheld obvious relationships among the suspects. Martin has promise, but this is not a first-rate novel. | 983 | [
"Harry Devlin is an attorney who married a beautiful woman with a mischievous and magnetic personality.",
"He can't quit her, even though she left him for a few other men with zero regard for his feelings.",
"When she's murdered, Devlin is possessed by the desire to find her killer.Devlin's quest for justice seems a little unbelievable.",
"She was a horrible person who deeply wounded her husband with her infidelities, and I found it hard to believe he \"could not rest until he found the killer!",
"\" The writing style is O.K., but there are too many forced similes that grate on the reader after a few chapters.",
"Ending a chapter with a \"mysterious\" question is also a thriller no-no--\"Could it be that our hero was wrong in his suspicion of Bob as the killer?!",
"\" Kind of corny.The criminal would have been quite easy to identify, for both the police and Devlin, if Edwards would not have withheld obvious relationships among the suspects.",
"Martin has promise, but this is not a first-rate novel."
] |
3 | Worth a watch | I'll be frank, I skipped this show because of Ashton Kutcher. The thought being if he starred in it, it must be fluff. But the reviews for the show were positive enough to draw me in and rent the dvd.SPOLIERSPremise: Imagine a person who was not meant to be born was born. As a result he has the ability to travel to back to any point in his life and make changes to it. The downside is that each time he does that, his actions can cause life altering situations. Hence the Butteryfly effect (The wind from a butterfly's wing could cause a tornado somewhere else).I had problems with Ashton's character, being very rash and just a little stupid, but then again he was experiencing brain damage as a result of his actions. I won't give the ending away but... this is not a exactly a feel good show.I have to admit I liked the show. Its a good rental but probably not a keeper. Acting was passable and plot was good. Despite an ending that many will balk at it was realistic and brave. | 983 | [
"I'll be frank, I skipped this show because of Ashton Kutcher.",
"The thought being if he starred in it, it must be fluff.",
"But the reviews for the show were positive enough to draw me in and rent the dvd.SPOLIERSPremise: Imagine a person who was not meant to be born was born.",
"As a result he has the ability to travel to back to any point in his life and make changes to it.",
"The downside is that each time he does that, his actions can cause life altering situations.",
"Hence the Butteryfly effect (The wind from a butterfly's wing could cause a tornado somewhere else).I had problems with Ashton's character, being very rash and just a little stupid, but then again he was experiencing brain damage as a result of his actions.",
"I won't give the ending away but... this is not a exactly a feel good show.I have to admit I liked the show.",
"Its a good rental but probably not a keeper.",
"Acting was passable and plot was good.",
"Despite an ending that many will balk at it was realistic and brave."
] |
3 | Why this title? | This is an interesting story about a young man from New Bedford who reluctantly joins the marines during the War of 1812. He serves his time on an American ship engaged in destroying the English whaling industry in the Pacific. The story tells of appointing men to positions of authority based on family connections, rather than experience and ability. Why the author choose this title is very puzzling as the story has no connection to Marblehead's well documented role in the War of 1812. The author refers briefly to the ship captain's hatred of the English because Hessian mercenaries, hired by the English during the Revolutionary War, ransacked the town, murdered residents, and enslaved the captain when he was a small boy. Anyone versed in Marblehead history knows that Hessians soldiers were never in Marblehead. No incident like this ever happened. It appears that the author capitalized on the town's name and it's real connection to the War of 1812 just to sell the book. | 983 | [
"This is an interesting story about a young man from New Bedford who reluctantly joins the marines during the War of 1812.",
"He serves his time on an American ship engaged in destroying the English whaling industry in the Pacific.",
"The story tells of appointing men to positions of authority based on family connections, rather than experience and ability.",
"Why the author choose this title is very puzzling as the story has no connection to Marblehead's well documented role in the War of 1812.",
"The author refers briefly to the ship captain's hatred of the English because Hessian mercenaries, hired by the English during the Revolutionary War, ransacked the town, murdered residents, and enslaved the captain when he was a small boy.",
"Anyone versed in Marblehead history knows that Hessians soldiers were never in Marblehead.",
"No incident like this ever happened.",
"It appears that the author capitalized on the town's name and it's real connection to the War of 1812 just to sell the book."
] |
3 | Review of DVD transfer | The new Tango release of the Zulu Dawn DVD is not as bad as some folks make out. On ebay, a while back, someone was selling the region 1 version of the film based on the English DVD which had been out for a while. It was somewhat letter-boxed but the image was fuzzy and the colors bled a lot (but it was better than the VHS version). The new Tango seems to have the same screen ratio with some letter-boxing top and bottom. I didn't see any evidence of pan and scan and it seemed somewhat wide-screen though I imagine the original print was wider. The transfer is better than the ebay/English version with more definition and less color bleed. It's not as good as a pristine new DVD release or, for that matter, the MGM DVD release of Zulu with is a truly excellent transfer. Perhaps an original 35 print of the film doesn't exist anymore which would be a shame. It's too bad that both of these films weren't made more in the digital era. Both of them need more Zulus in the frames! | 983 | [
"The new Tango release of the Zulu Dawn DVD is not as bad as some folks make out.",
"On ebay, a while back, someone was selling the region 1 version of the film based on the English DVD which had been out for a while.",
"It was somewhat letter-boxed but the image was fuzzy and the colors bled a lot (but it was better than the VHS version).",
"The new Tango seems to have the same screen ratio with some letter-boxing top and bottom.",
"I didn't see any evidence of pan and scan and it seemed somewhat wide-screen though I imagine the original print was wider.",
"The transfer is better than the ebay/English version with more definition and less color bleed.",
"It's not as good as a pristine new DVD release or, for that matter, the MGM DVD release of Zulu with is a truly excellent transfer.",
"Perhaps an original 35 print of the film doesn't exist anymore which would be a shame.",
"It's too bad that both of these films weren't made more in the digital era.",
"Both of them need more Zulus in the frames!"
] |
3 | LUCY MEETS DESI | This pleasantly modest little film from 1940 is important as a footnote in the history of Hollywood: it was during its filming that rising 29 year-old movie comedy actress Lucille Ball met a 23 year-old Cuban Conga drummer named Desi Arnaz! It's a fast-paced musical comedy full of peppy performances and musical numbers. Lucy plays an heiress who takes a shot at campus life accompanied by a quartet of bodyguards, all of whom are topnotch football players...Ann Miller dances up a storm and Desi delivers a hot conga interpretation of SPIC AND SPANISH. Upon meeting Desi, Lucy once remarked "It was NOT love at first sight. It took 5 minutes!" Lucy and Desi married in Greenwich, Connecticut on November 30, 1940. Eleven years later, I LOVE LUCY would make Ball and Arnaz America's most beloved couple in the entertainment world. Van Johnson made his film debut in this musical frolic, the score of which includes the perennial Rodgers and Hart tune I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS. | 983 | [
"This pleasantly modest little film from 1940 is important as a footnote in the history of Hollywood: it was during its filming that rising 29 year-old movie comedy actress Lucille Ball met a 23 year-old Cuban Conga drummer named Desi Arnaz!",
"It's a fast-paced musical comedy full of peppy performances and musical numbers.",
"Lucy plays an heiress who takes a shot at campus life accompanied by a quartet of bodyguards, all of whom are topnotch football players...Ann Miller dances up a storm and Desi delivers a hot conga interpretation of SPIC AND SPANISH.",
"Upon meeting Desi, Lucy once remarked \"It was NOT love at first sight.",
"It took 5 minutes!",
"\" Lucy and Desi married in Greenwich, Connecticut on November 30, 1940.",
"Eleven years later, I LOVE LUCY would make Ball and Arnaz America's most beloved couple in the entertainment world.",
"Van Johnson made his film debut in this musical frolic, the score of which includes the perennial Rodgers and Hart tune I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS."
] |
3 | idea with possibilities wasted | The screenwriter had no idea how to write a comedy. Add to that casting a dramatic actor (Holden) to play a comic part, and you end up with a flop. With a comic actor (like, say, Tony Randall) and with a comic script, this could have been a very funny movie. Compare this movie with "Delirious(John Candy)" and you'll see what I mean.The purpose of this story by two Frenchmen seemed to be to show how much they hated American movies. Every movie from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s is lampooned. But satire does not succeed when the satirist hates his subject so much that he can't be funny about it.The enjoyable parts are the appearances by other stars: Marlene Dietrich, Fred Astaire (singing only), Frank Sinatra (singing a couple of lines), Tony Curtis hamming it up, Mel Ferrar, and Noel Coward (the only comedian of the lot).Hepburn is given almost nothing to do and has no opportunity to save this picture. Holden tries hard, very hard, but he just doesn't know how to be funny. | 983 | [
"The screenwriter had no idea how to write a comedy.",
"Add to that casting a dramatic actor (Holden) to play a comic part, and you end up with a flop.",
"With a comic actor (like, say, Tony Randall) and with a comic script, this could have been a very funny movie.",
"Compare this movie with \"Delirious(John Candy)\" and you'll see what I mean.The purpose of this story by two Frenchmen seemed to be to show how much they hated American movies.",
"Every movie from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s is lampooned.",
"But satire does not succeed when the satirist hates his subject so much that he can't be funny about it.The enjoyable parts are the appearances by other stars: Marlene Dietrich, Fred Astaire (singing only), Frank Sinatra (singing a couple of lines), Tony Curtis hamming it up, Mel Ferrar, and Noel Coward (the only comedian of the lot).Hepburn is given almost nothing to do and has no opportunity to save this picture.",
"Holden tries hard, very hard, but he just doesn't know how to be funny."
] |
3 | We've seen better | Slapped together on a shoe string budget, incompetent sound engineers and producers do great injustice to three giants of contemporary electric guitar. Truth be told, two performers-Satriani and Johnson- deliver unmemorable performances on this video. Only Vai appears to come away unscathed, delivering an animated and passionate performance. But, in the end, Vai loses too. During the collective "jam," audio engineers neglected to record Vai's guitar! This is a shame, because it is only in the jam that Johnson, Satriani and the audience start to wake up. This makes one wonder if the three could have better success working as a trio rather than as three separate bands with a jam at the end. Still, the video worth watching. Anyone who questions the lyrical ability of the electric guitar might change his mind after listening to any of these musicians. Or, better yet, listen to the G3 CD where the mix, performances and musical ideas are clearer, sharper and more innovative. | 983 | [
"Slapped together on a shoe string budget, incompetent sound engineers and producers do great injustice to three giants of contemporary electric guitar.",
"Truth be told, two performers-Satriani and Johnson- deliver unmemorable performances on this video.",
"Only Vai appears to come away unscathed, delivering an animated and passionate performance.",
"But, in the end, Vai loses too.",
"During the collective \"jam,\" audio engineers neglected to record Vai's guitar!",
"This is a shame, because it is only in the jam that Johnson, Satriani and the audience start to wake up.",
"This makes one wonder if the three could have better success working as a trio rather than as three separate bands with a jam at the end.",
"Still, the video worth watching.",
"Anyone who questions the lyrical ability of the electric guitar might change his mind after listening to any of these musicians.",
"Or, better yet, listen to the G3 CD where the mix, performances and musical ideas are clearer, sharper and more innovative."
] |
3 | Sounds Good, Hard to Navigate | This is a fantastic little player that serves as an FM radio, MP3 player and memory card. You'd swear the earphones were going to fall out of your ears, but they don't and, when one masters the player and can use different software, the device is a bargain.The weaknesses, though, make things difficult for a novice. The software is dreadful, forcing users to find their own MP3 encoders. I also have not been able to record albums to their own directories and have them play in order -- probably a navigation problem on my part. I would have thought with arrow keys, one could navigate their way UP to the ROOT directory, SELECT a CD directory with songs in it and play those songs in the order in which they were recorded. Ah, but that would have been too intuitive.The bottom line is there are better deals on the market unless you have your own copy of Nero or Easy DVD Creator and can dedicate the time to guessing your way through it. The instruction book certainly won't help! | 983 | [
"This is a fantastic little player that serves as an FM radio, MP3 player and memory card.",
"You'd swear the earphones were going to fall out of your ears, but they don't and, when one masters the player and can use different software, the device is a bargain.The weaknesses, though, make things difficult for a novice.",
"The software is dreadful, forcing users to find their own MP3 encoders.",
"I also have not been able to record albums to their own directories and have them play in order -- probably a navigation problem on my part.",
"I would have thought with arrow keys, one could navigate their way UP to the ROOT directory, SELECT a CD directory with songs in it and play those songs in the order in which they were recorded.",
"Ah, but that would have been too intuitive.The bottom line is there are better deals on the market unless you have your own copy of Nero or Easy DVD Creator and can dedicate the time to guessing your way through it.",
"The instruction book certainly won't help!"
] |
3 | too much vocals | This refers to my previous review and reveiws of some other fans:I think everyone knows that flamenco is not only guitar playing! but paco is famous because of his brilliant style of playing flamenco guitar...I think he got what he wanted so hes back to the traditional style now and if he continues like this i would say that its time for him to retire!one more thing i have to add is that if paco previous albums were all similar styles to this one! he would have never been recognised internationaly! just see above the number of used cd's of this album for sale!!its more than 70!! fans are disapointed!Old reveiw:Paco is best when he is playing alone(without singers)..he is a 10 star as a guitar player infact he is the best of them all, but this album is nothing compared to the previous one's, but as a paco fan still u should have it.the thing i didnt like was the singers! the good thing was the rumba..the music quality is very good...come on paco give us the old styles.. | 983 | [
"This refers to my previous review and reveiws of some other fans:I think everyone knows that flamenco is not only guitar playing!",
"but paco is famous because of his brilliant style of playing flamenco guitar...I think he got what he wanted so hes back to the traditional style now and if he continues like this i would say that its time for him to retire!",
"one more thing i have to add is that if paco previous albums were all similar styles to this one!",
"he would have never been recognised internationaly!",
"just see above the number of used cd's of this album for sale!!",
"its more than 70!!",
"fans are disapointed!",
"Old reveiw:Paco is best when he is playing alone(without singers)..he is a 10 star as a guitar player infact he is the best of them all, but this album is nothing compared to the previous one's, but as a paco fan still u should have it.the thing i didnt like was the singers!",
"the good thing was the rumba..the music quality is very good...come on paco give us the old styles.."
] |
3 | Good dryer for a cheap price | I have had this hair dryer longer than I can remember, at least 7 years. It has consistently worked well over the years. Just recently has it started making odd noises, probably indicating that it's time for a new one.It has 3 heat settings, and 3 speed settings. It also has a cool shot button, however, I find that the cool setting is much cooler than the button.I have very thick, curly hair down to the middle of my back. With this hair dryer, it takes me around 15 minutes to get my hair dry, not styled, just completely dry brushing it as I dry. There is no way with my hair that I could use this dryer and nothing else and step outside my house. My hair is just way too frizzy afterwards.The dryer doesn't seem unusually heavy, but not light weight by any means. Since my hair takes a while to dry, towards the last few minutes my arms start to get pretty heavy from holding it.Overall, it's a great little dryer and has done better than expected given how long I have had it. | 983 | [
"I have had this hair dryer longer than I can remember, at least 7 years.",
"It has consistently worked well over the years.",
"Just recently has it started making odd noises, probably indicating that it's time for a new one.It has 3 heat settings, and 3 speed settings.",
"It also has a cool shot button, however, I find that the cool setting is much cooler than the button.I have very thick, curly hair down to the middle of my back.",
"With this hair dryer, it takes me around 15 minutes to get my hair dry, not styled, just completely dry brushing it as I dry.",
"There is no way with my hair that I could use this dryer and nothing else and step outside my house.",
"My hair is just way too frizzy afterwards.The dryer doesn't seem unusually heavy, but not light weight by any means.",
"Since my hair takes a while to dry, towards the last few minutes my arms start to get pretty heavy from holding it.Overall, it's a great little dryer and has done better than expected given how long I have had it."
