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Like reviews before me, these glasses are much darker than they appear in the picture. They're not so dark that it's impossible to swim inside, but they are definitely made for outdoor swimming. I'm looking forward to that.
I haven't had any problems with leakage. Sure they fog, but a bit of spit fixes that rather quickly and they stay clear. I haven't had problems with 'raccoon eyes'. At first I saw some of this and I loosened the straps a little. I was concerned that they wouldn't seal but in fact they seal better now that they are looser and I haven't had a single issue of red eyes. If they weren't quite as dark I'd say they were perfect. I do love Speedo goggles in general and these don't disappoint. | 1 | neutral | [
"Like reviews before me, these glasses are much darker than they appear in the picture.",
"They're not so dark that it's impossible to swim inside, but they are definitely made for outdoor swimming.",
"I'm looking forward to that.",
"I haven't had any problems with leakage.",
"Sure they fog, but a bit of spit fixes that rather quickly and they stay clear.",
"I haven't had problems with 'raccoon eyes'.",
"At first I saw some of this and I loosened the straps a little.",
"I was concerned that they wouldn't seal but in fact they seal better now that they are looser and I haven't had a single issue of red eyes.",
"If they weren't quite as dark I'd say they were perfect.",
"I do love Speedo goggles in general and these don't disappoint."
] |
I am a casual photographer but one who enjoys refining and playing with my images. I'm a Mac user and take most of my shots with an iPhone 6+. So what does AfterShot offer the casual photographer compared to other products?
Compared to the Mac native Photos app: it has more precise and extensive image editing and the ability to edit RAW images, but the interface is clunky and confusing compared to other programs. It does have the Perfectly Clear image refinement engine built in which is nice. It has much better image cataloging and metadata but does not have facial recognition, which doesn't matter to a professional but is important to casual users.
Compared to Lightroom: it's cheaper than Lightroom, but Lightroom's interface is more polished and has the advantage of integration with Photoshop and the entire Abode Creative Cloud. Easy to exchange images between camera, phone, and multiple computers is a big plus. Instructional help with Adobe is superior than Corel.
Compared to Affinity: This Mac native App won an Apple Design Award. It's cheaper than both Lightroom and Aftershot, with a better interface and more power than Photos.
Summary: AfterShot is a perfectly capable program, but depending on your needs is probably not the best choice for any Mac user. | 1 | neutral | [
"I am a casual photographer but one who enjoys refining and playing with my images.",
"I'm a Mac user and take most of my shots with an iPhone 6+.",
"So what does AfterShot offer the casual photographer compared to other products?",
"Compared to the Mac native Photos app: it has more precise and extensive image editing and the ability to edit RAW images, but the interface is clunky and confusing compared to other programs.",
"It does have the Perfectly Clear image refinement engine built in which is nice.",
"It has much better image cataloging and metadata but does not have facial recognition, which doesn't matter to a professional but is important to casual users.",
"Compared to Lightroom: it's cheaper than Lightroom, but Lightroom's interface is more polished and has the advantage of integration with Photoshop and the entire Abode Creative Cloud.",
"Easy to exchange images between camera, phone, and multiple computers is a big plus.",
"Instructional help with Adobe is superior than Corel.",
"Compared to Affinity: This Mac native App won an Apple Design Award.",
"It's cheaper than both Lightroom and Aftershot, with a better interface and more power than Photos.",
"Summary: AfterShot is a perfectly capable program, but depending on your needs is probably not the best choice for any Mac user."
] |
I'm doing a review for both me and my wife. We have differing opinions.
I'll start with hers which is good.
She loves this system. She says it is sturdy and says the ladder has a solid feel to it. She says it's a great system for the money. She loves the fact that it has so many different functions.
My review.
Before I say anything else I want to let you know I'm a disabled older man who is afraid of heights, and I take a long time to heal after an accident. What this means is that I notice more things about ladders than someone who is not afraid of heights will. If you have guessed by now that my wife is not afraid of heights you would be guessing correctly.
I sat the ladder up in A-frame mode. I actually like the fact that it is heavy but if you are not paying attention it could seriously hurt your fingers. The second and to me the most important thing I noticed is that it has slack in it. You shake the ladder and you can feel it. There is a slight amount of play where the lower ladder and the inner ladder slide up and down. In my opinion if you would use this in the extension ladder mode and fully extended I think that it would result in an excessive amount of play which in my case will cause a fall.
In spite of what I said above I still like this ladder and I'm going to keep it. There will be days when I'm feeling good and I will use it to do work that is just slightly out of my reach. You just won't see me near the top of it in full extension mode.
I'm very impressed with the locking mechanism on this system. It's exceptionally solid and there is no question at all as to whether it is locked or unlocked. The whole ladder itself will fail before the locks will.
I do encourage people that are going to purchase one of these to buy werners leveling system if you are going to use it as an extension ladder. I like Werner ladders. I've owned a Werner 8-foot step ladder for almost 20 years and it is the best ladder I've ever been on. I use ladders regardless of the fact that I'm afraid of heights. I'm just more careful than most people. | 1 | neutral | [
"I'm doing a review for both me and my wife.",
"We have differing opinions.",
"I'll start with hers which is good.",
"She loves this system.",
"She says it is sturdy and says the ladder has a solid feel to it.",
"She says it's a great system for the money.",
"She loves the fact that it has so many different functions.",
"My review.",
"Before I say anything else I want to let you know I'm a disabled older man who is afraid of heights, and I take a long time to heal after an accident.",
"What this means is that I notice more things about ladders than someone who is not afraid of heights will.",
"If you have guessed by now that my wife is not afraid of heights you would be guessing correctly.",
"I sat the ladder up in A-frame mode.",
"I actually like the fact that it is heavy but if you are not paying attention it could seriously hurt your fingers.",
"The second and to me the most important thing I noticed is that it has slack in it.",
"You shake the ladder and you can feel it.",
"There is a slight amount of play where the lower ladder and the inner ladder slide up and down.",
"In my opinion if you would use this in the extension ladder mode and fully extended I think that it would result in an excessive amount of play which in my case will cause a fall.",
"In spite of what I said above I still like this ladder and I'm going to keep it.",
"There will be days when I'm feeling good and I will use it to do work that is just slightly out of my reach.",
"You just won't see me near the top of it in full extension mode.",
"I'm very impressed with the locking mechanism on this system.",
"It's exceptionally solid and there is no question at all as to whether it is locked or unlocked.",
"The whole ladder itself will fail before the locks will.",
"I do encourage people that are going to purchase one of these to buy werners leveling system if you are going to use it as an extension ladder.",
"I like Werner ladders.",
"I've owned a Werner 8-foot step ladder for almost 20 years and it is the best ladder I've ever been on.",
"I use ladders regardless of the fact that I'm afraid of heights.",
"I'm just more careful than most people."
] |
UPDATE: After a couple months, it started to squeak, but not quite as badly as the other throne. Minus two stars.
Original Review:
----------------------
Made the mistake of getting a $30 Spectrum throne first. Nope. It was a squeaky, uncomfortable piece of trash. This PD 700 throne is the real deal though. If it doesn't have enough padding or sturdiness for you, it's time to go on a diet instead of blaming a throne. I have no doubt that this could accommodate the biggest of butts while they rock out on drums.
It doesn't squeak. It's comfortable. Get it. | 1 | neutral | [
"UPDATE: After a couple months, it started to squeak, but not quite as badly as the other throne.",
"Minus two stars.",
"Original Review:\n----------------------\nMade the mistake of getting a $30 Spectrum throne first.",
"Nope.",
"It was a squeaky, uncomfortable piece of trash.",
"This PD 700 throne is the real deal though.",
"If it doesn't have enough padding or sturdiness for you, it's time to go on a diet instead of blaming a throne.",
"I have no doubt that this could accommodate the biggest of butts while they rock out on drums.",
"It doesn't squeak.",
"It's comfortable.",
"Get it."
] |
I downloaded this book because it was free and I have an interest in the subject matter. The 5 star reviews definitely swayed me to read it since I don't normally read Christian fiction.
The Color of Heaven was a decent book and easy to read, however I felt when the author began changing the POV, things got a bit discombobulated to me. I don't see this as romance (which is not my fancy) nor Christian fiction (which is not my fancy), I just read this as an interesting story that was fairly well written, until the author took off in a direction that didn't set well with me.
Julianne MacLean notes in the prologue that it is up to each reader to determine whether or not this is a true story. In other words, don't expect an accurate theological accounting. There were a few lines that made me go "Ewwww" since I have a grown daughter and we openly discuss sex seeing as how we are both unmarried at this juncture in our lives. We consider our conversations quite frank and open, however some things are best left unsaid. In this case, unwritten.
Character development in TCOH was nice and the read went faster than anticipated, however it was the choppy writing style in the middle of the novel that pulled a star from this review. | 1 | neutral | [
"I downloaded this book because it was free and I have an interest in the subject matter.",
"The 5 star reviews definitely swayed me to read it since I don't normally read Christian fiction.",
"The Color of Heaven was a decent book and easy to read, however I felt when the author began changing the POV, things got a bit discombobulated to me.",
"I don't see this as romance (which is not my fancy) nor Christian fiction (which is not my fancy), I just read this as an interesting story that was fairly well written, until the author took off in a direction that didn't set well with me.",
"Julianne MacLean notes in the prologue that it is up to each reader to determine whether or not this is a true story.",
"In other words, don't expect an accurate theological accounting.",
"There were a few lines that made me go \"Ewwww\" since I have a grown daughter and we openly discuss sex seeing as how we are both unmarried at this juncture in our lives.",
"We consider our conversations quite frank and open, however some things are best left unsaid.",
"In this case, unwritten.",
"Character development in TCOH was nice and the read went faster than anticipated, however it was the choppy writing style in the middle of the novel that pulled a star from this review."
] |
ok daiily tea but a bitter and harsh....better to go to Choice Tea comapny online and buy the organic selections there....this one is okay....nothing special....I bought Hojicha {ban-cha toased] organic green tea and simply love the color and taste. High quality from a good compnay. I bought a pound and it is lasting a long time. I use a clay tea pot and sometimes a single cup net. Keeping drinking green and white tea....it's great for your energy and fights cancer ! | 1 | neutral | [
"ok daiily tea but a bitter and harsh....",
"better to go to Choice Tea comapny online and buy the organic selections there....",
"this one is okay....",
"nothing special....",
"I bought Hojicha {ban-cha toased] organic green tea and simply love the color and taste.",
"High quality from a good compnay.",
"I bought a pound and it is lasting a long time.",
"I use a clay tea pot and sometimes a single cup net.",
"Keeping drinking green and white tea....",
"it's great for your energy and fights cancer!"
] |
Trend Micro made improvement over the 2009 version. I had to stop using the 2009 version because it would take forever to load. Reminded me of the old days for Norton AV. Well Trend Micro has made positive steps in the right direction. You can definitely notice the better time but it is still to slow for my liking. Back in 2005 and 2006 it was my favorite security suite.
The security suite includes virus, spyware, malware protection, firewall, parental controls, Internet and email controls
Trend Micro has also followed down the path of security vendors. The whole make the software by sending your "anonymous" heuristics data back to the vendor. I always uncheck this option with any security vendor. While they may only use it for making the software better, I prefer to caution on the side of not too trust.
The interface is simple to use, so you will not have confusion while you look at the various components in the security suite. This is helpful for people who are not computer gurus. (Red Bad, Green Good :) ) There are still advanced options for those who like to make their firewall changes and such.
Fulls scans take a long time to complete, so make sure you scheduled these when you are not using your computer. You will definitely notice the performance hit the computer takes while running the full scan.
The other factor I use to determine the quality of a security prodcut is using the independent test lab avcompartives. The full security suite was not tested but the Antivirus/antispyware was tested. The scan times are average and false postives were high. It also missed many malware samples.
With this data I cannot recommend Trend Micro. While using the heuristics may improve the malware detection, I would suggest looking at Norton AV or even Microsoft's Security Essentials because I would truct my computer's security Trend Micro. I would also look other free tools. Malwarbytes and Superantispyware. | 1 | neutral | [
"Trend Micro made improvement over the 2009 version.",
"I had to stop using the 2009 version because it would take forever to load.",
"Reminded me of the old days for Norton AV.",
"Well Trend Micro has made positive steps in the right direction.",
"You can definitely notice the better time but it is still to slow for my liking.",
"Back in 2005 and 2006 it was my favorite security suite.",
"The security suite includes virus, spyware, malware protection, firewall, parental controls, Internet and email controls\n\nTrend Micro has also followed down the path of security vendors.",
"The whole make the software by sending your \"anonymous\" heuristics data back to the vendor.",
"I always uncheck this option with any security vendor.",
"While they may only use it for making the software better, I prefer to caution on the side of not too trust.",
"The interface is simple to use, so you will not have confusion while you look at the various components in the security suite.",
"This is helpful for people who are not computer gurus.",
"(Red Bad, Green Good :) ) There are still advanced options for those who like to make their firewall changes and such.",
"Fulls scans take a long time to complete, so make sure you scheduled these when you are not using your computer.",
"You will definitely notice the performance hit the computer takes while running the full scan.",
"The other factor I use to determine the quality of a security prodcut is using the independent test lab avcompartives.",
"The full security suite was not tested but the Antivirus/antispyware was tested.",
"The scan times are average and false postives were high.",
"It also missed many malware samples.",
"With this data I cannot recommend Trend Micro.",
"While using the heuristics may improve the malware detection, I would suggest looking at Norton AV or even Microsoft's Security Essentials because I would truct my computer's security Trend Micro.",
"I would also look other free tools.",
"Malwarbytes and Superantispyware."
] |
I bought two of these to discourage outside neighborhood cats from scaring our little rescue kitten in the windows...and from destroying our window screens in the process. Easy setup, especially if you follow directions. I haven't seen it work in person, but I see that it has been tripped. In testing it worked fine. Adjustable sensitivity. Typical sprinkler adjustments for spray distance. Only time will tell about the durability. 9 volt battery is not included.
Update 8/2016. Buy batteries in bulk. Also after 19 months, both the sprinkler head and the base water connector cracked. Water shoots in a stream and also leaks at the base. Looking for better alternatives. | 1 | neutral | [
"I bought two of these to discourage outside neighborhood cats from scaring our little rescue kitten in the windows...",
"and from destroying our window screens in the process.",
"Easy setup, especially if you follow directions.",
"I haven't seen it work in person, but I see that it has been tripped.",
"In testing it worked fine.",
"Adjustable sensitivity.",
"Typical sprinkler adjustments for spray distance.",
"Only time will tell about the durability.",
"9 volt battery is not included.",
"Update 8/2016.",
"Buy batteries in bulk.",
"Also after 19 months, both the sprinkler head and the base water connector cracked.",
"Water shoots in a stream and also leaks at the base.",
"Looking for better alternatives."
] |
Very well designed and made. Very useful for all conditions of using a good sling on a rifle. Easy and quick for attaching and removing the sling and adjusting it on the rifle. Can't think of any possible way of improving the design.
Update: 12/4/2012
Am downgrading my original rating on these from 5 stars due to a frustrating shortcoming I've discovered recently. Pressing the release pin knob to remove these, there is a sharp circle on the end of the pressing point that cut my finger while holding it and turning the pivot. There is a lot off pressure involved in keeping this pressed and you have to go through this to get the things on and off. I seriously don't understand why the sharp edges are designed into these but I now notice that all of these I own has them. Don't know why, after years of use this has not happened before. Just luck, I guess.
Am going to complain to the manufacturer about this because, in my opinion, this is a serious design/manufacturing flaw that should not be there.
I am now removing all of these that I own and am cutting the stupid sharp circle down flush with the center of the knob. | 1 | neutral | [
"Very well designed and made.",
"Very useful for all conditions of using a good sling on a rifle.",
"Easy and quick for attaching and removing the sling and adjusting it on the rifle.",
"Can't think of any possible way of improving the design.",
"Update: 12/4/2012\nAm downgrading my original rating on these from 5 stars due to a frustrating shortcoming I've discovered recently.",
"Pressing the release pin knob to remove these, there is a sharp circle on the end of the pressing point that cut my finger while holding it and turning the pivot.",
"There is a lot off pressure involved in keeping this pressed and you have to go through this to get the things on and off.",
"I seriously don't understand why the sharp edges are designed into these but I now notice that all of these I own has them.",
"Don't know why, after years of use this has not happened before.",
"Just luck, I guess.",
"Am going to complain to the manufacturer about this because, in my opinion, this is a serious design/manufacturing flaw that should not be there.",
"I am now removing all of these that I own and am cutting the stupid sharp circle down flush with the center of the knob."
] |
I decided to knock off a star as their marketing claims it's easy to use. My experience with the product indicates otherwise. That's not to say it's worse than the others, but there are some aggravating features you will encounter when using it.
It is designed to work on Windows 2000 SP4, XP, and Vista with 150MB of free hard disk space. No comprehensive manual is included in the retail box, just a tiny installation guide with some basics of what the different features do. Instead they give you a thick notepad of blank paper for some odd reason. I expect the added weight of shipping this notepad costs the company more than the notepad itself. Strange addition, but whatever, I used it to jot down notes for this review.
Installation is a rather long and laborious process that required more reboots than any other program I've used. We're used to the standard reboot after installation. For some reason, I had to reboot this software three times. In addition, following one of the reboots, a warning message popped up asking me whether I wanted to allow a certain program to execute. This brings up one of the gripes I have about almost all of the security programs out there. They may be good at flagging potential problems but they're bad at helping you make an informed decision and PC Tools is no exception. It gave me the filename and I was able to determine where it was located on my hard drive, but while I was searching out the file for more information the alert disappeared. It turned out to be an Intel file related to WiFi access but because PC Tools blocked it I would get an error message during startup. Figuring out how to get it to allow access turned into a hassle. I couldn't find any information in the help file or the installation guide. Finally, I discovered the file in the firewall settings and reset the permissions to allow access. Definitely not a process that's easy for security noobs.
My third and final reboot took almost 20 minutes. I don't know what was happening in the background but it did seem to slow down my computer during this time in spite of already updating everything. As for the program itself, it seems to work fine once everything is running. Scans take the same amount of time as other software I've tested (Bitdefender, Comodo, Kaspersky) but even when you're not scanning it seems to slow down the computer slightly. The install guide warns their real-time protection called Intelliguard can consume CPU resources but real-time protection is what you want, right? I'm not impressed with their Anti-Spam either as it seems to do little more than mark messages as spam.
Aside from these gripes it does appear to have a comprehensive list of tools it uses to prevent nasties from creeping into your system. This includes prevention against changes to browser, network, and startup settings as well and scanning for malicious attachments to incoming and outgoing email attachments. Their firewall was highly rated by a testing firm known as matousec and updates are automatic. Also, protection is allowed on up to 3 computers. Still, a lot of the features such as data handshake SPI and stealth mode you'd need to be an expert in order to figure out whether they're working properly. It's not as automatic as the marketing seems to imply.
My laptop has unwillingly become the testing ground for security products due to the problems I've experienced with the competition. In the meantime I've settled on Comodo Internet Security for my main PC. If I had purchased only PC Tools Internet Security I'd be happy with it once the initial setup aggravation was fixed, but the slowdown it causes my computer when it's running is what is keeping me from switching from Comodo to it. | 1 | neutral | [
"I decided to knock off a star as their marketing claims it's easy to use.",
"My experience with the product indicates otherwise.",
"That's not to say it's worse than the others, but there are some aggravating features you will encounter when using it.",
"It is designed to work on Windows 2000 SP4, XP, and Vista with 150MB of free hard disk space.",
"No comprehensive manual is included in the retail box, just a tiny installation guide with some basics of what the different features do.",
"Instead they give you a thick notepad of blank paper for some odd reason.",
"I expect the added weight of shipping this notepad costs the company more than the notepad itself.",
"Strange addition, but whatever, I used it to jot down notes for this review.",
"Installation is a rather long and laborious process that required more reboots than any other program I've used.",
"We're used to the standard reboot after installation.",
"For some reason, I had to reboot this software three times.",
"In addition, following one of the reboots, a warning message popped up asking me whether I wanted to allow a certain program to execute.",
"This brings up one of the gripes I have about almost all of the security programs out there.",
"They may be good at flagging potential problems but they're bad at helping you make an informed decision and PC Tools is no exception.",
"It gave me the filename and I was able to determine where it was located on my hard drive, but while I was searching out the file for more information the alert disappeared.",
"It turned out to be an Intel file related to WiFi access but because PC Tools blocked it I would get an error message during startup.",
"Figuring out how to get it to allow access turned into a hassle.",
"I couldn't find any information in the help file or the installation guide.",
"Finally, I discovered the file in the firewall settings and reset the permissions to allow access.",
"Definitely not a process that's easy for security noobs.",
"My third and final reboot took almost 20 minutes.",
"I don't know what was happening in the background but it did seem to slow down my computer during this time in spite of already updating everything.",
"As for the program itself, it seems to work fine once everything is running.",
"Scans take the same amount of time as other software I've tested (Bitdefender, Comodo, Kaspersky) but even when you're not scanning it seems to slow down the computer slightly.",
"The install guide warns their real-time protection called Intelliguard can consume CPU resources but real-time protection is what you want, right?",
"I'm not impressed with their Anti-Spam either as it seems to do little more than mark messages as spam.",
"Aside from these gripes it does appear to have a comprehensive list of tools it uses to prevent nasties from creeping into your system.",
"This includes prevention against changes to browser, network, and startup settings as well and scanning for malicious attachments to incoming and outgoing email attachments.",
"Their firewall was highly rated by a testing firm known as matousec and updates are automatic.",
"Also, protection is allowed on up to 3 computers.",
"Still, a lot of the features such as data handshake SPI and stealth mode you'd need to be an expert in order to figure out whether they're working properly.",
"It's not as automatic as the marketing seems to imply.",
"My laptop has unwillingly become the testing ground for security products due to the problems I've experienced with the competition.",
"In the meantime I've settled on Comodo Internet Security for my main PC.",
"If I had purchased only PC Tools Internet Security I'd be happy with it once the initial setup aggravation was fixed, but the slowdown it causes my computer when it's running is what is keeping me from switching from Comodo to it."
] |
It seems to be an alright pre filter. Expensive for a silicone treated polyester sock.
Update#1: The nylon bands that keep the sock on the filter degrade after about 1.5 years as the ends seem to fit not as tight. I keep this sock on everyday as well. Its probably a good idea to replace this to keep dust from entering on the ends of the filter. Overall I still like this product and will continue to use it everyday as extra insurance.
Update #2: But now I will not use this everyday and research other alternatives. I did purchase this product in 2013 with the intake for 30.99. It is now 38.53 in February 2016? Can somebody from K&N explain this? I know it is made of nylon infused with silicon and elastic bands around the ends but is it truly worth 38.53? The elastic bands don't even last for 2 years... | 1 | neutral | [
"It seems to be an alright pre filter.",
"Expensive for a silicone treated polyester sock.",
"Update#1: The nylon bands that keep the sock on the filter degrade after about 1.",
"5 years as the ends seem to fit not as tight.",
"I keep this sock on everyday as well.",
"Its probably a good idea to replace this to keep dust from entering on the ends of the filter.",
"Overall I still like this product and will continue to use it everyday as extra insurance.",
"Update #2: But now I will not use this everyday and research other alternatives.",
"I did purchase this product in 2013 with the intake for 30.",
"99.",
"It is now 38.",
"53 in February 2016?",
"Can somebody from K&N explain this?",
"I know it is made of nylon infused with silicon and elastic bands around the ends but is it truly worth 38.",
"53?",
"The elastic bands don't even last for 2 years..."
] |
I was sold on this mic because people were basically describing it as a low-cost equivalent of Shure's famous SM58. One reviewer here even said he liked this BETTER than the 58. This is a decent mic, but pales in comparison to the 58. I even have a couple Audix mics that put this one to shame. Don't get me wrong. It's decent. (Of course. It's a Shure). But you need a lot more compression and EQ to get a good sound out of it. Overall, it feels and sounds cheap compared to other high-end, name brand vocal mics | 1 | neutral | [
"I was sold on this mic because people were basically describing it as a low-cost equivalent of Shure's famous SM58.",
"One reviewer here even said he liked this BETTER than the 58.",
"This is a decent mic, but pales in comparison to the 58.",
"I even have a couple Audix mics that put this one to shame.",
"Don't get me wrong.",
"It's decent.",
"(Of course.",
"It's a Shure).",
"But you need a lot more compression and EQ to get a good sound out of it.",
"Overall, it feels and sounds cheap compared to other high-end, name brand vocal mics"
] |
I am a part of a ministry where we share the Gospel in a public park, and hand out Bibles. Hence, we are searching for good affordable Bibles to freely give to any who are interested. We ordered some of these Bibles because we love the NKJV, and because this was the most affordable NKJV we could find. The problem with these Bibles is that the text is so small, it is next to unreadable. Also, I do not like the three column format, which makes it even more difficult to read. Another limitation is that there are no cross references.
As much as we wanted these to work, in the end we decided that we must use more readable versions of the NKJV. There are some nice imitation leather ones in the $5 area, so we are biting the bullet and buying those now.
As I read the mocking reviews about this Bible reflected in the one star rating, my heart breaks. God forgive them, and draw them to you. | 1 | neutral | [
"I am a part of a ministry where we share the Gospel in a public park, and hand out Bibles.",
"Hence, we are searching for good affordable Bibles to freely give to any who are interested.",
"We ordered some of these Bibles because we love the NKJV, and because this was the most affordable NKJV we could find.",
"The problem with these Bibles is that the text is so small, it is next to unreadable.",
"Also, I do not like the three column format, which makes it even more difficult to read.",
"Another limitation is that there are no cross references.",
"As much as we wanted these to work, in the end we decided that we must use more readable versions of the NKJV.",
"There are some nice imitation leather ones in the $5 area, so we are biting the bullet and buying those now.",
"As I read the mocking reviews about this Bible reflected in the one star rating, my heart breaks.",
"God forgive them, and draw them to you."
] |
I installed this product in August, 2001, and on balance, I am pleased with it. Certainly, it is a great radio, and CDROM player, for a kitchen radio. It is loaded with features and vastly exceeds any kitchen radio I have used before it, including sound quality. Some other critics feel the sound is poor, but what are they comparing to? Heck, this is a kitchen radio, not a home theater! The best feature of all, in my mind, is that the radio is out of the way, as it is mounted beneath a cabinet. Kitchen deck space is scarce and I like to minimize clutter.
In the last few months, I have learned more, though. Though the best thing about this radio is the radio itself, the worst thing about it is the support behind it. Ironically, there are numerous, well-informed people who can help; but I had a devil of a time finding them. I expect support when I need it, and unfindable support is support denied.
In summary, I am shocked by the trouble I have had in getting the radio to "behave"! You would think I had adopted a stray cat, instead of buying a brand-new radio. The "manufacturer" has neglected to consider the plight of the consumer, who might just have an important question or two. So at least one little problem became a big problem. It would be funny, if it had not been so aggravating.
Chapter 1 - User Manual inadequate. I had to dream up my own method to properly mount this radio. OK. No big deal. Been there, done that before. I am good with tools, by the way.
Chapter 2 - User Manual, again, inadequate. Had to figure out how to program some of the fancy features of this electronic device on my own. I am an experienced electronics engineer, by the way.
Chapter 3 - Last weekend in October. Time change, so I moved all clocks back an hour. Done that before, right? No sweat, I managed that with this radio.
Chapter 4 - For some God-awful reason, this radio started "terrorizing" my wife with an alarm at midnight, every night. I slept through it, but my wife had to get up. After it was obvious the alarm was a permanent fixture, I took this to task.
Chapter 5 - User Manual, again. No help here. Besides, this is not an "alarm clock." The only related provision is a short-term timer. The manual is silent on any remedy. I pushed buttons and could not figure out how to remedy this problem.
Chapter 6 - User Manual. I thought it wise to inquire with the manufacturer. Couldn't figure out how to do that from the manual. A mechanized phone service told me to pack the product and ship it to Texas.
Chapter 7 - The plot thickens here. The identity of the manufacturer became a question in itself. Though the GE logo is all over this product and its literature, GE has nothing to do with this product. The GE name is a deceptive sales device, I guess. The manual indicates that warranty claims should be made to Thomson Consumer Electronics, in Texas. I looked up phone numbers and got nothing that worked.
Chapter 8 - After more frustration, I used independent means to find the phone number of GE Corportate headquarters in Connecticut. I was told that GE had spun off the (RCA) division several years prior to Thomson, a French company, which retained the right to use the GE name until 2002. I received a phone number in Indiana from an intelligent human in Connecticut.
Chapter 9 - So RCA of Indiana is the manufacturer, owned by Thomson Multimedia. (Too bad they didn't put the proper name in the User Manual, so at least I could look them up.) Now I spoke to somebody about the alarm, and got a remedy. (See below.)
Chapter 10 - internet. How are you supposed to inquire if you don't know where to look? The GE site is little help - it's not their baby.
Chapter 11 - phone numbers. The best one is RCA at (317) 267-5000. Other numbers are rife with unattended "operators" who route you around in circles, and direct you to ship your product to Texas for a warranty claim! Get out! All I want is a little help! I HATE those autorouters.
Chapter 12 - What a waste of time and aggravation. I've complained to customer response center. I've gotten emails from them, all written by machines, not people. I've gotten mechanized post cards. They tell me how much the company cares, and then I'm routed into another impersonal box to punch numbers indicating my satisfaction level. I'm absolutely convinced my complaints are vapor - management couldn't care less. I still get email from RCA imploring me to buy more stuff.
So buy this radio, and now that you know the (317) number, you might get help if you need it. Otherwise, expect little from a distant and uncaring French company that doesn't even put its proper name in the User Manual. That's Thomson Multimedia, not Thomson Consumer Products.