] |
3 | A "transitional" mystery | K. Reichs' third Temperence Brennan mystery rewards the loyal reader on only one of two levels. Least rewarding: Temperance's perserverance as a crime fighter are put to the test by the volume of victims, and none to appealing this time around. The deaths by bombing, drive-by shooting, hit man shooting, etc., pretty much become a blur by the book's halfway point. What kept me turning the pages? The mysteries in Brennan's complicated personal life-- a nephew that may be a flaky and danger-prone as Brennan's sister; a lover who is intriguingly (and frustratingly) incommunicado for the bulk of the novel; and a detective who has grudgingly helped Brennan in the past, but may now jeopardize her loved ones. I think fans should view this book much like a plausible and necessary stepping stone to a more fulfilling next book. The sea changes in the relationships set up in this novel, teamed with a more satisfying criminal mystery, could make Reichs' next work a five-star treat. | 983 | [
"K.",
"Reichs' third Temperence Brennan mystery rewards the loyal reader on only one of two levels.",
"Least rewarding: Temperance's perserverance as a crime fighter are put to the test by the volume of victims, and none to appealing this time around.",
"The deaths by bombing, drive-by shooting, hit man shooting, etc., pretty much become a blur by the book's halfway point.",
"What kept me turning the pages?",
"The mysteries in Brennan's complicated personal life-- a nephew that may be a flaky and danger-prone as Brennan's sister; a lover who is intriguingly (and frustratingly) incommunicado for the bulk of the novel; and a detective who has grudgingly helped Brennan in the past, but may now jeopardize her loved ones.",
"I think fans should view this book much like a plausible and necessary stepping stone to a more fulfilling next book.",
"The sea changes in the relationships set up in this novel, teamed with a more satisfying criminal mystery, could make Reichs' next work a five-star treat."
] |
3 | Nintendo we have a problem | Why couldn't Starfox stay the way it was on the N64? The first level was fun, the Starfox team chases a crazy monkey to the planet of Fortuna. Then the crazy monkey turned his space ship into a giant mechanical version of himself, very amusing and charming. But after the first level Starfox transitions from the N64 style to a weird Xbox style shooter. He jumps out of his Arwing and is told to shoot targets. Then he gets a tank called a landmaster. The Landmaster was very clunky. Even if had Nintendo focused on Arwing levels, it still has issues with voices. In Star Fox 64 slippy screamed "Fox! NOOOOO!" if I died. In this game all I heard was was "Fox. No.". Peppy didn't sound very peppy, he forgot to tell me to do a barrel roll. Pretty much all that the team did was ask for help in dull expressionless tones. If you do purchase a Star Fox game, get the original, the beta unreleased Star Fox 2 rom on PC, or Starfox 64. Do not get this unless you are really into shooters. | 983 | [
"Why couldn't Starfox stay the way it was on the N64?",
"The first level was fun, the Starfox team chases a crazy monkey to the planet of Fortuna.",
"Then the crazy monkey turned his space ship into a giant mechanical version of himself, very amusing and charming.",
"But after the first level Starfox transitions from the N64 style to a weird Xbox style shooter.",
"He jumps out of his Arwing and is told to shoot targets.",
"Then he gets a tank called a landmaster.",
"The Landmaster was very clunky.",
"Even if had Nintendo focused on Arwing levels, it still has issues with voices.",
"In Star Fox 64 slippy screamed \"Fox!",
"NOOOOO!",
"\" if I died.",
"In this game all I heard was was \"Fox.",
"No.\".",
"Peppy didn't sound very peppy, he forgot to tell me to do a barrel roll.",
"Pretty much all that the team did was ask for help in dull expressionless tones.",
"If you do purchase a Star Fox game, get the original, the beta unreleased Star Fox 2 rom on PC, or Starfox 64.",
"Do not get this unless you are really into shooters."
] |
3 | Oldies from Tess Mallos | I'm a big fan of Tess Mallos. Her recipes are simple, healthy, and produce results good enough for entertaining. Her "Complete Middle East Cookbook" is a must-have for anyone who likes the foods hailing from the triangle extending from Greece to Afghanistan to Egypt. This Turkish cookbook has her usual great recipes, and has attractive photographs of most of the dishes. However, if you own the above-mentioned "Complete Middle East..." you've already got the majority of the recipes, and if you've also got her "The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook," you've got most of the rest. I'm not an authority on Turkish food, but I also sense that "Turkish Cooking" is far from encyclopedic. It lacks several of the dishes I've had in Turkish restaurants, including the dessert kazandibi. Bottom line - a nice book for someone interested only in Turkish food, or as a gift to someone you think might like to start cooking Turkish. Otherwise, her previous collections are much better deals. | 983 | [
"I'm a big fan of Tess Mallos.",
"Her recipes are simple, healthy, and produce results good enough for entertaining.",
"Her \"Complete Middle East Cookbook\" is a must-have for anyone who likes the foods hailing from the triangle extending from Greece to Afghanistan to Egypt.",
"This Turkish cookbook has her usual great recipes, and has attractive photographs of most of the dishes.",
"However, if you own the above-mentioned \"Complete Middle East...\" you've already got the majority of the recipes, and if you've also got her \"The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook,\" you've got most of the rest.",
"I'm not an authority on Turkish food, but I also sense that \"Turkish Cooking\" is far from encyclopedic.",
"It lacks several of the dishes I've had in Turkish restaurants, including the dessert kazandibi.",
"Bottom line - a nice book for someone interested only in Turkish food, or as a gift to someone you think might like to start cooking Turkish.",
"Otherwise, her previous collections are much better deals."
] |
3 | Snow Tainted | The movie was a wee bit on the disappointing side - especially with all the media coverage concerning Kristen Stewart's adulterous affair, with the Director, a married man. Last time I checked the 10 Commandments and the New Testament were still "against" adultry. My suggestion, for Rupert would be stick to the things that will improve the career choice he made (to be a Director) and give up on chasing women because he thinks the grass might be greener on the other side or that he is seen as a "catch". Please! What mirror has been talking to Rupert? I've been on the other side, of the grass, - it is not greener, never is and ends up hurting more people due to our own personal selfish desires. My prayers are with him, his wife and child/children that they can heal, forgive and move on. Kristen will not remain popular if she hurts Rob again!! BTW Kristen, you didn't pull the British accent off like Rupert told you - men will say anything to get what they want. Lesson #1. | 983 | [
"The movie was a wee bit on the disappointing side - especially with all the media coverage concerning Kristen Stewart's adulterous affair, with the Director, a married man.",
"Last time I checked the 10 Commandments and the New Testament were still \"against\" adultry.",
"My suggestion, for Rupert would be stick to the things that will improve the career choice he made (to be a Director) and give up on chasing women because he thinks the grass might be greener on the other side or that he is seen as a \"catch\".",
"Please!",
"What mirror has been talking to Rupert?",
"I've been on the other side, of the grass, - it is not greener, never is and ends up hurting more people due to our own personal selfish desires.",
"My prayers are with him, his wife and child/children that they can heal, forgive and move on.",
"Kristen will not remain popular if she hurts Rob again!!",
"BTW Kristen, you didn't pull the British accent off like Rupert told you - men will say anything to get what they want.",
"Lesson #1."
] |
3 | If only life were like this... | ...and the thugs who attacked and robbed you at knifepoint turn out to really be sweet young fellows who only mugged you becoz they dint know you was from our block, see? Yeah, right.Well, it is a comedy after all, when it decides it is, but then again sometimes it's a morality tale about how misunderstood these sweet young criminals are, despite their willingness to attack a young lady five on one with masks on and knives out. Poor guys! So misunderstood, innit?But then the fake-looking alien apes show up, and much hilarity ensues. And a few deaths. But, whatever. There's a few good jokes, a little suspense, and everybody realizes what heroes these guys really are, robbing girls at knifepoint notwithstanding.So just keep that in mind next time you're being robbed: those guys are probably really nice blokes, just victims of society really, and if your block is ever attacked by alien apes, they'll be your best bet, due to their knowledge of pheromones. Count on it, guv! | 983 | [
"...and the thugs who attacked and robbed you at knifepoint turn out to really be sweet young fellows who only mugged you becoz they dint know you was from our block, see?",
"Yeah, right.Well, it is a comedy after all, when it decides it is, but then again sometimes it's a morality tale about how misunderstood these sweet young criminals are, despite their willingness to attack a young lady five on one with masks on and knives out.",
"Poor guys!",
"So misunderstood, innit?",
"But then the fake-looking alien apes show up, and much hilarity ensues.",
"And a few deaths.",
"But, whatever.",
"There's a few good jokes, a little suspense, and everybody realizes what heroes these guys really are, robbing girls at knifepoint notwithstanding.So just keep that in mind next time you're being robbed: those guys are probably really nice blokes, just victims of society really, and if your block is ever attacked by alien apes, they'll be your best bet, due to their knowledge of pheromones.",
"Count on it, guv!"
] |
3 | You get what you pay for | It's an ok flat iron for the price and it does have some perks that you won't get with many other flat irons in this price range, but it doesn't last very long. If you don't really flat iron more than once in a blue moon, then this would be ok, but if you plan on using it more than 1x a month, spend a little more to get a better iron.Pros- heats up quickly- swivel cord- simple swivel button allows for easy closure- temperature control- really light and comfortable to useCons- plating wears off pretty quickly. I had it for about 5 months, used it on average every two weeks and ALWAYS btw 5 and 10 for the heat setting (around 200F) so I was expecting it to last a bit longer since the plates weren't super hot and I wasn't using it more than 2/3 times a month. Now the plating has started to wear off so I just bought a flat iron with 100% ceramic plates instead of a ceramic coated one.- the lights don't work the way they're supposed to- the temp may fluctuate while using it | 983 | [
"It's an ok flat iron for the price and it does have some perks that you won't get with many other flat irons in this price range, but it doesn't last very long.",
"If you don't really flat iron more than once in a blue moon, then this would be ok, but if you plan on using it more than 1x a month, spend a little more to get a better iron.Pros- heats up quickly- swivel cord- simple swivel button allows for easy closure- temperature control- really light and comfortable to useCons- plating wears off pretty quickly.",
"I had it for about 5 months, used it on average every two weeks and ALWAYS btw 5 and 10 for the heat setting (around 200F) so I was expecting it to last a bit longer since the plates weren't super hot and I wasn't using it more than 2/3 times a month.",
"Now the plating has started to wear off so I just bought a flat iron with 100% ceramic plates instead of a ceramic coated one.- the lights don't work the way they're supposed to- the temp may fluctuate while using it"
] |
3 | Not for real Opera lovers | The introduction of this video is:"My favorite opera", which clarify itself that it would not be a complete performance. And true, this video is a combination of biography of how she became an opera singer, told by the singer itself, Barbara Hendricks and a description of the personification of Norina, the main female role in the story which was told lengthily followed by several extracts of the music or arias in the rehearsals as well as of the performance itself. Albeit Don Pasquale is not the most popular opera of Donizetti,however watching and listening to this video, it is rather a disappointment for real opera lovers only to be able to watch and listen to only parts of the divine and melodious music which is also sung excellently and brilliantly by Barbara Hendricks and al. We would then wonder when a complete performance of this opera will be available in video, as we are convinced that Barbara Hendricks made this performance so witty, brilliant and maervellous. | 983 | [
"The introduction of this video is:\"My favorite opera\", which clarify itself that it would not be a complete performance.",
"And true, this video is a combination of biography of how she became an opera singer, told by the singer itself, Barbara Hendricks and a description of the personification of Norina, the main female role in the story which was told lengthily followed by several extracts of the music or arias in the rehearsals as well as of the performance itself.",
"Albeit Don Pasquale is not the most popular opera of Donizetti,however watching and listening to this video, it is rather a disappointment for real opera lovers only to be able to watch and listen to only parts of the divine and melodious music which is also sung excellently and brilliantly by Barbara Hendricks and al.",
"We would then wonder when a complete performance of this opera will be available in video, as we are convinced that Barbara Hendricks made this performance so witty, brilliant and maervellous."
] |
3 | Not bad, not great | I've been looking for a slim/minimal case for my iPhone that fit tightly to the phone. I've purchased several types of cases for my iPhone and my wife's iPhone. Having not found a case that fits tight to the phone, I figured I would try this case too. The case was softer and lighter than most other cases on the market, but it has the same problem as the others I've tried.... just not tight enough. Not a bad case, just a little loose for my taste. I ended up buying the iSkin Revo, which is a much better case. The rubber body is not as thin as I'd like it to be, but it is tight. The Revo also comes with a hard see-through face plate, which I typically don't keep on. The cool thing is the hard face plate is optional and, when not in use, doesn't take away from the functionalty of the case. The only wierd thing about the Revo is it is a lint magnet. But with a quick rub, the lint comes off. That may bother some, but the quality fit overshadows the lint issue in my opinion. | 983 | [
"I've been looking for a slim/minimal case for my iPhone that fit tightly to the phone.",
"I've purchased several types of cases for my iPhone and my wife's iPhone.",
"Having not found a case that fits tight to the phone, I figured I would try this case too.",
"The case was softer and lighter than most other cases on the market, but it has the same problem as the others I've tried.... just not tight enough.",
"Not a bad case, just a little loose for my taste.",
"I ended up buying the iSkin Revo, which is a much better case.",
"The rubber body is not as thin as I'd like it to be, but it is tight.",
"The Revo also comes with a hard see-through face plate, which I typically don't keep on.",
"The cool thing is the hard face plate is optional and, when not in use, doesn't take away from the functionalty of the case.",
"The only wierd thing about the Revo is it is a lint magnet.",
"But with a quick rub, the lint comes off.",
"That may bother some, but the quality fit overshadows the lint issue in my opinion."
] |
3 | Not as good as Motorola | Went through two of these from Verizon. Tried using three different headsets at highway speeds and could not hear my callers. My previous Kyocera did not not have this problem. Bluetooth range was poor and the connection noisy. My bluetooth headset was not the cause as it is clear on other devices.Not a business tool for sure. Good voice dialing system and command program. Twin speakers goofy looking.Returned both 8100's. Replaced them with a Motorola E815. Clear bluetooth and more than enough volume at highway speeds when using headsets. They've been making cell phones for a long time. LG is a newcomer. Go for Motorola. It simply works.I'm also quite wary as to why Verizon is hawking the 8100's so hard, and downplaying the Motorola, this concerns me.bpAlso..major note here! Once you switch to an E911 type of phone, you can never go back to a non-E911 phone! I found this out when wanting to go back to my older Kyocera and V. would not let me citing FCC rules. Whatever. | 983 | [
"Went through two of these from Verizon.",
"Tried using three different headsets at highway speeds and could not hear my callers.",
"My previous Kyocera did not not have this problem.",
"Bluetooth range was poor and the connection noisy.",
"My bluetooth headset was not the cause as it is clear on other devices.Not a business tool for sure.",
"Good voice dialing system and command program.",
"Twin speakers goofy looking.Returned both 8100's.",
"Replaced them with a Motorola E815.",
"Clear bluetooth and more than enough volume at highway speeds when using headsets.",
"They've been making cell phones for a long time.",
"LG is a newcomer.",
"Go for Motorola.",
"It simply works.I'm also quite wary as to why Verizon is hawking the 8100's so hard, and downplaying the Motorola, this concerns me.bpAlso..major note here!",
"Once you switch to an E911 type of phone, you can never go back to a non-E911 phone!",
"I found this out when wanting to go back to my older Kyocera and V.",
"would not let me citing FCC rules.",
"Whatever."
] |
3 | A Curious Point of View | Fifteen year old Christopher is the narrator of this curious book. Christopher has Asperger's Syndrome, which means that he is extremely intelligent, but lacking social graces. Wellington, Christopher's neighbors dead dog is discovered by Christopher who is accused of murdering Wellington.Like his hero Sherlock Holmes, Christopher likes to solve mysteries and so he sets out to solve the mystery of Wellington's death. Eventually Wellington's murderer is discovered and the steps leading up to his clues provide insight into Christopher's own family life. The journey along the way provides the reader with some of Christopher's quirks, like not being able to eat yellow or brown foods, screaming when someone touches him and the fact that seeing four yellow cars in a row will guarantee a black day.The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a short, sweet, and refreshing book with many drawings and illustrations to help readers understand Christopher's point of view. | 983 | [
"Fifteen year old Christopher is the narrator of this curious book.",
"Christopher has Asperger's Syndrome, which means that he is extremely intelligent, but lacking social graces.",
"Wellington, Christopher's neighbors dead dog is discovered by Christopher who is accused of murdering Wellington.Like his hero Sherlock Holmes, Christopher likes to solve mysteries and so he sets out to solve the mystery of Wellington's death.",
"Eventually Wellington's murderer is discovered and the steps leading up to his clues provide insight into Christopher's own family life.",
"The journey along the way provides the reader with some of Christopher's quirks, like not being able to eat yellow or brown foods, screaming when someone touches him and the fact that seeing four yellow cars in a row will guarantee a black day.The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a short, sweet, and refreshing book with many drawings and illustrations to help readers understand Christopher's point of view."