And if an alarm sounds at midnight, UNPLUG the radio's power cord from the wall receptacle, WHILE that alarm is sounding. Wait at least 20 seconds, and re-plug to power. Sleep in heavenly peace! | 1 | neutral | [
"I installed this product in August, 2001, and on balance, I am pleased with it.",
"Certainly, it is a great radio, and CDROM player, for a kitchen radio.",
"It is loaded with features and vastly exceeds any kitchen radio I have used before it, including sound quality.",
"Some other critics feel the sound is poor, but what are they comparing to?",
"Heck, this is a kitchen radio, not a home theater!",
"The best feature of all, in my mind, is that the radio is out of the way, as it is mounted beneath a cabinet.",
"Kitchen deck space is scarce and I like to minimize clutter.",
"In the last few months, I have learned more, though.",
"Though the best thing about this radio is the radio itself, the worst thing about it is the support behind it.",
"Ironically, there are numerous, well-informed people who can help; but I had a devil of a time finding them.",
"I expect support when I need it, and unfindable support is support denied.",
"In summary, I am shocked by the trouble I have had in getting the radio to \"behave\"!",
"You would think I had adopted a stray cat, instead of buying a brand-new radio.",
"The \"manufacturer\" has neglected to consider the plight of the consumer, who might just have an important question or two.",
"So at least one little problem became a big problem.",
"It would be funny, if it had not been so aggravating.",
"Chapter 1 - User Manual inadequate.",
"I had to dream up my own method to properly mount this radio.",
"OK.",
"No big deal.",
"Been there, done that before.",
"I am good with tools, by the way.",
"Chapter 2 - User Manual, again, inadequate.",
"Had to figure out how to program some of the fancy features of this electronic device on my own.",
"I am an experienced electronics engineer, by the way.",
"Chapter 3 - Last weekend in October.",
"Time change, so I moved all clocks back an hour.",
"Done that before, right?",
"No sweat, I managed that with this radio.",
"Chapter 4 - For some God-awful reason, this radio started \"terrorizing\" my wife with an alarm at midnight, every night.",
"I slept through it, but my wife had to get up.",
"After it was obvious the alarm was a permanent fixture, I took this to task.",
"Chapter 5 - User Manual, again.",
"No help here.",
"Besides, this is not an \"alarm clock.",
"\" The only related provision is a short-term timer.",
"The manual is silent on any remedy.",
"I pushed buttons and could not figure out how to remedy this problem.",
"Chapter 6 - User Manual.",
"I thought it wise to inquire with the manufacturer.",
"Couldn't figure out how to do that from the manual.",
"A mechanized phone service told me to pack the product and ship it to Texas.",
"Chapter 7 - The plot thickens here.",
"The identity of the manufacturer became a question in itself.",
"Though the GE logo is all over this product and its literature, GE has nothing to do with this product.",
"The GE name is a deceptive sales device, I guess.",
"The manual indicates that warranty claims should be made to Thomson Consumer Electronics, in Texas.",
"I looked up phone numbers and got nothing that worked.",
"Chapter 8 - After more frustration, I used independent means to find the phone number of GE Corportate headquarters in Connecticut.",
"I was told that GE had spun off the (RCA) division several years prior to Thomson, a French company, which retained the right to use the GE name until 2002.",
"I received a phone number in Indiana from an intelligent human in Connecticut.",
"Chapter 9 - So RCA of Indiana is the manufacturer, owned by Thomson Multimedia.",
"(Too bad they didn't put the proper name in the User Manual, so at least I could look them up.",
") Now I spoke to somebody about the alarm, and got a remedy.",
"(See below.",
")\nChapter 10 - internet.",
"How are you supposed to inquire if you don't know where to look?",
"The GE site is little help - it's not their baby.",
"Chapter 11 - phone numbers.",
"The best one is RCA at (317) 267-5000.",
"Other numbers are rife with unattended \"operators\" who route you around in circles, and direct you to ship your product to Texas for a warranty claim!",
"Get out!",
"All I want is a little help!",
"I HATE those autorouters.",
"Chapter 12 - What a waste of time and aggravation.",
"I've complained to customer response center.",
"I've gotten emails from them, all written by machines, not people.",
"I've gotten mechanized post cards.",
"They tell me how much the company cares, and then I'm routed into another impersonal box to punch numbers indicating my satisfaction level.",
"I'm absolutely convinced my complaints are vapor - management couldn't care less.",
"I still get email from RCA imploring me to buy more stuff.",
"So buy this radio, and now that you know the (317) number, you might get help if you need it.",
"Otherwise, expect little from a distant and uncaring French company that doesn't even put its proper name in the User Manual.",
"That's Thomson Multimedia, not Thomson Consumer Products.",
"And if an alarm sounds at midnight, UNPLUG the radio's power cord from the wall receptacle, WHILE that alarm is sounding.",
"Wait at least 20 seconds, and re-plug to power.",
"Sleep in heavenly peace!"
] |
I would give this album 2.5 stars if there was such a rating. I also realize I am in the minority here. Yes, Tony Mcalpine is an exceptional musician, technically he can match up to anyone out there. Still, I had trouble listening to this CD and wouldn't pick it up again after the first listen for quite some time. I finally had to give it more of a chance. So what didn't I like. The repitition of it all, the frenzied tempo, the poor sound quality, it seemed souless for the most part. Yes, he's a shredder but for every track?? I simply find it tiring. Please, calm down Tony. Lay down some slower, melodic tracks and really express yourself. I found the music to be technical and cold. His sound from track to track was pretty much the same, and not just the tempo. Mostly, the sound quality was akin to a bullhorn type of sound in a large auditorium. The guitar sounds thin and never varies from one track to the next. There is a rhythm track behind his guitar playing but I challange you to pick it out. The sound is muddy, there is little separation of sound. Compare this to Steve Vai or Satriani where you can hear each instrument clearly. Their sound is just so much more compelling and easier to listen to. And with Vai and Satriani there is just so much more creativity, each track is a work of art, the sound for each track is distinct. There is a surprise element where you don't know what to expect next. Not true with Macalpine. Technique and musicianship should not be confused with creativity. Yes, I still listen to this CD and there are high moments, but all is said and done, it leaves me wanting and dissatisfied (except for Autumn Lords and Porcelain Dolls). | 1 | neutral | [
"I would give this album 2.",
"5 stars if there was such a rating.",
"I also realize I am in the minority here.",
"Yes, Tony Mcalpine is an exceptional musician, technically he can match up to anyone out there.",
"Still, I had trouble listening to this CD and wouldn't pick it up again after the first listen for quite some time.",
"I finally had to give it more of a chance.",
"So what didn't I like.",
"The repitition of it all, the frenzied tempo, the poor sound quality, it seemed souless for the most part.",
"Yes, he's a shredder but for every track??",
"I simply find it tiring.",
"Please, calm down Tony.",
"Lay down some slower, melodic tracks and really express yourself.",
"I found the music to be technical and cold.",
"His sound from track to track was pretty much the same, and not just the tempo.",
"Mostly, the sound quality was akin to a bullhorn type of sound in a large auditorium.",
"The guitar sounds thin and never varies from one track to the next.",
"There is a rhythm track behind his guitar playing but I challange you to pick it out.",
"The sound is muddy, there is little separation of sound.",
"Compare this to Steve Vai or Satriani where you can hear each instrument clearly.",
"Their sound is just so much more compelling and easier to listen to.",
"And with Vai and Satriani there is just so much more creativity, each track is a work of art, the sound for each track is distinct.",
"There is a surprise element where you don't know what to expect next.",
"Not true with Macalpine.",
"Technique and musicianship should not be confused with creativity.",
"Yes, I still listen to this CD and there are high moments, but all is said and done, it leaves me wanting and dissatisfied (except for Autumn Lords and Porcelain Dolls)."
] |
The main reason to buy this CD is for the additional tracks on the second half of the CD; all of which feature Asia's incredible vocalist John Wetton. Studio albums released after Then and Now had other vocalists who did not measure up. The additional tracks are OK, but not the spectacular songs Asia put out in the 1980s. The best of the "new" tracks is "Summer (Can't Last Too Long)" which is very catchy and reminiscent of their early masterpieces. The rest are adequate. There are no lyrics to these new songs in the CD booklet. "Voice of America" being on the "Now" side always seemed strange to me. It is off their very underrated third release Astra. I am not sure why it is considered a "Now" song here except that it came out later than the other "Then" tracks. The songs on the "Then" side are the singles that most people already have (especially the first two) and "Wildest Dreams" off their smash debut album which is a fan favorite although it is my least favorite track on that album. John Wetton fans need this CD for the "Now" tracks, but record buyers who just want an Asia greatest hits package would do better looking for one with more tracks off of Asia's three excellent albums released from 1982-85. | 1 | neutral | [
"The main reason to buy this CD is for the additional tracks on the second half of the CD; all of which feature Asia's incredible vocalist John Wetton.",
"Studio albums released after Then and Now had other vocalists who did not measure up.",
"The additional tracks are OK, but not the spectacular songs Asia put out in the 1980s.",
"The best of the \"new\" tracks is \"Summer (Can't Last Too Long)\" which is very catchy and reminiscent of their early masterpieces.",
"The rest are adequate.",
"There are no lyrics to these new songs in the CD booklet.",
"\"Voice of America\" being on the \"Now\" side always seemed strange to me.",
"It is off their very underrated third release Astra.",
"I am not sure why it is considered a \"Now\" song here except that it came out later than the other \"Then\" tracks.",
"The songs on the \"Then\" side are the singles that most people already have (especially the first two) and \"Wildest Dreams\" off their smash debut album which is a fan favorite although it is my least favorite track on that album.",
"John Wetton fans need this CD for the \"Now\" tracks, but record buyers who just want an Asia greatest hits package would do better looking for one with more tracks off of Asia's three excellent albums released from 1982-85."
] |
Reading the early reviews of this game, I got angry at all the negativity surrounding it. I loved the first Smackdown games, and figured the next generation on PS2 HAD to be fabulous...but now that I've had the game and played it for awhile, I can see where they were coming from.
First off, the game is graphically beautiful...the only exception perhaps being the 2-D crowd, which looks pretty silly when your character goes into the crowd to fight. Entrances are true to what you see on TV, and the music & videos on the TitanTron are fabulous. The create-a-wrestler mode is big, with tons of options, even some you need to unlock. There are dozens of game modes including Royal Rumble, which can now handle around 8 in the ring at the same time, and Hell in a Cell with tag-teams, fatal 4-ways and even a 6-pack type match...it rocks to climb to the top of the ring and fight or jump off, and pancaking Tazz through the top of the cage was awesome!!! The many other modes are great, and will provide variety in gameplay.
The Story mode is the 'main' part of the game...you pick a character and guide them through to the title. Trouble is, the title is usually only 2-3 matches away...too short. A career/season mode would do better. You can walk around the arena at certain times, but this is generally pretty pointless as you usually are just looking for a tag team partner, and once you find one, nobody else is around the building, giving you nothing interesting to do.
Controls are not that great, as trying to find a specific opponent can be rough. You can attack your partner or the ref, and you will frequently do this accidentally during a match because you can't quite tell who you just scrolled to. In matches where you have multiple opponents, this can cost you the match as you could get squashed by your true opponent while trying to find another. Personally, I often find myself launching a simple kick or punch when I think I'm close enough, then wind up missing altogether and getting nailed...perhaps it's a perception problem on my part, but this adds to the frustration factor.
Commentating from Tazz & Michael Cole is ok...repetitive and pointless often, "(Fill-in-the-wrestler's name)...is different from other superstars" and other pieced-together phrases don't make much sense, but I learned to ignore the commentators after awhile (ps - Tazz does commentary for his own matches).
Overall, this game entertained me, but won't have the shelf life it could/should have. The create & exhibition modes somewhat make up for a lackluster Story mode, but you can only have so many meaningless exhibition matches...good for multiplayer games, as a one-player will wind up collecting dust after a few weeks. | 1 | neutral | [
"Reading the early reviews of this game, I got angry at all the negativity surrounding it.",
"I loved the first Smackdown games, and figured the next generation on PS2 HAD to be fabulous...",
"but now that I've had the game and played it for awhile, I can see where they were coming from.",
"First off, the game is graphically beautiful...",
"the only exception perhaps being the 2-D crowd, which looks pretty silly when your character goes into the crowd to fight.",
"Entrances are true to what you see on TV, and the music & videos on the TitanTron are fabulous.",
"The create-a-wrestler mode is big, with tons of options, even some you need to unlock.",
"There are dozens of game modes including Royal Rumble, which can now handle around 8 in the ring at the same time, and Hell in a Cell with tag-teams, fatal 4-ways and even a 6-pack type match...",
"it rocks to climb to the top of the ring and fight or jump off, and pancaking Tazz through the top of the cage was awesome!!!",
"The many other modes are great, and will provide variety in gameplay.",
"The Story mode is the 'main' part of the game...",
"you pick a character and guide them through to the title.",
"Trouble is, the title is usually only 2-3 matches away...",
"too short.",
"A career/season mode would do better.",
"You can walk around the arena at certain times, but this is generally pretty pointless as you usually are just looking for a tag team partner, and once you find one, nobody else is around the building, giving you nothing interesting to do.",
"Controls are not that great, as trying to find a specific opponent can be rough.",
"You can attack your partner or the ref, and you will frequently do this accidentally during a match because you can't quite tell who you just scrolled to.",
"In matches where you have multiple opponents, this can cost you the match as you could get squashed by your true opponent while trying to find another.",
"Personally, I often find myself launching a simple kick or punch when I think I'm close enough, then wind up missing altogether and getting nailed...",
"perhaps it's a perception problem on my part, but this adds to the frustration factor.",
"Commentating from Tazz & Michael Cole is ok...",
"repetitive and pointless often, \"(Fill-in-the-wrestler's name)...",
"is different from other superstars\" and other pieced-together phrases don't make much sense, but I learned to ignore the commentators after awhile (ps - Tazz does commentary for his own matches).",
"Overall, this game entertained me, but won't have the shelf life it could/should have.",
"The create & exhibition modes somewhat make up for a lackluster Story mode, but you can only have so many meaningless exhibition matches...",
"good for multiplayer games, as a one-player will wind up collecting dust after a few weeks."
] |
"The Secret Apocalypse" is a fast and entertaining read. This story is told through the eyes of a sixteen year old high-school girl; she is the sole survivor of the "Oz Virus" - a military weapons test that goes awry. The virus has mutated and and the vaccine is no longer effective. Ground zero can't be quarantined - the virus is spreading too fast via blood and saliva and troops are quickly overwhelmed by the attacking hoards of zombies. The military goes to great length to contain this epidemic and reverts to blowing up bridges and other escape routes to create a controlled quarantine area, unfortunately, thousands of survivors are killed as collateral damage in the process.
There is no stopping the virus and the military is desperate, unleashing jets, helicopters, napalm and nukes to kill zombies and survivors alike. Government killer teams are dispatched throughout the country in search of survivors that may have come in contact with the virus but haven't turned yet - they are rescued then taken to secret centers, unknowing that they will soon be dissected and become "specimens" in the experiments to develop a vaccine.
Rebecca and her friends are in the middle of all this and must evade both zombies and soldiers in their quest for survival and to escape the country. There are many twists and turns along the way, plenty of places to bite your fingernails or hold your breath. Rebecca appears to be the "sole" survivor from the apocalypse in Australia, the virus claiming the remaining 22 million citizens. We'll have to read the next book in the series to find out what happened to her friends...they all split apart before her rescue. Are they all dead?
I liked the story a lot and would recommend it to others, but must also agree with other reviewers regarding the lack of editing within the story...at times, it is distracting. If the book were "fixed", I would most likely give it four or five stars. This book also includes an excerpt of the next book which sheds some light upon the earlier question - I will most likely purchase it to see how this story progresses.
John Podlaski, author
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Cherries-A-Vietnam-War-Novel/dp/B003R4Z5U6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel</a> | 1 | neutral | [
"\"The Secret Apocalypse\" is a fast and entertaining read.",
"This story is told through the eyes of a sixteen year old high-school girl; she is the sole survivor of the \"Oz Virus\" - a military weapons test that goes awry.",
"The virus has mutated and and the vaccine is no longer effective.",
"Ground zero can't be quarantined - the virus is spreading too fast via blood and saliva and troops are quickly overwhelmed by the attacking hoards of zombies.",
"The military goes to great length to contain this epidemic and reverts to blowing up bridges and other escape routes to create a controlled quarantine area, unfortunately, thousands of survivors are killed as collateral damage in the process.",
"There is no stopping the virus and the military is desperate, unleashing jets, helicopters, napalm and nukes to kill zombies and survivors alike.",
"Government killer teams are dispatched throughout the country in search of survivors that may have come in contact with the virus but haven't turned yet - they are rescued then taken to secret centers, unknowing that they will soon be dissected and become \"specimens\" in the experiments to develop a vaccine.",
"Rebecca and her friends are in the middle of all this and must evade both zombies and soldiers in their quest for survival and to escape the country.",
"There are many twists and turns along the way, plenty of places to bite your fingernails or hold your breath.",
"Rebecca appears to be the \"sole\" survivor from the apocalypse in Australia, the virus claiming the remaining 22 million citizens.",
"We'll have to read the next book in the series to find out what happened to her friends...",
"they all split apart before her rescue.",
"Are they all dead?",
"I liked the story a lot and would recommend it to others, but must also agree with other reviewers regarding the lack of editing within the story...",
"at times, it is distracting.",
"If the book were \"fixed\", I would most likely give it four or five stars.",
"This book also includes an excerpt of the next book which sheds some light upon the earlier question - I will most likely purchase it to see how this story progresses.",
"John Podlaski, author\n<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Cherries-A-Vietnam-War-Novel/dp/B003R4Z5U6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel</a>"
] |
A few comments on this phone:
1) The builtin ringtones are lame, they're uninspiring, almost random sounding "tunes," however I find the ring volume loud enough, in contrast to complaints from some users that it's too low. Perhaps Samsung fixed this issue.
2) The screen is 2" diagonal, which is a good size for a low end phone, however the low resolution makes it a bit grainy. Also it has a narrow viewing angle, i.e. you have to hold it at a certain angle or it appears dark or washed out.
3) The mobile web capability is very limited because of the phone's low memory. Originally Tracfone only allowed you to go to a set of preselected sites. Now you can enter any URL, but most of the time you get an insufficent memory error because the site is too large. I mainly use it to get info. by searching Google, in lieu of the Google SMS service that they discontinued.
4) As others have noted, when you close the slider the outer buttons don't lock immediately, you have to wait a few seconds before putting it in your pocket, otherwise the browser button could get pushed and you can lose a lot of minutes.
5) Battery standby time is less than a week, which is lower than other phones I've used. On the other hand it recharges faster than usual. EDIT: I recently charged the phone on a Sunday night, and it lasted until the next Monday morning, with light usage during the week. It will stay at one battery bar for a while and still be functional. When you recharge it, there doesn't seem to be any alert when it is finished, you have to just see if the battery icon is full.
6) The menu screens have a black and orange color scheme which, while readable, is a bit odd.
I got it when it was $8, from Dealathon, and I'm still using it. Overall I'd say it is worth the current price of $5, for those of us who are not into the complexity and cost of smartphones. You can upgrade to another Tracfone later on. You can connect it to your Windows PC using a free program from Samsung and a cable you can get from Amazon for a few dollars, see this thread on the Howard forum: [...]
ONE ADDITIONAL NOTE: Unlike some of their other phones, Samsung doesn't provide a PDF booklet/manual for this phone. However, the Samsung T245G flip phone has features that are mostly similar and that does have a manual at [...]
The main menus of the two phones are the same except for item #6, which on the T301G is "Games & Apps" while on the T245G it is "Camera." In actuality, the "Games & Apps" item on the T301G contains Games and the Camera function, so that item is not properly named. While the T245G doesn't have games, just the Camera function. | 1 | neutral | [
"A few comments on this phone:\n\n1) The builtin ringtones are lame, they're uninspiring, almost random sounding \"tunes,\" however I find the ring volume loud enough, in contrast to complaints from some users that it's too low.",
"Perhaps Samsung fixed this issue.",
"2) The screen is 2\" diagonal, which is a good size for a low end phone, however the low resolution makes it a bit grainy.",
"Also it has a narrow viewing angle, i.",
"e. you have to hold it at a certain angle or it appears dark or washed out.",
"3) The mobile web capability is very limited because of the phone's low memory.",
"Originally Tracfone only allowed you to go to a set of preselected sites.",
"Now you can enter any URL, but most of the time you get an insufficent memory error because the site is too large.",
"I mainly use it to get info.",
"by searching Google, in lieu of the Google SMS service that they discontinued.",
"4) As others have noted, when you close the slider the outer buttons don't lock immediately, you have to wait a few seconds before putting it in your pocket, otherwise the browser button could get pushed and you can lose a lot of minutes.",
"5) Battery standby time is less than a week, which is lower than other phones I've used.",
"On the other hand it recharges faster than usual.",
"EDIT: I recently charged the phone on a Sunday night, and it lasted until the next Monday morning, with light usage during the week.",
"It will stay at one battery bar for a while and still be functional.",
"When you recharge it, there doesn't seem to be any alert when it is finished, you have to just see if the battery icon is full.",
"6) The menu screens have a black and orange color scheme which, while readable, is a bit odd.",
"I got it when it was $8, from Dealathon, and I'm still using it.",
"Overall I'd say it is worth the current price of $5, for those of us who are not into the complexity and cost of smartphones.",
"You can upgrade to another Tracfone later on.",
"You can connect it to your Windows PC using a free program from Samsung and a cable you can get from Amazon for a few dollars, see this thread on the Howard forum: [...",
"]\n\nONE ADDITIONAL NOTE: Unlike some of their other phones, Samsung doesn't provide a PDF booklet/manual for this phone.",
"However, the Samsung T245G flip phone has features that are mostly similar and that does have a manual at [...",
"]\nThe main menus of the two phones are the same except for item #6, which on the T301G is \"Games & Apps\" while on the T245G it is \"Camera.",
"\" In actuality, the \"Games & Apps\" item on the T301G contains Games and the Camera function, so that item is not properly named.",
"While the T245G doesn't have games, just the Camera function."
] |
I'm nearly 50 with dry, sensitive skin. While I adore the Meaningful Beauty Creme de Serum <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Meaningful-Beauty-Cr-egrave-me-de-Serum-Night-Moisturizer-with-Melon-Extract-Peptides-and-Hyaluronic-Acid-1-Fluid-Ounce/dp/B016FD2QH0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Meaningful Beauty Crème de Serum, Night Moisturizer with Melon Extract, Peptides, and Hyaluronic Acid, 1 Fluid Ounce</a>, I don't care for these capsules much. They're OK, and I'll use them up, but I won't reorder.
The purple capsules are tough to open. I twist the end off, and some product splatters on my hands. There's still enough for your face and neck even if you lose part of it squeezing too hard.
What don't I like? I feel like I'm slathering straight dimethicone all over my face. Slimy feeling -- and too much dimethicone and I don't get along too well. I end up with milia sometimes.
As far as smoothing out wrinkles and laugh lines? I don't notice that at all, and even if I did, it would be only temporary.
I've seen other beauty skincare lines that use these type capsules, and the manufacturers swear the enclosed capsules keep product from the light so it doesn't oxidize. I have no idea why this cream is in a capsule, but 60 of these for a somewhat high price isn't very cost-effective for me.
I've reordered the Creme de Serum since I started using it 6 months ago, and I love that product so much more. | 1 | neutral | [
"I'm nearly 50 with dry, sensitive skin.",
"While I adore the Meaningful Beauty Creme de Serum <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Meaningful-Beauty-Cr-egrave-me-de-Serum-Night-Moisturizer-with-Melon-Extract-Peptides-and-Hyaluronic-Acid-1-Fluid-Ounce/dp/B016FD2QH0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Meaningful Beauty Crème de Serum, Night Moisturizer with Melon Extract, Peptides, and Hyaluronic Acid, 1 Fluid Ounce</a>, I don't care for these capsules much.",
"They're OK, and I'll use them up, but I won't reorder.",
"The purple capsules are tough to open.",
"I twist the end off, and some product splatters on my hands.",
"There's still enough for your face and neck even if you lose part of it squeezing too hard.",
"What don't I like?",
"I feel like I'm slathering straight dimethicone all over my face.",
"Slimy feeling -- and too much dimethicone and I don't get along too well.",
"I end up with milia sometimes.",
"As far as smoothing out wrinkles and laugh lines?",
"I don't notice that at all, and even if I did, it would be only temporary.",
"I've seen other beauty skincare lines that use these type capsules, and the manufacturers swear the enclosed capsules keep product from the light so it doesn't oxidize.",
"I have no idea why this cream is in a capsule, but 60 of these for a somewhat high price isn't very cost-effective for me.",
"I've reordered the Creme de Serum since I started using it 6 months ago, and I love that product so much more."
] |
Only a couple minor things keep this from being 5 starts at the moment. Assembly instructions aren't the greatest but they can be followed. There was a very small ding in the heating plate. I can tape over that like they suggest in the instructions. Would rather have one that doesn't have a ding. Probably contact support and see if they can replace it. The big thing that irked me a bit was the power cord. it is barely long enough to come out from underneath the frame. I'll have to buy a bit longer one later. Suggest a 6ft power cord instead of 1ft. I haven't had a chance to use the software yet. | 1 | neutral | [
"Only a couple minor things keep this from being 5 starts at the moment.",
"Assembly instructions aren't the greatest but they can be followed.",
"There was a very small ding in the heating plate.",
"I can tape over that like they suggest in the instructions.",
"Would rather have one that doesn't have a ding.",
"Probably contact support and see if they can replace it.",
"The big thing that irked me a bit was the power cord.",
"it is barely long enough to come out from underneath the frame.",
"I'll have to buy a bit longer one later.",
"Suggest a 6ft power cord instead of 1ft.",
"I haven't had a chance to use the software yet."
] |
This lotion has only a very light medicinal fragrance and is easily absorbed by the skin.
The ingredients include arbutin, another name for glycosylated hydroquinone, which reduces melanin production, plus alpha hydroxy acids to remove dead skin cells and give skin a fresh appearance. It slightly improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with regular use, but is not noticeably effective in reducing age spots or other areas of increased pigmentation.
A chemical peel can irritate the skin, especially with exposure to solar radiation, but this formula is fairly mild and contains skin conditioners, plus I have not spent much time in the mild winter sun, so I have had no problems using it.
I am surprised that this product is sold by Amazon, because the Obagi Medical Products website states that (g)enuine Obagi products are available only through physicians, medical spas, and other skin care professionals and Obagi Systems and Products are physician-dispensed and should be used only under the guidance of your skin care physician. Obviously, neither statement is true.
Directions are to apply to affected area twice daily or as directed by a physician.
The small plastic bottle has a secure cap and holds 2 oz. or 57 g.
Comparison shopping with similar products would be advised to find the best value for the common ingredients of arbutin and mild alpha hydroxy acids.
Ingredients: Water, arbutin, cetyl alcohol, glycerin, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearyl alcohol, tocopheryl acetate, ascorbic acid, saponins, sodium metabisulfite, BHT, lactic acid, disodium EDTA, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben. | 1 | neutral | [
"This lotion has only a very light medicinal fragrance and is easily absorbed by the skin.",
"The ingredients include arbutin, another name for glycosylated hydroquinone, which reduces melanin production, plus alpha hydroxy acids to remove dead skin cells and give skin a fresh appearance.",
"It slightly improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with regular use, but is not noticeably effective in reducing age spots or other areas of increased pigmentation.",
"A chemical peel can irritate the skin, especially with exposure to solar radiation, but this formula is fairly mild and contains skin conditioners, plus I have not spent much time in the mild winter sun, so I have had no problems using it.",
"I am surprised that this product is sold by Amazon, because the Obagi Medical Products website states that (g)enuine Obagi products are available only through physicians, medical spas, and other skin care professionals and Obagi Systems and Products are physician-dispensed and should be used only under the guidance of your skin care physician.",
"Obviously, neither statement is true.",
"Directions are to apply to affected area twice daily or as directed by a physician.",
"The small plastic bottle has a secure cap and holds 2 oz.",
"or 57 g.",
"Comparison shopping with similar products would be advised to find the best value for the common ingredients of arbutin and mild alpha hydroxy acids.",
"Ingredients: Water, arbutin, cetyl alcohol, glycerin, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearyl alcohol, tocopheryl acetate, ascorbic acid, saponins, sodium metabisulfite, BHT, lactic acid, disodium EDTA, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben."
] |
This was a wonderful cocktail of history and romance. Dillon Cade is a relatively new immigrant from England and he is already independently wealthy and educated so he creates a weekly newsletter to present his political agenda and also various other viewpoints as he is a gentle and open minded person. Caitlin is young, the third child and only daughter of the Gallagher family who are also recent immigrants from Ireland, they are a politically exiled family because of the war between England and Ireland. Caitlin's family are going to be thrown out of America and sent back to Ireland because of a recently passed law by President Adams so they hide this information and marry Cailin to Dillon Cade so that she can stay safe in America and start a new life under the safe, kind, educated (and hot!) Cade family name.
There is a lot of secrets in the Cailin and Dillon couple and it peppers and spices the story at different moments. There is also a mystery plot line that follow the two women that want to destroy their lives; Henrietta and the step-mother Lady Cade.
This is a sweet christian romance without any sexy scenes but lots of romance. There is a HEA, so don't worry! I did like the 'jealousy' moments with the Vice-Pres Jefferson... I always did have a thing about that man! Yum! So great that he makes a cameo in this romance. | 1 | neutral | [
"This was a wonderful cocktail of history and romance.",
"Dillon Cade is a relatively new immigrant from England and he is already independently wealthy and educated so he creates a weekly newsletter to present his political agenda and also various other viewpoints as he is a gentle and open minded person.",
"Caitlin is young, the third child and only daughter of the Gallagher family who are also recent immigrants from Ireland, they are a politically exiled family because of the war between England and Ireland.",
"Caitlin's family are going to be thrown out of America and sent back to Ireland because of a recently passed law by President Adams so they hide this information and marry Cailin to Dillon Cade so that she can stay safe in America and start a new life under the safe, kind, educated (and hot!",
") Cade family name.",
"There is a lot of secrets in the Cailin and Dillon couple and it peppers and spices the story at different moments.",
"There is also a mystery plot line that follow the two women that want to destroy their lives; Henrietta and the step-mother Lady Cade.",
"This is a sweet christian romance without any sexy scenes but lots of romance.",
"There is a HEA, so don't worry!",
"I did like the 'jealousy' moments with the Vice-Pres Jefferson...",
"I always did have a thing about that man!",
"Yum!",
"So great that he makes a cameo in this romance."