] |
3 | Not very good for all its hype | This movie was a major letdown for me, a huge fan of the HG Wells storyNo one has yet to capture the book the way it was intended, and instead all we get are shoddy remakes of the 1953 movie.First off, this movie was predictable and followed the same pattern as the 53 version. It ended too quickly as well, with Speilberg spending too much time worrying about Tom Cruise's characters kids than focusing on the invasion and the aftermath. he tried to end the movie in like 10 minutes and BOOM it was done.Secondly, this story does NOT take place in modern times. It should be late 19th century with us fighting the invaders with steam battleships and artillery and focusing more on the way humanity unravels. heck if this movie was even more like the Jeff Wayne 1970's Rock Opera it would be more acceptableOverall, Spielberg dropped the ball on this one by cashing out and making it a remake of a bad 1953 movie.And the DVD has no footage or anything added that would make it better | 983 | [
"This movie was a major letdown for me, a huge fan of the HG Wells storyNo one has yet to capture the book the way it was intended, and instead all we get are shoddy remakes of the 1953 movie.First off, this movie was predictable and followed the same pattern as the 53 version.",
"It ended too quickly as well, with Speilberg spending too much time worrying about Tom Cruise's characters kids than focusing on the invasion and the aftermath.",
"he tried to end the movie in like 10 minutes and BOOM it was done.Secondly, this story does NOT take place in modern times.",
"It should be late 19th century with us fighting the invaders with steam battleships and artillery and focusing more on the way humanity unravels.",
"heck if this movie was even more like the Jeff Wayne 1970's Rock Opera it would be more acceptableOverall, Spielberg dropped the ball on this one by cashing out and making it a remake of a bad 1953 movie.And the DVD has no footage or anything added that would make it better"
] |
3 | A Big Disappointment | My 3 1/2 year old daughter begged for this toy for Christmas. "Santa" brought it for her, but his little elf...namely me...was frustrated with the hundred little stickers (roughly the size of the tip of a pencil eraser), not to mention the "click-on" parts that do not click on. Move this toy even a little bit, much less try to play with it, and the balconies, turrets, and second floor fall off. (The turrets are supposed to "press on"...to what?) The crown was so mis-shapen, there is no way any little girl could wear it. The music, while not being overly loud, sounds like the a tinny music box that is playing at too slow a speed. If my daughter was just a little older, I would try to convince her that Santa would not be offended if we returned the toy to a store and picked out something of better quality. Since that probably is not possible, I will have to settle for a tube of crazy glue. I usually read reviews here before buying a "big" toy...I wish I had in this case. | 983 | [
"My 3 1/2 year old daughter begged for this toy for Christmas.",
"\"Santa\" brought it for her, but his little elf...namely me...was frustrated with the hundred little stickers (roughly the size of the tip of a pencil eraser), not to mention the \"click-on\" parts that do not click on.",
"Move this toy even a little bit, much less try to play with it, and the balconies, turrets, and second floor fall off.",
"(The turrets are supposed to \"press on\"...to what?",
") The crown was so mis-shapen, there is no way any little girl could wear it.",
"The music, while not being overly loud, sounds like the a tinny music box that is playing at too slow a speed.",
"If my daughter was just a little older, I would try to convince her that Santa would not be offended if we returned the toy to a store and picked out something of better quality.",
"Since that probably is not possible, I will have to settle for a tube of crazy glue.",
"I usually read reviews here before buying a \"big\" toy...I wish I had in this case."
] |
3 | Okay...Not vital, but not bad. | Call me a completist. I've tried to collect everything I can get my hands on related to the Diablo series of games, so I HAD to get this book. If you're looking for in-depth strategies for beating Baal, you might want to look elsewhere. There are a number of fine websites where you can find that. The problem with strategy guides for the Diablo series is the fact that most of the action is generated randomly. Diablo II is not a strictly linear game where every player will experience basically the same thing. That is a large part of the games' appeal. Personally, I like having a book that I can go relax with after spending a few hours going toe-to-toe with the forces of Evil. Try dragging your PC to bed with you! But seriously, the best thing about this book is the nice overview of the new Druid and Assassin character classes, especially their respective skill trees. Also, there are suggestions for leveling up these characters. Vital information, nah...Just a nice extra. | 983 | [
"Call me a completist.",
"I've tried to collect everything I can get my hands on related to the Diablo series of games, so I HAD to get this book.",
"If you're looking for in-depth strategies for beating Baal, you might want to look elsewhere.",
"There are a number of fine websites where you can find that.",
"The problem with strategy guides for the Diablo series is the fact that most of the action is generated randomly.",
"Diablo II is not a strictly linear game where every player will experience basically the same thing.",
"That is a large part of the games' appeal.",
"Personally, I like having a book that I can go relax with after spending a few hours going toe-to-toe with the forces of Evil.",
"Try dragging your PC to bed with you!",
"But seriously, the best thing about this book is the nice overview of the new Druid and Assassin character classes, especially their respective skill trees.",
"Also, there are suggestions for leveling up these characters.",
"Vital information, nah...Just a nice extra."
] |
3 | Fun, but hard to follow! | This is a fun dance workout, with the instructions by the "Dancing with the Stars" crew. However, the instruction goes way too fast and are very hard to follow. I tried doing all the dances; however, I kept getting lost after the first couple of moves. My husband and I took a ballroom dancing class a couple of years ago, and I learned the Cha-Cha, so that dance was okay to follow (since I already knew some of the moves). But if you want this DVD for a learn-how-to dance and an areobic workout, then buy something else. I get an okay workout, I mean the dances are pretty good once you can actually get them down, but it takes lots of time using the DVD to do that. I am doing dance by dance, learning one completely (enough so I can do it without the instruction), and then moving on to another one. If they would just slow down their instruction, do it step-by-step, then let you do a good dance workout, it would be a lot better. Too bad, thought it was going to be real good. | 983 | [
"This is a fun dance workout, with the instructions by the \"Dancing with the Stars\" crew.",
"However, the instruction goes way too fast and are very hard to follow.",
"I tried doing all the dances; however, I kept getting lost after the first couple of moves.",
"My husband and I took a ballroom dancing class a couple of years ago, and I learned the Cha-Cha, so that dance was okay to follow (since I already knew some of the moves).",
"But if you want this DVD for a learn-how-to dance and an areobic workout, then buy something else.",
"I get an okay workout, I mean the dances are pretty good once you can actually get them down, but it takes lots of time using the DVD to do that.",
"I am doing dance by dance, learning one completely (enough so I can do it without the instruction), and then moving on to another one.",
"If they would just slow down their instruction, do it step-by-step, then let you do a good dance workout, it would be a lot better.",
"Too bad, thought it was going to be real good."
] |
3 | fun but disappointing | The video is very interesting, with wonderful footage of catching fish. I was glad I watched, but thought the video could have been much more. I was disappointed that there was almost no INFORMATION. I could seldom tell exactly where they were, they did not describe what permissions, if any, they needed to fish in specific areas, they did not discuss gear, etc. They did show many of the flies they used. I was curious about costs (they mentioned they did not fish private waters that cost 300 US dollars per day). How did they buy their jeep? What roads were they on? How did they arrange camping? Under what conditions did they use nymphs vs dry flies vs streamers? What US fly patterns worked? What new patterns did they learn about? How did they learn about them? And so forth. In summary, I recommend the video, but if you view it, expect to have many unanswered questions. Be sure to watch the bonus section. It seemed to have a bit more narration. I want to go to Patagonia. | 983 | [
"The video is very interesting, with wonderful footage of catching fish.",
"I was glad I watched, but thought the video could have been much more.",
"I was disappointed that there was almost no INFORMATION.",
"I could seldom tell exactly where they were, they did not describe what permissions, if any, they needed to fish in specific areas, they did not discuss gear, etc.",
"They did show many of the flies they used.",
"I was curious about costs (they mentioned they did not fish private waters that cost 300 US dollars per day).",
"How did they buy their jeep?",
"What roads were they on?",
"How did they arrange camping?",
"Under what conditions did they use nymphs vs dry flies vs streamers?",
"What US fly patterns worked?",
"What new patterns did they learn about?",
"How did they learn about them?",
"And so forth.",
"In summary, I recommend the video, but if you view it, expect to have many unanswered questions.",
"Be sure to watch the bonus section.",
"It seemed to have a bit more narration.",
"I want to go to Patagonia."
] |
3 | loud | I'm using the double sponge filter for my 20gal tank to supplement my HOB power filter. This is my first sponge filter so the following things I say may be naive or incorrect, however I expected the sponges to pick up more stuff in my goldfish tank. I squeeze out the sponges every week with my water change. my HOB filter is always super dirty, but the sponges don't seem to have much dirt in them, so I'm now cleaning them every other week.My main gripe, and the reason for the 3 stars, is this thing is LOUD. there is an adjustable upside down L shaped tube that the instructions say to keep half submerged for best results. Due to the construction of the tube, the air creates an annoying whistling sound, whether I keep it half submerged, fully submerged, or out of the water completely. So i'm just not using the tube at all and letting the bubbles come straight up out of the core tube of the filter.Looking back (and forward) I would probably go with the hydro sponge filters | 983 | [
"I'm using the double sponge filter for my 20gal tank to supplement my HOB power filter.",
"This is my first sponge filter so the following things I say may be naive or incorrect, however I expected the sponges to pick up more stuff in my goldfish tank.",
"I squeeze out the sponges every week with my water change.",
"my HOB filter is always super dirty, but the sponges don't seem to have much dirt in them, so I'm now cleaning them every other week.My main gripe, and the reason for the 3 stars, is this thing is LOUD.",
"there is an adjustable upside down L shaped tube that the instructions say to keep half submerged for best results.",
"Due to the construction of the tube, the air creates an annoying whistling sound, whether I keep it half submerged, fully submerged, or out of the water completely.",
"So i'm just not using the tube at all and letting the bubbles come straight up out of the core tube of the filter.Looking back (and forward) I would probably go with the hydro sponge filters"
] |
3 | Watchable Only For David Niven | A bravura performance by David Niven - had never seen him do characters before. I'm so used to his consistent polished persona, this was the first time I had seen him act as anything but 'David Niven'. Awesome!You have to wonder why he never pursued other roles that could've showcased his amazing ability with various English accents?Candleshoe is an otherwise predictably average Disney live-action production for the period. Notable for having a young Jodie Foster as a street smart hustler pulled into a con orchestrated by the always enjoyable Leo McKern. His goal - use the girl to lead him to a hidden pirate treasure.This should be a two star, but Niven was really splendid in his brief, but memorable multiple roles. And that alone is worth a star - and at least one viewing.For a real treat and an infinitely more enjoyable Disney film utlizing a similar plot - consider screening Peter Ustinov's brilliant and hilarious performance as Edward Teach in "Blackbeard's Ghost". | 983 | [
"A bravura performance by David Niven - had never seen him do characters before.",
"I'm so used to his consistent polished persona, this was the first time I had seen him act as anything but 'David Niven'.",
"Awesome!",
"You have to wonder why he never pursued other roles that could've showcased his amazing ability with various English accents?",
"Candleshoe is an otherwise predictably average Disney live-action production for the period.",
"Notable for having a young Jodie Foster as a street smart hustler pulled into a con orchestrated by the always enjoyable Leo McKern.",
"His goal - use the girl to lead him to a hidden pirate treasure.This should be a two star, but Niven was really splendid in his brief, but memorable multiple roles.",
"And that alone is worth a star - and at least one viewing.For a real treat and an infinitely more enjoyable Disney film utlizing a similar plot - consider screening Peter Ustinov's brilliant and hilarious performance as Edward Teach in \"Blackbeard's Ghost\"."
] |
3 | Oster Breadmaker issues | Many of the reviews of the Oster mention problems getting the Oster breadmaker to make satisfactory loaves of bread. I've been using this model for several years. My initial efforts pretty well matched the experience relayed in other reviews. Bricks or collapsed loaves, etc.Here's the real scoop. This bread machine is very sensitive to the amount of moisture. Be prepared to experiment in order to make satisfactory loaves. Take notes when making bread in the machine. If it collapses or hits the lid, use less water. If it is a brick add more water. Try adding gluten if the loaf won't rise well. Add slightly more yeast if it is a brick.After much note taking and slight modifications to the recipes, I've managed to make excellent loaves of bread starting from nearly any recipe I've found on the internet. Some work well as written, but most won't work well in this machine without some adjustment. So be prepared to experiment.Experimentation is half the fun of baking anyway. | 983 | [
"Many of the reviews of the Oster mention problems getting the Oster breadmaker to make satisfactory loaves of bread.",
"I've been using this model for several years.",
"My initial efforts pretty well matched the experience relayed in other reviews.",
"Bricks or collapsed loaves, etc.Here's the real scoop.",
"This bread machine is very sensitive to the amount of moisture.",
"Be prepared to experiment in order to make satisfactory loaves.",
"Take notes when making bread in the machine.",
"If it collapses or hits the lid, use less water.",
"If it is a brick add more water.",
"Try adding gluten if the loaf won't rise well.",
"Add slightly more yeast if it is a brick.After much note taking and slight modifications to the recipes, I've managed to make excellent loaves of bread starting from nearly any recipe I've found on the internet.",
"Some work well as written, but most won't work well in this machine without some adjustment.",
"So be prepared to experiment.Experimentation is half the fun of baking anyway."
] |
3 | Somewhat disappointed | Does a decent job. However, scratched some of my high grade forged Wusthof knives. As another reviewer stated, does not affect the performance of the knives. Did not do a good job on some of my knives. I felt they could be a lot sharper then they were. I followed the instructions carefully and did develop the burr as described in the instuctions. It did do a pretty good job on some of the knives but didn't do a good job on others. As soon as the Wusthof electric sharpener dropped in price, knowing the quality of the manufacturer, I decided to splurge and purchase it. I am very happy I did, although it doesn't do serrated and Asian knives, it does a fabulous job on straight edge knives. After reading the instructions, I ran a carving knife I was having a problem with for several strokes through the fine slot and wow!!, the proverbial hot knife through butter. As a result, all the knives I was having a problem with are now scary sharp. I will retain the 130 as a back up. | 983 | [
"Does a decent job.",
"However, scratched some of my high grade forged Wusthof knives.",
"As another reviewer stated, does not affect the performance of the knives.",
"Did not do a good job on some of my knives.",
"I felt they could be a lot sharper then they were.",
"I followed the instructions carefully and did develop the burr as described in the instuctions.",
"It did do a pretty good job on some of the knives but didn't do a good job on others.",
"As soon as the Wusthof electric sharpener dropped in price, knowing the quality of the manufacturer, I decided to splurge and purchase it.",
"I am very happy I did, although it doesn't do serrated and Asian knives, it does a fabulous job on straight edge knives.",
"After reading the instructions, I ran a carving knife I was having a problem with for several strokes through the fine slot and wow!!",
", the proverbial hot knife through butter.",
"As a result, all the knives I was having a problem with are now scary sharp.",
"I will retain the 130 as a back up."
] |
3 | Great for tourists, not gamers | I wanted to like Traitor's Gate. Really. After all, it offers a brilliant recreation of the Tower Of London, with photorealistic graphics that provide a downright eerie atmosphere. And it is great for anyone who's ever wanted to explore the parts of the tower that are normally shut off to the public (or anyone who can't fly off to London at any given time.) But as a game, it just falls flat. There's precious little character interaction (aside from the occasional guard you'll have to shoot), and the slow, prerendered 3D movement from node to node will grate on your nerves after about fifteen minutes. On the plus side, the puzzles are well integrated (but a little too tough at times), and the gameplay is nonlinear, which is a rare treat for anyone who's ever played a first person graphic adventure. I enjoyed Cyberflix's "Titanic: Adventure Out Of Time," and I hoped this would offer a similar, historically accurate thrill. It had all the potentional, but just fell short. | 983 | [
"I wanted to like Traitor's Gate.",
"Really.",
"After all, it offers a brilliant recreation of the Tower Of London, with photorealistic graphics that provide a downright eerie atmosphere.",
"And it is great for anyone who's ever wanted to explore the parts of the tower that are normally shut off to the public (or anyone who can't fly off to London at any given time.) But as a game, it just falls flat.",
"There's precious little character interaction (aside from the occasional guard you'll have to shoot), and the slow, prerendered 3D movement from node to node will grate on your nerves after about fifteen minutes.",
"On the plus side, the puzzles are well integrated (but a little too tough at times), and the gameplay is nonlinear, which is a rare treat for anyone who's ever played a first person graphic adventure.",
"I enjoyed Cyberflix's \"Titanic: Adventure Out Of Time,\" and I hoped this would offer a similar, historically accurate thrill.",
"It had all the potentional, but just fell short."
] |
3 | Pretty much inaccurate | While a few of her descriptions were spot-on, most of my numbers were way off, as were my husband's. I'm a Life path of 4, and he is a 3. I'm a singer. I'm a performer. I'm always seeking the spotlight.According to Glynis, I should be in business, or a teacher, and should not crave the spotlight. Both of these occupations seem incredibly unappealing me.I want to go out and conquer the world and be a star. My husband should be the great communicator, the great performer, which he isn't.It seems like our roles are reversed. He has a very analytical job, and the idea of sitting at a desk for 8 hours doing something analytical makes me want to scream and run out of the room in terror.So, while some things she said were somewhat accurate, most were off by a longshot.I would have appreciated some insight into how to go after your goals if the numbers aren't adding up, so to speak, because I know not everyone who is a 4 wants to teach, and not every 3 wants to be a performer. | 983 | [
"While a few of her descriptions were spot-on, most of my numbers were way off, as were my husband's.",
"I'm a Life path of 4, and he is a 3.",
"I'm a singer.",
"I'm a performer.",
"I'm always seeking the spotlight.According to Glynis, I should be in business, or a teacher, and should not crave the spotlight.",
"Both of these occupations seem incredibly unappealing me.I want to go out and conquer the world and be a star.",
"My husband should be the great communicator, the great performer, which he isn't.It seems like our roles are reversed.",
"He has a very analytical job, and the idea of sitting at a desk for 8 hours doing something analytical makes me want to scream and run out of the room in terror.So, while some things she said were somewhat accurate, most were off by a longshot.I would have appreciated some insight into how to go after your goals if the numbers aren't adding up, so to speak, because I know not everyone who is a 4 wants to teach, and not every 3 wants to be a performer."
] |
3 | Not bad - not great | I got this camera as a present a year about a year ago. The image quality isn't bad, but it's a bit fuzzy at high resolution. I was pretty happy with it until I also got the "zoom error". This happened about 6 months in. I would turn on the camera, and the lens wouldn't come out, or the shutter door wouldn't open, or some other issue with the lens would occur. I was able to get it to work on and off by trying to turn the camera on and off repeatedly, but after a couple months of that, I got tired of messing around. I emailed FUJI tech support for an RMA (they have a 1 year warranty, folks), and with 1 day left on my warranty I mailed the camera to them for repair. Within 7 days they had my camera headed back to me repaired and working great.It's unfortunate that this line has these zoom errors. If you got a camera and the zoom error was already repaired, then there's nothing to worry about. I just wish that I hadn't needed to send this in for an RMA in the first place. | 983 | [
"I got this camera as a present a year about a year ago.",
"The image quality isn't bad, but it's a bit fuzzy at high resolution.",
"I was pretty happy with it until I also got the \"zoom error\".",
"This happened about 6 months in.",
"I would turn on the camera, and the lens wouldn't come out, or the shutter door wouldn't open, or some other issue with the lens would occur.",
"I was able to get it to work on and off by trying to turn the camera on and off repeatedly, but after a couple months of that, I got tired of messing around.",
"I emailed FUJI tech support for an RMA (they have a 1 year warranty, folks), and with 1 day left on my warranty I mailed the camera to them for repair.",
"Within 7 days they had my camera headed back to me repaired and working great.It's unfortunate that this line has these zoom errors.",
"If you got a camera and the zoom error was already repaired, then there's nothing to worry about.",
"I just wish that I hadn't needed to send this in for an RMA in the first place."
] |
3 | Not what I expected | As of 2012, this book should rather be called "fixing things" than "debugging".When programmers like me (doing Java, C# etc.) hear debugging TODAY (as of 2012) we expect special advices on breakpoints, watchpoints, testing, profiling and stuff like that. That's not what you find in this book.Examples were ... strange at least. Author mentioned usually hardware bugs (like some voltage was bad) or stuff like fixing vaacum cleaner or heating in house. Examples were supposed to illustrate basic concepts like "stop thinking and look", but I don't feel they made me any better programmer. It kind of helps giving some order to the things you do anyway and call them with right names, but that's quite it.On the other hand, Kindle versions was perfectly formatted, it was very easy to read and understand and overally it was quite fun. I would not recommend it to other programmers to get better in debugging, but I ceratainly won't discourage them from reading it (cant do any harm). | 983 | [
"As of 2012, this book should rather be called \"fixing things\" than \"debugging\".When programmers like me (doing Java, C# etc.) hear debugging TODAY (as of 2012) we expect special advices on breakpoints, watchpoints, testing, profiling and stuff like that.",
"That's not what you find in this book.Examples were ... strange at least.",
"Author mentioned usually hardware bugs (like some voltage was bad) or stuff like fixing vaacum cleaner or heating in house.",
"Examples were supposed to illustrate basic concepts like \"stop thinking and look\", but I don't feel they made me any better programmer.",
"It kind of helps giving some order to the things you do anyway and call them with right names, but that's quite it.On the other hand, Kindle versions was perfectly formatted, it was very easy to read and understand and overally it was quite fun.",
"I would not recommend it to other programmers to get better in debugging, but I ceratainly won't discourage them from reading it (cant do any harm)."
] |
3 | A missed opportunity | Although I am very happy that In This Our Life is finally out on DVD, I felt the other selections were rather banal choices. Why did they have to put Watch On The Rhine in this set? A very tedious talky sactimonius piece of WWII propaganda, which is not even a Davis vehicle. All This and Heaven Too although a box office success in it's day, is rather long and overdrawn. Why not have included Dangerous and Beyond The Forest in this set? Some out there may turn their noses up at the thought of these two films being included in a Bette Davis boxed set--indeed, even Davis admitted to hating these films--but her performances still hold up today, and would have made a good juxtiposition between the young Davis spitfire persona and her latter day turn at a no-holds barred middle-aged vixen. I wonder who puts these packages together???The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 3 (The Old Maid / All This, And Heaven Too / The Great Lie / In This Our Life / Watch on the Rhine / Deception) | 983 | [
"Although I am very happy that In This Our Life is finally out on DVD, I felt the other selections were rather banal choices.",
"Why did they have to put Watch On The Rhine in this set?",
"A very tedious talky sactimonius piece of WWII propaganda, which is not even a Davis vehicle.",
"All This and Heaven Too although a box office success in it's day, is rather long and overdrawn.",
"Why not have included Dangerous and Beyond The Forest in this set?",
"Some out there may turn their noses up at the thought of these two films being included in a Bette Davis boxed set--indeed, even Davis admitted to hating these films--but her performances still hold up today, and would have made a good juxtiposition between the young Davis spitfire persona and her latter day turn at a no-holds barred middle-aged vixen.",
"I wonder who puts these packages together???",
"The Bette Davis Collection, Vol.",
"3 (The Old Maid / All This, And Heaven Too / The Great Lie / In This Our Life / Watch on the Rhine / Deception)"
] |
3 | THE NEW DEMON.... | Seldom, if ever, a metal band departed so drastically from the style contained in its previous efforts like DEMON did with THE PLAGUE!!! They simpy quit with the straigh forwarded Britiavy metal of their two first albuns (NIGHT OF THE DEMON and THE UNEXPECTED GUEST - both classics) and changed thelves into a totally progressive rock band, totally filled with keyboards in all songs, quiting the dark lyrics and including politics an social questions instead!!!! The result was a quite satisfactory album, much more complete and abrangent than the first two albuns, but lacking their punch. It's the kind of album that does no good for a band, due to the drastic change. [In my opinion this album does not seem like a cross] between AC/DC and Iron Maiden, if it is nowhere close to hard rock or heavy metal, besides the fact that AC/DC NEVER used keyboards (and Maiden very few), and DEMONS's THE PLAGUE is filled with keyboards from back to back, them being the main instrument!!!! | 983 | [
"Seldom, if ever, a metal band departed so drastically from the style contained in its previous efforts like DEMON did with THE PLAGUE!!!",
"They simpy quit with the straigh forwarded Britiavy metal of their two first albuns (NIGHT OF THE DEMON and THE UNEXPECTED GUEST - both classics) and changed thelves into a totally progressive rock band, totally filled with keyboards in all songs, quiting the dark lyrics and including politics an social questions instead!!!",
"!",
"The result was a quite satisfactory album, much more complete and abrangent than the first two albuns, but lacking their punch.",
"It's the kind of album that does no good for a band, due to the drastic change.",
"[In my opinion this album does not seem like a cross] between AC/DC and Iron Maiden, if it is nowhere close to hard rock or heavy metal, besides the fact that AC/DC NEVER used keyboards (and Maiden very few), and DEMONS's THE PLAGUE is filled with keyboards from back to back, them being the main instrument!!!",
"!"
] |
3 | Eddington gets it! | The Maquis 'war' against the Cardassian's has hit a brick wall now the Dominion are in league with Dukat, as such the Jem'hadar have been sent in to the DMZ (the area of space where the Maquis operate) and wiped out most of the rebel bases. But in one last ditch attempt by the Maquis to strike a devasting blow to their most hated enemies they have activated several cloaked missles that are headed for Cardassian targets. Sisko and Starfleet can't let this happen (in that order) and Commander Eddington, the former leader of the Maquis now in a Federation prison, is called upon to find these missiles and help destroy them before they reach their target. Bearing in mind Eddington and Sisko HATE each other the two set off in a shuttle together and attempt to stop the Maquis plan. When Sisko realises that the missiles do not exist he is stuck in the middle of the DMZ, with Eddington, and both are surrounded by Jem'hadar. A great episode that is the sequel to For the Uniform. | 983 | [
"The Maquis 'war' against the Cardassian's has hit a brick wall now the Dominion are in league with Dukat, as such the Jem'hadar have been sent in to the DMZ (the area of space where the Maquis operate) and wiped out most of the rebel bases.",
"But in one last ditch attempt by the Maquis to strike a devasting blow to their most hated enemies they have activated several cloaked missles that are headed for Cardassian targets.",
"Sisko and Starfleet can't let this happen (in that order) and Commander Eddington, the former leader of the Maquis now in a Federation prison, is called upon to find these missiles and help destroy them before they reach their target.",
"Bearing in mind Eddington and Sisko HATE each other the two set off in a shuttle together and attempt to stop the Maquis plan.",
"When Sisko realises that the missiles do not exist he is stuck in the middle of the DMZ, with Eddington, and both are surrounded by Jem'hadar.",
"A great episode that is the sequel to For the Uniform."
] |
3 | Not great a bit vulgar | I really didn't like this movie much although the acting was outstanding.Some actors definitely deserved academy award nominations for having to portray unscrupulous and perhaps mentally unbalanced characters. There are 3 movies in one in various locations around the world that have a connection.The movie was slow to get started and I just became impatient with the bad decisions most of characters were making.It was pretty easy to figure out the bad results.I felt sorry for and disgusted by some of the characters and some prolonged and continual scenes were unnecessary. I don't think I needed to continually see a particular characters nudity (We get it). Even though it was just acting, the amount of time the director spent on filming a child masturbating made me feel like this must be what child pornography is about.I guess the point the film was trying to make was about miscommunication. What a long unpleasant road it took to get there.If you have to see it "rent" it. | 983 | [
"I really didn't like this movie much although the acting was outstanding.Some actors definitely deserved academy award nominations for having to portray unscrupulous and perhaps mentally unbalanced characters.",
"There are 3 movies in one in various locations around the world that have a connection.The movie was slow to get started and I just became impatient with the bad decisions most of characters were making.It was pretty easy to figure out the bad results.I felt sorry for and disgusted by some of the characters and some prolonged and continual scenes were unnecessary.",
"I don't think I needed to continually see a particular characters nudity (We get it).",
"Even though it was just acting, the amount of time the director spent on filming a child masturbating made me feel like this must be what child pornography is about.I guess the point the film was trying to make was about miscommunication.",
"What a long unpleasant road it took to get there.If you have to see it \"rent\" it."
] |
3 | Agreed: Meh. | While there was nothing wrong with anything in this movie -- everyone involved did a solid, competent job -- there just wasn't very much to it. I am sure that as a comic book, the two-page splash panels of Priests riding their turbine-engine motorcycles across trackless wastes of desert leaving long dust trails in their wake were glorious works of visual splendor. However, there are no splash panels in movies. There are just long tracking shots of Priests riding turbine-powered motorcycles across a wasteland, which go on just a bit too long -- long enough for you to get slightly bored and start to wonder how the hell anyone thought it would be a good idea to stick a turbine intake duct on the front of a motorcycle that is driving through blowing sand and grit. Everyone is grim and relentless and badass, which sounds good except that if everyone is cool, then no one is. I didn't feel like I had wasted my time seeing it, but I was glad I had waited for the Amazon rental. | 983 | [
"While there was nothing wrong with anything in this movie -- everyone involved did a solid, competent job -- there just wasn't very much to it.",
"I am sure that as a comic book, the two-page splash panels of Priests riding their turbine-engine motorcycles across trackless wastes of desert leaving long dust trails in their wake were glorious works of visual splendor.",
"However, there are no splash panels in movies.",
"There are just long tracking shots of Priests riding turbine-powered motorcycles across a wasteland, which go on just a bit too long -- long enough for you to get slightly bored and start to wonder how the hell anyone thought it would be a good idea to stick a turbine intake duct on the front of a motorcycle that is driving through blowing sand and grit.",
"Everyone is grim and relentless and badass, which sounds good except that if everyone is cool, then no one is.",
"I didn't feel like I had wasted my time seeing it, but I was glad I had waited for the Amazon rental."
] |
3 | It does work! | We bought these hoses for our older washing machine - we thought it'd be a good idea since we live in an apartment and a flood would bring bigger-than-life problems here. At the beginning I thought they didn't work. We put the old hoses back on; but I decided to give it another try later on. We figured out that it works only if you don't turn on the water all the way - about half way, the most; enough that it has a reasonable flow into the washing machine. If you turn on the water all the way, the flood-safe mechanism shuts off the water completely. It works fine now.I gave it three stars because I was so frustrated in the beginning and I had to figure out myself how to make them work. I wish it would have some instructions as to how much water flow these hoses allow through before it completely shuts off the flow into the washing machine. If I wouldn't have gone through that headache I would have given it 5 stars because IT DOES WORK after all.Hope this helps someone! | 983 | [
"We bought these hoses for our older washing machine - we thought it'd be a good idea since we live in an apartment and a flood would bring bigger-than-life problems here.",
"At the beginning I thought they didn't work.",
"We put the old hoses back on; but I decided to give it another try later on.",
"We figured out that it works only if you don't turn on the water all the way - about half way, the most; enough that it has a reasonable flow into the washing machine.",
"If you turn on the water all the way, the flood-safe mechanism shuts off the water completely.",
"It works fine now.I gave it three stars because I was so frustrated in the beginning and I had to figure out myself how to make them work.",
"I wish it would have some instructions as to how much water flow these hoses allow through before it completely shuts off the flow into the washing machine.",
"If I wouldn't have gone through that headache I would have given it 5 stars because IT DOES WORK after all.Hope this helps someone!"