] |
When I first got this phone I really liked it but after a while I started to notice some of the problems with it.
1. I will go to open my gallery and it will freeze the phone and I will have to restart the phone.
2. While outside either texting or on a app. The phone will start acting weird and make it nearly impossible to text. This I notice only when it was sunny outside.
3. The phone will just freeze up and some times restart itself.
Here is a link to other problems and related issues.
[...] | 1 | neutral | [
"When I first got this phone I really liked it but after a while I started to notice some of the problems with it.",
"1.",
"I will go to open my gallery and it will freeze the phone and I will have to restart the phone.",
"2.",
"While outside either texting or on a app.",
"The phone will start acting weird and make it nearly impossible to text.",
"This I notice only when it was sunny outside.",
"3.",
"The phone will just freeze up and some times restart itself.",
"Here is a link to other problems and related issues.",
"[...",
"]"
] |
The material is lightweight and fairly thin, calling this a heavyweight doesn't seem correct, so it's not really a cold weather outdoor hoodie for wearing over just a t-shirt. For jogging with a little chill in the air, or hanging out indoors on a cold day it's not bad at all for the price. The hood is a little tight, I like a larger, looser one, as this really cuts down on your peripheral vision, but works in a pinch. I tend to wear an XL, but wanted a more baggy fit so I bought an XXL, which is more like a baggier XL, but still a nice fit. Sleeves are long enough for a 6'3" dude with an athletic build. The material is very soft and comfortable.
Pros: Comfortable when sized up for a baggier fit, soft material.
Cons: -1 for the hood being tighter and more restrictive than I like, -1 for being advertised as a heavy blend but seeming lighter, or if it is heavyweight, lightweight must be a t-shirt.
If you want a lighter hoodie that's very comfortable and you don't use the hood much or will be doing something like reading where you're not looking around, this is a good deal. If you want a true heavyweight or use the hood while walking around, not sure you'll really like it. | 1 | neutral | [
"The material is lightweight and fairly thin, calling this a heavyweight doesn't seem correct, so it's not really a cold weather outdoor hoodie for wearing over just a t-shirt.",
"For jogging with a little chill in the air, or hanging out indoors on a cold day it's not bad at all for the price.",
"The hood is a little tight, I like a larger, looser one, as this really cuts down on your peripheral vision, but works in a pinch.",
"I tend to wear an XL, but wanted a more baggy fit so I bought an XXL, which is more like a baggier XL, but still a nice fit.",
"Sleeves are long enough for a 6'3\" dude with an athletic build.",
"The material is very soft and comfortable.",
"Pros: Comfortable when sized up for a baggier fit, soft material.",
"Cons: -1 for the hood being tighter and more restrictive than I like, -1 for being advertised as a heavy blend but seeming lighter, or if it is heavyweight, lightweight must be a t-shirt.",
"If you want a lighter hoodie that's very comfortable and you don't use the hood much or will be doing something like reading where you're not looking around, this is a good deal.",
"If you want a true heavyweight or use the hood while walking around, not sure you'll really like it."
] |
Now that the nightmare of putting this together has faded I gave it 3 stars instead of the 2 I was telling myself I was going to give it. I mean really the WORST assembly ever. I mean first of all, I should not have even needed to LOOK at the instructions for something this simple, right? I mean, just look at the parts and the picture of the finished product and it should all come together in your head, shouldn't it? Well, to me in a well thought out product, it should. But this would not be a good example of one of those. None of the parts were labelled and when trying to put it together, the order and instructions were critical. You had to partially tighten this while you held these pieces together and then fed these rods threw and tried to line these pieces up also. You needed more than two hands ideally and I didn't have them. However, I did finally get it all put together and now it is solid and quite useful and while I would not call it a thing of beauty, it surely serves its purpose and I like how much it will hold and get off the surface of my desk without risk of buckling or bending. | 1 | neutral | [
"Now that the nightmare of putting this together has faded I gave it 3 stars instead of the 2 I was telling myself I was going to give it.",
"I mean really the WORST assembly ever.",
"I mean first of all, I should not have even needed to LOOK at the instructions for something this simple, right?",
"I mean, just look at the parts and the picture of the finished product and it should all come together in your head, shouldn't it?",
"Well, to me in a well thought out product, it should.",
"But this would not be a good example of one of those.",
"None of the parts were labelled and when trying to put it together, the order and instructions were critical.",
"You had to partially tighten this while you held these pieces together and then fed these rods threw and tried to line these pieces up also.",
"You needed more than two hands ideally and I didn't have them.",
"However, I did finally get it all put together and now it is solid and quite useful and while I would not call it a thing of beauty, it surely serves its purpose and I like how much it will hold and get off the surface of my desk without risk of buckling or bending."
] |
This game took the reaaaaally scenic route before, finally, finding its way home. Release dates were pushed back, again and again; publishers were changed (from ATARI to SIERRA), like horses while crossing a river: an equally bad idea. What finally reached the shore was nothing to brag about...
TIMESHIFT runs for about 10-15 hours, not short yet not long either by regular standards (I mean "regular", mind you, not HL2-Episodes which run shorter than demos). In all those hours the story never manages to engage you. Time travel has always been a mind bender to grasp - and this is especially true when the story is tissue-paper thin...True, most FPS games do not have thicker stories - yet all *Great* FPS games surely did.
In the original UNREAL you tried to escape an alien planet you crash-landed in a prison-ship. In HALF-LIFE you either fought in an alien-infested underground Black Mesa or were doing Mr Smith's biding in combine-controlled City 17. In FAR CRY you were thrown onto a tropical island with a wild bunch of mutant-creating mercenaries. In MAX PAYNE - oh, don't get me started on MAX PAYNE...
In TIMESHIFT you try to, well, get back a time-shifting suit from the evil doctor and then go back in time to amend the bad things he already did. Yeah, really exciting...
TIMESHIFT manages to stay afloat by improving on old idea. Remember MAX PAYNE's bullet-time? Well, in TIMESHIFT you can actually stop or even reverse time. This is not unlimited of course and it has rather slow recharge cycle but it provides with a number of interesting possibilities: dodge bullets, throw back the live grenade, disarm the opponents and then use their own weapons against them...(if you die though, you do stay dead).
AI? What AI? I don't know whether it is due to going back and forth in time, but your enemies never raise above flatlined braindead. Even without slowing time they will just walk in front of your mawing machine gun...
The one thing that DID improve by the long wait were the graphics. Compared to early-released demos, there seems that a lot of work has been put into all of textures, surfaces and shadows. Slow time and watch for the explosions: they are really impressive! Combine this with a collection of really imaginative and impressive weapons and you have TIMESHIFT's major success. Incendiary projectiles anyone? And I really liked the abundance of ammo! (some FPS are so stingy with their ammo crates, you would think they actually had to pay for them!)
Now, these high quality graphics do require the latest beta drivers (in fact the installation routine will direct you to the appropriate site for this reason), have pretty steep system requirements - and expect a number crashes. Ah well, that's what patches are for.
All in all, give it a try - but there are much better choices out there... | 1 | neutral | [
"This game took the reaaaaally scenic route before, finally, finding its way home.",
"Release dates were pushed back, again and again; publishers were changed (from ATARI to SIERRA), like horses while crossing a river: an equally bad idea.",
"What finally reached the shore was nothing to brag about...",
"TIMESHIFT runs for about 10-15 hours, not short yet not long either by regular standards (I mean \"regular\", mind you, not HL2-Episodes which run shorter than demos).",
"In all those hours the story never manages to engage you.",
"Time travel has always been a mind bender to grasp - and this is especially true when the story is tissue-paper thin...",
"True, most FPS games do not have thicker stories - yet all *Great* FPS games surely did.",
"In the original UNREAL you tried to escape an alien planet you crash-landed in a prison-ship.",
"In HALF-LIFE you either fought in an alien-infested underground Black Mesa or were doing Mr Smith's biding in combine-controlled City 17.",
"In FAR CRY you were thrown onto a tropical island with a wild bunch of mutant-creating mercenaries.",
"In MAX PAYNE - oh, don't get me started on MAX PAYNE...",
"In TIMESHIFT you try to, well, get back a time-shifting suit from the evil doctor and then go back in time to amend the bad things he already did.",
"Yeah, really exciting...",
"TIMESHIFT manages to stay afloat by improving on old idea.",
"Remember MAX PAYNE's bullet-time?",
"Well, in TIMESHIFT you can actually stop or even reverse time.",
"This is not unlimited of course and it has rather slow recharge cycle but it provides with a number of interesting possibilities: dodge bullets, throw back the live grenade, disarm the opponents and then use their own weapons against them...",
"(if you die though, you do stay dead).",
"AI?",
"What AI?",
"I don't know whether it is due to going back and forth in time, but your enemies never raise above flatlined braindead.",
"Even without slowing time they will just walk in front of your mawing machine gun...",
"The one thing that DID improve by the long wait were the graphics.",
"Compared to early-released demos, there seems that a lot of work has been put into all of textures, surfaces and shadows.",
"Slow time and watch for the explosions: they are really impressive!",
"Combine this with a collection of really imaginative and impressive weapons and you have TIMESHIFT's major success.",
"Incendiary projectiles anyone?",
"And I really liked the abundance of ammo!",
"(some FPS are so stingy with their ammo crates, you would think they actually had to pay for them!",
")\nNow, these high quality graphics do require the latest beta drivers (in fact the installation routine will direct you to the appropriate site for this reason), have pretty steep system requirements - and expect a number crashes.",
"Ah well, that's what patches are for.",
"All in all, give it a try - but there are much better choices out there..."
] |
Who hasn't seen Cindy Crawford's infomercials touting her beauty line? Skin products with extracts of that super French melon, full of antioxidants known as superoxide dismatase (SOD [not as in "off"]). It's a *French* melon, folks, and we all know that's got to be good. After all, didn't the French invent that perennial favorite, the French kiss?
Anyhoo, this serum contains three powerful anti-aging ingredients: 1) that melon complex already mentioned, 2) peptides, and 3) hyaluronic acid. It's supposed to protect your skin, increase hydration and prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
So I've been using this for about three weeks and must admit that I like the way it makes my skin feel. It's cooling as it goes on, absorbs quickly, and leaves my skin feeling soft and silky and not at all sticky. It may even refine the pores a bit. Not only that but the little bottle is really pretty with those multi-color swirls of creme.
And what's not to like?
1) The huge number of polysyllabic ingredients. I've counted more than 50 in the list and that super melon extract is #12.
2) The cost. There is only one ounce of serum in this container. This price for one ounce is exorbitant, especially considering I can get and have gotten very similar results on my skin with any hyaluronic acid serum at a much lower price.
Bottom line for me is that although this works well I'll never buy it. Too costly and too many unnecessary ingredients.
And, BTW, I'd still like to know just what "meaningful beauty" is, even though I know I'll never attain it. | 1 | neutral | [
"Who hasn't seen Cindy Crawford's infomercials touting her beauty line?",
"Skin products with extracts of that super French melon, full of antioxidants known as superoxide dismatase (SOD [not as in \"off\"]).",
"It's a *French* melon, folks, and we all know that's got to be good.",
"After all, didn't the French invent that perennial favorite, the French kiss?",
"Anyhoo, this serum contains three powerful anti-aging ingredients: 1) that melon complex already mentioned, 2) peptides, and 3) hyaluronic acid.",
"It's supposed to protect your skin, increase hydration and prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.",
"So I've been using this for about three weeks and must admit that I like the way it makes my skin feel.",
"It's cooling as it goes on, absorbs quickly, and leaves my skin feeling soft and silky and not at all sticky.",
"It may even refine the pores a bit.",
"Not only that but the little bottle is really pretty with those multi-color swirls of creme.",
"And what's not to like?",
"1) The huge number of polysyllabic ingredients.",
"I've counted more than 50 in the list and that super melon extract is #12.",
"2) The cost.",
"There is only one ounce of serum in this container.",
"This price for one ounce is exorbitant, especially considering I can get and have gotten very similar results on my skin with any hyaluronic acid serum at a much lower price.",
"Bottom line for me is that although this works well I'll never buy it.",
"Too costly and too many unnecessary ingredients.",
"And, BTW, I'd still like to know just what \"meaningful beauty\" is, even though I know I'll never attain it."
] |
What an excellent idea for a game, but not as many bells and whistles as you might be wishing for.
The Politcal Machine is a game about running for president of the United States. At your disposal is a variety of options from hiring smear campaigners, spin doctors and Press Release people. Along the way you have to watch out for all those politcal Activist who can either help or ruin your campaign. You can raise your poll ratings if you do good on a variety of spin off news shows. There is a hardball show called Hardhitter, a 60 minutes program called 60 Seconds. Last, what good campaign would be complete without speeches, advertisements and winning endorsements from the Religous Right or The Gun association. It's all here in this game!
From what I just explained, any political and news fan would be excited, but when you actually play the game its bland. There is no voice interviews or speeches(everything is read). The questions on the TV shows are very limited. You get 2 or 3 questions and they can be repetitive. Some of the animated faces don't look like the candidates and when you pick a female character, the game refers to you as "HE", not "SHE". The game really isn't bad, but it's not up with todays standards and expectations of what should be in a game.
If you are a political fan like me and you must have the game, then go ahead and buy it. It might not have the bells and whistles that it should, but it's a fun little time waster and somewhat addictive because its challenging.
Graphics=3
Commentary and Music=2.5
Fun Factor=4
Replay value=4
Total=3.4 STARS | 1 | neutral | [
"What an excellent idea for a game, but not as many bells and whistles as you might be wishing for.",
"The Politcal Machine is a game about running for president of the United States.",
"At your disposal is a variety of options from hiring smear campaigners, spin doctors and Press Release people.",
"Along the way you have to watch out for all those politcal Activist who can either help or ruin your campaign.",
"You can raise your poll ratings if you do good on a variety of spin off news shows.",
"There is a hardball show called Hardhitter, a 60 minutes program called 60 Seconds.",
"Last, what good campaign would be complete without speeches, advertisements and winning endorsements from the Religous Right or The Gun association.",
"It's all here in this game!",
"From what I just explained, any political and news fan would be excited, but when you actually play the game its bland.",
"There is no voice interviews or speeches(everything is read).",
"The questions on the TV shows are very limited.",
"You get 2 or 3 questions and they can be repetitive.",
"Some of the animated faces don't look like the candidates and when you pick a female character, the game refers to you as \"HE\", not \"SHE\".",
"The game really isn't bad, but it's not up with todays standards and expectations of what should be in a game.",
"If you are a political fan like me and you must have the game, then go ahead and buy it.",
"It might not have the bells and whistles that it should, but it's a fun little time waster and somewhat addictive because its challenging.",
"Graphics=3\nCommentary and Music=2.",
"5\nFun Factor=4\nReplay value=4\n\nTotal=3.",
"4 STARS"
] |
I think most people realized that this is a 10-15 dollar game but is usually priced at 40-50 because of the remote. In fact, one of the early reviews mentions this in the title. The problem is the remote is the outdated Classic Wii remote which does not come with Motion Plus, either built in or attachable. Pretty much all the remotes sold now, individually or in Wii Console bundles, are Remote Plus. If they end up re-releasing or repackaging it with a Wii Remote Plus or with the add on, then we might have a fair deal. Now, on to the games.
This is much much more fun to play with a second person. Unfortunately, most of my friends do not play video games. I tried with my GF, but she wasn't big on them either. Not that it is completely boring by yourself, but when you have that competition with a friend going, it just is so much better. Essentially, there are 4 games that are really fun and 5 that I think are a bit "meh", in my opinion. Here are a few words on all the games:
Shooting Range: This was very fun. It's very similar to the old Duck Hunt that came with Super Mario for the NES. Only with better graphics, obviously. Really fun game to play. It is short, but you can just play it over and over.
The Mii Find Thing: OK, this is just awful. This is like a bad version of Where's Waldo. Basically, they have a bunch of Mii Characters and you have to find the odd one out or match the two with identical faces. The first level is actually a bit insulting. They have I think 4 or 5 Mii's on the screen and you are faced with the daunting task of picking the two that look the same. Seriously. I couldn't beleive that this was an actual thing. Obviously they do get harder and switch the objective as they go along, but it just is not fun. Of the 5 that I personally didn't like, this is the worst.
The Tank Game: This is a game that others might like, but I did not. I didn't play it much, so I can't be too critical. Basically you control a little tank on a board game battlefield looking area and you have to destroy enemy tanks by shooting them and not get shot by them.
Fishing: I think a little too simple. You just rest a hook in the water and pull the remote back when you get a bite. I just didn't find it very amusing
Pool: This was cool. You play a round of 9 Ball. The controls were good and the game was very fun
The Pose Bubble Match Thingy: Didn't play this one much either. MY GF did have a little fun with it, but not really for me. Basically you have to match the pose that is on these little bubbles before the bubbles hit the ground. A bit tough to explain, but easy to pick up once you see it.
Laser Hockey: This was awesome! it's kind of a mix between Pong and Air hockey. Just simple and fun to play, especially against a friend or relative. NOTE: For those who have the game or will have it, you can actually unlock a round thingy, like in real air hockey tables, to hit the puck with, instead of the vertical one. All you do is when the game starts and the clock starts counting down 3-2-1 to the start of the match, just hold A and B the whole time. It's not a huge change, but it is different and fun to try out
Ping Pong: Disappointed. All you do is just hit the ball back and forth. It's not an actual game or anything. Just try to hit it back as many times as you can.
The Cow Race: best game on this. Very addictive. I played for over an hour the first time. has some small control glitches, but nothing big at all. Really REALLY fun, the best game on this
So there ya have it. What i would recommend is getting this game used without the remote. It is outdated and not worth it. They have sellers selling it for only a few bucks plus shipping, used without remote. Cause the 4 games that i mentioned really are fun. But unless you buy just the game at a low price, or they upgrade the set and include a Remote Plus, despite the game being fun, it just is not worth it | 1 | neutral | [
"I think most people realized that this is a 10-15 dollar game but is usually priced at 40-50 because of the remote.",
"In fact, one of the early reviews mentions this in the title.",
"The problem is the remote is the outdated Classic Wii remote which does not come with Motion Plus, either built in or attachable.",
"Pretty much all the remotes sold now, individually or in Wii Console bundles, are Remote Plus.",
"If they end up re-releasing or repackaging it with a Wii Remote Plus or with the add on, then we might have a fair deal.",
"Now, on to the games.",
"This is much much more fun to play with a second person.",
"Unfortunately, most of my friends do not play video games.",
"I tried with my GF, but she wasn't big on them either.",
"Not that it is completely boring by yourself, but when you have that competition with a friend going, it just is so much better.",
"Essentially, there are 4 games that are really fun and 5 that I think are a bit \"meh\", in my opinion.",
"Here are a few words on all the games:\n\nShooting Range: This was very fun.",
"It's very similar to the old Duck Hunt that came with Super Mario for the NES.",
"Only with better graphics, obviously.",
"Really fun game to play.",
"It is short, but you can just play it over and over.",
"The Mii Find Thing: OK, this is just awful.",
"This is like a bad version of Where's Waldo.",
"Basically, they have a bunch of Mii Characters and you have to find the odd one out or match the two with identical faces.",
"The first level is actually a bit insulting.",
"They have I think 4 or 5 Mii's on the screen and you are faced with the daunting task of picking the two that look the same.",
"Seriously.",
"I couldn't beleive that this was an actual thing.",
"Obviously they do get harder and switch the objective as they go along, but it just is not fun.",
"Of the 5 that I personally didn't like, this is the worst.",
"The Tank Game: This is a game that others might like, but I did not.",
"I didn't play it much, so I can't be too critical.",
"Basically you control a little tank on a board game battlefield looking area and you have to destroy enemy tanks by shooting them and not get shot by them.",
"Fishing: I think a little too simple.",
"You just rest a hook in the water and pull the remote back when you get a bite.",
"I just didn't find it very amusing\n\nPool: This was cool.",
"You play a round of 9 Ball.",
"The controls were good and the game was very fun\n\nThe Pose Bubble Match Thingy: Didn't play this one much either.",
"MY GF did have a little fun with it, but not really for me.",
"Basically you have to match the pose that is on these little bubbles before the bubbles hit the ground.",
"A bit tough to explain, but easy to pick up once you see it.",
"Laser Hockey: This was awesome!",
"it's kind of a mix between Pong and Air hockey.",
"Just simple and fun to play, especially against a friend or relative.",
"NOTE: For those who have the game or will have it, you can actually unlock a round thingy, like in real air hockey tables, to hit the puck with, instead of the vertical one.",
"All you do is when the game starts and the clock starts counting down 3-2-1 to the start of the match, just hold A and B the whole time.",
"It's not a huge change, but it is different and fun to try out\n\nPing Pong: Disappointed.",
"All you do is just hit the ball back and forth.",
"It's not an actual game or anything.",
"Just try to hit it back as many times as you can.",
"The Cow Race: best game on this.",
"Very addictive.",
"I played for over an hour the first time.",
"has some small control glitches, but nothing big at all.",
"Really REALLY fun, the best game on this\n\nSo there ya have it.",
"What i would recommend is getting this game used without the remote.",
"It is outdated and not worth it.",
"They have sellers selling it for only a few bucks plus shipping, used without remote.",
"Cause the 4 games that i mentioned really are fun.",
"But unless you buy just the game at a low price, or they upgrade the set and include a Remote Plus, despite the game being fun, it just is not worth it"
] |
This was Sugarland's first cd. When they were a trio. There first single Baby Girl. I wan't too crazy about. But their second Something More which kicks off the cd. Was the reason why I went ahead and bought this cd. A good uptempo song. With lyrics that I think everyone can relate to at one time or another in their lives. Just Might, and Down In Mississippi were also hits. From the first time you listen to this cd. You knew they were going to be big. And losing a member didn't slow them down at all. Hello, Fly Away, Small Town Jericho and Speed Of Life are all done very well. After this I haven't bought all of Sugarland's cds. I have a couple of others. They are all good. And I don't know if they are ever going to get back together. I'ved heard there was some talk about it. And I don't know if they could just pick up where they left off if they did. But I am really surprised after all their success. That there hasn't been a Greatest Hits released. | 1 | neutral | [
"This was Sugarland's first cd.",
"When they were a trio.",
"There first single Baby Girl.",
"I wan't too crazy about.",
"But their second Something More which kicks off the cd.",
"Was the reason why I went ahead and bought this cd.",
"A good uptempo song.",
"With lyrics that I think everyone can relate to at one time or another in their lives.",
"Just Might, and Down In Mississippi were also hits.",
"From the first time you listen to this cd.",
"You knew they were going to be big.",
"And losing a member didn't slow them down at all.",
"Hello, Fly Away, Small Town Jericho and Speed Of Life are all done very well.",
"After this I haven't bought all of Sugarland's cds.",
"I have a couple of others.",
"They are all good.",
"And I don't know if they are ever going to get back together.",
"I'ved heard there was some talk about it.",
"And I don't know if they could just pick up where they left off if they did.",
"But I am really surprised after all their success.",
"That there hasn't been a Greatest Hits released."
] |
While watching intently (always consider Nat'l Geo true) - I felt "tossed to the wolves" when it abruptly ended. Not a happy camper. Sat dumbfounded then episode 2 started - goody. Intently watched except too many parts were repeated from the 1st episode. The 2nd episode finished still not telling the whole story. Learned there was a disc 2. Amazon doesn't make it easy to acquire. It's either too expensive or a 2 or 3 area.
There are still families in this world w/out "domesticated" animals. The film showed you how important they are. There's an organization "Heifer Intl" who gives gifts of animals to families. They then have milk/eggs to eat & are able to support themselves by selling the products. These animals open up a whole world of economical security for them.
[...] or 1-800-422-0474...gift a desperate family a basket of baby chicks or goat or bunnies or even a "heifer". So many animals to choose from. Get together w/others & send a bunch of animals in a special someone's name. With all of these animals - there's a gift card for whoever you're honoring. These animals are the gifts - cards are the notifications.
One more very important aspect of gifting animals...the new owners are taught how to care for them - give offspring to neighbors & teach them how to care for the offspring.
Is that cool or what? | 1 | neutral | [
"While watching intently (always consider Nat'l Geo true) - I felt \"tossed to the wolves\" when it abruptly ended.",
"Not a happy camper.",
"Sat dumbfounded then episode 2 started - goody.",
"Intently watched except too many parts were repeated from the 1st episode.",
"The 2nd episode finished still not telling the whole story.",
"Learned there was a disc 2.",
"Amazon doesn't make it easy to acquire.",
"It's either too expensive or a 2 or 3 area.",
"There are still families in this world w/out \"domesticated\" animals.",
"The film showed you how important they are.",
"There's an organization \"Heifer Intl\" who gives gifts of animals to families.",
"They then have milk/eggs to eat & are able to support themselves by selling the products.",
"These animals open up a whole world of economical security for them.",
"[...",
"] or 1-800-422-0474...",
"gift a desperate family a basket of baby chicks or goat or bunnies or even a \"heifer\".",
"So many animals to choose from.",
"Get together w/others & send a bunch of animals in a special someone's name.",
"With all of these animals - there's a gift card for whoever you're honoring.",
"These animals are the gifts - cards are the notifications.",
"One more very important aspect of gifting animals...",
"the new owners are taught how to care for them - give offspring to neighbors & teach them how to care for the offspring.",
"Is that cool or what?"
] |
I am a phone junky! It's taken me about 20 different phones to realize I have a problem! While most girls want shoes I am always wanted the latest greatest new phone. I would consider myself an expert in the world of smartphones. My last nine phones have been (in order) Motorola Q, Iphone 3g, Iphone 3gs, Palm pre plus,HTC, Motorola Droid, Motorola Droid X, Blackberry Torch, and finnally iphone 4 (my current and favorite phone which I am sticking with).
I am writing a review on the new Blackberry Torch because I think it gets to much credit in the smartphone world. When I first got it I was enamored with the slide out keyboard and the slick robust feel of the phone. I noticed right away that it was sluggish and most screens lagged. I still pushed onwards with the Torch I had owned a blackberry pearl a at one time and was impressed by blackberrys battery life and the quailty of product. True to blackberry the Torch has great battery life and even with moderate to heavy usage I could go all day! in comparison with all the other phones I had owned (even the apple phones 3g and 3gs) the blackberry Torch is very good on battery given the screen size and the wide range of features.
Three months into owning this device things started going downhill. I would think it was only my phone that was defective but my boyfriends had the same problems and I purchased them at the same time. The screen started freezing, getting caught in landscape mode, half the screen turned white, more and more problems kept coming up! To top it all off with a few programs installed the Torch got extremely slow, it lagged on every screen to the point I avoided using it too look things up because it was too frustrating. Everyday my boyfriend and I were taking off the backs of the phones to reboot them and it really became a pain.
On the plus side the Torch was great for security reasons not that I have anything that needs to be secure! And the slide out keyboard is awesome and easy to type on! The on screen keyboard is a joke and unusable, but the touch screen works well for browsing the web and clicking on links.
I don't dislike the Blackberry Torch I just don't believe its a phone that allowed me to get the most out of my data package and I don't feel like it was the most reliable phone. As far as blackberrys go the web browsing experience is better than previous Blackberrys but the sluggish phone won't allow you to enjoy the new browser. The phone looks great is very durable, sounds great when its not frozen and you can place a call, and is overall a good option for those who need the security of Blackberry. I still reccoment Android and Apple over Blackberry. | 1 | neutral | [
"I am a phone junky!",
"It's taken me about 20 different phones to realize I have a problem!",
"While most girls want shoes I am always wanted the latest greatest new phone.",
"I would consider myself an expert in the world of smartphones.",
"My last nine phones have been (in order) Motorola Q, Iphone 3g, Iphone 3gs, Palm pre plus,HTC, Motorola Droid, Motorola Droid X, Blackberry Torch, and finnally iphone 4 (my current and favorite phone which I am sticking with).",
"I am writing a review on the new Blackberry Torch because I think it gets to much credit in the smartphone world.",
"When I first got it I was enamored with the slide out keyboard and the slick robust feel of the phone.",
"I noticed right away that it was sluggish and most screens lagged.",
"I still pushed onwards with the Torch I had owned a blackberry pearl a at one time and was impressed by blackberrys battery life and the quailty of product.",
"True to blackberry the Torch has great battery life and even with moderate to heavy usage I could go all day!",
"in comparison with all the other phones I had owned (even the apple phones 3g and 3gs) the blackberry Torch is very good on battery given the screen size and the wide range of features.",
"Three months into owning this device things started going downhill.",
"I would think it was only my phone that was defective but my boyfriends had the same problems and I purchased them at the same time.",
"The screen started freezing, getting caught in landscape mode, half the screen turned white, more and more problems kept coming up!",
"To top it all off with a few programs installed the Torch got extremely slow, it lagged on every screen to the point I avoided using it too look things up because it was too frustrating.",
"Everyday my boyfriend and I were taking off the backs of the phones to reboot them and it really became a pain.",
"On the plus side the Torch was great for security reasons not that I have anything that needs to be secure!",
"And the slide out keyboard is awesome and easy to type on!",
"The on screen keyboard is a joke and unusable, but the touch screen works well for browsing the web and clicking on links.",
"I don't dislike the Blackberry Torch I just don't believe its a phone that allowed me to get the most out of my data package and I don't feel like it was the most reliable phone.",
"As far as blackberrys go the web browsing experience is better than previous Blackberrys but the sluggish phone won't allow you to enjoy the new browser.",
"The phone looks great is very durable, sounds great when its not frozen and you can place a call, and is overall a good option for those who need the security of Blackberry.",
"I still reccoment Android and Apple over Blackberry."
] |
The Garmin Rino 110 occupies an awkward middle ground between being an
interesting toy and a serious tool for the outdoors. On the one hand
the idea of melding together GPS and radio communications via FRS/GMRS
is dynamite. Unfortunately the devil is in the details when it comes
down to actually using them. As others have noted the 110 can be
quite finicky about battery life, and even a slight jostle can cause
the units to shut down. There's also the issue of range. I have
found that best way to use the 110 is for car-to-car communication, or
within the controlled distances inside of a campground. I would be
very careful before trusting the 110 in a real "hardcore" outdoor
situation.