] |
3 | It has good and bad | Around the same time, we had bought two DVD players, a Mintek ($40) and this Sony ($200.) I have to say I like the Mintek a lot more. This Sony Combo is very picky on what DVD's I put! The Mintek is able to play ALL data, most video, and even a PAL DVD from Italy. But the Sony, which costs way too much more, is not even able to play any of that. :(. Although, the reliablility level is very good. It really has never given us any technological problems. But I am saddened to see that Sony dosen't allow so many kinds of DVD's. Also, we have had experiences when this DVD would freeze in between parts of movies.It does play DATA MP3 CD. (Which thats a good feature.) The VHS player is very good and has not given any problems. I would reccomend this to someone who dosen't use data CD's with , AVI or any type of media file.Also its good for DVD's which are either WORLD or NTSC region. If you are someone who watches only DVD's and VHS, than this is for you. Thanks and God Bless. | 983 | [
"Around the same time, we had bought two DVD players, a Mintek ($40) and this Sony ($200.) I have to say I like the Mintek a lot more.",
"This Sony Combo is very picky on what DVD's I put!",
"The Mintek is able to play ALL data, most video, and even a PAL DVD from Italy.",
"But the Sony, which costs way too much more, is not even able to play any of that.",
":(.",
"Although, the reliablility level is very good.",
"It really has never given us any technological problems.",
"But I am saddened to see that Sony dosen't allow so many kinds of DVD's.",
"Also, we have had experiences when this DVD would freeze in between parts of movies.It does play DATA MP3 CD.",
"(Which thats a good feature.) The VHS player is very good and has not given any problems.",
"I would reccomend this to someone who dosen't use data CD's with , AVI or any type of media file.Also its good for DVD's which are either WORLD or NTSC region.",
"If you are someone who watches only DVD's and VHS, than this is for you.",
"Thanks and God Bless."
] |
3 | A+++ voice, B- material | Ralo Malo's rich, expressive voice is one of the great instruments in popular music. I've always believed that he can make even the most trite, hackneyes material sound beautiful.That theory is put to the test with Peter Asher-produced all-cover "You're Only Lonely," which could be subtitled "Raul Does California Mellow!" Raul adds nothing to the J.D. Souther title track except, well, Raul's voice. And that's enough for it to work. The best track is Willie Nelson's "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground," where Raul captures the mournfulness and regret of this song. On the other hand, he adds nothing to his cover of the Bee Gees' creepy "Run to Me," which was already beautifully sung in its original form.Not essential by any means. But not a must-avoid either. If you love Raul's voice so much that you don't mind it being used on B-grade material -- and, really, that's a very good attitude to have -- you'll be content that you added this one to your Raul Malo collection. | 983 | [
"Ralo Malo's rich, expressive voice is one of the great instruments in popular music.",
"I've always believed that he can make even the most trite, hackneyes material sound beautiful.That theory is put to the test with Peter Asher-produced all-cover \"You're Only Lonely,\" which could be subtitled \"Raul Does California Mellow!",
"\" Raul adds nothing to the J.D. Souther title track except, well, Raul's voice.",
"And that's enough for it to work.",
"The best track is Willie Nelson's \"Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,\" where Raul captures the mournfulness and regret of this song.",
"On the other hand, he adds nothing to his cover of the Bee Gees' creepy \"Run to Me,\" which was already beautifully sung in its original form.Not essential by any means.",
"But not a must-avoid either.",
"If you love Raul's voice so much that you don't mind it being used on B-grade material -- and, really, that's a very good attitude to have -- you'll be content that you added this one to your Raul Malo collection."
] |
3 | Only half good | I just passed the Sun Certified Programmer for the Java(TM) Platform this morning after having read this book. This book was very good through chapter 6. The rest of the book gave me the impression that it was written by a Java1.0 programmer, or that the information was cut and pasted from a Java1.0 or Java1.1 exam preparation text. As a particular example, the discussion of the processEvent method of the Component class left me wondering. It's not something you usually have to deal with (use of the XXXXListener methods is preferable) except when doing custom event handling. So, I have to wonder when the event handling discussion begins with that particular topic. I do think that it was worth the $23 I paid for it because the language basics are covered very well. A main reason for my purchase was its brevity. It would not suprise me if there were better exam preparation guides available. Better coverage of the java.io package, threads and events is certainly possible. | 983 | [
"I just passed the Sun Certified Programmer for the Java(TM) Platform this morning after having read this book.",
"This book was very good through chapter 6.",
"The rest of the book gave me the impression that it was written by a Java1.0 programmer, or that the information was cut and pasted from a Java1.0 or Java1.1 exam preparation text.",
"As a particular example, the discussion of the processEvent method of the Component class left me wondering.",
"It's not something you usually have to deal with (use of the XXXXListener methods is preferable) except when doing custom event handling.",
"So, I have to wonder when the event handling discussion begins with that particular topic.",
"I do think that it was worth the $23 I paid for it because the language basics are covered very well.",
"A main reason for my purchase was its brevity.",
"It would not suprise me if there were better exam preparation guides available.",
"Better coverage of the java.io package, threads and events is certainly possible."
] |
3 | Leaves you wondering... | Natasha started out as an interesting read about a young Natalie Wood and her obsessed mother. But, this goes on a little too long. We hear constantly about Maria, Mud or whatever name her mother goes by threats that Natalie will drown in "dark water" and that she doesn't have the body to carry children. Paragraph after paragraph is devoted to her "disformed wrist" hidden by a bracelet. The first 18 years of her life are minutely detailed - so much so that I skipped pages because it was more of the same.The adult Natalie is not given so much attention. Her first marriage to Richard Wagner is less than a chapter. Her marriage to Gregson is less than a chapter. The birth of her children that is foreshadowed to be a harrowing experience - is barely mentioned - yet we get more of that wrist saga.The death of Natalie is covered better than I expected - and the information at the end of the book offered by the skipper of the boat is very interesting. I hope he writes a book. | 983 | [
"Natasha started out as an interesting read about a young Natalie Wood and her obsessed mother.",
"But, this goes on a little too long.",
"We hear constantly about Maria, Mud or whatever name her mother goes by threats that Natalie will drown in \"dark water\" and that she doesn't have the body to carry children.",
"Paragraph after paragraph is devoted to her \"disformed wrist\" hidden by a bracelet.",
"The first 18 years of her life are minutely detailed - so much so that I skipped pages because it was more of the same.The adult Natalie is not given so much attention.",
"Her first marriage to Richard Wagner is less than a chapter.",
"Her marriage to Gregson is less than a chapter.",
"The birth of her children that is foreshadowed to be a harrowing experience - is barely mentioned - yet we get more of that wrist saga.The death of Natalie is covered better than I expected - and the information at the end of the book offered by the skipper of the boat is very interesting.",
"I hope he writes a book."
] |
3 | not working very well for me | i love the idea of tv on my monitor. i have an external monitor hooked up to my 12" 1GHZ powerbook with 1.25 GIG ram, and i love the idea of having a small window of tv open while i work.problem is that it doesn't really work very well. after playing for a half hour or so the video begins to get really choppy, and then will often just freeze up completely. the only way to get back to a smooth video is to restart the whole system. it is as if some sort of cache is filling up.also, it uses so much processor that it is vritually impossible to use any other programs while the eyetv is open.troubleshooting anything is also frustrating because all the info is on the web and only accesible by search, so if you aren't using their terms for a problem, you will not get any search results. frustrating.pros: nice design, easy to hook up. clean software, great featurescons: does not work well enough on my setup, which i don't think is that weak of a setup, to use with satisfaction. | 983 | [
"i love the idea of tv on my monitor.",
"i have an external monitor hooked up to my 12\" 1GHZ powerbook with 1.25 GIG ram, and i love the idea of having a small window of tv open while i work.problem is that it doesn't really work very well.",
"after playing for a half hour or so the video begins to get really choppy, and then will often just freeze up completely.",
"the only way to get back to a smooth video is to restart the whole system.",
"it is as if some sort of cache is filling up.also, it uses so much processor that it is vritually impossible to use any other programs while the eyetv is open.troubleshooting anything is also frustrating because all the info is on the web and only accesible by search, so if you aren't using their terms for a problem, you will not get any search results.",
"frustrating.pros: nice design, easy to hook up.",
"clean software, great featurescons: does not work well enough on my setup, which i don't think is that weak of a setup, to use with satisfaction."
] |
3 | Three stars sums it up... | Well, it's not bad, it's just not very good... where to start?The physical design is okay. It's durable. I drop it just about every time I get out of my car, taking it off the iPod to hit the hold switch while carrying a number of items-- this in itself is a problem, since it'd be nice if the hold switch was left exposed. Otherwise, it looks fine...The iTrip is very moody. Sometimes it just doesn't work; I have to reset my iPod and then go through the whole bothersome process of setting the frequency. The software's terrible, and it's such a bother to set the frequencies, especially while driving.As for the sound quality-- it's not great, and often it fades out and delivers a troublesome amount of static and noise. The frequency range is limited. I drive a volvo, which has the antenna in the back of the car, so this could be the reason, but even in other cars that have front antennas, the quality's still mediocre at best. Stick with a tape, if you have a tape player... | 983 | [
"Well, it's not bad, it's just not very good... where to start?",
"The physical design is okay.",
"It's durable.",
"I drop it just about every time I get out of my car, taking it off the iPod to hit the hold switch while carrying a number of items-- this in itself is a problem, since it'd be nice if the hold switch was left exposed.",
"Otherwise, it looks fine...The iTrip is very moody.",
"Sometimes it just doesn't work; I have to reset my iPod and then go through the whole bothersome process of setting the frequency.",
"The software's terrible, and it's such a bother to set the frequencies, especially while driving.As for the sound quality-- it's not great, and often it fades out and delivers a troublesome amount of static and noise.",
"The frequency range is limited.",
"I drive a volvo, which has the antenna in the back of the car, so this could be the reason, but even in other cars that have front antennas, the quality's still mediocre at best.",
"Stick with a tape, if you have a tape player..."
] |
3 | Incorrect Advertising | I've bought virtually every Euro-thriller and Spaghetti western that Pop Flix has issued because some of the titles are difficult to locate and often come in the letterboxed format. The "Mafia Kingpin" DVD collection advertises "The Master Touch" as a widescreen print, but it turned out to be Full screen when I played it on the Blu-Ray player. I checked "Violent Naples" and "The Cynic, the Rat, and the Fist" and both of them are in widescreen. I've been searching for a widescreen print of "The Master Touch" for years, but I haven't found one yet. I wasn't concerned about the other Jack Palance movies on the second disc. It is really a shame that "The Master Touch" was not presented in widescreen because the cinematography was done by "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" lenser Tonino delli Colli. If you're searching for a widescreen copy of "The Master Touch" don't make the same mistake that I made. I am happy about "Violent Naples" and "The Cynic, the Rat, and the Fist." | 983 | [
"I've bought virtually every Euro-thriller and Spaghetti western that Pop Flix has issued because some of the titles are difficult to locate and often come in the letterboxed format.",
"The \"Mafia Kingpin\" DVD collection advertises \"The Master Touch\" as a widescreen print, but it turned out to be Full screen when I played it on the Blu-Ray player.",
"I checked \"Violent Naples\" and \"The Cynic, the Rat, and the Fist\" and both of them are in widescreen.",
"I've been searching for a widescreen print of \"The Master Touch\" for years, but I haven't found one yet.",
"I wasn't concerned about the other Jack Palance movies on the second disc.",
"It is really a shame that \"The Master Touch\" was not presented in widescreen because the cinematography was done by \"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly\" lenser Tonino delli Colli.",
"If you're searching for a widescreen copy of \"The Master Touch\" don't make the same mistake that I made.",
"I am happy about \"Violent Naples\" and \"The Cynic, the Rat, and the Fist.\""
] |
3 | Tolstoy's last days | This is the story of the last days of Leo Tolstoy, writer and fervent egalitarian who was beloved by the Russian people. A young man (James McAvoy) is hired to be Tolstoy's secretary and finds himself witness to heated arguments between the great man and his wife (Helen Mirren). Tolstoy wants to rid himself of all his possessions and leave his copyrights to the people while his wife wants her children to inherit his estate.Since I haven't read Tolstoy's works and was unfamiliar with his philosophy, the movie failed to engage me despite powerful performances by both Plummer and Mirren. The script assumes the audience is familiar with Tolstoy's greatness, but I didn't know why he was worshipped by his followers, other than he wanted a better life for his countrymen. This is strictly a domestic drama with McAvoy's bland and boring character getting the most screen time. "The Last Station" features outstanding acting by its two stars but the story is flawed, in my opinion. | 983 | [
"This is the story of the last days of Leo Tolstoy, writer and fervent egalitarian who was beloved by the Russian people.",
"A young man (James McAvoy) is hired to be Tolstoy's secretary and finds himself witness to heated arguments between the great man and his wife (Helen Mirren).",
"Tolstoy wants to rid himself of all his possessions and leave his copyrights to the people while his wife wants her children to inherit his estate.Since I haven't read Tolstoy's works and was unfamiliar with his philosophy, the movie failed to engage me despite powerful performances by both Plummer and Mirren.",
"The script assumes the audience is familiar with Tolstoy's greatness, but I didn't know why he was worshipped by his followers, other than he wanted a better life for his countrymen.",
"This is strictly a domestic drama with McAvoy's bland and boring character getting the most screen time.",
"\"The Last Station\" features outstanding acting by its two stars but the story is flawed, in my opinion."
] |
3 | A bit of a disappointment. | I'm a huge fan of attacktix, so I too was excited to order the battle case. However, the rules included for the capture the flag game seem incomplete and you will find yourself having to make up all sorts of house rules to make a smooth gameplay. The turret the case comes with has no instructions at all, so you have to make up what you'll do with it. Also, while the promo pictures have you believe the case is painted, it is NOT. It is all black plastic. Because of the unfilled, unpainted grooves on the surface of the case, it's even hard to move your figures to make the important 'tix'.Some good things:-the figures snap inside the case very well. In fact, my stored figures look just like the promo pictures.-the clone trooper it comes with is an excellent additional figure with a great special power. He's also green and very cool! Probably the best clone trooper available for the game.-if you have more than one battle case gameplay is much more fun (although expensive!) | 983 | [
"I'm a huge fan of attacktix, so I too was excited to order the battle case.",
"However, the rules included for the capture the flag game seem incomplete and you will find yourself having to make up all sorts of house rules to make a smooth gameplay.",
"The turret the case comes with has no instructions at all, so you have to make up what you'll do with it.",
"Also, while the promo pictures have you believe the case is painted, it is NOT.",
"It is all black plastic.",
"Because of the unfilled, unpainted grooves on the surface of the case, it's even hard to move your figures to make the important 'tix'.Some good things:-the figures snap inside the case very well.",
"In fact, my stored figures look just like the promo pictures.-the clone trooper it comes with is an excellent additional figure with a great special power.",
"He's also green and very cool!",
"Probably the best clone trooper available for the game.-if you have more than one battle case gameplay is much more fun (although expensive!",
")"
] |
3 | Desert Mystery | I rate this book 3.5 stars. I enjoyed this mystery very much and I intend to read the next book in the series. Other reviewers have already to attended to the synopsis so I won't reinterate. There was a lot to like about this well thought out mystery.Lena Jones the main character is one tough lady. She is ex-policewoman turned Private Investigator. Lena has several deep seated issues, because of her early life she believes she is unable to love and be loved. However she is one fierce lady, dogged in the pursuit of justice. She is also a likeable character who comes across to the reader as extremely vulnerable and at times fragile. She is surrounded by a cast of caring, well fleshed out characters.What I really enjoyed about this book was the vivid descriptions of the Arizona desert, and about Indian folk lore. The mystery component of the book was pretty good as well. Occasionally the story got a little slow but I think the book was time and money well spent for me.... | 983 | [
"I rate this book 3.5 stars.",
"I enjoyed this mystery very much and I intend to read the next book in the series.",
"Other reviewers have already to attended to the synopsis so I won't reinterate.",
"There was a lot to like about this well thought out mystery.Lena Jones the main character is one tough lady.",
"She is ex-policewoman turned Private Investigator.",
"Lena has several deep seated issues, because of her early life she believes she is unable to love and be loved.",
"However she is one fierce lady, dogged in the pursuit of justice.",
"She is also a likeable character who comes across to the reader as extremely vulnerable and at times fragile.",
"She is surrounded by a cast of caring, well fleshed out characters.What I really enjoyed about this book was the vivid descriptions of the Arizona desert, and about Indian folk lore.",
"The mystery component of the book was pretty good as well.",
"Occasionally the story got a little slow but I think the book was time and money well spent for me...."