Within those limits the 110 is a nifty little device. I am quite keen
to see that the folks at Garmin come up with next. I for one would be
willing to pay more for a unit that is more "ruggedized" or requires a
license but gives you more radio output power in return (and removes
the FCC restriction about sending GPS data at GMRS power levels).
Also a more clever approach with regard to batteries/power management
would be a huge plus. | 1 | neutral | [
"The Garmin Rino 110 occupies an awkward middle ground between being an\ninteresting toy and a serious tool for the outdoors.",
"On the one hand\nthe idea of melding together GPS and radio communications via FRS/GMRS\nis dynamite.",
"Unfortunately the devil is in the details when it comes\ndown to actually using them.",
"As others have noted the 110 can be\nquite finicky about battery life, and even a slight jostle can cause\nthe units to shut down.",
"There's also the issue of range.",
"I have\nfound that best way to use the 110 is for car-to-car communication, or\nwithin the controlled distances inside of a campground.",
"I would be\nvery careful before trusting the 110 in a real \"hardcore\" outdoor\nsituation.",
"Within those limits the 110 is a nifty little device.",
"I am quite keen\nto see that the folks at Garmin come up with next.",
"I for one would be\nwilling to pay more for a unit that is more \"ruggedized\" or requires a\nlicense but gives you more radio output power in return (and removes\nthe FCC restriction about sending GPS data at GMRS power levels).",
"Also a more clever approach with regard to batteries/power management\nwould be a huge plus."
] |
The most amazing thing about Doom 3 is the graphics; nobody will argue that. We all knew that this or Half Life 2 will set the standard for some time now but since HL2 isn't out yet, this is the official benchmark. The graphics are 100% amazing when set to the fullest resolution, anti-aliasing, and so forth. That is, if your system can handle it. The voices in the game are also very well done. The character's mouths move flawlessly with the speech and the PDA you have gives many audio log transmissions that are very well done.
You would think that such a graphically demanding game would be quite large but Doom 3 is pleasantly packaged to just under 2 gigs; and it's a long game too.
Having given "id" the proper respect due, I must say that the actual content of the game is lacking. The story doesn't really captivate you and the levels are too similar to each other. In fact, the first half of the game has levels so alike that they could re-arrange the maps in any order and it would still fallow its "story". Also, the enemies rarely change. There are about half a dozen different characters that you face over, and over, and over.
Although once you do get past the very boring first half of the game, it starts to pick up its pace and fully develop the story. Unfortunately after spending so long getting to this point, it's just not enough to get excited.
I will add that it does end strongly; too bad I had to choke through a lot of banality to get there. | 1 | neutral | [
"The most amazing thing about Doom 3 is the graphics; nobody will argue that.",
"We all knew that this or Half Life 2 will set the standard for some time now but since HL2 isn't out yet, this is the official benchmark.",
"The graphics are 100% amazing when set to the fullest resolution, anti-aliasing, and so forth.",
"That is, if your system can handle it.",
"The voices in the game are also very well done.",
"The character's mouths move flawlessly with the speech and the PDA you have gives many audio log transmissions that are very well done.",
"You would think that such a graphically demanding game would be quite large but Doom 3 is pleasantly packaged to just under 2 gigs; and it's a long game too.",
"Having given \"id\" the proper respect due, I must say that the actual content of the game is lacking.",
"The story doesn't really captivate you and the levels are too similar to each other.",
"In fact, the first half of the game has levels so alike that they could re-arrange the maps in any order and it would still fallow its \"story\".",
"Also, the enemies rarely change.",
"There are about half a dozen different characters that you face over, and over, and over.",
"Although once you do get past the very boring first half of the game, it starts to pick up its pace and fully develop the story.",
"Unfortunately after spending so long getting to this point, it's just not enough to get excited.",
"I will add that it does end strongly; too bad I had to choke through a lot of banality to get there."
] |
After playing Final Fantasy X, and thoroughly enjoying it, i wasn't expecting anything different from this game.
Boy was i wrong...
This 'sequel' is absolutely nothing like the game before. The fmailiar Final fantasy music is completely gone and is replaced with some very cheesy 70's type music.
The sphere level system is gone as are weapons and armor. There are no more swords and shields to collect and find. They are now replaced with accessories like earrings and bracelets.
Also, the strategical battle system of Final Fantasy X, in which you have to change characters in and out of battle, is gone too. The new battle system is super fast and won't require much more than holding down the 'X' button to attack.
And probably the worst part of this game is how tedious it is.
You will travel to the same exact places from Final Fantasy X. The maps are completely the same. Plus to get the most from this game you have to visit each location once a chapter. That means you will go through the same old areas 5 times each!
No originality what so ever.
Though i must admit that i loved the dress sphere system. The classes were mostly cool but there are some severe imbalances in some of them like the Dark Knights Darkness attack and the Alchemists unlimited supply of Mega Potions...
All in all this is a terrific game and i enjoyed it quite a bit. Compared to every other non Final Fantasy game it rocks. But compare it to the old Final Fantasys and it doesnt seem to have the same type of quality. | 1 | neutral | [
"After playing Final Fantasy X, and thoroughly enjoying it, i wasn't expecting anything different from this game.",
"Boy was i wrong...",
"This 'sequel' is absolutely nothing like the game before.",
"The fmailiar Final fantasy music is completely gone and is replaced with some very cheesy 70's type music.",
"The sphere level system is gone as are weapons and armor.",
"There are no more swords and shields to collect and find.",
"They are now replaced with accessories like earrings and bracelets.",
"Also, the strategical battle system of Final Fantasy X, in which you have to change characters in and out of battle, is gone too.",
"The new battle system is super fast and won't require much more than holding down the 'X' button to attack.",
"And probably the worst part of this game is how tedious it is.",
"You will travel to the same exact places from Final Fantasy X.",
"The maps are completely the same.",
"Plus to get the most from this game you have to visit each location once a chapter.",
"That means you will go through the same old areas 5 times each!",
"No originality what so ever.",
"Though i must admit that i loved the dress sphere system.",
"The classes were mostly cool but there are some severe imbalances in some of them like the Dark Knights Darkness attack and the Alchemists unlimited supply of Mega Potions...",
"All in all this is a terrific game and i enjoyed it quite a bit.",
"Compared to every other non Final Fantasy game it rocks.",
"But compare it to the old Final Fantasys and it doesnt seem to have the same type of quality."
] |
Not often given to superlatives, I still have to say Part One was awesome. Tremendous fun. Bianca is one of the most enjoyable characters I've come across in a long time, since Kate Genet's excellent Michaela and Trisha, maybe. And Scotty's okay in a best friend but not boyfriend way. Daisy's a hoot, and Alexandra grows on you as Part One progresses. The author's grasp of teen dialogue is right-on, or, I suppose, spot-on is more appropriate. Her handling of the teen angst Bianca experiences as she falls for Alexandra is just right, too. Parents who don't understand you, or who just don't care? Also a nice element. I especially liked the way the author allows the fact that Bianca is into girls to be simply part of who she is. Too many writers make too big a deal of their characters' orientation, rather than just letting it flow.
Then...darn it! We have to go to Part Two. I asked myself "Where did Sophie Robbins go? What happened to the lively character interactions that kept you turning the pages? Where's the brilliant, often hysterical, dialogue that was such a joy to read in Part One? I'm sorry, but, after the sparkling promise of Part One, Part Two was simply b-o-r-i-n-g. Encounter obstacle, defeat same, over and over. Yawn. I coulda been playing Zelda. Sigh
Still, the first part of this story was SO good, I can't help recommending it. And it was only a buck, after all. I'd definitely read more from this author. | 1 | neutral | [
"Not often given to superlatives, I still have to say Part One was awesome.",
"Tremendous fun.",
"Bianca is one of the most enjoyable characters I've come across in a long time, since Kate Genet's excellent Michaela and Trisha, maybe.",
"And Scotty's okay in a best friend but not boyfriend way.",
"Daisy's a hoot, and Alexandra grows on you as Part One progresses.",
"The author's grasp of teen dialogue is right-on, or, I suppose, spot-on is more appropriate.",
"Her handling of the teen angst Bianca experiences as she falls for Alexandra is just right, too.",
"Parents who don't understand you, or who just don't care?",
"Also a nice element.",
"I especially liked the way the author allows the fact that Bianca is into girls to be simply part of who she is.",
"Too many writers make too big a deal of their characters' orientation, rather than just letting it flow.",
"Then...",
"darn it!",
"We have to go to Part Two.",
"I asked myself \"Where did Sophie Robbins go?",
"What happened to the lively character interactions that kept you turning the pages?",
"Where's the brilliant, often hysterical, dialogue that was such a joy to read in Part One?",
"I'm sorry, but, after the sparkling promise of Part One, Part Two was simply b-o-r-i-n-g.",
"Encounter obstacle, defeat same, over and over.",
"Yawn.",
"I coulda been playing Zelda.",
"Sigh\n\nStill, the first part of this story was SO good, I can't help recommending it.",
"And it was only a buck, after all.",
"I'd definitely read more from this author."
] |
I think it works.
During this December 2014 cold winter and also in January 2015 when temperatures were between 18 to 30 degrees
2002 Toyota Camry died after starting. It was a 12 year old car.
First I added this in the gas tank. The car did idle for a few minutes, but as soon as I turn the steering wheel, it died.
Thanks to generous experts on youtube and recommendations from someone at work,
learned to clean the air throttle and PCV valve.
What did Techron has to do with this ? Before the starting dying problem started, I was running on almost an empty tank
then fueled up. It is possible some small particles got into the fuel filter or the fuel injector. And this Techron helped cleared up one of the reasons the Camry was not running normally, properly.
Can't believe after I bought the 6 pack from Amazon, Costco has it for much less. Less than $4 a bottle. | 1 | neutral | [
"I think it works.",
"During this December 2014 cold winter and also in January 2015 when temperatures were between 18 to 30 degrees\n2002 Toyota Camry died after starting.",
"It was a 12 year old car.",
"First I added this in the gas tank.",
"The car did idle for a few minutes, but as soon as I turn the steering wheel, it died.",
"Thanks to generous experts on youtube and recommendations from someone at work,\nlearned to clean the air throttle and PCV valve.",
"What did Techron has to do with this?",
"Before the starting dying problem started, I was running on almost an empty tank\nthen fueled up.",
"It is possible some small particles got into the fuel filter or the fuel injector.",
"And this Techron helped cleared up one of the reasons the Camry was not running normally, properly.",
"Can't believe after I bought the 6 pack from Amazon, Costco has it for much less.",
"Less than $4 a bottle."
] |
This came in a set of utensils, and I have been using it (and the others) for almost 2 years now. I am pretty happy with the spoon(s), ladle, and pasta spoon/server, but I can't say the same for the two spatulas that came with it (including this one). The problem is the size. The blade is too thick. It's not that flexible either, which I don't think is a huge problem, but a little annoying when I try to turn things in smaller pans or fragile foods like an omlett. I think this is more suited to larger cookware or things like cookies. I do like how it stays rigid when I use it to help get a pizza out of the oven though.
It's made of dense nylon, which isn't a bad thing either. I own other nylon utensils and they're fine, but the spatula melted the second time I used it. I was using it to flip a pancake on my griddle, and when I turned the pancake over, I noticed that black pieces came off on it. I thought it had come off the griddle itself, but I noticed it was from the spatula. It had melted on the leading edge despite the griddle being cooler than 300 degrees.
On the plus side, the handle is really comfortable and grippy. I don't think I have ever dropped or had this slip out of my hands so far. The only issue with the fat handle is that it's hard to fit into a holder that has other things in it.
Overall, it's not a bad spatula. I recommend it, but be forewarned it might melt. I like Oxo products a lot and they are good quality. I was surprised that this one had some issues. | 1 | neutral | [
"This came in a set of utensils, and I have been using it (and the others) for almost 2 years now.",
"I am pretty happy with the spoon(s), ladle, and pasta spoon/server, but I can't say the same for the two spatulas that came with it (including this one).",
"The problem is the size.",
"The blade is too thick.",
"It's not that flexible either, which I don't think is a huge problem, but a little annoying when I try to turn things in smaller pans or fragile foods like an omlett.",
"I think this is more suited to larger cookware or things like cookies.",
"I do like how it stays rigid when I use it to help get a pizza out of the oven though.",
"It's made of dense nylon, which isn't a bad thing either.",
"I own other nylon utensils and they're fine, but the spatula melted the second time I used it.",
"I was using it to flip a pancake on my griddle, and when I turned the pancake over, I noticed that black pieces came off on it.",
"I thought it had come off the griddle itself, but I noticed it was from the spatula.",
"It had melted on the leading edge despite the griddle being cooler than 300 degrees.",
"On the plus side, the handle is really comfortable and grippy.",
"I don't think I have ever dropped or had this slip out of my hands so far.",
"The only issue with the fat handle is that it's hard to fit into a holder that has other things in it.",
"Overall, it's not a bad spatula.",
"I recommend it, but be forewarned it might melt.",
"I like Oxo products a lot and they are good quality.",
"I was surprised that this one had some issues."
] |
My daughter is 9 months old and is just learning how to walk. She received this as a gift for Christmas last year and was unable to use it at first despite being able to pull herself up to standing. The wheels on this are simply far too slippery. As soon as my daughter would begin to pull herself up on this it would roll away and bring her back to her knees. The gear shift, front compartment and rear rattle barrel were captivating to her though. After really getting the walking motion down on her <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Fisher-Price-Brilliant-Basics-Stroll-Along-Walker/dp/B0015KVXW8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stroll-Along Walker</a> I let her have another go at this. Pulling herself up is easier now but it'll still roll away from her from time to time. The wheels definitly need improvement for this to be an effective walker.
Another concern I have with this is that when my daughter does manage to get herself standing and walking on it, the handle that she's holding onto seems to be really unstable. It will wobble from side to side as she walks and that's not so helpful when she as a 9 month old is already a bit wobbly on her feet. The handle could stand to be made from some firmer plastics that wouldn't allow so much movement.
The space for my daughter's feet (which is small, but not as small as other reviewers have made it out to be) could stand to be bigger. My daughter is on the taller side of the 9 month old height scale but the depth of this part doesn't seem to affect her stride.
Overall, if you have a little girl who's ready to start walking I reccomend purchasing the <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Fisher-Price-Brilliant-Basics-Stroll-Along-Walker/dp/B0015KVXW8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stroll-Along Walker</a>. It's very stable, doesn't move an inch when my daughter pulls herself up on it and has plenty of room for those babies that may have larger strides. | 1 | neutral | [
"My daughter is 9 months old and is just learning how to walk.",
"She received this as a gift for Christmas last year and was unable to use it at first despite being able to pull herself up to standing.",
"The wheels on this are simply far too slippery.",
"As soon as my daughter would begin to pull herself up on this it would roll away and bring her back to her knees.",
"The gear shift, front compartment and rear rattle barrel were captivating to her though.",
"After really getting the walking motion down on her <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Fisher-Price-Brilliant-Basics-Stroll-Along-Walker/dp/B0015KVXW8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stroll-Along Walker</a> I let her have another go at this.",
"Pulling herself up is easier now but it'll still roll away from her from time to time.",
"The wheels definitly need improvement for this to be an effective walker.",
"Another concern I have with this is that when my daughter does manage to get herself standing and walking on it, the handle that she's holding onto seems to be really unstable.",
"It will wobble from side to side as she walks and that's not so helpful when she as a 9 month old is already a bit wobbly on her feet.",
"The handle could stand to be made from some firmer plastics that wouldn't allow so much movement.",
"The space for my daughter's feet (which is small, but not as small as other reviewers have made it out to be) could stand to be bigger.",
"My daughter is on the taller side of the 9 month old height scale but the depth of this part doesn't seem to affect her stride.",
"Overall, if you have a little girl who's ready to start walking I reccomend purchasing the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Fisher-Price-Brilliant-Basics-Stroll-Along-Walker/dp/B0015KVXW8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stroll-Along Walker</a>.",
"It's very stable, doesn't move an inch when my daughter pulls herself up on it and has plenty of room for those babies that may have larger strides."
] |
I had heard a lot about Resident Evil - Apocalyse before I had a chance to see the movie. Most of the folks I spoke to fell into one or two categories. They either loved the movie or hated it. I, on the other hand, had more ambivalent feelings. IMHO the first movie was much better. Though, Apocalypse does have some redeeming qualities...mainly the dead dogs are back in action. There is nothing better then zombie canines.
The movie picks up where the last left off. T-virus has spread and chaos reigns all over Raccoon City. The evil Umbrella Corporation is doing all it can to contain the virus, but it's spreading faster then anyone could imagine. In an effort to study the disease, and keep it from spreading, the corporation has sealed off the city. It's then that the real action begins.
Resident Evil is full of action. There a lot of things blowing up, bullets flying, and plenty of people dying and re-animating. Not to mention, there is a huge terminator-esque bio-weapon running around.
I didn't find the movie too trying. But, overall the entire venture was short on plot. Events, people and circumstances were left virtually unexplained. Most of the acting was sub-par and just when you think the movie is over it starts off with another crazy hypothesis. It's like the neverening story...and I mean this truly.
I wish I could give this movie more then three stars, but it just doesn't deserve it. Though, the soundtrack is again superb Milla J. returns as Alice. That in it of itself is worth something. | 1 | neutral | [
"I had heard a lot about Resident Evil - Apocalyse before I had a chance to see the movie.",
"Most of the folks I spoke to fell into one or two categories.",
"They either loved the movie or hated it.",
"I, on the other hand, had more ambivalent feelings.",
"IMHO the first movie was much better.",
"Though, Apocalypse does have some redeeming qualities...",
"mainly the dead dogs are back in action.",
"There is nothing better then zombie canines.",
"The movie picks up where the last left off.",
"T-virus has spread and chaos reigns all over Raccoon City.",
"The evil Umbrella Corporation is doing all it can to contain the virus, but it's spreading faster then anyone could imagine.",
"In an effort to study the disease, and keep it from spreading, the corporation has sealed off the city.",
"It's then that the real action begins.",
"Resident Evil is full of action.",
"There a lot of things blowing up, bullets flying, and plenty of people dying and re-animating.",
"Not to mention, there is a huge terminator-esque bio-weapon running around.",
"I didn't find the movie too trying.",
"But, overall the entire venture was short on plot.",
"Events, people and circumstances were left virtually unexplained.",
"Most of the acting was sub-par and just when you think the movie is over it starts off with another crazy hypothesis.",
"It's like the neverening story...",
"and I mean this truly.",
"I wish I could give this movie more then three stars, but it just doesn't deserve it.",
"Though, the soundtrack is again superb Milla J.",
"returns as Alice.",
"That in it of itself is worth something."
] |
First, the obvious. Martin takes way too much time to write these books. By the time the next one comes, I've completely forgotten everything but the major plot points. It takes about half of the book to start remembering who is who and what is what. A Song of Ice and Fire is just too dark of a series to go back and reread the first four books to get back up to (slow) speed.
Martin spends lots of time in this book making characters do precisely nothing. Yes, it's well written, yes it does keep you mostly interested, but by the end of the book, you wonder why you read it. Nobody progressed much of anything with regards to the story.
The worst part is that at least one really cool thing does happen -- finally. But then near the end of the book, Martin pretty much takes it all back again signalling that it will have to re-happen sometime in a far future book. The one word I would use to describe this book is frustrating.
ASoIaF is a must read, but it's also amazingly difficult to do so. | 1 | neutral | [
"First, the obvious.",
"Martin takes way too much time to write these books.",
"By the time the next one comes, I've completely forgotten everything but the major plot points.",
"It takes about half of the book to start remembering who is who and what is what.",
"A Song of Ice and Fire is just too dark of a series to go back and reread the first four books to get back up to (slow) speed.",
"Martin spends lots of time in this book making characters do precisely nothing.",
"Yes, it's well written, yes it does keep you mostly interested, but by the end of the book, you wonder why you read it.",
"Nobody progressed much of anything with regards to the story.",
"The worst part is that at least one really cool thing does happen -- finally.",
"But then near the end of the book, Martin pretty much takes it all back again signalling that it will have to re-happen sometime in a far future book.",
"The one word I would use to describe this book is frustrating.",
"ASoIaF is a must read, but it's also amazingly difficult to do so."
] |
I've avoided Kaspersky products at all costs after I tried it use the product for my desktop security needs. Coming from Norton and McCafee, Kaspersky sent my personal computer into chaos.
When i saw this product for Android through the Vine Program, I decided to try it. My flip-phone husband upgraded to a smart phone, not the best of ideas. I needed some type of protection on his phone because he does a lot that we techie geeks know you shouldn't do.
I installed it on my Samsung Galaxy and his Motorola Max. When I installed it on my smart phone, it corrupted my SD card, and eventually wiped it clean. I cannot 100% say that it was the installation of the software that actually did it. The jury is still out on that one. For now, I'll assume it has something to do with it and give this rating a 3.
Because our phones are Android, you have the option in your phone's settings to only accept installing apps that come from the Play store or unknown sources. Make sure unknown sources is unchecked for the sake of this download. Once you download, make sure you go back in to your security setting and uncheck it.
The software ran a scan and gave me suggestions on apps that might present a security risk and asks if you'd like it to delete those apps. So far, its going pretty good on both phones. I'll apply a new update if anything changes. | 1 | neutral | [
"I've avoided Kaspersky products at all costs after I tried it use the product for my desktop security needs.",
"Coming from Norton and McCafee, Kaspersky sent my personal computer into chaos.",
"When i saw this product for Android through the Vine Program, I decided to try it.",
"My flip-phone husband upgraded to a smart phone, not the best of ideas.",
"I needed some type of protection on his phone because he does a lot that we techie geeks know you shouldn't do.",
"I installed it on my Samsung Galaxy and his Motorola Max.",
"When I installed it on my smart phone, it corrupted my SD card, and eventually wiped it clean.",
"I cannot 100% say that it was the installation of the software that actually did it.",
"The jury is still out on that one.",
"For now, I'll assume it has something to do with it and give this rating a 3.",
"Because our phones are Android, you have the option in your phone's settings to only accept installing apps that come from the Play store or unknown sources.",
"Make sure unknown sources is unchecked for the sake of this download.",
"Once you download, make sure you go back in to your security setting and uncheck it.",
"The software ran a scan and gave me suggestions on apps that might present a security risk and asks if you'd like it to delete those apps.",
"So far, its going pretty good on both phones.",
"I'll apply a new update if anything changes."
] |
Let me start off by saying- what the second reviewer mentioned is totally correct; The first player to act into an unraised pot will raise 99%+ of the time and yes it is very inaccurate.
But beyond that awful flaw, lies a pretty good game. The commentary is maybe a little above average but is a real improvement from last years version.
Starting out from the beginning of career mode might be more annoying then hard because there are no helpful cheat/tutor features such as "always see winning hand" et al. That is helpful for a few hours when beginning because you gain some insight on how the cpu plays.
So how does the cpu play on the default setting? Aggressive, generally. Simply put, someone will reraise preflop with k4 even with a decent stack.
Trapping is usually a good idea on this game and without running into a lot of bad beats, the AI isn't supremely skilled, as poker is totally a human game. I think of myself as a hobby player although i have won some 1-5-10$ nl and limit tourneys in the past and in the first 5 hours of this game, I won the 18 man limit tournament, the 16 player heads up tournament and the 4 player home game tournament. Like I said, be patient and trap with strong hands.
One of the best features in this game is the myriad of poker variations offered; Hold em, Stud, Stud 8/b, Omaha and Omaha 8/b, as well as Razz for good measure! I enjoy all of these games and think they should be included on every game of poker.
30 pros are listed in this game but sadly some very notable players were missing. Left out were Dolly Brunson, Johnny Chan, P. Hellmuth, D. Negreanu, etc etc etc...
Despite having a limited replay value in the long run, newcomers and owners of last years game should seriously consider picking up this title for under $30. | 1 | neutral | [
"Let me start off by saying- what the second reviewer mentioned is totally correct; The first player to act into an unraised pot will raise 99%+ of the time and yes it is very inaccurate.",
"But beyond that awful flaw, lies a pretty good game.",
"The commentary is maybe a little above average but is a real improvement from last years version.",
"Starting out from the beginning of career mode might be more annoying then hard because there are no helpful cheat/tutor features such as \"always see winning hand\" et al.",
"That is helpful for a few hours when beginning because you gain some insight on how the cpu plays.",
"So how does the cpu play on the default setting?",
"Aggressive, generally.",
"Simply put, someone will reraise preflop with k4 even with a decent stack.",
"Trapping is usually a good idea on this game and without running into a lot of bad beats, the AI isn't supremely skilled, as poker is totally a human game.",
"I think of myself as a hobby player although i have won some 1-5-10$ nl and limit tourneys in the past and in the first 5 hours of this game, I won the 18 man limit tournament, the 16 player heads up tournament and the 4 player home game tournament.",
"Like I said, be patient and trap with strong hands.",
"One of the best features in this game is the myriad of poker variations offered; Hold em, Stud, Stud 8/b, Omaha and Omaha 8/b, as well as Razz for good measure!",
"I enjoy all of these games and think they should be included on every game of poker.",
"30 pros are listed in this game but sadly some very notable players were missing.",
"Left out were Dolly Brunson, Johnny Chan, P.",
"Hellmuth, D.",
"Negreanu, etc etc etc...",
"Despite having a limited replay value in the long run, newcomers and owners of last years game should seriously consider picking up this title for under $30."
] |
I've been using this product for about a year and I have mixed feelings about it. I've had to Google all over the place to find out how it's actually supposed to work. If I understand correctly, the Humidipak will NOT optimize the humidity level in your guitar case. That is, the device itself cannot reduce the humidity in a case from 63%, for example, down to the desired 45-50%. I'm not sure this was clear from the instructions or from most of the reviews I've read. It certainly wasn't the impression I got from the Guitar Center guy who recommended it to me. The hype is "Just drop it in and you're good to go." It's not quite that simple.
Again if I understand correctly, the Humidipak is intended to MAINTAIN whatever humidity level already exists in your guitar case. It prevents sudden and excessive rises and drops in humidity. If your guitar is accustomed to 63% humidity, you don't want it to suddenly go bone-dry at 30% or soaking wet at 80%, due to changes in the weather or travel to different climates. If the humidity in your case is at the optimum 45-50%, you want it to stay there despite changes in the environment - such as the a/c or heat cycling on and off. I believe that stability is what the Humidipak is meant to provide. It's up to you to set up the optimum humidity using the various tools available for humidifying and dehumidifying your case. Once that's done, the Humidipak will help you keep that moisture level with less fuss. What it will not do is "solve all your guitar humidity problems."
I was using the Humidipak as instructed, expecting it to automatically maintain ideal moisture conditions in my guitar case. I didn't have a hygrometer - the sales pitch told me I didn't really need one because the HP would take care of everything for me. I finally bought a moisture sensor and discovered my case was at 60-65% RH. I tested the hygrometer and found it was reading correctly. Seemed like Humidipak wasn't behaving itself. Then I read the "humidity maintenance" theory and decided to do an experiment. I placed some silica gel in my guitar case and monitored the humidity until it was down to 45%. I left it that way for a while, then removed the silica and added the Humidipaks. The humidity rose to 50% and stayed there. As long as I don't leave the case open too long, the Humidipak seems able to maintain the humidity close to the desired level - not perfect, but not as bad as before the dehumidifying procedure. The Humidipak's instructions say to leave the case closed and the paks in the case when you're playing your guitar.
I'm expecting to have to use the silica again in the future. The initial dose may have dehumidified the air in the case, but the guitar itself will continue to lose moisture, causing the humidity to go back up. I'm thinking I can keep alternating silica and humidipaks until the humidity stabilizes. That should mean the guitar is at equilibrium with the air in the case - which is the whole purpose of this exercise.
If this is, in fact, the way Humidipaks are supposed to work, it would be helpful if Planet Waves, Taylor, and anybody who sells these things would do a better job of explaining it to consumers. Reading the ad copy, it's easy to get the impression that all you have to do is drop a couple of these things in your case and all your moisture problems are solved. It appears the situation is much more complicated than that.
Other reviewers, please let me know if any of this info is incorrect. | 1 | neutral | [
"I've been using this product for about a year and I have mixed feelings about it.",
"I've had to Google all over the place to find out how it's actually supposed to work.",
"If I understand correctly, the Humidipak will NOT optimize the humidity level in your guitar case.",
"That is, the device itself cannot reduce the humidity in a case from 63%, for example, down to the desired 45-50%.",
"I'm not sure this was clear from the instructions or from most of the reviews I've read.",
"It certainly wasn't the impression I got from the Guitar Center guy who recommended it to me.",
"The hype is \"Just drop it in and you're good to go.",
"\" It's not quite that simple.",
"Again if I understand correctly, the Humidipak is intended to MAINTAIN whatever humidity level already exists in your guitar case.",
"It prevents sudden and excessive rises and drops in humidity.",
"If your guitar is accustomed to 63% humidity, you don't want it to suddenly go bone-dry at 30% or soaking wet at 80%, due to changes in the weather or travel to different climates.",
"If the humidity in your case is at the optimum 45-50%, you want it to stay there despite changes in the environment - such as the a/c or heat cycling on and off.",
"I believe that stability is what the Humidipak is meant to provide.",
"It's up to you to set up the optimum humidity using the various tools available for humidifying and dehumidifying your case.",
"Once that's done, the Humidipak will help you keep that moisture level with less fuss.",
"What it will not do is \"solve all your guitar humidity problems.",
"\"\n\nI was using the Humidipak as instructed, expecting it to automatically maintain ideal moisture conditions in my guitar case.",
"I didn't have a hygrometer - the sales pitch told me I didn't really need one because the HP would take care of everything for me.",
"I finally bought a moisture sensor and discovered my case was at 60-65% RH.",
"I tested the hygrometer and found it was reading correctly.",
"Seemed like Humidipak wasn't behaving itself.",
"Then I read the \"humidity maintenance\" theory and decided to do an experiment.",
"I placed some silica gel in my guitar case and monitored the humidity until it was down to 45%.",
"I left it that way for a while, then removed the silica and added the Humidipaks.",
"The humidity rose to 50% and stayed there.",
"As long as I don't leave the case open too long, the Humidipak seems able to maintain the humidity close to the desired level - not perfect, but not as bad as before the dehumidifying procedure.",
"The Humidipak's instructions say to leave the case closed and the paks in the case when you're playing your guitar.",
"I'm expecting to have to use the silica again in the future.",
"The initial dose may have dehumidified the air in the case, but the guitar itself will continue to lose moisture, causing the humidity to go back up.",
"I'm thinking I can keep alternating silica and humidipaks until the humidity stabilizes.",
"That should mean the guitar is at equilibrium with the air in the case - which is the whole purpose of this exercise.",
"If this is, in fact, the way Humidipaks are supposed to work, it would be helpful if Planet Waves, Taylor, and anybody who sells these things would do a better job of explaining it to consumers.",
"Reading the ad copy, it's easy to get the impression that all you have to do is drop a couple of these things in your case and all your moisture problems are solved.",
"It appears the situation is much more complicated than that.",
"Other reviewers, please let me know if any of this info is incorrect."