] |
3 | Mind bending atmosphere | You get the feeling after just a few spins of DJ Spun's new mix that he rarely eyes the sunlight, content to spin his dub house in fog-filled clubs while playing the minds and feet of a crowd. Because one thing's for sure, SanFranSicko packs atmosphere, a muffled sense of claustrophobia even, and enough off-kilter acid to tickle your spine and fill the air.Not that the squiggle fiends run wild - note the disco shake sensibility of Astral Matrix vs ETI's "Sublizard" - but when the squelch spills over in ETI & the Waller St. Boys' "city of the gods" and Garth and ETI's choice acid rock take on "20 minutes of disco glory" the groove hits stride.Attribute that to smart track order and a DJ not interested in going all-out from the gate. Now if only he could have resisted the warped funk impulses at the end (Soulstice, Mephisto Odyssey) which play like an inadvertent wander into another party room. Still, a mind-bending mover for those willing to leap in the middle. Grade: B | 983 | [
"You get the feeling after just a few spins of DJ Spun's new mix that he rarely eyes the sunlight, content to spin his dub house in fog-filled clubs while playing the minds and feet of a crowd.",
"Because one thing's for sure, SanFranSicko packs atmosphere, a muffled sense of claustrophobia even, and enough off-kilter acid to tickle your spine and fill the air.Not that the squiggle fiends run wild - note the disco shake sensibility of Astral Matrix vs ETI's \"Sublizard\" - but when the squelch spills over in ETI & the Waller St.",
"Boys' \"city of the gods\" and Garth and ETI's choice acid rock take on \"20 minutes of disco glory\" the groove hits stride.Attribute that to smart track order and a DJ not interested in going all-out from the gate.",
"Now if only he could have resisted the warped funk impulses at the end (Soulstice, Mephisto Odyssey) which play like an inadvertent wander into another party room.",
"Still, a mind-bending mover for those willing to leap in the middle.",
"Grade: B"
] |
3 | not very helpful | I approached this book with hope of my own. I've read a number of Groopman's articles in The New Yorker magazine and have been impressed by his thoughtful approach to medicine and his recognition of its limitations.I also read it as a hospice volunteer hoping for a better understanding of how hope can exist for dying patients and perhaps, how to foster that in them. His case studies are interesting and written with sensitivity but not much can be extracted from them. He emphasizes the need for doctors to truly understand their patients, certainly a noble idea, though the financial pressures in modern medicine often make this impossible. He then discusses the literal "anatomy" of hope, what's going on in the body and how the mind affects it. Not much help there.His last chapter, "Lessons Learned", is just a little more than four pages long, which really does represent about how much he has learned about hope and how it exists. There's nothing here to help the caregiver. | 983 | [
"I approached this book with hope of my own.",
"I've read a number of Groopman's articles in The New Yorker magazine and have been impressed by his thoughtful approach to medicine and his recognition of its limitations.I also read it as a hospice volunteer hoping for a better understanding of how hope can exist for dying patients and perhaps, how to foster that in them.",
"His case studies are interesting and written with sensitivity but not much can be extracted from them.",
"He emphasizes the need for doctors to truly understand their patients, certainly a noble idea, though the financial pressures in modern medicine often make this impossible.",
"He then discusses the literal \"anatomy\" of hope, what's going on in the body and how the mind affects it.",
"Not much help there.His last chapter, \"Lessons Learned\", is just a little more than four pages long, which really does represent about how much he has learned about hope and how it exists.",
"There's nothing here to help the caregiver."
] |
3 | It's too small | I think this pencil is too small. It's about half an inch shorter than standard mechanical pencils and pens. It's also somewhat skinny. It's like a somewhat miniaturized pencil. I have large hands and I don't like this small size. It's a little weird. It might be OK if you have small hands. It looks OK and it works OK. I think this pencil is overpriced. It's nice but it shouldn't cost $18. The 0.7mm lead is a little too thick and the 0.5mm is too thin and scratchy. I think 0.6mm would be the perfect size, but nobody makes that. I think someone should make a 0.6mm mechanical pencil. Another bad thing about this pencil is that the textured metal part (silver colored) is too high on the pencil. It should be closer to the tip because that's where you put your fingers. It's stupid to put the grippy part ABOVE where you would put your fingers.. This pencil is poorly designed. Don't buy it. The best mechanical pencil is the Pentel Graph Gear 1000. I highly recommend that one. | 983 | [
"I think this pencil is too small.",
"It's about half an inch shorter than standard mechanical pencils and pens.",
"It's also somewhat skinny.",
"It's like a somewhat miniaturized pencil.",
"I have large hands and I don't like this small size.",
"It's a little weird.",
"It might be OK if you have small hands.",
"It looks OK and it works OK.",
"I think this pencil is overpriced.",
"It's nice but it shouldn't cost $18.",
"The 0.7mm lead is a little too thick and the 0.5mm is too thin and scratchy.",
"I think 0.6mm would be the perfect size, but nobody makes that.",
"I think someone should make a 0.6mm mechanical pencil.",
"Another bad thing about this pencil is that the textured metal part (silver colored) is too high on the pencil.",
"It should be closer to the tip because that's where you put your fingers.",
"It's stupid to put the grippy part ABOVE where you would put your fingers..",
"This pencil is poorly designed.",
"Don't buy it.",
"The best mechanical pencil is the Pentel Graph Gear 1000.",
"I highly recommend that one."
] |
3 | style over substance | i bought this coffeepot even though it didn't have any reviews because i thought it looked cute and that the cuisinart brand was quality. unfortunately, i've had a lot of problems with this coffeepot and now i'm kicking myself for not going with one of the other better-reviewed ones. first, i find the tiny hole you have to pour the water into kind of awkward. my boyfriend doesn't, but i do - if you don't pour the water in just so it spills everywhere. in addition, sometimes when i try to pull out the carafe midstream to pour a cup (it SHOULD pause) it doesn't pause and it just keeps spewing out coffee and it starts sizzling/smoking when it hits the bottom (and once you put the carafe back it gets even worse). and it takes FOREVER to dry - even if i leave it open all day it's STILL wet at night.despite these problems, about 60% of the time it works OK and i have no complaints, it looks cute, and it has a great timer feature that brews your coffee for you in the morning. | 983 | [
"i bought this coffeepot even though it didn't have any reviews because i thought it looked cute and that the cuisinart brand was quality.",
"unfortunately, i've had a lot of problems with this coffeepot and now i'm kicking myself for not going with one of the other better-reviewed ones.",
"first, i find the tiny hole you have to pour the water into kind of awkward.",
"my boyfriend doesn't, but i do - if you don't pour the water in just so it spills everywhere.",
"in addition, sometimes when i try to pull out the carafe midstream to pour a cup (it SHOULD pause) it doesn't pause and it just keeps spewing out coffee and it starts sizzling/smoking when it hits the bottom (and once you put the carafe back it gets even worse).",
"and it takes FOREVER to dry - even if i leave it open all day it's STILL wet at night.despite these problems, about 60% of the time it works OK and i have no complaints, it looks cute, and it has a great timer feature that brews your coffee for you in the morning."
] |
3 | Dogs aren't smart? | The layout of the book is very good and the contents are more complete than most others. It is packed full of useful information; from brief descriptions of the recognized dog groups, to choosing a puppy or adult and of which breed, to training and equipment, to common problems. Hodgson's training methods, however, leave something to be desired. Certainly they are not the worst I've seen, and they are humane. I'm sure many dogs could get by on her methods. What offended me was her viewpoint of dogs; at one point she actually said that she "just isn't convinced that dogs understand"! Throughout the book she insists that dogs are LESS intelligent than most people feel. I'm sure she loves dogs but I personally prefer a trainer with a higher opinion of the canine race. By all means, buy this book for the info. However, if you want a training guide from which your pet can excel, get a book by Carol Lee Benjamin - someone who views dogs as the intelligent creatures they are. | 983 | [
"The layout of the book is very good and the contents are more complete than most others.",
"It is packed full of useful information; from brief descriptions of the recognized dog groups, to choosing a puppy or adult and of which breed, to training and equipment, to common problems.",
"Hodgson's training methods, however, leave something to be desired.",
"Certainly they are not the worst I've seen, and they are humane.",
"I'm sure many dogs could get by on her methods.",
"What offended me was her viewpoint of dogs; at one point she actually said that she \"just isn't convinced that dogs understand\"!",
"Throughout the book she insists that dogs are LESS intelligent than most people feel.",
"I'm sure she loves dogs but I personally prefer a trainer with a higher opinion of the canine race.",
"By all means, buy this book for the info.",
"However, if you want a training guide from which your pet can excel, get a book by Carol Lee Benjamin - someone who views dogs as the intelligent creatures they are."
] |
3 | my dog goes crazy for it | Got it for my cairn terrier for Christmas. At first he didn't pay any attention to it so I put it up. I must have moved it because it started "babbling" and he seemed interested. I rolled it on the floor and he want nuts. He is not an aggressive chewer and has never chewed up any of his stuffed animals but he wants to get this ball between his molars and grind it up. There will be little blue plastic flakes all over. I have double socked it and he chews thru both socks in seconds. I even took some wool pieces and sewed a double thickness around the ball, wool was off in seconds again. He knows where it is at and will stand by the fireplace and look up but I can't let him have it. He is obsessed with it and it would be great if I could get one large enough he could still pick it up but not be able to gnaw on. Will look into getting a larger size when I order something else. Also, it is rather loud but it would be worth it if there wasn't the potential of it harming him. | 983 | [
"Got it for my cairn terrier for Christmas.",
"At first he didn't pay any attention to it so I put it up.",
"I must have moved it because it started \"babbling\" and he seemed interested.",
"I rolled it on the floor and he want nuts.",
"He is not an aggressive chewer and has never chewed up any of his stuffed animals but he wants to get this ball between his molars and grind it up.",
"There will be little blue plastic flakes all over.",
"I have double socked it and he chews thru both socks in seconds.",
"I even took some wool pieces and sewed a double thickness around the ball, wool was off in seconds again.",
"He knows where it is at and will stand by the fireplace and look up but I can't let him have it.",
"He is obsessed with it and it would be great if I could get one large enough he could still pick it up but not be able to gnaw on.",
"Will look into getting a larger size when I order something else.",
"Also, it is rather loud but it would be worth it if there wasn't the potential of it harming him."
] |
3 | Book Club Review | This book was read and reviewed for a mother-daughter book club that I attend. It's a book club of six, nine-year old girls with their respective mothers. None of the girls liked this book. They all found it rather boring.The mothers and I can understand how the girls could find this book dry, but it was highly informative and the girls learned a great deal about Venice. We all agreed that we wanted to see Venice one day. This book was very thorough in explaining the history and traditions of Venice. I personally liked that quality.We read another book a few months ago entitled "The Diary of Melanie Martin". It was a book about a young girl's travels in Italy. The girls in the book club enjoyed that one much more because they were able to get into the thoughts of the main character. While with this book, they got more information on Venice than on the character. I'm sure if Vendela's adventures were more exciting than informative, they would have enjoyed the book more. | 983 | [
"This book was read and reviewed for a mother-daughter book club that I attend.",
"It's a book club of six, nine-year old girls with their respective mothers.",
"None of the girls liked this book.",
"They all found it rather boring.The mothers and I can understand how the girls could find this book dry, but it was highly informative and the girls learned a great deal about Venice.",
"We all agreed that we wanted to see Venice one day.",
"This book was very thorough in explaining the history and traditions of Venice.",
"I personally liked that quality.We read another book a few months ago entitled \"The Diary of Melanie Martin\".",
"It was a book about a young girl's travels in Italy.",
"The girls in the book club enjoyed that one much more because they were able to get into the thoughts of the main character.",
"While with this book, they got more information on Venice than on the character.",
"I'm sure if Vendela's adventures were more exciting than informative, they would have enjoyed the book more."
] |
3 | 2.5, maybe... | Raymond Chandler's wisecracking, star-crossed private eye Philip Marlowe is transplanted into the swinging '60s where hopheads, strippers and psychiatrists join the usual compliment of thugs and goons that make his life miserable. James Garner gets a nice dry run for the "Rockford Files" TV show, while Rita Moreno bares all in her climactic stripping scene. Honestly, the script is not that great -- for the life of me I couldn't actually figure out who did what, or why... But it's still a fun film, in a campy kinda way. The film's one truly great moment is a scene is with Caroll O'Connor as a police detective who, having wearied of playing Marlowe's schnook, bursts into a violent tirade about how lousy his job is, and nearly beats the handcuffed private eye to death. It's a scene that could stand tasteful recycling elsewhere and, I suspect, was only in the film because O'Connor improv-ed it and made *something* good happen in this otherwise somewhat addled production... | 983 | [
"Raymond Chandler's wisecracking, star-crossed private eye Philip Marlowe is transplanted into the swinging '60s where hopheads, strippers and psychiatrists join the usual compliment of thugs and goons that make his life miserable.",
"James Garner gets a nice dry run for the \"Rockford Files\" TV show, while Rita Moreno bares all in her climactic stripping scene.",
"Honestly, the script is not that great -- for the life of me I couldn't actually figure out who did what, or why... But it's still a fun film, in a campy kinda way.",
"The film's one truly great moment is a scene is with Caroll O'Connor as a police detective who, having wearied of playing Marlowe's schnook, bursts into a violent tirade about how lousy his job is, and nearly beats the handcuffed private eye to death.",
"It's a scene that could stand tasteful recycling elsewhere and, I suspect, was only in the film because O'Connor improv-ed it and made *something* good happen in this otherwise somewhat addled production..."
] |
3 | Soundtrack ROCKS!!! | After reading the post from Ryan Cragon, I felt compelled to write my own little review of this little film.Directed by Beastie Boy Mike D's wife Tamra Davis (Billy Madison, Half Baked, CrossRoads), this film dives into the world of extreme sports - motorcross, bmx, skateboarding, snowboarding and skiing. While the pacing of this movie seems a bit off, jumping from skiing to motorcross to bmx to skateboarding to snowboarding to surfing, this film lumps the sports together by similarities. seth morrison says he's influenced by motorcross, next sport is motorcross. travis pastrana says he's influenced by bmx, next sport is bmx. Pretty simple.the soundtrack was pretty amazing, i thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of the film.The film is a good intro into extreme sports, with some of biggest names representing their sport.The little skit that runs throughout the movie is cute at best. it gets a couple of giggles here adn there and is an okay filler. I'd say this is 3.5 stars. | 982 | [
"After reading the post from Ryan Cragon, I felt compelled to write my own little review of this little film.Directed by Beastie Boy Mike D's wife Tamra Davis (Billy Madison, Half Baked, CrossRoads), this film dives into the world of extreme sports - motorcross, bmx, skateboarding, snowboarding and skiing.",
"While the pacing of this movie seems a bit off, jumping from skiing to motorcross to bmx to skateboarding to snowboarding to surfing, this film lumps the sports together by similarities.",
"seth morrison says he's influenced by motorcross, next sport is motorcross.",
"travis pastrana says he's influenced by bmx, next sport is bmx.",
"Pretty simple.the soundtrack was pretty amazing, i thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of the film.The film is a good intro into extreme sports, with some of biggest names representing their sport.The little skit that runs throughout the movie is cute at best.",
"it gets a couple of giggles here adn there and is an okay filler.",
"I'd say this is 3.5 stars."
] |
3 | Way too many errors | I'm glad I checked this book out of the library before parting with my hard-earned cash. As with the majority of crochet books, there is little here for anyone with experience. Almost half the book is taken up with basic stuff that I really don't need to see (or pay for) in EVERY book of patterns, and most of the items are a tad on the young side for me. However, I don't expect all books to be written according to my personal taste, so with that said:At first glance, it appears pretty good for beginners, but closer inspection reveals a huge number of mistakes that's likely to deter a lot of newbies from persevering. After all, in my experience, those new to the fabulous craft of crochet don't know about errata addenda. Basic information, e.g., whether the turning chain counts as a stitch, is missing, and stitch counts are incorrect on at least two of the patterns. This is what really lets it down. It's a pity because I like to see books that make learning crochet fun. | 982 | [
"I'm glad I checked this book out of the library before parting with my hard-earned cash.",
"As with the majority of crochet books, there is little here for anyone with experience.",
"Almost half the book is taken up with basic stuff that I really don't need to see (or pay for) in EVERY book of patterns, and most of the items are a tad on the young side for me.",
"However, I don't expect all books to be written according to my personal taste, so with that said:At first glance, it appears pretty good for beginners, but closer inspection reveals a huge number of mistakes that's likely to deter a lot of newbies from persevering.",
"After all, in my experience, those new to the fabulous craft of crochet don't know about errata addenda.",
"Basic information, e.g., whether the turning chain counts as a stitch, is missing, and stitch counts are incorrect on at least two of the patterns.",
"This is what really lets it down.",
"It's a pity because I like to see books that make learning crochet fun."
] |
3 | Good.....but not great. | Ok, folks, this movie was ok. However, anyone who would give it five stars is a moron. This was not a GREAT movie it was a GOOD movie. I also can't see how anyone can compare this movie with Raiders of the Lost Ark. That was a GREAT movie. It was nominated for best picture. It was original. How much slapstick comedy did you see in Raiders? How many cliches did you catch in Raiders? There is a difference between slapstick/stupid comedy and true witty humor. It's obvious that most movie goers can't make this distinction.The main reason that I like this film is because of the way they designed the Mummy (Imhotep). Excellent casting there. He was menacing and he was powerful. His character carries this movie.Unfortunately, there is just way too much comedy in this flick. It detracts from any suspense or awe. It's hard to get caught up in a movie when the main characters are constantly saying and doing STUPID things.Like I said, it's a good movie. But don't expect Ben Hur. | 982 | [
"Ok, folks, this movie was ok.",
"However, anyone who would give it five stars is a moron.",
"This was not a GREAT movie it was a GOOD movie.",
"I also can't see how anyone can compare this movie with Raiders of the Lost Ark.",
"That was a GREAT movie.",
"It was nominated for best picture.",
"It was original.",
"How much slapstick comedy did you see in Raiders?",
"How many cliches did you catch in Raiders?",
"There is a difference between slapstick/stupid comedy and true witty humor.",
"It's obvious that most movie goers can't make this distinction.The main reason that I like this film is because of the way they designed the Mummy (Imhotep).",
"Excellent casting there.",
"He was menacing and he was powerful.",
"His character carries this movie.Unfortunately, there is just way too much comedy in this flick.",
"It detracts from any suspense or awe.",
"It's hard to get caught up in a movie when the main characters are constantly saying and doing STUPID things.Like I said, it's a good movie.",
"But don't expect Ben Hur."
] |
3 | Interesting Reading | This is a very interesting book about top ten best books by several dozens of living writers (125 to be exact). According to what they chose, the book presents the number one top ten list with the ten best books, and then the list by every one of the writers. Once in a while there is a very useful and appreciated section called "Appreciation of so and so boo," which gives the opportunity to the writer to explain in further detail one of his/her choices. This gives an insight to the reader about the book at hand, so we can decide if that would be a reading we would be interested in. The second part is a very short description of every book that appears on the lists, organized by the times they have been mentioned.The appendixes are: literary number games (by centuries, authors, nationalities, and some genres); index of authors; and index to book descriptions.Not an essential reading, but interesting for those who may be looking to discover new readings. I recommend it. | 982 | [
"This is a very interesting book about top ten best books by several dozens of living writers (125 to be exact).",
"According to what they chose, the book presents the number one top ten list with the ten best books, and then the list by every one of the writers.",
"Once in a while there is a very useful and appreciated section called \"Appreciation of so and so boo,\" which gives the opportunity to the writer to explain in further detail one of his/her choices.",
"This gives an insight to the reader about the book at hand, so we can decide if that would be a reading we would be interested in.",
"The second part is a very short description of every book that appears on the lists, organized by the times they have been mentioned.The appendixes are: literary number games (by centuries, authors, nationalities, and some genres); index of authors; and index to book descriptions.Not an essential reading, but interesting for those who may be looking to discover new readings.",
"I recommend it."
] |
3 | Basically engrossing | Unlike the three previous reviewers, who seem to have loathed this book, I rather liked it. The characters, particularly Justin and Laura Chalmers and Sir William Benedict, were well-drawn, their dialogue believable. The plot, beginning with Sir William's sponsorship of a promising politico, Andrew Maynard, builds up well. The only thing I found slightly unbelievable was the characters' opinion of Sir William as a fool. While they might disparage his origins and lack of ease in high society, any man starting from nothing to build a financial empire would be grudgingly acknowledged as having some sort of know-how. The ending itself was also weak, with the near psychotic Laura happily ensconsed on a paradise island with Sir William as her mentor, her dead but murderous yet still charasmatic brother Justin everpresent. The whole idea of Sir William's buying/developing the island might seem unlikely, but people who have lots of money can do and get most of what they want. | 982 | [
"Unlike the three previous reviewers, who seem to have loathed this book, I rather liked it.",
"The characters, particularly Justin and Laura Chalmers and Sir William Benedict, were well-drawn, their dialogue believable.",
"The plot, beginning with Sir William's sponsorship of a promising politico, Andrew Maynard, builds up well.",
"The only thing I found slightly unbelievable was the characters' opinion of Sir William as a fool.",
"While they might disparage his origins and lack of ease in high society, any man starting from nothing to build a financial empire would be grudgingly acknowledged as having some sort of know-how.",
"The ending itself was also weak, with the near psychotic Laura happily ensconsed on a paradise island with Sir William as her mentor, her dead but murderous yet still charasmatic brother Justin everpresent.",
"The whole idea of Sir William's buying/developing the island might seem unlikely, but people who have lots of money can do and get most of what they want."
] |
3 | Itchy and Scratchy | When I am walking to work, listening to music on my iPod, all is well. But to adjust it, I must get it out of the protective cocoon I have devised. Just like so many other folks, I proudly handed my new iPod to friends and family the first day I got it. Then I looked at it -- Ugh! It looked like I dragged it along a sidewalk for a mile by the headphones. I went to Decalgirl and got some skins to cover it -- but too late. It is not ruined but....How does Black Nano work? Well, the synching with iTunes, etc., works fine. And the sound is OK but I agree with others that anyone interested should look seriously at the Mini. The Mini is tough, has loads of accessories (including cases!), and works well.And finally -- when is Apple going to ship a complete product? For $250, the Nano should come with decent headphones, a travel/home charging kit, and, most of all, a protective case. If Apple had any sense they'd throw in $10 worth of iTunes songs as an intro to that service. | 982 | [
"When I am walking to work, listening to music on my iPod, all is well.",
"But to adjust it, I must get it out of the protective cocoon I have devised.",
"Just like so many other folks, I proudly handed my new iPod to friends and family the first day I got it.",
"Then I looked at it -- Ugh!",
"It looked like I dragged it along a sidewalk for a mile by the headphones.",
"I went to Decalgirl and got some skins to cover it -- but too late.",
"It is not ruined but....How does Black Nano work?",
"Well, the synching with iTunes, etc., works fine.",
"And the sound is OK but I agree with others that anyone interested should look seriously at the Mini.",
"The Mini is tough, has loads of accessories (including cases!",
"), and works well.And finally -- when is Apple going to ship a complete product?",
"For $250, the Nano should come with decent headphones, a travel/home charging kit, and, most of all, a protective case.",
"If Apple had any sense they'd throw in $10 worth of iTunes songs as an intro to that service."
] |
3 | Interesting.... | A somewhat different look at Venice and its people. A very many interesting characters are brought to life with Berendt's words, he does write well and even though some people and circumstances weren't as interesting as others and perhaps induced a little boredom it was still written in true Berendt fashion and I knew I wouldn't be bored for long before another interesting character popped up and said hello.I did learn quite a few things from this book, it is centred loosely around the Fenice burning down and the court case afterwards but along the way we delved into quite a lot of history of Venice and its inhabitants and I loved reading how as the water rises they just simply build up a bit higher so that there are actual houses and whatnot underneath the current Venice city, Napoleon's being one such house.It was a great non-touristy look at Venice, Berendt lived there for a while and started off in the "not tourist season" because he wanted to see the real Venice. | 982 | [
"A somewhat different look at Venice and its people.",
"A very many interesting characters are brought to life with Berendt's words, he does write well and even though some people and circumstances weren't as interesting as others and perhaps induced a little boredom it was still written in true Berendt fashion and I knew I wouldn't be bored for long before another interesting character popped up and said hello.I did learn quite a few things from this book, it is centred loosely around the Fenice burning down and the court case afterwards but along the way we delved into quite a lot of history of Venice and its inhabitants and I loved reading how as the water rises they just simply build up a bit higher so that there are actual houses and whatnot underneath the current Venice city, Napoleon's being one such house.It was a great non-touristy look at Venice, Berendt lived there for a while and started off in the \"not tourist season\" because he wanted to see the real Venice."
] |
3 | OK, but... | I am a Parrothead, I like this album, it is fun, but I have to be honest. The lesser known songs make this record. But I have to agree with reviewers who say that his vocal style is becoming a bit tepid. His version of 'Southern Cross' musically is excellant, but his overly lazy vocals just bring the song down. This, by a man who sings for a living every summer. I was listening to JB's "Son of a Son of a Sailor" the other day and man what a difference in the singing. These are supposed to be entertaining songs for the fans, but the ho-hum, la-te-da vocal treatment makes me think he is tiring of the job. It's not like Bob Dylan whose singing is terrible but delivers a powerful message through his songwriting. Here, we get music as a source of escapism and blase', almost karaoke like, singing.All in all, the album is entertaining. But I am finding more and more that knockoff bands he inspired are doing a much better job with his songs (i.e. - Texas band named Key west). | 982 | [
"I am a Parrothead, I like this album, it is fun, but I have to be honest.",
"The lesser known songs make this record.",
"But I have to agree with reviewers who say that his vocal style is becoming a bit tepid.",
"His version of 'Southern Cross' musically is excellant, but his overly lazy vocals just bring the song down.",
"This, by a man who sings for a living every summer.",
"I was listening to JB's \"Son of a Son of a Sailor\" the other day and man what a difference in the singing.",
"These are supposed to be entertaining songs for the fans, but the ho-hum, la-te-da vocal treatment makes me think he is tiring of the job.",
"It's not like Bob Dylan whose singing is terrible but delivers a powerful message through his songwriting.",
"Here, we get music as a source of escapism and blase', almost karaoke like, singing.All in all, the album is entertaining.",
"But I am finding more and more that knockoff bands he inspired are doing a much better job with his songs (i.e. - Texas band named Key west)."
] |
3 | not the best but good enough | well here is my take on it...doesnt' have the best sound quality but i bought it to use it for my workout so is great for it. if i want great sound then i'll just use my ipod. it's light and best of all it uses an external AAA battery. i have used the psyc for 16 hours now...battery level is still at the highest...what else can i say? if only ipod used AAA's. if you're looking for a 512MB player, you're probably looking for something that you can use for your jogging or some workout session...if not you should be looking for a hard drive player. it's 99 bucks too....how many other 512mb players do you get for 99? besides the ipod shuffle i don't see any...and it has a display too....anyway...if you're looking for great sound....go somewhere else, if you're looking to workout with it look no further. Oh and one more thing....this thing can get loud...seriously loud...with the volume level at half it's as loud and my ipod will ever get...just one more thing to consider. | 982 | [
"well here is my take on it...doesnt' have the best sound quality but i bought it to use it for my workout so is great for it.",
"if i want great sound then i'll just use my ipod.",
"it's light and best of all it uses an external AAA battery.",
"i have used the psyc for 16 hours now...battery level is still at the highest...what else can i say?",
"if only ipod used AAA's.",
"if you're looking for a 512MB player, you're probably looking for something that you can use for your jogging or some workout session...if not you should be looking for a hard drive player.",
"it's 99 bucks too....how many other 512mb players do you get for 99?",
"besides the ipod shuffle i don't see any...and it has a display too....anyway...if you're looking for great sound....go somewhere else, if you're looking to workout with it look no further.",
"Oh and one more thing....this thing can get loud...seriously loud...with the volume level at half it's as loud and my ipod will ever get...just one more thing to consider."
] |
3 | Marginally Worthwhile | This DVD doesn't have much that's new in terms of the film itself; one side has the theatrical release, the other the "Alan Smithee" version. In my opinion the Alan Smithee version is simply nasty - there are strange cuts and additions in the middle of characters speaking, the Prologue is long, poorly written, and the narrator is just wrong - he proves during the course of the film that he can't even say "Piter de Vries" correctly. There are stupidities such as trying to show the arrival of characters by presenting stock footage of a Harkonnen ship flying, even if the character arriving isn't a Harkonnen.The original David Lynch cut which Frank Herbert approved of, remains a mystery.Finally, there does not appear to have been any enhancement to the film quality; it doesn't seem to have been remastered.That said, there are some small extras like Deleted Scenes and Designing Dune which are interesting. If you are a heavy Dune fan, these extras make the DVD worth owning. | 982 | [
"This DVD doesn't have much that's new in terms of the film itself; one side has the theatrical release, the other the \"Alan Smithee\" version.",
"In my opinion the Alan Smithee version is simply nasty - there are strange cuts and additions in the middle of characters speaking, the Prologue is long, poorly written, and the narrator is just wrong - he proves during the course of the film that he can't even say \"Piter de Vries\" correctly.",
"There are stupidities such as trying to show the arrival of characters by presenting stock footage of a Harkonnen ship flying, even if the character arriving isn't a Harkonnen.The original David Lynch cut which Frank Herbert approved of, remains a mystery.Finally, there does not appear to have been any enhancement to the film quality; it doesn't seem to have been remastered.That said, there are some small extras like Deleted Scenes and Designing Dune which are interesting.",
"If you are a heavy Dune fan, these extras make the DVD worth owning."
] |
3 | More like 3 & 1/2 stars | A friend highly recommended this book to me, which is perhaps why I was a little disappointed, as I had very high hopes when picking up this book. While I did end up enjoying the story when I put the book down, it was not a favorite of mine, nor did it compel me to pick up any more of Smith's books.The reading was slow going for me for at least half of the book. While, I normally throughly enjoy investigative, suspenseful type stories, this one didn't grab onto me quickly. However, about halfway through it seemed to pick up, or perhaps I became accustom to the writing style or Arkady character. Simply put, the plot kept me reading, because I did begin to care enough to see what would happen at the end. I was glad that I did, I did start to enjoy the characters and story a bit more, and I was happy with the ending. In addition, the book does not lack mystery and suspense.Overall, not a bad read, but not an author that I'd pick up again. Just not my type, I don't think. | 982 | [
"A friend highly recommended this book to me, which is perhaps why I was a little disappointed, as I had very high hopes when picking up this book.",
"While I did end up enjoying the story when I put the book down, it was not a favorite of mine, nor did it compel me to pick up any more of Smith's books.The reading was slow going for me for at least half of the book.",
"While, I normally throughly enjoy investigative, suspenseful type stories, this one didn't grab onto me quickly.",
"However, about halfway through it seemed to pick up, or perhaps I became accustom to the writing style or Arkady character.",
"Simply put, the plot kept me reading, because I did begin to care enough to see what would happen at the end.",
"I was glad that I did, I did start to enjoy the characters and story a bit more, and I was happy with the ending.",
"In addition, the book does not lack mystery and suspense.Overall, not a bad read, but not an author that I'd pick up again.",
"Just not my type, I don't think."