] |
Near the late '80s, the Turtles franchise was taking off after starting out as a comic book series. The transition from comic books to the TV screen proved to be successful. After the excellent arcade game came out, Ultra Games (or Konami as we all found out afterwards) announced and then released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the NES. Of course, it sold very well based on the brand recognition but it divided up the fans when it came to who liked the game and who didn't. It was not a port of the arcade game but rather an original action game with open world game play elements mixed in. To this day, some called it a classic, while others called it average. I side with the latter as it could have been much better.
In this game, you take control of all four turtles from the get go. Each turtle has his own weapon, health bar and were able to use weapons such as scrolls, etc. You had to navigate through 6 stages with goals to complete before you were able to face the boss at the end of each stage. There were two views of action in the game: the top down, overhead perspective like you seen in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link and the regular side scrolling view where you walked from left to right and vice versa. There were weapon and pizza icons to pick up to help you along the way. If you died using a turtle, you start at the beginning of the stage with the next turtle available. The game did offer you a chance to "rescue" your turtle on some stages as long as you were able to find him. When you die and used all of the turtles, the game is over and you are allowed three continues before you start from the beginning of the game.
The PROS: The graphics were decent enough and the overall presentation is okay. The controls were easy to use as alternating between the turtles proved no problems to be had. The music was also pretty good to listen to. Ultra Games used most of the enemies from the TV show and added new ones to populate the stages. Several villains also made appearances here like Bebop, Rocksteady, Mecha Turtle and of course Shredder. You were given control of all of the turtles from the get go and had to manage their weapon count and health bars. This added strategy as you'll use a combination of them at certain points in the game. There are six stages in total and while it sounds like it's not a lot for a game, they were all rather long. Plus, it was incredibly difficult, which pleased some gamers.
The CONS: I borrowed this game from my best friend at the time and beat it in a week; the hardest week I ever experienced back then. Here's why:
Every stage had objectives to complete. Sometimes, you can use the map when you hit the start button and see the location for some objectives; others you were left on your own to find it. Second, the game never offered any hints so you had to roam the open world parts to find out which way you shgould go. Third, the game demanded precise jumping skills so it was common to try again and again to cross small and large gaps. TMNT had gained a reputation for being one of the most difficult games to beat (the underwater section in the 2nd stage, the spiked walls in the 4th stage & facing off against the Technodrome in the 5th stage are examples of intense sections players had to pass through.) Finally, TMNT had one of the WORST game endings ever. The feeling I had after I played it every day for a week and then seeing it for myself was of disappointment and anger; I realized it was not worth it and never ever played it again.
Some players had fond memories of this game when they were younger. I didn't and while it was popular for a while, that didn't excuse it from the areas that needed work. The top down perspective wasn't helpful, the game didn't offer any hints as to where to go, you had three continues to beat the entire game and it was brutally difficult in certain sections that frustrated many players. Having one of the worst endings ever in a game was inexcusable and that was only seen by those who actually completed the game like myself. If you want an exercise in pain and also see a part of the Turtles history in games, you can download this title for the Wii from the Virtual Console for 600 points (US $6.00.) On the other hand, use an emulator because it's safer. | 1 | neutral | [
"Near the late '80s, the Turtles franchise was taking off after starting out as a comic book series.",
"The transition from comic books to the TV screen proved to be successful.",
"After the excellent arcade game came out, Ultra Games (or Konami as we all found out afterwards) announced and then released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the NES.",
"Of course, it sold very well based on the brand recognition but it divided up the fans when it came to who liked the game and who didn't.",
"It was not a port of the arcade game but rather an original action game with open world game play elements mixed in.",
"To this day, some called it a classic, while others called it average.",
"I side with the latter as it could have been much better.",
"In this game, you take control of all four turtles from the get go.",
"Each turtle has his own weapon, health bar and were able to use weapons such as scrolls, etc.",
"You had to navigate through 6 stages with goals to complete before you were able to face the boss at the end of each stage.",
"There were two views of action in the game: the top down, overhead perspective like you seen in Zelda II: The Adventure of Link and the regular side scrolling view where you walked from left to right and vice versa.",
"There were weapon and pizza icons to pick up to help you along the way.",
"If you died using a turtle, you start at the beginning of the stage with the next turtle available.",
"The game did offer you a chance to \"rescue\" your turtle on some stages as long as you were able to find him.",
"When you die and used all of the turtles, the game is over and you are allowed three continues before you start from the beginning of the game.",
"The PROS: The graphics were decent enough and the overall presentation is okay.",
"The controls were easy to use as alternating between the turtles proved no problems to be had.",
"The music was also pretty good to listen to.",
"Ultra Games used most of the enemies from the TV show and added new ones to populate the stages.",
"Several villains also made appearances here like Bebop, Rocksteady, Mecha Turtle and of course Shredder.",
"You were given control of all of the turtles from the get go and had to manage their weapon count and health bars.",
"This added strategy as you'll use a combination of them at certain points in the game.",
"There are six stages in total and while it sounds like it's not a lot for a game, they were all rather long.",
"Plus, it was incredibly difficult, which pleased some gamers.",
"The CONS: I borrowed this game from my best friend at the time and beat it in a week; the hardest week I ever experienced back then.",
"Here's why:\n\nEvery stage had objectives to complete.",
"Sometimes, you can use the map when you hit the start button and see the location for some objectives; others you were left on your own to find it.",
"Second, the game never offered any hints so you had to roam the open world parts to find out which way you shgould go.",
"Third, the game demanded precise jumping skills so it was common to try again and again to cross small and large gaps.",
"TMNT had gained a reputation for being one of the most difficult games to beat (the underwater section in the 2nd stage, the spiked walls in the 4th stage & facing off against the Technodrome in the 5th stage are examples of intense sections players had to pass through.",
") Finally, TMNT had one of the WORST game endings ever.",
"The feeling I had after I played it every day for a week and then seeing it for myself was of disappointment and anger; I realized it was not worth it and never ever played it again.",
"Some players had fond memories of this game when they were younger.",
"I didn't and while it was popular for a while, that didn't excuse it from the areas that needed work.",
"The top down perspective wasn't helpful, the game didn't offer any hints as to where to go, you had three continues to beat the entire game and it was brutally difficult in certain sections that frustrated many players.",
"Having one of the worst endings ever in a game was inexcusable and that was only seen by those who actually completed the game like myself.",
"If you want an exercise in pain and also see a part of the Turtles history in games, you can download this title for the Wii from the Virtual Console for 600 points (US $6.",
"00.",
") On the other hand, use an emulator because it's safer."
] |
Have owned two of these machines. First lasted a respectable 6 years before leaking from the boiler tubing, the second just went dark after 18 months.
I did not buy a third, there is a much better model but it is exclusive to another retailer - Model DCC-3650. There are few great features of this model that sets it apart from the rest of the Cuisinart line.
The first most important is the DCC-3650 has a swing door for the filter and a solid top under the water fill door. If you have used the other Cuisinart coffee makers you are probably familiar with what happens when you fill - any water that splashes around the water hopper ends up running between the filter basket down onto the hot plate and/or through the base onto the counter making one heck of a mess. You can just dump the water into the -3650 without any worry, that alone saves me at least a couple minutes a day on average not having to pour slowly and wipe up afterwards.
Second it has a water indicator through the side rather than having to peer down into the hopper to view the internal ledge type gauge.
Third is the wattage of the machine is stepped up to a higher end 1400 watts much more capable with cold tap water.
Lastly for me is the lit clock face, clocks on older machines are impossible see in a dark kitchen.
For these reasons I found the -3650 infinitely better and well worth the 2x cost. Will have to track it down at the specialty cooking store initials WS.
Well worth the hunt, you will be disappointed if you see one after purchasing this model. | 1 | neutral | [
"Have owned two of these machines.",
"First lasted a respectable 6 years before leaking from the boiler tubing, the second just went dark after 18 months.",
"I did not buy a third, there is a much better model but it is exclusive to another retailer - Model DCC-3650.",
"There are few great features of this model that sets it apart from the rest of the Cuisinart line.",
"The first most important is the DCC-3650 has a swing door for the filter and a solid top under the water fill door.",
"If you have used the other Cuisinart coffee makers you are probably familiar with what happens when you fill - any water that splashes around the water hopper ends up running between the filter basket down onto the hot plate and/or through the base onto the counter making one heck of a mess.",
"You can just dump the water into the -3650 without any worry, that alone saves me at least a couple minutes a day on average not having to pour slowly and wipe up afterwards.",
"Second it has a water indicator through the side rather than having to peer down into the hopper to view the internal ledge type gauge.",
"Third is the wattage of the machine is stepped up to a higher end 1400 watts much more capable with cold tap water.",
"Lastly for me is the lit clock face, clocks on older machines are impossible see in a dark kitchen.",
"For these reasons I found the -3650 infinitely better and well worth the 2x cost.",
"Will have to track it down at the specialty cooking store initials WS.",
"Well worth the hunt, you will be disappointed if you see one after purchasing this model."
] |
It's time to call the Bulls
Summarizing the stereotypes Zach LaVine was a risk coming off surgery to repair his left ACL. Kris Dunn was a bust a broken-down shell of a former lottery pick. And Lauri Markkanen was an unknown a soft European headed the way of Andrea Bargnani.
“ Zach is going to be terrific ” Thibodeau said in an interview last July at the Vegas Summer League. “ He ’s a great worker. He puts a lot into it. He has made great strides each year. And he ’ll continue to because of the way he approaches things.
LaVine made his debut Saturday — albeit on a 20-minute limit — look about as effortless as one could after an 11-month layoff. That’s testament not only to LaVine ’s work ethic and skill but his athleticism.
“ He gives you the ability at the end of the shot clock when you don't have anything to just rise up and freeze a defender and make a shot with a high degree of difficulty ” coach Fred Hoiberg said. “That's a skill obviously that you have to have at this level. Zach at times makes the game look very easy.” | 1 | neutral | [
"It's time to call the Bulls\nSummarizing the stereotypes Zach LaVine was a risk coming off surgery to repair his left ACL.",
"Kris Dunn was a bust a broken-down shell of a former lottery pick.",
"And Lauri Markkanen was an unknown a soft European headed the way of Andrea Bargnani.",
"“ Zach is going to be terrific ” Thibodeau said in an interview last July at the Vegas Summer League.",
"“ He ’s a great worker.",
"He puts a lot into it.",
"He has made great strides each year.",
"And he ’ll continue to because of the way he approaches things.",
"LaVine made his debut Saturday — albeit on a 20-minute limit — look about as effortless as one could after an 11-month layoff.",
"That’s testament not only to LaVine ’s work ethic and skill but his athleticism.",
"“ He gives you the ability at the end of the shot clock when you don't have anything to just rise up and freeze a defender and make a shot with a high degree of difficulty ” coach Fred Hoiberg said.",
"“That's a skill obviously that you have to have at this level.",
"Zach at times makes the game look very easy.",
"”"
] |
It's not a one-star product. It can't be. The interoperability with Office 2003 and 2007 alone makes it higher than that. After all, people who get Office 2008 are commonly those who have used the Windows version of Office and need to continue working with those files. Say what you will about iWork, it's not perfect in that arena. When dealing with school work and business assignments that call for these features, it's just not acceptable to deal with anything but the best, and in those arenas, Office reigns supreme.
A lot of this is based on my personal experience. It really boils down to four things.
OFFICE 2008 IS EXTREMELY SLOW. I don't even mean slightly laggy. I mean SLOW. TO the point you wonder if anyone did any QA on it before releasing it. They're not even bloated apps either, not even Entourage, so it's boggling as to why the apps are as slow as they are. Excel is by far the worst offender in the bunch.
OFFICE 2008 IS EXTREMELY BUGGY. I speak more to Word and Excel than Powerpoint or Entourage. Excel is known to lock up after a fashion. Word has frozen on me on more than one occasion, the latest being right at the closing stages of a book I'd written (obviously unacceptable).
OFFICE 2008 IS EXTREMELY CONVOLUTED. If you've used 2003, you know it's a matter of memorizing toolbar and menu positions. If you've used 2007 you know it's getting familiar with the Ribbon, mostly. 2008, I don't know what they were thinking. The Toolbox just takes all of the needed features and bulks them under a clunky structure that makes it difficult to get to the simplest of tasks. I know they plan to fix this with 2011, and I certainly hope they take note of what they did with 2007 and 2010, because 2008 feels archaic even now.
OFFICE 2008 IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. Given it doesn't include a full flavor of Outlook, and how clunky, buggy, and slow it really is, and given the fact that iWork is significantly lower, it's confusing to me why Microsoft feels the need to price this so high.
IN summary, I recommend it for its interoperability, but ONLY if you need that. If you're just trying to compile docs for school and your own files, choose iWork instead. The only thing you lose is mail, but the built in Mail app is more than enough for the majority of applications. Entourage is a decent mail application - especially for syncing with OWA - but it's no Outlook. | 1 | neutral | [
"It's not a one-star product.",
"It can't be.",
"The interoperability with Office 2003 and 2007 alone makes it higher than that.",
"After all, people who get Office 2008 are commonly those who have used the Windows version of Office and need to continue working with those files.",
"Say what you will about iWork, it's not perfect in that arena.",
"When dealing with school work and business assignments that call for these features, it's just not acceptable to deal with anything but the best, and in those arenas, Office reigns supreme.",
"A lot of this is based on my personal experience.",
"It really boils down to four things.",
"OFFICE 2008 IS EXTREMELY SLOW.",
"I don't even mean slightly laggy.",
"I mean SLOW.",
"TO the point you wonder if anyone did any QA on it before releasing it.",
"They're not even bloated apps either, not even Entourage, so it's boggling as to why the apps are as slow as they are.",
"Excel is by far the worst offender in the bunch.",
"OFFICE 2008 IS EXTREMELY BUGGY.",
"I speak more to Word and Excel than Powerpoint or Entourage.",
"Excel is known to lock up after a fashion.",
"Word has frozen on me on more than one occasion, the latest being right at the closing stages of a book I'd written (obviously unacceptable).",
"OFFICE 2008 IS EXTREMELY CONVOLUTED.",
"If you've used 2003, you know it's a matter of memorizing toolbar and menu positions.",
"If you've used 2007 you know it's getting familiar with the Ribbon, mostly.",
"2008, I don't know what they were thinking.",
"The Toolbox just takes all of the needed features and bulks them under a clunky structure that makes it difficult to get to the simplest of tasks.",
"I know they plan to fix this with 2011, and I certainly hope they take note of what they did with 2007 and 2010, because 2008 feels archaic even now.",
"OFFICE 2008 IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.",
"Given it doesn't include a full flavor of Outlook, and how clunky, buggy, and slow it really is, and given the fact that iWork is significantly lower, it's confusing to me why Microsoft feels the need to price this so high.",
"IN summary, I recommend it for its interoperability, but ONLY if you need that.",
"If you're just trying to compile docs for school and your own files, choose iWork instead.",
"The only thing you lose is mail, but the built in Mail app is more than enough for the majority of applications.",
"Entourage is a decent mail application - especially for syncing with OWA - but it's no Outlook."
] |
(This review is also posted in goodreads.)I've never read of a male main character who has fainted several times (I stopped counting after his third collapse)... and that's just about 30% into the story. Not that there isn't a valid reason for each fainting spell... but still. It just goes against the grain, to read about someone who faints a lot, and the character in question is not even a female...it's sexist and it's petty, I know.. but hey this is fantasy--I just want to read about a hero who doesn't lose consciousness after a big fight.
Moving on. Frozen Prospects was a fuzzy read for me. The snowy mountain village setting was new, the socio-political structure unique, and the whole business of the Guadel secret society quite confusing. I could not get a hold of the story and was afraid it would be that way till the end. It all started to click into place and marginally made more sense after the the first half of the story. The women recruited into the Guadel have the ability to work magic-- by healing, by using gemstones for heat & light, and by linking minds with their husbands to make them a stronger warrior than normal. On the other hand, the Guadel men become members of this privileged group if they can withstand the mind invasion that's necessary for the augmentation of their fighting skills. This elite group is responsible for keeping the peace among the different villages. But Guadel families are being ambushed and their number diminishing. The main character Va'del, though a new recruit, is caught in the middle of this conflict, while battling his own personal insecurities and darker tendencies.
The characters here take more time to be understood and appreciated, but they are all solid enough to be memorable. My favorite part here is the transformation of Va'del. The outcast orphan finds very few people who supports him, let alone treat him kindly. But eventually he has stepped up to embrace the role of a protector, and his good character and potential earn him a much needed ally in his journey to become a full pledged Guadel. Great training and skirmish scenes abound in this book peppered with thick political parley. The pace turns urgent towards the end, and the closing chapter marks Va'del as one with exceptional and unprecedented ability who is destined to do great things. | 1 | neutral | [
"(This review is also posted in goodreads.",
")I've never read of a male main character who has fainted several times (I stopped counting after his third collapse)...",
"and that's just about 30% into the story.",
"Not that there isn't a valid reason for each fainting spell...",
"but still.",
"It just goes against the grain, to read about someone who faints a lot, and the character in question is not even a female...",
"it's sexist and it's petty, I know..",
"but hey this is fantasy--I just want to read about a hero who doesn't lose consciousness after a big fight.",
"Moving on.",
"Frozen Prospects was a fuzzy read for me.",
"The snowy mountain village setting was new, the socio-political structure unique, and the whole business of the Guadel secret society quite confusing.",
"I could not get a hold of the story and was afraid it would be that way till the end.",
"It all started to click into place and marginally made more sense after the the first half of the story.",
"The women recruited into the Guadel have the ability to work magic-- by healing, by using gemstones for heat & light, and by linking minds with their husbands to make them a stronger warrior than normal.",
"On the other hand, the Guadel men become members of this privileged group if they can withstand the mind invasion that's necessary for the augmentation of their fighting skills.",
"This elite group is responsible for keeping the peace among the different villages.",
"But Guadel families are being ambushed and their number diminishing.",
"The main character Va'del, though a new recruit, is caught in the middle of this conflict, while battling his own personal insecurities and darker tendencies.",
"The characters here take more time to be understood and appreciated, but they are all solid enough to be memorable.",
"My favorite part here is the transformation of Va'del.",
"The outcast orphan finds very few people who supports him, let alone treat him kindly.",
"But eventually he has stepped up to embrace the role of a protector, and his good character and potential earn him a much needed ally in his journey to become a full pledged Guadel.",
"Great training and skirmish scenes abound in this book peppered with thick political parley.",
"The pace turns urgent towards the end, and the closing chapter marks Va'del as one with exceptional and unprecedented ability who is destined to do great things."
] |
I was super excited for this toy to come for my 3 year old, as she loves to play with the bead mazes and gears at the doctors office. It came today and the was immediately frustrated as they pack the bead rollercoaster within the cube and it was super stuck! It took a long time to figure out what it was stuck on and had to yank it out. It is pretty easy to from that point, just put the top on a screw in 4 screws. My daughter was so excited when she saw it, but immediately I saw that the bead maze on the panel had one piece that just seems way too big for it and won't move. Of course that is the one she tried to do first, and became frustrated. I can't get it to budge. I got this on sale for $99. It is nice, as big as I thought it was going to be, but I would say it isn't even worth the $99 (with the defect in mind as well). Don't get me wrong, my kid really likes it and I'm not going to return mostly because I had to tear the inner box apart to get it out and I already screwed in the screws. | 1 | neutral | [
"I was super excited for this toy to come for my 3 year old, as she loves to play with the bead mazes and gears at the doctors office.",
"It came today and the was immediately frustrated as they pack the bead rollercoaster within the cube and it was super stuck!",
"It took a long time to figure out what it was stuck on and had to yank it out.",
"It is pretty easy to from that point, just put the top on a screw in 4 screws.",
"My daughter was so excited when she saw it, but immediately I saw that the bead maze on the panel had one piece that just seems way too big for it and won't move.",
"Of course that is the one she tried to do first, and became frustrated.",
"I can't get it to budge.",
"I got this on sale for $99.",
"It is nice, as big as I thought it was going to be, but I would say it isn't even worth the $99 (with the defect in mind as well).",
"Don't get me wrong, my kid really likes it and I'm not going to return mostly because I had to tear the inner box apart to get it out and I already screwed in the screws."
] |
it is OK, If I remember, a bit expensive. It is NOT made in Japan! (like I thought it would be).
I use these for tuning Timpani. I prefer to use the Master Key Chromatic Pitch Instrument
because it is MADE IN AMERICA and works as well and is much more handsome, and easier to use.
I read the complaints about Master Key, but I think that if you don't blow
hard into it and don't smoke or eat sugar stuff before playing it, it will
work fine. In my opinion, the pitch is accurate on both brands. When I took Flute lessons,
I was advised that eating sweets just before playing you tend to gum up the
pads. I think the same logic works for this. Those little reeds are delicate Just my opinion.
Hope this helps. | 1 | neutral | [
"it is OK, If I remember, a bit expensive.",
"It is NOT made in Japan!",
"(like I thought it would be).",
"I use these for tuning Timpani.",
"I prefer to use the Master Key Chromatic Pitch Instrument\nbecause it is MADE IN AMERICA and works as well and is much more handsome, and easier to use.",
"I read the complaints about Master Key, but I think that if you don't blow\nhard into it and don't smoke or eat sugar stuff before playing it, it will\nwork fine.",
"In my opinion, the pitch is accurate on both brands.",
"When I took Flute lessons,\nI was advised that eating sweets just before playing you tend to gum up the\npads.",
"I think the same logic works for this.",
"Those little reeds are delicate Just my opinion.",
"Hope this helps."
] |
I have used the 2" wide cliplock straps for about 17 or 18 years (geez I'm getting old). I am a working, gigging musician, and I have never had one fail me. I own four basses and there are cliplocks on all of them. I bought the 3" wide strap to perhaps help distribute some of the weight of my bass as I play for 3 or 4 hours at a time. Now that I'm into my 30's, the 2" strap starts to fatigue me a bit as the night goes on.
The 3" strap is just as well made and durable as any of the other dimarzio products I have purchased. I expect it to last for many years. The strap is made of the same "seatbelt" style material as the 2" strap. But while this serves the 2" strap well, I believe it hinders the performance of the 3". The material is very slippery as it moves around on your shoulder. Most of the wide straps I have ever tested had some sort of sheepskin or suede on the underside to not only cushion, but to stabilize. This strap obviously doesn't have that, so on me, the strap edge just slides into my neck. This doesn't happen on the 2", I am able to find a very comfortable place for the strap to settle on my shoulder, it's just that it digs into my shoulder a bit after a long night of playing. I have considered the notion that I just need time to adjust to the 3" strap as I have been using the 2" for so long, but I tried a 3" suede strap at a local music store and there was no issue with cutting into my neck. It sat right where I would have wanted it to sit.
I think unless you have really wide shoulders (I'm 5'11", 175lb), this strap my be a bit annoying in terms of finding a comfortable playing position. That's to bad, because dimarzio makes a great product. If I continue to acquire guitars, I will continue to use cliplock straps-- just not the 3" wide ones. | 1 | neutral | [
"I have used the 2\" wide cliplock straps for about 17 or 18 years (geez I'm getting old).",
"I am a working, gigging musician, and I have never had one fail me.",
"I own four basses and there are cliplocks on all of them.",
"I bought the 3\" wide strap to perhaps help distribute some of the weight of my bass as I play for 3 or 4 hours at a time.",
"Now that I'm into my 30's, the 2\" strap starts to fatigue me a bit as the night goes on.",
"The 3\" strap is just as well made and durable as any of the other dimarzio products I have purchased.",
"I expect it to last for many years.",
"The strap is made of the same \"seatbelt\" style material as the 2\" strap.",
"But while this serves the 2\" strap well, I believe it hinders the performance of the 3\".",
"The material is very slippery as it moves around on your shoulder.",
"Most of the wide straps I have ever tested had some sort of sheepskin or suede on the underside to not only cushion, but to stabilize.",
"This strap obviously doesn't have that, so on me, the strap edge just slides into my neck.",
"This doesn't happen on the 2\", I am able to find a very comfortable place for the strap to settle on my shoulder, it's just that it digs into my shoulder a bit after a long night of playing.",
"I have considered the notion that I just need time to adjust to the 3\" strap as I have been using the 2\" for so long, but I tried a 3\" suede strap at a local music store and there was no issue with cutting into my neck.",
"It sat right where I would have wanted it to sit.",
"I think unless you have really wide shoulders (I'm 5'11\", 175lb), this strap my be a bit annoying in terms of finding a comfortable playing position.",
"That's to bad, because dimarzio makes a great product.",
"If I continue to acquire guitars, I will continue to use cliplock straps-- just not the 3\" wide ones."
] |
I have noticed that many of the reviews on this site pertaining to Blade Runner pine for the original theatrical release, in which the film ended in a cop-out, and had Ford drowsily trudging along in a half-hearted narration. I don't mean to insult anyone, but the "happy ending" went against the movie's intentions. You spend two hours in a dark, damp dystopian world and then all of a sudden you're in the sunny, pristine mountains? Please. Mr. Scott threw in that ending at the last moment to make the studio happy, a studio that was totally blind to his genius in the first place. A lot of people have also stated that the Director's Cut ending doesn't sufficiently conclude the movie, that is just "drops off", and has left some with an uneasy feeling. The point of this ending is to be ambiguous, to leave it up to you what happens. And don't even get me started on the narration. Yes, I'm sure a lot of people think it helped to explain the movie, but it also guided the viewer by the hand and "talked down" to the viewer like you're a moron. All the narration did was basically show Deckard (being a detective) discovered something and then said to the audience, "Look, I discovered something!" The lack of narration in the Director's Cut allows the audience to notice some of the visual keys they missed while following along with Harrison's groggy storytelling, and also illuminates some of the nuances that makes Harrison Ford a great actor. Aside from the bare-bones dvd (Warner Bros has a boatload of stuff lying around that could be on this disc as extras...two discs worth, in fact), this is an excellent film about humanity in a dark, corporate-corrupted world, and the director's cut eliminates the narraton and sappy ending which guide our hands like we're 6 year olds, and allows us to fully enjoy this film as a future noir. And if another, more comprehensive DVD ever appears with a Ridley commentary, allowing Mr. Scott to explain what he was thinking, then you people won't need a terrible narration and sappy ending to do so. | 1 | neutral | [
"I have noticed that many of the reviews on this site pertaining to Blade Runner pine for the original theatrical release, in which the film ended in a cop-out, and had Ford drowsily trudging along in a half-hearted narration.",
"I don't mean to insult anyone, but the \"happy ending\" went against the movie's intentions.",
"You spend two hours in a dark, damp dystopian world and then all of a sudden you're in the sunny, pristine mountains?",
"Please.",
"Mr.",
"Scott threw in that ending at the last moment to make the studio happy, a studio that was totally blind to his genius in the first place.",
"A lot of people have also stated that the Director's Cut ending doesn't sufficiently conclude the movie, that is just \"drops off\", and has left some with an uneasy feeling.",
"The point of this ending is to be ambiguous, to leave it up to you what happens.",
"And don't even get me started on the narration.",
"Yes, I'm sure a lot of people think it helped to explain the movie, but it also guided the viewer by the hand and \"talked down\" to the viewer like you're a moron.",
"All the narration did was basically show Deckard (being a detective) discovered something and then said to the audience, \"Look, I discovered something!",
"\" The lack of narration in the Director's Cut allows the audience to notice some of the visual keys they missed while following along with Harrison's groggy storytelling, and also illuminates some of the nuances that makes Harrison Ford a great actor.",
"Aside from the bare-bones dvd (Warner Bros has a boatload of stuff lying around that could be on this disc as extras...",
"two discs worth, in fact), this is an excellent film about humanity in a dark, corporate-corrupted world, and the director's cut eliminates the narraton and sappy ending which guide our hands like we're 6 year olds, and allows us to fully enjoy this film as a future noir.",
"And if another, more comprehensive DVD ever appears with a Ridley commentary, allowing Mr.",
"Scott to explain what he was thinking, then you people won't need a terrible narration and sappy ending to do so."
] |
`One True Thing' is a familiar piece of family tensions that erode relationships only to reveal stronger connections and everlasting bonds. It is handled with manipulative casualness, which strips away some of the honesty and gives it the appearance of heavy handed falsities. `One True Thing' tries so hard that it loses the `true' part of the equation. The performances are strong, especially from Zellweger, who undergoes some serious emotional shifts throughout the film, and she handles them with ease (she would have made a far more inspired Oscar nominee, as opposed to the always great but often over-nominated Streep). Hurt is his usual self (with so much promise in the 80's, he fell into predictable shtick) and Streep tugs heartstrings with calculated fervor. The thing is, when all is said and done, this film isn't memorable. It just isn't a great movie. I agree that the police angle was a misstep, but it wasn't the most grievous. The film's internal tone just needed to be lifted from the obvious. It is too apparent what the film wants you to feel, even within the plot manipulations that should read as honest twists (like with regard to Hurt's character and his apparent lack of concern); they come across too weighted down by the filmmakers intentions. Insert scene, project sadness, receive bounteous tears; that is the whole objective of this film and it works well on that front, but when I walked away from the film I forgot most of what I felt because it never felt `real'. | 1 | neutral | [
"`One True Thing' is a familiar piece of family tensions that erode relationships only to reveal stronger connections and everlasting bonds.",
"It is handled with manipulative casualness, which strips away some of the honesty and gives it the appearance of heavy handed falsities.",
"`One True Thing' tries so hard that it loses the `true' part of the equation.",
"The performances are strong, especially from Zellweger, who undergoes some serious emotional shifts throughout the film, and she handles them with ease (she would have made a far more inspired Oscar nominee, as opposed to the always great but often over-nominated Streep).",
"Hurt is his usual self (with so much promise in the 80's, he fell into predictable shtick) and Streep tugs heartstrings with calculated fervor.",
"The thing is, when all is said and done, this film isn't memorable.",
"It just isn't a great movie.",
"I agree that the police angle was a misstep, but it wasn't the most grievous.",
"The film's internal tone just needed to be lifted from the obvious.",
"It is too apparent what the film wants you to feel, even within the plot manipulations that should read as honest twists (like with regard to Hurt's character and his apparent lack of concern); they come across too weighted down by the filmmakers intentions.",
"Insert scene, project sadness, receive bounteous tears; that is the whole objective of this film and it works well on that front, but when I walked away from the film I forgot most of what I felt because it never felt `real'."
] |
My high hopes were dashed with the mat for dry kibble and treats. Due to the fact that the mat depth/ridges are far too shallow, they did not hold the cat kibble in place in order to provide any kind of a challenge for slowing down eating. I also tried some very tiny treat gravel and my cat was able to eat the kibbles d directly with no challenge at all. Her main diet is Science Diet Hairball formula kibble.. I did not try out the "wet" food mat. The home-made food that I cook-up is not fine like pate. My animals prefer a more robust food with texture to it.My cat is very small for an adult cat, only 81/2 pounds, as well. I feel that I should be given a FULL refund! The designers of these mats need to modify with a much deeper profile in order to match up with the recommendations. | 1 | neutral | [
"My high hopes were dashed with the mat for dry kibble and treats.",
"Due to the fact that the mat depth/ridges are far too shallow, they did not hold the cat kibble in place in order to provide any kind of a challenge for slowing down eating.",
"I also tried some very tiny treat gravel and my cat was able to eat the kibbles d directly with no challenge at all.",
"Her main diet is Science Diet Hairball formula kibble..",
"I did not try out the \"wet\" food mat.",
"The home-made food that I cook-up is not fine like pate.",
"My animals prefer a more robust food with texture to it.",
"My cat is very small for an adult cat, only 81/2 pounds, as well.",
"I feel that I should be given a FULL refund!",
"The designers of these mats need to modify with a much deeper profile in order to match up with the recommendations."
] |
I have used various Obagi skin care products over the 25 plus years and even visited the doctor in his LA location many years ago. They are good products, albeit they can often cause irritation to the face and sometimes that's even intentional as the product acclimates to the skin. As good as they are, there are things you need to know before you start.
Their tonics and skin moisturizers are great and recommended for all, but their products that have retinols and C-Serums or other so-called age-reducing products should be used with care and you might want to start start slowly and carefully.
I have not used any Obaji products for a while and started right in with this 20% solution on day one and should have known better. I put it on my forehead and no problems. So day two I spread it on my cheeks and sure enough, when I woke up the next morning my cheeks almost looked like I had a rash.
So I stopped the product right away and went back to using it with skin moisterizes and using it every third day. The skin on my cheeks started getting more used to it (which you probably will) and I can now use it more often. It is effective.
I would strongly recommend that you start with the 10% solution first and even at that, be careful and start using it every other day. Use moisterizers in between if need be.
I do think that this C-Serum creme is effective but do realize that it may take some time for your skin to get acclimated to using it and for many people, that may not happen at all. For that reason I would suggest trying it on a small portion of you skin at a time; not right on your cheeks or other really noticible spot right on your face. See if you can handle the product after some period of time (i.e. no rash-like reaction.)
Recommended for some. I'd start with the 10% and gradually increase till you can use without any skin irritation. | 1 | neutral | [
"I have used various Obagi skin care products over the 25 plus years and even visited the doctor in his LA location many years ago.",
"They are good products, albeit they can often cause irritation to the face and sometimes that's even intentional as the product acclimates to the skin.",
"As good as they are, there are things you need to know before you start.",
"Their tonics and skin moisturizers are great and recommended for all, but their products that have retinols and C-Serums or other so-called age-reducing products should be used with care and you might want to start start slowly and carefully.",
"I have not used any Obaji products for a while and started right in with this 20% solution on day one and should have known better.",
"I put it on my forehead and no problems.",
"So day two I spread it on my cheeks and sure enough, when I woke up the next morning my cheeks almost looked like I had a rash.",
"So I stopped the product right away and went back to using it with skin moisterizes and using it every third day.",
"The skin on my cheeks started getting more used to it (which you probably will) and I can now use it more often.",
"It is effective.",
"I would strongly recommend that you start with the 10% solution first and even at that, be careful and start using it every other day.",
"Use moisterizers in between if need be.",
"I do think that this C-Serum creme is effective but do realize that it may take some time for your skin to get acclimated to using it and for many people, that may not happen at all.",
"For that reason I would suggest trying it on a small portion of you skin at a time; not right on your cheeks or other really noticible spot right on your face.",
"See if you can handle the product after some period of time (i.",
"e. no rash-like reaction.",
")\n\nRecommended for some.",
"I'd start with the 10% and gradually increase till you can use without any skin irritation."
] |
Love the leather and the keychain is made pretty well! Bought one set for me and one for my girlfriend. She really likes hers as well. Great size for a keychain. And really enjoy the personalization with the car logos on them. Logos and metal haven’t faded or rubbed off, etc. The carabiner seems to be a little on the weak side since mine has bent twice already. When that happens, the clip will spring out the other way so let’s could fall off. But usually I just have to bend it back into place. Takes a good amount of effort, but once you put it back, it seems to stay for a while. | 1 | neutral | [
"Love the leather and the keychain is made pretty well!",
"Bought one set for me and one for my girlfriend.",
"She really likes hers as well.",
"Great size for a keychain.",
"And really enjoy the personalization with the car logos on them.",
"Logos and metal haven’t faded or rubbed off, etc.",
"The carabiner seems to be a little on the weak side since mine has bent twice already.",
"When that happens, the clip will spring out the other way so let’s could fall off.",
"But usually I just have to bend it back into place.",
"Takes a good amount of effort, but once you put it back, it seems to stay for a while."
] |
Many aspects of this movie work well. Jodie Foster raises this movie above the conventional thriller. The setting using a jumbo jet works. You get to see parts of the jet, for example, the cargo bay that a typical passenger never get to see. The pacing is good. The characters themselves are well written and believable. They make understandable decisions. One never has to ask why a character would do such a stupid thing.
It is with the plot that I have the most trouble. It is fairly convoluted. It does answer the questions the veiwers have when they watch the movie. Why would anyone do this to Jody Foster's character? Why would they kidnap the daughter? Is the husband's death related in anyway? If there is a conspiracy, how big is it?
However, there were quite a few holes in the plot that left me with a bad taste in my mouth after the movie. The movie just did't click for me at the end. | 1 | neutral | [
"Many aspects of this movie work well.",
"Jodie Foster raises this movie above the conventional thriller.",
"The setting using a jumbo jet works.",
"You get to see parts of the jet, for example, the cargo bay that a typical passenger never get to see.",
"The pacing is good.",
"The characters themselves are well written and believable.",
"They make understandable decisions.",
"One never has to ask why a character would do such a stupid thing.",
"It is with the plot that I have the most trouble.",
"It is fairly convoluted.",
"It does answer the questions the veiwers have when they watch the movie.",
"Why would anyone do this to Jody Foster's character?",
"Why would they kidnap the daughter?",
"Is the husband's death related in anyway?",
"If there is a conspiracy, how big is it?",
"However, there were quite a few holes in the plot that left me with a bad taste in my mouth after the movie.",
"The movie just did't click for me at the end."
] |
This is the second book in the Liberty Springs titles and whilst you don't have to have read the first to enjoy this story it might help with some background and let you know who some of the secondary characters are.
First up, I have to admit that I didn't want to read this story second. I have read a lot of trilogies and for the first story to end with a sister moving to town I fully expected (and wanted) to read that story next. It's the third book in the series so I don't have long to wait but I felt the flow of the series was in that direction and so this book was a bit of an interruption for me.
I barely had any idea about the lead characters in this book prior to starting it. They appear in the previous book briefly. Jory gets a larger feature but Bailey only receives a mention only by another character as she drives her car by.
I had a moment of "oh no" at the beginning of the story when there is mention of a "bad guy" attacking a D/s club that the plot would be repeating the previous book. I was happy to be incorrect on that assumption.
This book was very much a D/s story. If you're not comfortable with that in your books don't read this as they play fairly hard compared to some other D/s titles I've tried. The D/s element was handled well. The harder elements were always introduced at the request of the sub' so you never felt this was something she didn't want. Personally it went over my line of what I like to read, but I could accept it within the story and it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.
This book didn't really involve the cast of characters that make up the town of Liberty Springs. They do feature but not on the same level as in the previous book. I felt the lack. This story is totally focused on the central pair and their relationship and it's development. Whilst that's not a bad thing, the town (it's people) is a character for me and I wanted it to feature more.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. I don't think it will become a favourite and I have to admit it is nowhere near as good as the authors' first book (a stand alone), Good Horses, Fast Cars and Real Men (IMO). However, I am looking forward to reading the next book Tag and Release, which is Casey's story (sister to Emma). From the small cameo she made I think this book will have all the elements that I was wanting from this book but didn't get. I will have to wait and see. | 1 | neutral | [
"This is the second book in the Liberty Springs titles and whilst you don't have to have read the first to enjoy this story it might help with some background and let you know who some of the secondary characters are.",
"First up, I have to admit that I didn't want to read this story second.",
"I have read a lot of trilogies and for the first story to end with a sister moving to town I fully expected (and wanted) to read that story next.",
"It's the third book in the series so I don't have long to wait but I felt the flow of the series was in that direction and so this book was a bit of an interruption for me.",
"I barely had any idea about the lead characters in this book prior to starting it.",
"They appear in the previous book briefly.",
"Jory gets a larger feature but Bailey only receives a mention only by another character as she drives her car by.",
"I had a moment of \"oh no\" at the beginning of the story when there is mention of a \"bad guy\" attacking a D/s club that the plot would be repeating the previous book.",
"I was happy to be incorrect on that assumption.",
"This book was very much a D/s story.",
"If you're not comfortable with that in your books don't read this as they play fairly hard compared to some other D/s titles I've tried.",
"The D/s element was handled well.",
"The harder elements were always introduced at the request of the sub' so you never felt this was something she didn't want.",
"Personally it went over my line of what I like to read, but I could accept it within the story and it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.",
"This book didn't really involve the cast of characters that make up the town of Liberty Springs.",
"They do feature but not on the same level as in the previous book.",
"I felt the lack.",
"This story is totally focused on the central pair and their relationship and it's development.",
"Whilst that's not a bad thing, the town (it's people) is a character for me and I wanted it to feature more.",
"Overall I enjoyed reading this book.",
"I don't think it will become a favourite and I have to admit it is nowhere near as good as the authors' first book (a stand alone), Good Horses, Fast Cars and Real Men (IMO).",
"However, I am looking forward to reading the next book Tag and Release, which is Casey's story (sister to Emma).",
"From the small cameo she made I think this book will have all the elements that I was wanting from this book but didn't get.",
"I will have to wait and see."
] |
Paul Ryan reportedly makes a major decision after much âsoul searchingâ â TheBlaze
A report says that House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) is considering leaving Congress after much soul-searching in talks with his close friends.
According to sources close to Ryan who spoke with CNN about the matter they believe he could step down after the 2018 midterm elections. But that is based on the condition that he is able to pass the Republican plan to reform the tax system.
The report says he might even retire sooner than that.
The CNN report said that exhaustion with President Trump was one of the reasons cited for Ryan mulling over his retirement from Congress.
A Politico report said that Ryan âwould like to serve through Election Day 2018 and retire ahead of the next Congress.â
What did Ryan say about the report?
Ryan denied the report publicly saying to reporters that he âs in Congress to stay.
Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong explained further in a statement saying âThis is pure speculation. As the speaker himself said today heâs not going anywhere any time soon.â | 1 | neutral | [
"Paul Ryan reportedly makes a major decision after much âsoul searchingâ â TheBlaze\nA report says that House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.",
") is considering leaving Congress after much soul-searching in talks with his close friends.",
"According to sources close to Ryan who spoke with CNN about the matter they believe he could step down after the 2018 midterm elections.",
"But that is based on the condition that he is able to pass the Republican plan to reform the tax system.",
"The report says he might even retire sooner than that.",
"The CNN report said that exhaustion with President Trump was one of the reasons cited for Ryan mulling over his retirement from Congress.",
"A Politico report said that Ryan âwould like to serve through Election Day 2018 and retire ahead of the next Congress.",
"â\nWhat did Ryan say about the report?",
"Ryan denied the report publicly saying to reporters that he âs in Congress to stay.",
"Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong explained further in a statement saying âThis is pure speculation.",
"As the speaker himself said today heâs not going anywhere any time soon.",
"â"
] |
And again - one more product, that claims to be more than it really is.
I own Toyota Corolla 2010. I tried to do something with it's dim low-beam headlights, and purchased Philips HIR2 bulbs, but they are may be 10% brighter. Now I tried more expensive PIAAs, which claim to emit light equal to 115W bulb, with common 55W. Well, definitely does not work with Toyota Corolla 2010. They are as bright as Philips and a bit brighter than my stock Silvania bulbs.
I was hoping to get better performance.
Check out the comparison, done with the same camera and same car. LOW-BEAM ONLY!
[...] | 1 | neutral | [
"And again - one more product, that claims to be more than it really is.",
"I own Toyota Corolla 2010.",
"I tried to do something with it's dim low-beam headlights, and purchased Philips HIR2 bulbs, but they are may be 10% brighter.",
"Now I tried more expensive PIAAs, which claim to emit light equal to 115W bulb, with common 55W.",
"Well, definitely does not work with Toyota Corolla 2010.",
"They are as bright as Philips and a bit brighter than my stock Silvania bulbs.",
"I was hoping to get better performance.",
"Check out the comparison, done with the same camera and same car.",
"LOW-BEAM ONLY!",
"[...",
"]"
] |
The trailer promoting the book calls it an 'ultra noir' murder mystery. Thanks to Google, I found out that I had already read an ultra noir novel (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) without knowing what the genre means. Compared with the Swedish mystery, 'The Long Drunk' feels a lot more 'noir', especially with the choice of its many homeless characters and the no-holds-barred, irreverent commentary on life in Venice Beach, California.
The novel is about James Murphy, a homeless guy in Venice, who suffers the misfortune of his beloved dog Betty being run over by an SUV and being badly maimed. Murphy takes the dog to Dr. Walters who tells him the still further bad news that Betty also suffers from acute Lymphoma and needs chemotherapy which would all end up costing Murphy some 15000 dollars. Murphy's love for his dog sets him on a course to find $15000 in one week. The rest of the story takes us through Murphy's attempts to get the $25000 prize money for solving the murder of a wannabe actor named Alan Tanner. Even though the story in part 1 ends rather sadly, since the author has billed this book as the first of his trilogy on the 'homeless detective', there is going be more to it than this.
The thing that appealed to me most in the book is the window it gave me on the life of the homeless in Venice. Not ever having been to LA to visit and never having had an opportunity to interact with the homeless in the US, I found the graphic descriptions of their lives, their street language and their drunken pre-occupations quite humorous, poignant and insightful. Coyote writes about them with much compassion and humor and is unsparing about the disparities of life in Venice between its genteel-half and that of the homeless. You laugh out loud as you read about the homeless finding discarded Hollywood screenplays in the garbage where they forage for food. There is a liberal sprinkling of vomit, urine, feces, blood as well as wine, vodka, yoga, art and sex in the book. I suppose that is what makes it noir.
The murder mystery part of the book failed to grab my attention that much. Murphy tries to set out on the case a la Raymond Chandler, but the various clues and his attempts at detective work fell short of grabbing my deep interest. I wish the author had put in more work on this aspect of the novel. Also, during these forays, the homeless Murphy ends up seamlessly blending with the genteel side of Venice - in art galleries, with yoga-teaching blondes and wannabe actors in Hollywood. He even ends up having sex with Jocelyn, a lovely actress in training, as well as from the sexy yoga instructor. Though the narration of all this is graphic and entertaining and direct, it stretched my credibility and made me feel that the good work done by the author in portraying 'Venice as it is' has been compromised somewhat.
The book is an easy and entertaining read and I am glad to have read a book in this genre. However, it does not do enough to make you that much intrigued to look forward to finding out what happens to James Murphy in the rest of the trilogy. | 1 | neutral | [
"The trailer promoting the book calls it an 'ultra noir' murder mystery.",
"Thanks to Google, I found out that I had already read an ultra noir novel (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) without knowing what the genre means.",
"Compared with the Swedish mystery, 'The Long Drunk' feels a lot more 'noir', especially with the choice of its many homeless characters and the no-holds-barred, irreverent commentary on life in Venice Beach, California.",
"The novel is about James Murphy, a homeless guy in Venice, who suffers the misfortune of his beloved dog Betty being run over by an SUV and being badly maimed.",
"Murphy takes the dog to Dr.",
"Walters who tells him the still further bad news that Betty also suffers from acute Lymphoma and needs chemotherapy which would all end up costing Murphy some 15000 dollars.",
"Murphy's love for his dog sets him on a course to find $15000 in one week.",
"The rest of the story takes us through Murphy's attempts to get the $25000 prize money for solving the murder of a wannabe actor named Alan Tanner.",
"Even though the story in part 1 ends rather sadly, since the author has billed this book as the first of his trilogy on the 'homeless detective', there is going be more to it than this.",
"The thing that appealed to me most in the book is the window it gave me on the life of the homeless in Venice.",
"Not ever having been to LA to visit and never having had an opportunity to interact with the homeless in the US, I found the graphic descriptions of their lives, their street language and their drunken pre-occupations quite humorous, poignant and insightful.",
"Coyote writes about them with much compassion and humor and is unsparing about the disparities of life in Venice between its genteel-half and that of the homeless.",
"You laugh out loud as you read about the homeless finding discarded Hollywood screenplays in the garbage where they forage for food.",
"There is a liberal sprinkling of vomit, urine, feces, blood as well as wine, vodka, yoga, art and sex in the book.",
"I suppose that is what makes it noir.",
"The murder mystery part of the book failed to grab my attention that much.",
"Murphy tries to set out on the case a la Raymond Chandler, but the various clues and his attempts at detective work fell short of grabbing my deep interest.",
"I wish the author had put in more work on this aspect of the novel.",
"Also, during these forays, the homeless Murphy ends up seamlessly blending with the genteel side of Venice - in art galleries, with yoga-teaching blondes and wannabe actors in Hollywood.",
"He even ends up having sex with Jocelyn, a lovely actress in training, as well as from the sexy yoga instructor.",
"Though the narration of all this is graphic and entertaining and direct, it stretched my credibility and made me feel that the good work done by the author in portraying 'Venice as it is' has been compromised somewhat.",
"The book is an easy and entertaining read and I am glad to have read a book in this genre.",
"However, it does not do enough to make you that much intrigued to look forward to finding out what happens to James Murphy in the rest of the trilogy."
] |
Of all the three revival soundtracks of JOSEPH I have heard, I find that this might be considered the weakest. The cast is not really strong, but the choral backings are. I don't really like Michael Damian's portrayal of the eponymous title character. He seems to breathe on pitch, and not give character to the notes he sings. Also, Kelli Rabke's Narrator, though youthful, gives me the impression that she is belting out her lines, without injecting the necessary feeling. Robert Torti as the Elvisesque Pharaoh is good here, but the video does better justice to his portrayal. Yet despite the negative things about this performance, I find that the brothers are better, and so are Clifford Davis, who portrays Jacob and Potiphar, the Baker and Butler. Overall, I find that my primary recommendation always lies with the London revival cast recording, with Jason Donovan. It is a flawless performance, and the cast is stronger there. I would advise you to think carefully about which version of JOSEPH you want to buy before buying one. | 1 | neutral | [
"Of all the three revival soundtracks of JOSEPH I have heard, I find that this might be considered the weakest.",
"The cast is not really strong, but the choral backings are.",
"I don't really like Michael Damian's portrayal of the eponymous title character.",
"He seems to breathe on pitch, and not give character to the notes he sings.",
"Also, Kelli Rabke's Narrator, though youthful, gives me the impression that she is belting out her lines, without injecting the necessary feeling.",
"Robert Torti as the Elvisesque Pharaoh is good here, but the video does better justice to his portrayal.",
"Yet despite the negative things about this performance, I find that the brothers are better, and so are Clifford Davis, who portrays Jacob and Potiphar, the Baker and Butler.",
"Overall, I find that my primary recommendation always lies with the London revival cast recording, with Jason Donovan.",
"It is a flawless performance, and the cast is stronger there.",
"I would advise you to think carefully about which version of JOSEPH you want to buy before buying one."
] |
I believe the Seemiller table tennis racket is no longer manufactured but for $29.99, it is a good competition racket.
It is well balanced and light with good inverted rubber on both sides of the racket. In good condition, it is a good performing racket. With an anatomical handle and Wakaba rubber. Good strokes resulted and many points gained with this racket. However, once you out grow it, a higher level paddle is great.
The cons, it is light and easily broken. I dropped my racket (on accident of course) from waist high onto concrete and of course it chipped of good chunks of the handle. About 3 weeks later I accidentally hit the side of the table and didn't notice until after 2 weeks of agonizing errors, a tilt across the paddle face when holding it vertical resulting from the hit to the table. | 1 | neutral | [
"I believe the Seemiller table tennis racket is no longer manufactured but for $29.",
"99, it is a good competition racket.",
"It is well balanced and light with good inverted rubber on both sides of the racket.",
"In good condition, it is a good performing racket.",
"With an anatomical handle and Wakaba rubber.",
"Good strokes resulted and many points gained with this racket.",
"However, once you out grow it, a higher level paddle is great.",
"The cons, it is light and easily broken.",
"I dropped my racket (on accident of course) from waist high onto concrete and of course it chipped of good chunks of the handle.",
"About 3 weeks later I accidentally hit the side of the table and didn't notice until after 2 weeks of agonizing errors, a tilt across the paddle face when holding it vertical resulting from the hit to the table."
] |
OK, first things first: The Stranger is the album that made Billy Joel a household name throughout the world (though not because it was a breakthrough album in terms of content; the earlier "Turnstiles" is at least as good). It is a very well recorded album with many of Joel's best loved songs. It has been reissued multiple times in the digital era (the original CD, the remastered CD, the SACD version, etc.). It is hard to imagine anyone interested in this expensive expansive edition doesn't already own AT LEAST one other digital version of the album, so the inclusion of the album on this package is a money grab.
Unfortunately, it's worse than that: The remaster of The Stranger included here is far-and-away the WORST remaster of the album to ever appear. It is extremely compressed and maximized, which means it sound nice and LOUD, but it sacrifices all sorts of subtleties of the music itself. If you are only interested in The Stranger, go and buy yourself any other edition. Or if you already own The Stranger in some other digital edition, keep that if you buy this: The version here is just plain junk.
Now, on to the bonus CD which, honestly, is the lure of this package. On the second CD you get a TRUNCATED version of the shows that Billy Joel played in New York City in Summer 1977. This was Joel and his band at the height of their powers, and with a trunkload of great material (from the Stranger and earlier albums) to draw upon. To any fan of Billy Joel, this is essential, terrific stuff. UNFORTUNATELY, you don't get an entire show (neither a real entire show, nor a cut-and-paste from separate performances to simulate an entire show). This is a real travesty and begs the question "Why?" The source material to offer a full show is available. Someone made the decision to offer the abridged version here, and, given the relatively high cost of this package and that fact that a full show from era of Joel's career is not legitimately available anywhere is just criminal. What's here is excellent, but it's just not enough.
(Note: There is also a more deluxe version of this set available, which also includes a DVD and more elaborate packaging. The DVD on that version includes an hour long show originally recorded for the UK's Old Grey Whistle Test. Again, it's excellent, but does not represent a full show of the era (even if an hour is all that Joel and his band recorded for that fixed format show). There's also a documentary and a bit of other ephemera that's nice, but won't merit repeat viewings in most households.)
In all, this is an opportunity missed. A poor remaster of the original album coupled with a tantalizing but unsatisfying abbreviated version of a classic era show. Bad decisions were made here and--sadly--I'd guess there won't be a another physical media attempt to correct them in the future.
Hardcore Joel fans will buy this, as well they should (what legitimate alternatives are there for the live material?) But anyone on the fence should think hard before jumping. | 1 | neutral | [
"OK, first things first: The Stranger is the album that made Billy Joel a household name throughout the world (though not because it was a breakthrough album in terms of content; the earlier \"Turnstiles\" is at least as good).",
"It is a very well recorded album with many of Joel's best loved songs.",
"It has been reissued multiple times in the digital era (the original CD, the remastered CD, the SACD version, etc.",
").",
"It is hard to imagine anyone interested in this expensive expansive edition doesn't already own AT LEAST one other digital version of the album, so the inclusion of the album on this package is a money grab.",
"Unfortunately, it's worse than that: The remaster of The Stranger included here is far-and-away the WORST remaster of the album to ever appear.",
"It is extremely compressed and maximized, which means it sound nice and LOUD, but it sacrifices all sorts of subtleties of the music itself.",
"If you are only interested in The Stranger, go and buy yourself any other edition.",
"Or if you already own The Stranger in some other digital edition, keep that if you buy this: The version here is just plain junk.",
"Now, on to the bonus CD which, honestly, is the lure of this package.",
"On the second CD you get a TRUNCATED version of the shows that Billy Joel played in New York City in Summer 1977.",
"This was Joel and his band at the height of their powers, and with a trunkload of great material (from the Stranger and earlier albums) to draw upon.",
"To any fan of Billy Joel, this is essential, terrific stuff.",
"UNFORTUNATELY, you don't get an entire show (neither a real entire show, nor a cut-and-paste from separate performances to simulate an entire show).",
"This is a real travesty and begs the question \"Why?",
"\" The source material to offer a full show is available.",
"Someone made the decision to offer the abridged version here, and, given the relatively high cost of this package and that fact that a full show from era of Joel's career is not legitimately available anywhere is just criminal.",
"What's here is excellent, but it's just not enough.",
"(Note: There is also a more deluxe version of this set available, which also includes a DVD and more elaborate packaging.",
"The DVD on that version includes an hour long show originally recorded for the UK's Old Grey Whistle Test.",
"Again, it's excellent, but does not represent a full show of the era (even if an hour is all that Joel and his band recorded for that fixed format show).",
"There's also a documentary and a bit of other ephemera that's nice, but won't merit repeat viewings in most households.",
")\n\nIn all, this is an opportunity missed.",
"A poor remaster of the original album coupled with a tantalizing but unsatisfying abbreviated version of a classic era show.",
"Bad decisions were made here and--sadly--I'd guess there won't be a another physical media attempt to correct them in the future.",
"Hardcore Joel fans will buy this, as well they should (what legitimate alternatives are there for the live material?",
") But anyone on the fence should think hard before jumping."
] |
Edit - received a replacement; board better but still poor quality compared to original Ticket to Ride game. Main fold point of board is splitting. Received the 15 train station pieces in the replacement game. Game play gets a 5 stars, quality of components received get 2 stars. I just can't get the energy to return this again so I will deal with the flaws. At least it is playable this time.
Original - Poor quality board was wrinkled and warped, making the game essentially unplayable. Cards and trains were well made. Set was missing 10 of the 15 train station pieces needed to play. I've played the game before at a friend's house so I know it is fun; just this copy was unplayable. | 1 | neutral | [
"Edit - received a replacement; board better but still poor quality compared to original Ticket to Ride game.",
"Main fold point of board is splitting.",
"Received the 15 train station pieces in the replacement game.",
"Game play gets a 5 stars, quality of components received get 2 stars.",
"I just can't get the energy to return this again so I will deal with the flaws.",
"At least it is playable this time.",
"Original - Poor quality board was wrinkled and warped, making the game essentially unplayable.",
"Cards and trains were well made.",
"Set was missing 10 of the 15 train station pieces needed to play.",
"I've played the game before at a friend's house so I know it is fun; just this copy was unplayable."
] |
Lahiri's debut novel exhibits many of the positive attributes of her justifiably esteemed short story collection Interpreter of Maladies--an exquistely honed sense of detail, an intimate sense of character, a quietly controlled emotional tone-- but the requirements of a novel aren't always the same as a good short story, and despite Lahiri's obvious strengths as a writer, The Namesake falls a bit flat.
The Namesake charts two generations of the Ganguli family, following Ashoke Ganguli through a nearly-fatal and life-changing train accident, his subsequent move to America and then his arranged marriage to Ashima, who never really feels comfortable in America. Their son, Gogol, is the title character and after his birth the focus of the book shifts to him, following him through his childhood, youth, and adulthood, tracing the various arcs of his career, love life, and relationship with his family and culture.
As in her short stories, Lahiri is a master of the telling detail, whether it be a description of a character's cooking or the interior of a house or the small dynamics of a party. In her short stories these lead quickly to characterization and often realization, but in this longer work they sometimes bog the story down or feel repetitive, despite the many gems that sparkle throughout.
While the shift in focus to Gogol allows for further exploration of family and immigration, Lahiri drops the parents a bit too wholly (especially the father) in the middle, though we come back nicely to Ashima later in the book. Other characters suffer as well in relation to Gogol, especially all of the female characters. His sister may as well not exist and the various loves of his life seem more like plot devices than fully realized chararacters, one of them skirting pretty closely in the description of her and her parents to stereotype.
The sense of dislocation felt by first and second generation immigrants is fully and sharply conveyed, though at times the reader is told this rather than shown it. The tugging emotions of family are more nuanced and moving in their depictions (though here is where the sister's weakness as a character is a major detriment).