] |
3 | dated and low on deep insights | I like to wait a week or 2 after reading a book to decide how much I really got out of it. The answer for this book was "not much". The main take-home messages were "don't use so many words" and "usability testing is important and easy to do yourself". I just didn't get much out of it. The look & feel of most of the examples were so dated it was painful at times. Most of the content was really shallow and I didn't think told me any more than I already knew. I guess I would recommend not getting this book if you have ANY previous experience reading web design journals or any other books on the subject. That being said, some of the examples in the book were worth seeing, and I liked the for-anyones-use letters to bosses who want you to do terrible things at the end of the book.I was also really interesting the the usability testing portion of the book - but it was also too shallow. Maybe I'll give the "rocket surgery made easy" book a try.Worth borrowing but not buying. | 982 | [
"I like to wait a week or 2 after reading a book to decide how much I really got out of it.",
"The answer for this book was \"not much\".",
"The main take-home messages were \"don't use so many words\" and \"usability testing is important and easy to do yourself\".",
"I just didn't get much out of it.",
"The look & feel of most of the examples were so dated it was painful at times.",
"Most of the content was really shallow and I didn't think told me any more than I already knew.",
"I guess I would recommend not getting this book if you have ANY previous experience reading web design journals or any other books on the subject.",
"That being said, some of the examples in the book were worth seeing, and I liked the for-anyones-use letters to bosses who want you to do terrible things at the end of the book.I was also really interesting the the usability testing portion of the book - but it was also too shallow.",
"Maybe I'll give the \"rocket surgery made easy\" book a try.Worth borrowing but not buying."
] |
3 | A little disappointing.. | At the recommendation of a friend, I started reading the Shopaholic series last summer. Becky Bloomwood wormed her way into my heart, Denny & George scarf and all. Now we're 5 books in, and quite frankly, I don't find her all that endearing anymore. Her eccentric quirks and her apparent lack of common sense become increasingly frustrating throughout this book. I spent the majority of my time skimming through the pages, wishing that somehow, some way, Becky would not only learn the value of a dollar (it must be nice to have a rich husband to bail you out every time you screw up! And I've never heard of banks permitting overdrafts of $3000 - mine starts charging insane fees if you go even a penny in the red!), but to learn from her mistakes, which she is apparently incapable of doing.I don't know that I will be continuing on with this series, which is sad. I'd love to see Becky embrace her Shopaholic nature, while at the same time, being a smart shopper. It can be done. | 982 | [
"At the recommendation of a friend, I started reading the Shopaholic series last summer.",
"Becky Bloomwood wormed her way into my heart, Denny & George scarf and all.",
"Now we're 5 books in, and quite frankly, I don't find her all that endearing anymore.",
"Her eccentric quirks and her apparent lack of common sense become increasingly frustrating throughout this book.",
"I spent the majority of my time skimming through the pages, wishing that somehow, some way, Becky would not only learn the value of a dollar (it must be nice to have a rich husband to bail you out every time you screw up!",
"And I've never heard of banks permitting overdrafts of $3000 - mine starts charging insane fees if you go even a penny in the red!",
"), but to learn from her mistakes, which she is apparently incapable of doing.I don't know that I will be continuing on with this series, which is sad.",
"I'd love to see Becky embrace her Shopaholic nature, while at the same time, being a smart shopper.",
"It can be done."
] |
3 | It is time to move on. | This was shown in England on september 11th 2002, along with all the other 9/11 programmes. I thought that, although this was a moving and extraordinary programme, it is time that people should MOVE ON into the future, instead of dwelling in the past. Constantly re-visiting those events cannot do anything but hurt those who were directly affected, For there to be such a large market of september 11th memorabillia, books and tv shows means that the terrorists have partly succeded in doing what they aimed to do - disrupting the western world. However, in England we were distanced from the actual events and that may be why attitudes to September 11th differ so greatly in England than in America.I have the utmost respect for those firefighters featured in 9/11, but this DVD and VHS means that someone is making money out of this tragedy, and that is unacceptable. All profits made should be given to the charities set up to provide for those who lost family in these attacks. | 982 | [
"This was shown in England on september 11th 2002, along with all the other 9/11 programmes.",
"I thought that, although this was a moving and extraordinary programme, it is time that people should MOVE ON into the future, instead of dwelling in the past.",
"Constantly re-visiting those events cannot do anything but hurt those who were directly affected, For there to be such a large market of september 11th memorabillia, books and tv shows means that the terrorists have partly succeded in doing what they aimed to do - disrupting the western world.",
"However, in England we were distanced from the actual events and that may be why attitudes to September 11th differ so greatly in England than in America.I have the utmost respect for those firefighters featured in 9/11, but this DVD and VHS means that someone is making money out of this tragedy, and that is unacceptable.",
"All profits made should be given to the charities set up to provide for those who lost family in these attacks."
] |
3 | Joining the legions... | ...of uninspired, rip off melo-death acts is what Arch Enemy accomplish with this release. Which is a damn shame, cause I had high hopes for this band. They never came close to matching the perfection of sound achieved by Carcass, and were held back by a mediocre vocalist their first couple albums, but upon hearing Wages of Sin I felt new life breathed back into the band in the form of Angela Gossow. With a competent vocalist backing an already talented band, they released a pretty killer album.Unfortuantly, they close the doors that were opened for them from that album with Anthems of Rebellion. This isn't a terrible album, just a very uninspired album. If you've own any classic Swedish extreme metal there's no reason to buy this. I imagine they might have downloaded a whole bunch of tabs from various bands and attempted to recombine them during this recording session. Seriously, that's how uninspired this sounds. I guess I'll just hope the best for the next album... | 982 | [
"...of uninspired, rip off melo-death acts is what Arch Enemy accomplish with this release.",
"Which is a damn shame, cause I had high hopes for this band.",
"They never came close to matching the perfection of sound achieved by Carcass, and were held back by a mediocre vocalist their first couple albums, but upon hearing Wages of Sin I felt new life breathed back into the band in the form of Angela Gossow.",
"With a competent vocalist backing an already talented band, they released a pretty killer album.Unfortuantly, they close the doors that were opened for them from that album with Anthems of Rebellion.",
"This isn't a terrible album, just a very uninspired album.",
"If you've own any classic Swedish extreme metal there's no reason to buy this.",
"I imagine they might have downloaded a whole bunch of tabs from various bands and attempted to recombine them during this recording session.",
"Seriously, that's how uninspired this sounds.",
"I guess I'll just hope the best for the next album..."
] |
3 | Incredibly Not Incredible | I saw Finch based on the fact that I saw them on the Garageband.com site and they listed the Deftones as an influence. I saw them on the Drive-Thru records showcase and just thought they were terrible. After thinking about it a little bit I decided it might've been the mix and borrowed the album from a co-worker. I listened to it immediately and thought it was just average.One night I was hanging with my brother and decided to go pick it up after we were talking about it. Now I realize just how blah it really is. Don't get me wrong there are some good tracks. The best on the album is "Without You Here," which really sounds like it could be from the Deftones latest release White Pony. I also did like the single "Letters to You," enough but my biggest complaint is the overusage of kick-drums. It just sounds so bad to use a double bass pedal, no matter what music you play. If you're a Deftones fan or just an emocore fan move on from this album. You're wasting your money. | 982 | [
"I saw Finch based on the fact that I saw them on the Garageband.com site and they listed the Deftones as an influence.",
"I saw them on the Drive-Thru records showcase and just thought they were terrible.",
"After thinking about it a little bit I decided it might've been the mix and borrowed the album from a co-worker.",
"I listened to it immediately and thought it was just average.One night I was hanging with my brother and decided to go pick it up after we were talking about it.",
"Now I realize just how blah it really is.",
"Don't get me wrong there are some good tracks.",
"The best on the album is \"Without You Here,\" which really sounds like it could be from the Deftones latest release White Pony.",
"I also did like the single \"Letters to You,\" enough but my biggest complaint is the overusage of kick-drums.",
"It just sounds so bad to use a double bass pedal, no matter what music you play.",
"If you're a Deftones fan or just an emocore fan move on from this album.",
"You're wasting your money."
] |
3 | Pete Yawn | Pete Yorn 5 stars? Come on people. More like Pete Yawn. Aren't we all being a little too 5 star happy here? I think the problem is that given the current state of popular music, we are all too eager find the new Messiah that is going to deliver us from the Rock-N-Roll wasteland. Every time a new artist comes along that shows even the slightest promise, we want to believe they are the one. Let's be honest with ourselves now that some of the hype has died down. Pete Yorn has put out a respectable, but not much better than mediocre product here. Even the radio friendly Strange Condition really isn't all that great now is it? And that's the highlight of this CD! Let's give him 3 stars for effort and wait to see if all this hero worship remains when he releases his next work. My money says that Pete Yorn will wind up just another footnote in Rock history's also rans. Pete I hope you prove me wrong because in all honesty, I want to believe just like everyone else out there. | 982 | [
"Pete Yorn 5 stars?",
"Come on people.",
"More like Pete Yawn.",
"Aren't we all being a little too 5 star happy here?",
"I think the problem is that given the current state of popular music, we are all too eager find the new Messiah that is going to deliver us from the Rock-N-Roll wasteland.",
"Every time a new artist comes along that shows even the slightest promise, we want to believe they are the one.",
"Let's be honest with ourselves now that some of the hype has died down.",
"Pete Yorn has put out a respectable, but not much better than mediocre product here.",
"Even the radio friendly Strange Condition really isn't all that great now is it?",
"And that's the highlight of this CD!",
"Let's give him 3 stars for effort and wait to see if all this hero worship remains when he releases his next work.",
"My money says that Pete Yorn will wind up just another footnote in Rock history's also rans.",
"Pete I hope you prove me wrong because in all honesty, I want to believe just like everyone else out there."
] |
3 | Review | Bless me, Ulyima was like book like I have never read, it started off slow and gradually got more exciting. I had two opinions toward the book, one is positive and one is negitive. I liked this book because Antonio was like myself as a child. He is a small kid who is trying to find the truth of his faith. This cahracter was not perfect like most characters, but he portrayed as an innocent little boy. He was a sneaky little child who followed his father everywhere and got into fights at school. THe side of the book I disliked was the way he potrayed the Catholic Church. It seemed like there were cuss words than any other book I have ever read. I thingk he showed many bad sides of the Catholic Church including the way we pray. I don't think I would read another book by Rudolfo Anaya because it was very confusing getting into the novel. I also would read his work because of the cuss words. I would rate this book as a 3 star because of my conflicting opinions on the book. | 982 | [
"Bless me, Ulyima was like book like I have never read, it started off slow and gradually got more exciting.",
"I had two opinions toward the book, one is positive and one is negitive.",
"I liked this book because Antonio was like myself as a child.",
"He is a small kid who is trying to find the truth of his faith.",
"This cahracter was not perfect like most characters, but he portrayed as an innocent little boy.",
"He was a sneaky little child who followed his father everywhere and got into fights at school.",
"THe side of the book I disliked was the way he potrayed the Catholic Church.",
"It seemed like there were cuss words than any other book I have ever read.",
"I thingk he showed many bad sides of the Catholic Church including the way we pray.",
"I don't think I would read another book by Rudolfo Anaya because it was very confusing getting into the novel.",
"I also would read his work because of the cuss words.",
"I would rate this book as a 3 star because of my conflicting opinions on the book."
] |
3 | Good With Major Qualifications | Those coming across Robert Sherwood's ROOSEVELT & HOPKINS might get the idea from the title that it is a biographical / historical study of Franklin Roosevelt's right-hand man, Harry Hopkins, and his relationship with the president. It certainly is, but as such it leaves something to be desired, being neither an astute historical document nor much of a biography of Hopkins, and overstuffed at that.However, that said it is still a very valuable book. Sherwood, who was one of Roosevelt's speechwriters, chose to use Hopkins' wartime notes as the basis for his narrative, fleshing it out with his, Sherwood's, own recollections of the Roosevelt Administration. It's not the best-written book, not a balanced history nor a thorough biography -- but as a historical resource, Hopkin's notes are priceless, and it also has significant value as a memoir of the Roosevelt White House. Maybe not brilliant, but I can say it is a significant resource for anyone interested in the period. | 982 | [
"Those coming across Robert Sherwood's ROOSEVELT & HOPKINS might get the idea from the title that it is a biographical / historical study of Franklin Roosevelt's right-hand man, Harry Hopkins, and his relationship with the president.",
"It certainly is, but as such it leaves something to be desired, being neither an astute historical document nor much of a biography of Hopkins, and overstuffed at that.However, that said it is still a very valuable book.",
"Sherwood, who was one of Roosevelt's speechwriters, chose to use Hopkins' wartime notes as the basis for his narrative, fleshing it out with his, Sherwood's, own recollections of the Roosevelt Administration.",
"It's not the best-written book, not a balanced history nor a thorough biography -- but as a historical resource, Hopkin's notes are priceless, and it also has significant value as a memoir of the Roosevelt White House.",
"Maybe not brilliant, but I can say it is a significant resource for anyone interested in the period."
] |
3 | Disappointed | As others have said in their reviews, the 5th series never matched the brilliance of the previous 4 seasons... not in the acting nor in the writing. I was willing to give Smith lots of room to make the Doctor his own, (especially after the stellar work of Eccleston and Tennant), but he just is not convincing. He is far too immature to pull it off, as is Gillian. But the biggest let-down was the writing... almost nothing original, and nothing of any substance... as immature as the actors. The one exception was the Vincent van Gogh story, which I thought was well done and up to the standards of the previous seasons. Even the TARDIS is a let-down... looking like a cheap circus. Sigh... I tried to like it (since I'm a big fan), but I just couldn't. I really hope the next season is better, and maybe Smith will grow into the Doctor's shoes and find some of the Doctor's wisdom. My real rating is 2 1/2 stars, but I'll bump it to 3 because I liked the previous seasons so much. | 982 | [
"As others have said in their reviews, the 5th series never matched the brilliance of the previous 4 seasons... not in the acting nor in the writing.",
"I was willing to give Smith lots of room to make the Doctor his own, (especially after the stellar work of Eccleston and Tennant), but he just is not convincing.",
"He is far too immature to pull it off, as is Gillian.",
"But the biggest let-down was the writing... almost nothing original, and nothing of any substance... as immature as the actors.",
"The one exception was the Vincent van Gogh story, which I thought was well done and up to the standards of the previous seasons.",
"Even the TARDIS is a let-down... looking like a cheap circus.",
"Sigh... I tried to like it (since I'm a big fan), but I just couldn't.",
"I really hope the next season is better, and maybe Smith will grow into the Doctor's shoes and find some of the Doctor's wisdom.",
"My real rating is 2 1/2 stars, but I'll bump it to 3 because I liked the previous seasons so much."
] |
3 | SEX AD ABSURDUM | Fifty or five hundred years from now, some archeologist of knowledge will unearth "The New Joy of Gay Sex" and marvel at its utter weirdness. Its sequence of subjects (Fetish ... Fidelity ... Finding a Physician) will suggest authors who are either mad or possess a very dark sense of humor, while its illustrations will project a bestiary of beefy humanoids with remarkable tumescence. The archeologist will wonder: for what race of creatures could such a manual have been intended?We don't have to wait to wonder. It's for us. Read it and shriek."The New Joy of Gay Sex" is not so much about enjoying gay sex as surviving it. Inevitably, the specter of acronyms casts a certain pall across once-joyful texts detailing the fine points of rimming, scat and glory holes. When the first "Joy of Gay Sex" appeared in 1977, the worst its readers had to fear was Anita Bryant and the purple prose of Edmund White. Now we need a degree in medical technology to make it to the second date. | 982 | [
"Fifty or five hundred years from now, some archeologist of knowledge will unearth \"The New Joy of Gay Sex\" and marvel at its utter weirdness.",
"Its sequence of subjects (Fetish ... Fidelity ... Finding a Physician) will suggest authors who are either mad or possess a very dark sense of humor, while its illustrations will project a bestiary of beefy humanoids with remarkable tumescence.",
"The archeologist will wonder: for what race of creatures could such a manual have been intended?",
"We don't have to wait to wonder.",
"It's for us.",
"Read it and shriek.\"The New Joy of Gay Sex\" is not so much about enjoying gay sex as surviving it.",
"Inevitably, the specter of acronyms casts a certain pall across once-joyful texts detailing the fine points of rimming, scat and glory holes.",
"When the first \"Joy of Gay Sex\" appeared in 1977, the worst its readers had to fear was Anita Bryant and the purple prose of Edmund White.",
"Now we need a degree in medical technology to make it to the second date."
] |
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