The structure is straightforward chronological which is a problem in such a quiet book filled with such lengthy detail. Gogol is interesting but not particularly compelling; a less straightforward approach could have compensated for this somewhat. As it is, though, I found the book slow-moving, not in a langorous enjoyable kind of way but more in the impatient to skim some detail way. By the latter third I found myself tempted to simply put it down, though I did persevere. The end is admittedly moving, but I'm torn between saying it earned that emotion and saying that it cheats a bit with some easy sentimentality in the last page or two. It's debatable.
In the end, while there is some beautiful craftsmanship here, some truly poignant moments and fine detail, I can't recommend it all that highly due to its sketchy side characters, its uneven pace, and general lack of compelling story, though I think what's here bodes well for her next novel, which I'll definitely pick up. | 1 | neutral | [
"Lahiri's debut novel exhibits many of the positive attributes of her justifiably esteemed short story collection Interpreter of Maladies--an exquistely honed sense of detail, an intimate sense of character, a quietly controlled emotional tone-- but the requirements of a novel aren't always the same as a good short story, and despite Lahiri's obvious strengths as a writer, The Namesake falls a bit flat.",
"The Namesake charts two generations of the Ganguli family, following Ashoke Ganguli through a nearly-fatal and life-changing train accident, his subsequent move to America and then his arranged marriage to Ashima, who never really feels comfortable in America.",
"Their son, Gogol, is the title character and after his birth the focus of the book shifts to him, following him through his childhood, youth, and adulthood, tracing the various arcs of his career, love life, and relationship with his family and culture.",
"As in her short stories, Lahiri is a master of the telling detail, whether it be a description of a character's cooking or the interior of a house or the small dynamics of a party.",
"In her short stories these lead quickly to characterization and often realization, but in this longer work they sometimes bog the story down or feel repetitive, despite the many gems that sparkle throughout.",
"While the shift in focus to Gogol allows for further exploration of family and immigration, Lahiri drops the parents a bit too wholly (especially the father) in the middle, though we come back nicely to Ashima later in the book.",
"Other characters suffer as well in relation to Gogol, especially all of the female characters.",
"His sister may as well not exist and the various loves of his life seem more like plot devices than fully realized chararacters, one of them skirting pretty closely in the description of her and her parents to stereotype.",
"The sense of dislocation felt by first and second generation immigrants is fully and sharply conveyed, though at times the reader is told this rather than shown it.",
"The tugging emotions of family are more nuanced and moving in their depictions (though here is where the sister's weakness as a character is a major detriment).",
"The structure is straightforward chronological which is a problem in such a quiet book filled with such lengthy detail.",
"Gogol is interesting but not particularly compelling; a less straightforward approach could have compensated for this somewhat.",
"As it is, though, I found the book slow-moving, not in a langorous enjoyable kind of way but more in the impatient to skim some detail way.",
"By the latter third I found myself tempted to simply put it down, though I did persevere.",
"The end is admittedly moving, but I'm torn between saying it earned that emotion and saying that it cheats a bit with some easy sentimentality in the last page or two.",
"It's debatable.",
"In the end, while there is some beautiful craftsmanship here, some truly poignant moments and fine detail, I can't recommend it all that highly due to its sketchy side characters, its uneven pace, and general lack of compelling story, though I think what's here bodes well for her next novel, which I'll definitely pick up."
] |
I want to first point out that it is possible to objectively criticize something and still like it. With that in mind, I still waited before writing my review of Halo 3 until I had played through it a few times so I could get a better feel and grasp of the important elements of the game. Having done that I can see now that the game itself is deeply flawed in several ways- story, dialog, and game features and functions. That said I still enjoyed it, it was still a lot of fun to me. What startled me the most was just how short it was, I completed the main campaign in less than six hours, which is roughly 10-12 hours less than time spent playing the first two games. That strikes me as being unreasonable given what I paid for the it and three years Bungie supposedly spent developing the game- there simply is not enough to do.
What I noticed immediately was the dialog was very weak in several areas. I don't mean just the main thrust of the stories told in cut scenes, but everywhere- ancillary dialog of human soldiers who follow the Master Chief around on missions has most all of humor, the flowery dialog of the Sangeili Elites and the Prophets are gone, replaced instead with cliched lines we've all heard a dozen times before from other sources, as well they changed two of the voices who added so much to Halo 2, that of the Prophet of Truth and the Gravemind without changing the actors- Terrance Stamp still does Truth and Dee Bradley Barker is back as the Gravemind, yet they sound completely different. The way Halo told its story reminded me greatly of Soul Reaver 2 game- long cut scenes with tons of elocution that flows like poetry and a lot of that has been stripped out of Halo 3 leaving it almost lifeless. I thought for sure they had changed writers, but Joseph Staten is credited for Halo 3.
The inconsistencies that struck me were the weapons- yes, they added a ton of new toys to play with, but also changed some of the main stays. The M-41 assault rifle from Halo, missing from Halo 2, is back for Three, but somehow holds 28 less rounds in its magazine than before. The needler, probably one of my favorite weapons from the previous two games can no longer be dual-wielded, and they cut its ammo capacity back, the same goes for the shotgun. The original Magnum is also back, but appearances are deceiving- damage and ammo capacity have been reduced. If these are the same weapons, why have they been changed so drastically and no justification given? I can understand it being done for game balance, but it's just done with no explanation at all. I'll ignore the most overriding gripe of there is no possible way the UNSC could have fought the Covenant for 10 years given their vastly disparate technology levels. It is simply unrealistic that the human race, given how primitive their weapons, ships, and everything else is could have survived that long against the Covenant.
The story line is very simple, stop the Flood and stop the Prophet of Truth of activating the remaining Halo rings- a lot of work for basically one guy, but Spartan 117 is far from average. The game opens with the Master Chief crash landing on Earth after leaping from Truth's captured Forerunner ship and then hooking up with Sergent Major Johnson and the Arbiter in the jungles outside of what's left of New Mombassa. Your ultimate goal in the first half of the game is stop Truth from reaching the Ark- what the humans suspect is being dug out of a massive crater where New Mombassa used to be by the Covenant. It is instead a massive hyperspace gateway that takes Covenant forces to the true Ark- an enormous space station located outside of our galaxy and out of range of pulse radius of all the Halos. After failing to stop Truth and dealing with the Flood who crash a Covenant ship on Earth, the UNSC and their new allies, the Sangeili Elites, relocate to the Ark and go after Truth. All the while the Master Chief is plagued by visions of Cortana, held captive by the Gravemind.
On the Ark the mission break down is roughly the same as on Earth- take out Covenant anti-air defenses so UNSC forces can move in. Here you get to fly the new UNSC fighter, the Hornet and continues the UNSC fascination with hanging soldiers on the outsides of things. It makes me wonder if the Pillar of Autumn or In Amber Clad had hundreds of soldiers on the outside shooting at Covenant fighters with their rifles. In any event, it was fun to finally fly some human aircraft, yet absent from the entire game is the flyable Banshees. Bungie also changed which Wraith tanks you can take over, making it impossible to steal certain tanks on certain levels using melee attacks instead of grenades. This to me smacks of bad design because it makes things seem forced and artificial. Rumor has it that it is possible to take over the coppery anti-air Wraiths, but I have yet to do it.
Graphically, I'm torn. The game is very pretty, but it's not a quantum leap from Halo 2, certainly not `next generation' in my opinion, something the Xbox 360 has suffered from since day one with Perfect Dark Zero and other titles. One Bungie's curses is a lot of their textures look muddy, and they can't do metallic surfaces unless it's the Elite's armor, everything else looks like shiny lacquered concrete- the Forerunner structures especially suffer from this effect, and it was especially noticeable in Halo 2 and on human space stations which looked as though they were made form cement. Character models have been improved in some areas, but faces and uniforms on UNSC personnel look pretty much the same as they did in Halo 2. Lighting effects, weapons, and vehicles are first rate, the Flood infested levels are also quite excellent, especially the last one and everything has a nice creepy Cronenberg-esque look to it. They also updated the overall look of my favorite character, Cortana. I love how she appeared in Halo 2, but in Three she looks more human, with a different face and hair, she looks a little gothic with darker eyes.
Overall, Halo 3 gets a pass, because it is fun to play, it just doesn't last that long. I have no interest in player vs player matches, because they lack the precision offered by a mouse and keyboard. The story is weak, but passable- the preview videos of developers talking so much about they were doing so much with the Brutes and integrating them into the story turned out to be so much smoke and mirrors. If anything, they have a less a role in Halo 3 than they did in Two. The Brutes are barely anymore important than Grunts or Jackals, just thugs with big guns that you get to shoot at because the Elites are your allies now. So, I finished the fight- a little too quickly, and I will be very interested to see where they take it now, because nothing is every truly over. So maybe in two years we'll be asked again to `Continue the fight!' or `Finish the Fight, Again!'. | 1 | neutral | [
"I want to first point out that it is possible to objectively criticize something and still like it.",
"With that in mind, I still waited before writing my review of Halo 3 until I had played through it a few times so I could get a better feel and grasp of the important elements of the game.",
"Having done that I can see now that the game itself is deeply flawed in several ways- story, dialog, and game features and functions.",
"That said I still enjoyed it, it was still a lot of fun to me.",
"What startled me the most was just how short it was, I completed the main campaign in less than six hours, which is roughly 10-12 hours less than time spent playing the first two games.",
"That strikes me as being unreasonable given what I paid for the it and three years Bungie supposedly spent developing the game- there simply is not enough to do.",
"What I noticed immediately was the dialog was very weak in several areas.",
"I don't mean just the main thrust of the stories told in cut scenes, but everywhere- ancillary dialog of human soldiers who follow the Master Chief around on missions has most all of humor, the flowery dialog of the Sangeili Elites and the Prophets are gone, replaced instead with cliched lines we've all heard a dozen times before from other sources, as well they changed two of the voices who added so much to Halo 2, that of the Prophet of Truth and the Gravemind without changing the actors- Terrance Stamp still does Truth and Dee Bradley Barker is back as the Gravemind, yet they sound completely different.",
"The way Halo told its story reminded me greatly of Soul Reaver 2 game- long cut scenes with tons of elocution that flows like poetry and a lot of that has been stripped out of Halo 3 leaving it almost lifeless.",
"I thought for sure they had changed writers, but Joseph Staten is credited for Halo 3.",
"The inconsistencies that struck me were the weapons- yes, they added a ton of new toys to play with, but also changed some of the main stays.",
"The M-41 assault rifle from Halo, missing from Halo 2, is back for Three, but somehow holds 28 less rounds in its magazine than before.",
"The needler, probably one of my favorite weapons from the previous two games can no longer be dual-wielded, and they cut its ammo capacity back, the same goes for the shotgun.",
"The original Magnum is also back, but appearances are deceiving- damage and ammo capacity have been reduced.",
"If these are the same weapons, why have they been changed so drastically and no justification given?",
"I can understand it being done for game balance, but it's just done with no explanation at all.",
"I'll ignore the most overriding gripe of there is no possible way the UNSC could have fought the Covenant for 10 years given their vastly disparate technology levels.",
"It is simply unrealistic that the human race, given how primitive their weapons, ships, and everything else is could have survived that long against the Covenant.",
"The story line is very simple, stop the Flood and stop the Prophet of Truth of activating the remaining Halo rings- a lot of work for basically one guy, but Spartan 117 is far from average.",
"The game opens with the Master Chief crash landing on Earth after leaping from Truth's captured Forerunner ship and then hooking up with Sergent Major Johnson and the Arbiter in the jungles outside of what's left of New Mombassa.",
"Your ultimate goal in the first half of the game is stop Truth from reaching the Ark- what the humans suspect is being dug out of a massive crater where New Mombassa used to be by the Covenant.",
"It is instead a massive hyperspace gateway that takes Covenant forces to the true Ark- an enormous space station located outside of our galaxy and out of range of pulse radius of all the Halos.",
"After failing to stop Truth and dealing with the Flood who crash a Covenant ship on Earth, the UNSC and their new allies, the Sangeili Elites, relocate to the Ark and go after Truth.",
"All the while the Master Chief is plagued by visions of Cortana, held captive by the Gravemind.",
"On the Ark the mission break down is roughly the same as on Earth- take out Covenant anti-air defenses so UNSC forces can move in.",
"Here you get to fly the new UNSC fighter, the Hornet and continues the UNSC fascination with hanging soldiers on the outsides of things.",
"It makes me wonder if the Pillar of Autumn or In Amber Clad had hundreds of soldiers on the outside shooting at Covenant fighters with their rifles.",
"In any event, it was fun to finally fly some human aircraft, yet absent from the entire game is the flyable Banshees.",
"Bungie also changed which Wraith tanks you can take over, making it impossible to steal certain tanks on certain levels using melee attacks instead of grenades.",
"This to me smacks of bad design because it makes things seem forced and artificial.",
"Rumor has it that it is possible to take over the coppery anti-air Wraiths, but I have yet to do it.",
"Graphically, I'm torn.",
"The game is very pretty, but it's not a quantum leap from Halo 2, certainly not `next generation' in my opinion, something the Xbox 360 has suffered from since day one with Perfect Dark Zero and other titles.",
"One Bungie's curses is a lot of their textures look muddy, and they can't do metallic surfaces unless it's the Elite's armor, everything else looks like shiny lacquered concrete- the Forerunner structures especially suffer from this effect, and it was especially noticeable in Halo 2 and on human space stations which looked as though they were made form cement.",
"Character models have been improved in some areas, but faces and uniforms on UNSC personnel look pretty much the same as they did in Halo 2.",
"Lighting effects, weapons, and vehicles are first rate, the Flood infested levels are also quite excellent, especially the last one and everything has a nice creepy Cronenberg-esque look to it.",
"They also updated the overall look of my favorite character, Cortana.",
"I love how she appeared in Halo 2, but in Three she looks more human, with a different face and hair, she looks a little gothic with darker eyes.",
"Overall, Halo 3 gets a pass, because it is fun to play, it just doesn't last that long.",
"I have no interest in player vs player matches, because they lack the precision offered by a mouse and keyboard.",
"The story is weak, but passable- the preview videos of developers talking so much about they were doing so much with the Brutes and integrating them into the story turned out to be so much smoke and mirrors.",
"If anything, they have a less a role in Halo 3 than they did in Two.",
"The Brutes are barely anymore important than Grunts or Jackals, just thugs with big guns that you get to shoot at because the Elites are your allies now.",
"So, I finished the fight- a little too quickly, and I will be very interested to see where they take it now, because nothing is every truly over.",
"So maybe in two years we'll be asked again to `Continue the fight!",
"' or `Finish the Fight, Again!",
"'."
] |
I got my PortaPro phones yesterday, and I am frankly disappointed.
My intention was to use these phones with my computer for music listening at late hours. I was instantly defeated by the useless 4-foot cord length. I should have checked that out, but managed to miss it. Nearly every headphone designed for home use (as these originally were), come with at least five or six feet of cord-length. So right there, I was out of luck. Oh well, I thought, I can always use them with my MP3 player.
My second discovery is that Koss, like many headphone manufacturers, is targeting it's smaller phones for the highly lucrative iPod market. This means that the guys in marketing are calling the shots. Not surprisingly, the phones have a cord-length that's right for the iPod crowd but not home users. Further, the sound has the exaggerated bass popular with kids into hip-hop, but at the cost of a balanced natural sound. I would describe the sound as smooth and quite pleasant, but rather unnatural. The low end is very exaggerated and the mid-range is down about 5dB. The highs are also way down, perhaps 6 or 8dB. Using my players equalizer I can make the sound acceptable, but these phones are typical of the "bass is what the kids are buying" school of design. Without a lot of tone control effort you should expect a bass-heavy sound that lacks any definition in the all-important midrange. I'm a lifelong headphone listener who has used Grado, Sennheiser, AKG, and even high-end electrostatics. I know good phones. These disappoint. I suspect that most of the reviews reflect people who don't use headphones much.
One other point. Koss has been praised for it's generous warranty. Maybe, but read the fine print. Koss will replace or repair the phones (their option), if you provide a check for $6 and suitable packaging. Picture that. I spend $6 for repairs, $3 for a shipping box requiring a post-office visit, another $6 for shipping, and still another trip to the post-office. Some lifetime warranty. Incidentally, I would estimate the phones cost a maximum of $5 to make. Seriously, I base this estimation on material costs and the manufacturing processes, which I am familiar with.
In conclusion, I cannot recommend these phones to anyone who values Balanced Sound over punchy bass. | 1 | neutral | [
"I got my PortaPro phones yesterday, and I am frankly disappointed.",
"My intention was to use these phones with my computer for music listening at late hours.",
"I was instantly defeated by the useless 4-foot cord length.",
"I should have checked that out, but managed to miss it.",
"Nearly every headphone designed for home use (as these originally were), come with at least five or six feet of cord-length.",
"So right there, I was out of luck.",
"Oh well, I thought, I can always use them with my MP3 player.",
"My second discovery is that Koss, like many headphone manufacturers, is targeting it's smaller phones for the highly lucrative iPod market.",
"This means that the guys in marketing are calling the shots.",
"Not surprisingly, the phones have a cord-length that's right for the iPod crowd but not home users.",
"Further, the sound has the exaggerated bass popular with kids into hip-hop, but at the cost of a balanced natural sound.",
"I would describe the sound as smooth and quite pleasant, but rather unnatural.",
"The low end is very exaggerated and the mid-range is down about 5dB.",
"The highs are also way down, perhaps 6 or 8dB.",
"Using my players equalizer I can make the sound acceptable, but these phones are typical of the \"bass is what the kids are buying\" school of design.",
"Without a lot of tone control effort you should expect a bass-heavy sound that lacks any definition in the all-important midrange.",
"I'm a lifelong headphone listener who has used Grado, Sennheiser, AKG, and even high-end electrostatics.",
"I know good phones.",
"These disappoint.",
"I suspect that most of the reviews reflect people who don't use headphones much.",
"One other point.",
"Koss has been praised for it's generous warranty.",
"Maybe, but read the fine print.",
"Koss will replace or repair the phones (their option), if you provide a check for $6 and suitable packaging.",
"Picture that.",
"I spend $6 for repairs, $3 for a shipping box requiring a post-office visit, another $6 for shipping, and still another trip to the post-office.",
"Some lifetime warranty.",
"Incidentally, I would estimate the phones cost a maximum of $5 to make.",
"Seriously, I base this estimation on material costs and the manufacturing processes, which I am familiar with.",
"In conclusion, I cannot recommend these phones to anyone who values Balanced Sound over punchy bass."
] |
Don't last very long. I use a lot of 1/2 and 3/4" impact sprinklers. This one is about the worst of the bunch for longevity. After a while they will quit turning or reversing and I haven't found any way to loosen them up. I've tried adjusting, greasing, and about every thing else but nothing works.
To be fair, part of the non-rotating problem is the base you use, not the sprinkler. These need the force of the water to swing the swing-arm back and forth which is what moves the sprinkler. If your base wobbles, it absorbs a lot of the force so the sprinkler doesn't have enough energy to turn. I use these on top of 2' sections of pipe. I can't use plastic pipe because it's too wobbly. Iron pipe is much more rigid and the sprinklers work much better. If you have turning problems, check the base first before you mess with the sprinkler.
If you every need a part for one, buy a new one. Orbit imports the sprinklers but no replacement parts. It's a throwaway item. If it breaks, it's trash.
Orbit doesn't have a manual available on how to attempt to repair them. | 1 | neutral | [
"Don't last very long.",
"I use a lot of 1/2 and 3/4\" impact sprinklers.",
"This one is about the worst of the bunch for longevity.",
"After a while they will quit turning or reversing and I haven't found any way to loosen them up.",
"I've tried adjusting, greasing, and about every thing else but nothing works.",
"To be fair, part of the non-rotating problem is the base you use, not the sprinkler.",
"These need the force of the water to swing the swing-arm back and forth which is what moves the sprinkler.",
"If your base wobbles, it absorbs a lot of the force so the sprinkler doesn't have enough energy to turn.",
"I use these on top of 2' sections of pipe.",
"I can't use plastic pipe because it's too wobbly.",
"Iron pipe is much more rigid and the sprinklers work much better.",
"If you have turning problems, check the base first before you mess with the sprinkler.",
"If you every need a part for one, buy a new one.",
"Orbit imports the sprinklers but no replacement parts.",
"It's a throwaway item.",
"If it breaks, it's trash.",
"Orbit doesn't have a manual available on how to attempt to repair them."
] |
Despite the fact that this disc bills itself as The Frankie Laine Collection: The Best of The Mercury Years" it is hard to reconcile the fact that 7 of Frankie Laine's charted hits with Mercury records were not included in this 1991 collection. That's a doggone shame but there is still no denying that there are still a good number of terrific tunes from the 40's and early 50's in this collection.
Frankie Laine came out of nowhere in 1947 with his debut recording "That's My Desire". Most music buffs would agree that this is the definitive recording of that tune and Laine took it all the way to #4 on the Billboard pop chart and literally put Mercury records on the map. Sales of that recording were greatly enhanced by black record buyers who mistakenly thought that Laine was a black artist. Laine would continue to hit the charts on a regular basis during his tenure at Mercury. Among the familiar hits you might remember were 1949's "That Lucky Old Sun" and "Mule Train" and his big one from 1950 "The Cry Of The Wild Goose". All three of these tunes made it all the way to the top of the charts and are included on this disc. Other notable tunes on "The Frankie Laine Collection" are "Shine", "Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You)" and the Fats Waller penned "Black and Blue". Laine departed Mercury in the spring of 1951 and went on to have several more successful years at Columbia. It is worth noting that the folks at Mercury did a pretty decent job with the liner notes for this collection but it remains a darn shame that a more complete anthology of Frankie Laine's long and distinguished career is not yet available. It is an oversight that begs to be addressed by one of the reissue labels.
Frankie Laine passed away at the ripe old age of 93 on February 6, 2007. He was still performing "live" shows as recently as 2001 or 2002 and came out of retirement to perform on T.J. Lubinsky's PBS special "Moments To Remember" in 2005. He even had his own website. Remarkable! More than two years after his death no comprehensive Frankie Laine anthology has been issued. That's too bad! In the meantime, The Frankie Laine Collection: The Mercury Years" remains the best available option. Recommended! | 1 | neutral | [
"Despite the fact that this disc bills itself as The Frankie Laine Collection: The Best of The Mercury Years\" it is hard to reconcile the fact that 7 of Frankie Laine's charted hits with Mercury records were not included in this 1991 collection.",
"That's a doggone shame but there is still no denying that there are still a good number of terrific tunes from the 40's and early 50's in this collection.",
"Frankie Laine came out of nowhere in 1947 with his debut recording \"That's My Desire\".",
"Most music buffs would agree that this is the definitive recording of that tune and Laine took it all the way to #4 on the Billboard pop chart and literally put Mercury records on the map.",
"Sales of that recording were greatly enhanced by black record buyers who mistakenly thought that Laine was a black artist.",
"Laine would continue to hit the charts on a regular basis during his tenure at Mercury.",
"Among the familiar hits you might remember were 1949's \"That Lucky Old Sun\" and \"Mule Train\" and his big one from 1950 \"The Cry Of The Wild Goose\".",
"All three of these tunes made it all the way to the top of the charts and are included on this disc.",
"Other notable tunes on \"The Frankie Laine Collection\" are \"Shine\", \"Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You)\" and the Fats Waller penned \"Black and Blue\".",
"Laine departed Mercury in the spring of 1951 and went on to have several more successful years at Columbia.",
"It is worth noting that the folks at Mercury did a pretty decent job with the liner notes for this collection but it remains a darn shame that a more complete anthology of Frankie Laine's long and distinguished career is not yet available.",
"It is an oversight that begs to be addressed by one of the reissue labels.",
"Frankie Laine passed away at the ripe old age of 93 on February 6, 2007.",
"He was still performing \"live\" shows as recently as 2001 or 2002 and came out of retirement to perform on T.",
"J. Lubinsky's PBS special \"Moments To Remember\" in 2005.",
"He even had his own website.",
"Remarkable!",
"More than two years after his death no comprehensive Frankie Laine anthology has been issued.",
"That's too bad!",
"In the meantime, The Frankie Laine Collection: The Mercury Years\" remains the best available option.",
"Recommended!"
] |
I can't imagine anything more heartbreaking and nightmarish than someone having a loved one kidnapped or who just suddenly vanished into thin air. Not knowing anything of what happened, or what to do, is as scary and heartbreaking as can be. That's the plot to this intense and incredibly entertaining movie from 1997. Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan star as a couple on a cross country trip who run into some car trouble out in the middle of nowhere. They flag down a truck coming their way and a trucker named Red Barr(played by the great J.T. Walsh)climbs out and offers to help. He offers to drive them into town to use the phone but Russell doesn't want to leave the car. The wife goes with the trucker and he stays with the car. When he gets to the diner where they are supposed to meet, she isn't there and no one has seen her or the trucker. He spots the trucker and stops him but the trucker insists he has never laid eyes on him before in his life. Russell can't believe what he's hearing. His wife, Amy, has vanished. He is then captured by some criminals and is brought to the trucker, who seems to want Russell's money in exchange for his wife. This leads our devoted husband on a chase across the middle of nowhere in hopes of dodging the bad guys and finding his wife, if, in fact, she is still alive. I enjoy 'road thrillers' like this and "The Hitcher" and "Joy Ride". This one is wonderfully done. The idea of the husband letting his wife go off with a stranger in the middle of nowhere is downright stupid, I'll give you that, but there wouldn't of been a movie without it. This is just entertainment folks. Kurt Russell is really good in this. He is very believeable as a husband who is mortified, scared, and determined to find his wife. He jumps from all kinds of emotions and does them all so realistically. Trust me, he does, no matter what some bubblehead on the next page or so says. One of his better jobs. Then there is the great J.T. Walsh. He was one of our finest character actors. This was one of his final film roles before he died of a heart attack. What a tremendous loss. He is fantastic here. Very convincing. Quinlan has a small role, but she does the best with what she's given. All in all, "Breakdown" is a solid film worthy of your evening's entertainment. | 1 | neutral | [
"I can't imagine anything more heartbreaking and nightmarish than someone having a loved one kidnapped or who just suddenly vanished into thin air.",
"Not knowing anything of what happened, or what to do, is as scary and heartbreaking as can be.",
"That's the plot to this intense and incredibly entertaining movie from 1997.",
"Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan star as a couple on a cross country trip who run into some car trouble out in the middle of nowhere.",
"They flag down a truck coming their way and a trucker named Red Barr(played by the great J.",
"T. Walsh)climbs out and offers to help.",
"He offers to drive them into town to use the phone but Russell doesn't want to leave the car.",
"The wife goes with the trucker and he stays with the car.",
"When he gets to the diner where they are supposed to meet, she isn't there and no one has seen her or the trucker.",
"He spots the trucker and stops him but the trucker insists he has never laid eyes on him before in his life.",
"Russell can't believe what he's hearing.",
"His wife, Amy, has vanished.",
"He is then captured by some criminals and is brought to the trucker, who seems to want Russell's money in exchange for his wife.",
"This leads our devoted husband on a chase across the middle of nowhere in hopes of dodging the bad guys and finding his wife, if, in fact, she is still alive.",
"I enjoy 'road thrillers' like this and \"The Hitcher\" and \"Joy Ride\".",
"This one is wonderfully done.",
"The idea of the husband letting his wife go off with a stranger in the middle of nowhere is downright stupid, I'll give you that, but there wouldn't of been a movie without it.",
"This is just entertainment folks.",
"Kurt Russell is really good in this.",
"He is very believeable as a husband who is mortified, scared, and determined to find his wife.",
"He jumps from all kinds of emotions and does them all so realistically.",
"Trust me, he does, no matter what some bubblehead on the next page or so says.",
"One of his better jobs.",
"Then there is the great J.",
"T. Walsh.",
"He was one of our finest character actors.",
"This was one of his final film roles before he died of a heart attack.",
"What a tremendous loss.",
"He is fantastic here.",
"Very convincing.",
"Quinlan has a small role, but she does the best with what she's given.",
"All in all, \"Breakdown\" is a solid film worthy of your evening's entertainment."
] |
Lets face it, this game has been designed with systems that do not even exist in mind. This can be taken two ways, 1. You can call it "stupid" and a waste or 2. Appreciate them looking forward to systems that will be on us in no time.
I look at it like a gift at this point. I will be working it with the lower settings and as I upgrade in the future this game will give me a bit more, and subsequent upgrades will still yield a better game BUT I will have high level characters as opposed to those that only want in when the technology is there to run it maxed. I've played EQ for years and can tell you that if you come in "late" you'll have missed A LOT. The game will appear to be barren as most loyal players will be high levels and not many noobs will be coming on line to fill out the lower level zones.
Played for a bit last night and it's a whole nother beast then EQ. I like it...so far. Still tweaking settings for the best possible play quality. Lots of stuff to adjust or just plain turn off.
I'm running..
2GHZ P4
1 Gig PC2700
TI-4600
Lots of chop at the default setting (medium), most from my system and some I would assume from lag. The later I'm sure will be addressed as they tweak load handling on the server side and optimize code. It will get better on its own over the next few months I would assume (from past experience). Still quite playable. | 1 | neutral | [
"Lets face it, this game has been designed with systems that do not even exist in mind.",
"This can be taken two ways, 1.",
"You can call it \"stupid\" and a waste or 2.",
"Appreciate them looking forward to systems that will be on us in no time.",
"I look at it like a gift at this point.",
"I will be working it with the lower settings and as I upgrade in the future this game will give me a bit more, and subsequent upgrades will still yield a better game BUT I will have high level characters as opposed to those that only want in when the technology is there to run it maxed.",
"I've played EQ for years and can tell you that if you come in \"late\" you'll have missed A LOT.",
"The game will appear to be barren as most loyal players will be high levels and not many noobs will be coming on line to fill out the lower level zones.",
"Played for a bit last night and it's a whole nother beast then EQ.",
"I like it...",
"so far.",
"Still tweaking settings for the best possible play quality.",
"Lots of stuff to adjust or just plain turn off.",
"I'm running..",
"2GHZ P4\n1 Gig PC2700\nTI-4600\n\nLots of chop at the default setting (medium), most from my system and some I would assume from lag.",
"The later I'm sure will be addressed as they tweak load handling on the server side and optimize code.",
"It will get better on its own over the next few months I would assume (from past experience).",
"Still quite playable."
] |
I read and reread the reviews. i decided to give it a go. It looks great hanging on the pergola. Filled it with seeds, and a few came out on the bottom. It rained and rained for several days. The seeds in on the bottom tray turned to gook because the water wouldn't drain. I cleaned it and refilled it with new seed. The sun came and so did the birds. Unfortunately they avoided this feeder like it had the plague. Two weeks, and it's still full of seed. I will turn it over in a garage sale of the future for a dollar. The moral is, don't buy a feeder for looks. Read the reviews, and if there are more than one or two negatives, stay away. Lessons learned. | 1 | neutral | [
"I read and reread the reviews.",
"i decided to give it a go.",
"It looks great hanging on the pergola.",
"Filled it with seeds, and a few came out on the bottom.",
"It rained and rained for several days.",
"The seeds in on the bottom tray turned to gook because the water wouldn't drain.",
"I cleaned it and refilled it with new seed.",
"The sun came and so did the birds.",
"Unfortunately they avoided this feeder like it had the plague.",
"Two weeks, and it's still full of seed.",
"I will turn it over in a garage sale of the future for a dollar.",
"The moral is, don't buy a feeder for looks.",
"Read the reviews, and if there are more than one or two negatives, stay away.",
"Lessons learned."
] |
After a long delay, I expected much and more, to steal one of Martin's favorite phrases, than I got from the first A Song of Fire and Ice book in over five years. But what I got was like mother's milk, (another favorite,) for those of us who longed for a return to a world we loved and characters that we missed.
Longsuffering fans of the series (and I count myself among them,) have been reading this series since the first book A Game of Thrones was published in 1996. The most recent book prior to this one, A Feast for Crows, was published in 2005 and that novel is actually only half of A Dance with Dragons. But not the normal half, where the first portion chronologically is separated into part one and then the second half, or what happens next, is put into part two. A Dance with Dragons is actually like Martin took a loaf of bread and sliced it long-ways, making the whole story only coherent when you shuffle A Dance with Dragons together with A Feast for Crows like a deck of cards. The last full book, meaning all the characters working through a continuous timeline, was published in 2000. That means that for the last 11 years, fans of this series have been waiting for updates on some of these characters. It was not worth the wait.
For the last 11 years we've wondered what happened to Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, and others and the answers given in this book were less than satisfactory. In fact, it had been so long, that I had to be reminded who some of these characters were for the story to make sense (and in fact, the excellent HBO production of A Game of Thrones was instrumental in helping me remember.) I see no way that this series can possibly conclude in only two more books because almost nothing happens! How can we read nearly 1000 pages and there be so little movement?
Martin has been called the American version of J.R.R. Tolkein. That is most certainly not true! Not just because of the timeliness issues, but rather the fact that there is nearly complete moral ambiguity in these novels. At no time are readers clear about who is right or wrong, who is evil or good, and there is no one to cheer for that actually survives any given book. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings had no such issue. Tolkien made it very clear who were on the side of good and who weren't. He also made clear that individual choices had consequences and actions like courage, loyalty and truth were to be encouraged and greed, lust and dishonesty were to be discouraged. Martin conveys no clear moral compass. And this is a looming failure for this series: will we even care who wins the Iron Throne in the end?
The books may seem more like a very, very short ride after a long, long line at an amusement park, but those of us who made the mistake of reading the incredible first three books have no choice but to continue to wait for the series conclusion, frustrated, but hopeful.
Roy Dotrice, was a complete failure in the unabridged audiobook version, which is what this review is based upon. From the first chapter I wondered whether I would be able to stomach the gruff, growling voices that made nearly every character - male or female - sound like they were angry Irish dwarves. He was great for the narration, but the voices were a huge distraction. And it may be because the book was 959 pages long, but there were a multitude of uncorrected errors by Dotrice as he would read and realize a moment later that he was doing the wrong voice and switch. Most audiobooks get edited to fix these, so I assume the non-corrections are due to length. Finally, on the audiobook, Martin may not be a good candidate for audio regardless of reader because of his reliance on characters and inner-thought in his narrative, which makes it tough to tell when listening to a reader when the character is thinking and when they are actually speaking.
For those of us who have been hooked for years, we had no choice but to devour hungrily - like men starved - this book. But for those of you have not yet started this ride, hold off until or even if Martin finishes this series. Instead look to authors like Brandon Sanderson for excellent fantasy books that actually progress and series that actually end.
Review originally published at BookGateway. This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy. | 1 | neutral | [
"After a long delay, I expected much and more, to steal one of Martin's favorite phrases, than I got from the first A Song of Fire and Ice book in over five years.",
"But what I got was like mother's milk, (another favorite,) for those of us who longed for a return to a world we loved and characters that we missed.",
"Longsuffering fans of the series (and I count myself among them,) have been reading this series since the first book A Game of Thrones was published in 1996.",
"The most recent book prior to this one, A Feast for Crows, was published in 2005 and that novel is actually only half of A Dance with Dragons.",
"But not the normal half, where the first portion chronologically is separated into part one and then the second half, or what happens next, is put into part two.",
"A Dance with Dragons is actually like Martin took a loaf of bread and sliced it long-ways, making the whole story only coherent when you shuffle A Dance with Dragons together with A Feast for Crows like a deck of cards.",
"The last full book, meaning all the characters working through a continuous timeline, was published in 2000.",
"That means that for the last 11 years, fans of this series have been waiting for updates on some of these characters.",
"It was not worth the wait.",
"For the last 11 years we've wondered what happened to Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, and others and the answers given in this book were less than satisfactory.",
"In fact, it had been so long, that I had to be reminded who some of these characters were for the story to make sense (and in fact, the excellent HBO production of A Game of Thrones was instrumental in helping me remember.",
") I see no way that this series can possibly conclude in only two more books because almost nothing happens!",
"How can we read nearly 1000 pages and there be so little movement?",
"Martin has been called the American version of J.",
"R.R. Tolkein.",
"That is most certainly not true!",
"Not just because of the timeliness issues, but rather the fact that there is nearly complete moral ambiguity in these novels.",
"At no time are readers clear about who is right or wrong, who is evil or good, and there is no one to cheer for that actually survives any given book.",
"Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings had no such issue.",
"Tolkien made it very clear who were on the side of good and who weren't.",
"He also made clear that individual choices had consequences and actions like courage, loyalty and truth were to be encouraged and greed, lust and dishonesty were to be discouraged.",
"Martin conveys no clear moral compass.",
"And this is a looming failure for this series: will we even care who wins the Iron Throne in the end?",
"The books may seem more like a very, very short ride after a long, long line at an amusement park, but those of us who made the mistake of reading the incredible first three books have no choice but to continue to wait for the series conclusion, frustrated, but hopeful.",
"Roy Dotrice, was a complete failure in the unabridged audiobook version, which is what this review is based upon.",
"From the first chapter I wondered whether I would be able to stomach the gruff, growling voices that made nearly every character - male or female - sound like they were angry Irish dwarves.",
"He was great for the narration, but the voices were a huge distraction.",
"And it may be because the book was 959 pages long, but there were a multitude of uncorrected errors by Dotrice as he would read and realize a moment later that he was doing the wrong voice and switch.",
"Most audiobooks get edited to fix these, so I assume the non-corrections are due to length.",
"Finally, on the audiobook, Martin may not be a good candidate for audio regardless of reader because of his reliance on characters and inner-thought in his narrative, which makes it tough to tell when listening to a reader when the character is thinking and when they are actually speaking.",
"For those of us who have been hooked for years, we had no choice but to devour hungrily - like men starved - this book.",
"But for those of you have not yet started this ride, hold off until or even if Martin finishes this series.",
"Instead look to authors like Brandon Sanderson for excellent fantasy books that actually progress and series that actually end.",
"Review originally published at BookGateway.",
"This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy."
] |
As a fan of the MOH series (dating back to the 2 games produced for PSOne), this was definitely a game I couldn't wait to play.
The problem was that I finished it in about a week (about 8 hours total).
Some of the other reviewers have mentioned that Frontline is a longer game (19 levels vs 10 here), and I would add also a tougher game.
Rising Sun begins with you aboard a US battleship in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and immediately puts you in the fray (as Frontline did with the storming of the beaches at Normandy). This first level is almost tutorial, giving you a chance to get a feel for the game without really taking any damage. I found the second board visually stunning with the planes swooping down around you, but after that, the other boards are just OK.
While the boards are longer, it felt like there were fewer enemies to fight. I'm not exactly a true "gamer", but I don't remember really having any trouble. In fairness, part of cruising through this game may be due to the fact that there are mid-level saves in Rising Sun, which is a feature new to the MOH series.
Conclusion? It's a game worth playing, but...if you haven't played Medal of Honor Frontline, buy that one first. And if you are a fan of the MOH series and finished Frontline, you may want to just rent Rising Sun. | 1 | neutral | [
"As a fan of the MOH series (dating back to the 2 games produced for PSOne), this was definitely a game I couldn't wait to play.",
"The problem was that I finished it in about a week (about 8 hours total).",
"Some of the other reviewers have mentioned that Frontline is a longer game (19 levels vs 10 here), and I would add also a tougher game.",
"Rising Sun begins with you aboard a US battleship in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and immediately puts you in the fray (as Frontline did with the storming of the beaches at Normandy).",
"This first level is almost tutorial, giving you a chance to get a feel for the game without really taking any damage.",
"I found the second board visually stunning with the planes swooping down around you, but after that, the other boards are just OK.",
"While the boards are longer, it felt like there were fewer enemies to fight.",
"I'm not exactly a true \"gamer\", but I don't remember really having any trouble.",
"In fairness, part of cruising through this game may be due to the fact that there are mid-level saves in Rising Sun, which is a feature new to the MOH series.",
"Conclusion?",
"It's a game worth playing, but...",
"if you haven't played Medal of Honor Frontline, buy that one first.",
"And if you are a fan of the MOH series and finished Frontline, you may want to just rent Rising Sun."
] |
After the successful one-two-three punch of Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over, and Love Gun, along with the live Alive and Alive II albums, KISS seemed poised to take over the music world for good. Instead of attacking the masses with another big album in 1978 however, the band decided to go the solo route with all four members of the band releasing solo projects to mixed reviews.
Depending on whom you ask, the four album project was either a money-making ploy or an attempt to salvage the strained relationships within the band itself. Regardless of what truly motivated the project, it was deemed a failure by the band and 1979 promised bigger things with Dynasty, the first album featuring all four members (albeit very loosely) since Love Gun.
Dynasty produced one major hit, I Was Made For Lovin' You, and spawned two other mildly received singles. Hardcore KISS fans who were turned on by the bands earlier hard rock sound were turning off Dynasty's milder, pop rock feel.
In May of 1980, KISS once again released an album that had fans hoping for a return to their grittier roots. What they got instead was Unmasked, a pop rock album that leaned heavily on the disco sounds that were still popular at the time. In fact, I would so far as to say that Unmasked and not Dynasty is the real KISS "disco" album.
Produced by Vini Poncia (who also produced Dynasty and Peter Criss), the album is the farthest to stray from the KISS sound in my opinon. Even the band's next release, the concept album Music From The Elder, sounds more like a KISS album to me.
The album found Peter Criss on the ropes and about to bail out of KISS due to personal problems. Although he is featured on the album cover, he contributed nothing musically to the project. Anton Fig took over Criss' duties on the album. Ace, who's solo project was the most successful of the bunch, was beginning to realize that he might be better off as a solo artist (even he admitted this). Perhaps as a result of this, I personally find Ace's guitar work a bit uninspired on this album. Gene and Paul were still attempting to hold the band together according to their own accounts.
With all of this knowledge in tow, is Unmasked a bad album? Not at all when it is compared to other pop rock and adult contemporary projects from that time. It is a very, very good pop rock album. While the bulk of the tunes have a disco sound to them, none of them are all that bad.
Paul Stanley is especially good on this album. He co-wrote four of the album's tracks and performs lead vocals on five songs. In fact, Stanley performs all vocals and guitars on the biggest hit off of the album, Shandi. His production and overall leadership skills really shine through on this album. The man just knows how to write and/or perform a great pop song.
Anton Fig's drum work is flawless and, although I hate to say it, is probably some of the best drum work you'll ever hear on a KISS album outside of Eric Carr's contributions to the band.
Gene is as steady as always, and it isn't until his first co-penned song and lead vocal on the album, the track Naked City, that I actually hear some of the old KISS sound.
The always reliable Ace Frehley isn't so reliable this go-round. All three of his contributions to the album, Talk To Me, Two Sides Of The Coin, and Torpedo Girl, fall short of the expected hard rock sound that is a signature of Ace's playing style. Ace's guitars sound as if they are being held back and I actually hear a few of his old solos laced through many of these songs (in particular, his solo from Black Diamond). Of the three tracks he did, Two Sides Of The Coin is probably my favorite.
Is That You?, What Makes The World Go Round, Tomorrow, and Easy As It Seems (all of which feature Stanley on lead vocals) are all solid pop songs and sound great. Gene Simmons' tracks, She's So European, You're All That I Want, and the aforementioned Naked City, are a bit edgier sounding and as I've already stated, they are the closest sounding tunes to the old KISS sound.
So Unmasked is somewhat of a disappointment as a KISS album when compared to the rest of KISS' music catalogue, but when put up against other pop rock from that era, Unmasked is a solid project. Personally, I find myself singing along to a lot of the songs, especially Shandi and Tomorrow.
Hardcore KISS completionists will pick up this album simply to have it in their collection but, much like Music From The Elder, it probably won't get much airplay. Pop and adult contemporary fans will enjoy this project because it is a very good pop album. KISS fans like myself, who actually enjoy it when KISS experiments with their sound (and their lineup) will most likely enjoy this album as well. | 1 | neutral | [
"After the successful one-two-three punch of Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over, and Love Gun, along with the live Alive and Alive II albums, KISS seemed poised to take over the music world for good.",
"Instead of attacking the masses with another big album in 1978 however, the band decided to go the solo route with all four members of the band releasing solo projects to mixed reviews.",
"Depending on whom you ask, the four album project was either a money-making ploy or an attempt to salvage the strained relationships within the band itself.",
"Regardless of what truly motivated the project, it was deemed a failure by the band and 1979 promised bigger things with Dynasty, the first album featuring all four members (albeit very loosely) since Love Gun.",
"Dynasty produced one major hit, I Was Made For Lovin' You, and spawned two other mildly received singles.",
"Hardcore KISS fans who were turned on by the bands earlier hard rock sound were turning off Dynasty's milder, pop rock feel.",
"In May of 1980, KISS once again released an album that had fans hoping for a return to their grittier roots.",
"What they got instead was Unmasked, a pop rock album that leaned heavily on the disco sounds that were still popular at the time.",
"In fact, I would so far as to say that Unmasked and not Dynasty is the real KISS \"disco\" album.",
"Produced by Vini Poncia (who also produced Dynasty and Peter Criss), the album is the farthest to stray from the KISS sound in my opinon.",
"Even the band's next release, the concept album Music From The Elder, sounds more like a KISS album to me.",
"The album found Peter Criss on the ropes and about to bail out of KISS due to personal problems.",
"Although he is featured on the album cover, he contributed nothing musically to the project.",
"Anton Fig took over Criss' duties on the album.",
"Ace, who's solo project was the most successful of the bunch, was beginning to realize that he might be better off as a solo artist (even he admitted this).",
"Perhaps as a result of this, I personally find Ace's guitar work a bit uninspired on this album.",
"Gene and Paul were still attempting to hold the band together according to their own accounts.",
"With all of this knowledge in tow, is Unmasked a bad album?",
"Not at all when it is compared to other pop rock and adult contemporary projects from that time.",
"It is a very, very good pop rock album.",
"While the bulk of the tunes have a disco sound to them, none of them are all that bad.",
"Paul Stanley is especially good on this album.",
"He co-wrote four of the album's tracks and performs lead vocals on five songs.",
"In fact, Stanley performs all vocals and guitars on the biggest hit off of the album, Shandi.",
"His production and overall leadership skills really shine through on this album.",
"The man just knows how to write and/or perform a great pop song.",
"Anton Fig's drum work is flawless and, although I hate to say it, is probably some of the best drum work you'll ever hear on a KISS album outside of Eric Carr's contributions to the band.",
"Gene is as steady as always, and it isn't until his first co-penned song and lead vocal on the album, the track Naked City, that I actually hear some of the old KISS sound.",
"The always reliable Ace Frehley isn't so reliable this go-round.",
"All three of his contributions to the album, Talk To Me, Two Sides Of The Coin, and Torpedo Girl, fall short of the expected hard rock sound that is a signature of Ace's playing style.",
"Ace's guitars sound as if they are being held back and I actually hear a few of his old solos laced through many of these songs (in particular, his solo from Black Diamond).",
"Of the three tracks he did, Two Sides Of The Coin is probably my favorite.",
"Is That You?",
", What Makes The World Go Round, Tomorrow, and Easy As It Seems (all of which feature Stanley on lead vocals) are all solid pop songs and sound great.",
"Gene Simmons' tracks, She's So European, You're All That I Want, and the aforementioned Naked City, are a bit edgier sounding and as I've already stated, they are the closest sounding tunes to the old KISS sound.",
"So Unmasked is somewhat of a disappointment as a KISS album when compared to the rest of KISS' music catalogue, but when put up against other pop rock from that era, Unmasked is a solid project.",
"Personally, I find myself singing along to a lot of the songs, especially Shandi and Tomorrow.",
"Hardcore KISS completionists will pick up this album simply to have it in their collection but, much like Music From The Elder, it probably won't get much airplay.",
"Pop and adult contemporary fans will enjoy this project because it is a very good pop album.",
"KISS fans like myself, who actually enjoy it when KISS experiments with their sound (and their lineup) will most likely enjoy this album as well."
] |
So I ordered an extra large piece and as you can see in the pictures... it’s not what I would assume is extra large. It’s a good looking piece, lots of character. But I feel like I didn’t get what I paid for. It’s in a 55 gal tank so it looks quite small in there. I’m sorry to say, I’m a bit disappointed. There were no broken pieces though like some of the other reviews stated... it was packaged well. Just wanted something that arched across my tank more. I guess it’ll do. | 1 | neutral | [
"So I ordered an extra large piece and as you can see in the pictures...",
"it’s not what I would assume is extra large.",
"It’s a good looking piece, lots of character.",
"But I feel like I didn’t get what I paid for.",
"It’s in a 55 gal tank so it looks quite small in there.",
"I’m sorry to say, I’m a bit disappointed.",
"There were no broken pieces though like some of the other reviews stated...",
"it was packaged well.",
"Just wanted something that arched across my tank more.",
"I guess it’ll do."
] |
When I first opened this item, it appeared to have been used and possibly a return unit. There was light scratching on the display and no protective film covering it, like most new devices with a display (this could be normal). I decided to test it out anyways. When I first plugged it into my van, it was having some issues, cycling between the battery indicator screen and regular display, without giving me any control. I plugged it into another outlet and after a couple minutes it began working properly. The display appears to have a slight defect as it is much brighter in the middle than it is on the right and left edges. My last disappointment isn’t a huge deal, and I wasn’t sure if this was a feature to begin with, but there is no file browsing system if you are using a micro SD card with music on it. This means it will simply start on the first song that is loaded onto it, and you can only skip forward and back from there. It isn’t all bad though. After I was able to control it, I was quickly able to pair my iPhone. All of the buttons seem to work properly and the sound quality with the device plugged into my system via AUX cable is surprisingly good. I have no intention of using the FM transmitter, so I did not test it. The design is simple and nice, and overall functionality is decent. Overall, this is not a bad product if you know what you’re receiving. | 1 | neutral | [
"When I first opened this item, it appeared to have been used and possibly a return unit.",
"There was light scratching on the display and no protective film covering it, like most new devices with a display (this could be normal).",
"I decided to test it out anyways.",
"When I first plugged it into my van, it was having some issues, cycling between the battery indicator screen and regular display, without giving me any control.",
"I plugged it into another outlet and after a couple minutes it began working properly.",
"The display appears to have a slight defect as it is much brighter in the middle than it is on the right and left edges.",
"My last disappointment isn’t a huge deal, and I wasn’t sure if this was a feature to begin with, but there is no file browsing system if you are using a micro SD card with music on it.",
"This means it will simply start on the first song that is loaded onto it, and you can only skip forward and back from there.",
"It isn’t all bad though.",
"After I was able to control it, I was quickly able to pair my iPhone.",
"All of the buttons seem to work properly and the sound quality with the device plugged into my system via AUX cable is surprisingly good.",
"I have no intention of using the FM transmitter, so I did not test it.",
"The design is simple and nice, and overall functionality is decent.",
"Overall, this is not a bad product if you know what you’re receiving."
] |
Terrence Howards debut album SHINE THROUGH IT goes against the grain of what you would expect Howard to record. Howard's brand of R&B is mixed with influences of jazz, pop, folk, and singer-songwriter elements. The result isn't always fully developed, but SHINE THROUGH IT allows for a couple of truly compelling moments. One strong point, regardless of weaker material, is the acoustic instrumentation. There is nothing like a good album that uses live instrumentation.
SHINE THROUGH IT's first couple of tracks are all "fire". "Love Makes You Beautiful" is one of the most beautiful examples of orchestration in pop music I have heard for a while. The string bass gives this track an inherent jazz feel while the acoustic piano, acoustic piano, and bells add the "cherry on top". Howard's vocals are great here, filled with great nuance and inflection that can't be denied. Howard can actually sing; the issue for those expecting a more "urban" debut will be that Howard's songwriting isn't what was expected.
"Shine Through It" shows Howard sounding very similar to a mix between Anthony Hamilton and John Legend. As "poppy" as "Shine Through It" is, it is incredibly soulful. The choir in the background is just great and shows Howard's cerebral nature in crafting this album. Once again, the strings are fantastic and add that extra dimension to SHINE THROUGH IT. The brass truly makes this feel like we are reliving the 1960s/70s again. Say what you will about SHINE as a whole, but "Shine Through It" is fire.
"Mr. Johnson's Lawn" shows more exceptional songwriting from Howard, if a bit less impressive than "Love Makes You Beautiful" or "Shine Through It". The tropical feel shows Howard once again stretching out his wings with a mesh of differing styles and influences. Vocally, Terrece isn't as refined as on the two previous standouts, but he still sounds fine. "Sanctuary" lays very well, making it another fine listen. "No. 1 Fan" isn't bad, if not truly great, while "Spanish Love Affair" 'is what it is'. Lovely Spanish guitar work introduces the track followed by a Spanish instrumental groove. Now how often do pop albums have instrumental tracks these days? Not often.
"Plenty" is an overall strong track, with an urban groove, still utilizing live drums and acoustic piano. Howard does make the concession of adding an electric bass as opposed to string bass. Also, the addition or organ makes it clear to fans that Howard wanted to embrace "soul" on this track exclusively, laying down his folk ruminations momentarily. "I Remember When" changes styles again, giving the sense of a 60's pop song. In fact, I believe that the Beach Boys or even the Beatles might perform something like this. It works and it's catchy. It's nothing truly record-breaking, but it is a fine enough listen.
"It's All Game" resurrects Howard's jazzy ruminations via a second instrumental track. It is a fine enough listen, though shows a bit of the problem with SHINE THROUGH IT - it is uneven. "She Was Mine" has a 'tongue-n-cheek' jazz feel to it, which is enjoyable. It's nothing that never been before, yet Howard resurrects it and brings the sound to a new group of listeners. The closing track "War" features a big-band.
The main problem with SHINE THROUGH IT is it is over-ambitious and at some moments undercooked. Howard never sounds bad, but sometimes his songwriting is "all over the place". It possesses potential in a number of ways, but I think that Howard's follow-up album would have to tune more closely into one style as opposed to being such a mixed bag as SHINE THROUGH IT. 3 stars. | 1 | neutral | [
"Terrence Howards debut album SHINE THROUGH IT goes against the grain of what you would expect Howard to record.",
"Howard's brand of R&B is mixed with influences of jazz, pop, folk, and singer-songwriter elements.",
"The result isn't always fully developed, but SHINE THROUGH IT allows for a couple of truly compelling moments.",
"One strong point, regardless of weaker material, is the acoustic instrumentation.",
"There is nothing like a good album that uses live instrumentation.",
"SHINE THROUGH IT's first couple of tracks are all \"fire\".",
"\"Love Makes You Beautiful\" is one of the most beautiful examples of orchestration in pop music I have heard for a while.",
"The string bass gives this track an inherent jazz feel while the acoustic piano, acoustic piano, and bells add the \"cherry on top\".",
"Howard's vocals are great here, filled with great nuance and inflection that can't be denied.",
"Howard can actually sing; the issue for those expecting a more \"urban\" debut will be that Howard's songwriting isn't what was expected.",
"\"Shine Through It\" shows Howard sounding very similar to a mix between Anthony Hamilton and John Legend.",
"As \"poppy\" as \"Shine Through It\" is, it is incredibly soulful.",
"The choir in the background is just great and shows Howard's cerebral nature in crafting this album.",
"Once again, the strings are fantastic and add that extra dimension to SHINE THROUGH IT.",
"The brass truly makes this feel like we are reliving the 1960s/70s again.",
"Say what you will about SHINE as a whole, but \"Shine Through It\" is fire.",
"\"Mr.",
"Johnson's Lawn\" shows more exceptional songwriting from Howard, if a bit less impressive than \"Love Makes You Beautiful\" or \"Shine Through It\".",
"The tropical feel shows Howard once again stretching out his wings with a mesh of differing styles and influences.",
"Vocally, Terrece isn't as refined as on the two previous standouts, but he still sounds fine.",
"\"Sanctuary\" lays very well, making it another fine listen.",
"\"No.",
"1 Fan\" isn't bad, if not truly great, while \"Spanish Love Affair\" 'is what it is'.",
"Lovely Spanish guitar work introduces the track followed by a Spanish instrumental groove.",
"Now how often do pop albums have instrumental tracks these days?",
"Not often.",
"\"Plenty\" is an overall strong track, with an urban groove, still utilizing live drums and acoustic piano.",
"Howard does make the concession of adding an electric bass as opposed to string bass.",
"Also, the addition or organ makes it clear to fans that Howard wanted to embrace \"soul\" on this track exclusively, laying down his folk ruminations momentarily.",
"\"I Remember When\" changes styles again, giving the sense of a 60's pop song.",
"In fact, I believe that the Beach Boys or even the Beatles might perform something like this.",
"It works and it's catchy.",
"It's nothing truly record-breaking, but it is a fine enough listen.",
"\"It's All Game\" resurrects Howard's jazzy ruminations via a second instrumental track.",
"It is a fine enough listen, though shows a bit of the problem with SHINE THROUGH IT - it is uneven.",
"\"She Was Mine\" has a 'tongue-n-cheek' jazz feel to it, which is enjoyable.",
"It's nothing that never been before, yet Howard resurrects it and brings the sound to a new group of listeners.",
"The closing track \"War\" features a big-band.",
"The main problem with SHINE THROUGH IT is it is over-ambitious and at some moments undercooked.",
"Howard never sounds bad, but sometimes his songwriting is \"all over the place\".",
"It possesses potential in a number of ways, but I think that Howard's follow-up album would have to tune more closely into one style as opposed to being such a mixed bag as SHINE THROUGH IT.",
"3 stars."
] |
Book 5 in A Song of Fire and Ice is a bit of a mixed bag. I was largely disappointed with the previous novel because of how overwritten, long-winded, and lacking of true shocking moments that makes this series. Although A Dance with Dragons suffers from some of these issues as well, its not quite as severe as it was in the previous book. However, this novel definitely could use some serious editing.
There are parts that drag on endlessly with no seeming rhyme or reason. There are also some story lines that don't seem terribly relevant. Among them is anything featuring the Greyjoys and the Iron Isles. I just didn't care about this story line and feel that it doesnt add anything to the story. The same is true with the emergence of Aegon Targaryen and Jon Connington. It just feels added on and not essential. There are already plenty of people vying for the throne. To add this one cheapens it.
Its hard not to make a comparison between the novels and the HBO show. Early on in the series, I found the books to be superior, and now I think the show has surpassed it. An example of this is that I like the direction of the Tyrion Lannister character my favoritein the show as opposed to what he is doing in this novel. The same is true with the Arya and Sansa storylines. One of the great episodes in the past season of the show was the battle against the White Walkers at Hardhome, something that never occurs here. I also liked how the show portrayed Daenerys escaping from the fighting pit.
Thats not to say that there aren't very good things about the novel. George R.R. Martin is a master of prose and is a skilled writer. There were some big moments in the novel such as Jon Snows fate and Cerseis walk of shame. Its just that I feel with some serious editing the novel could have been much better.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity | 1 | neutral | [
"Book 5 in A Song of Fire and Ice is a bit of a mixed bag.",
"I was largely disappointed with the previous novel because of how overwritten, long-winded, and lacking of true shocking moments that makes this series.",
"Although A Dance with Dragons suffers from some of these issues as well, its not quite as severe as it was in the previous book.",
"However, this novel definitely could use some serious editing.",
"There are parts that drag on endlessly with no seeming rhyme or reason.",
"There are also some story lines that don't seem terribly relevant.",
"Among them is anything featuring the Greyjoys and the Iron Isles.",
"I just didn't care about this story line and feel that it doesnt add anything to the story.",
"The same is true with the emergence of Aegon Targaryen and Jon Connington.",
"It just feels added on and not essential.",
"There are already plenty of people vying for the throne.",
"To add this one cheapens it.",
"Its hard not to make a comparison between the novels and the HBO show.",
"Early on in the series, I found the books to be superior, and now I think the show has surpassed it.",
"An example of this is that I like the direction of the Tyrion Lannister character my favoritein the show as opposed to what he is doing in this novel.",
"The same is true with the Arya and Sansa storylines.",
"One of the great episodes in the past season of the show was the battle against the White Walkers at Hardhome, something that never occurs here.",
"I also liked how the show portrayed Daenerys escaping from the fighting pit.",
"Thats not to say that there aren't very good things about the novel.",
"George R.",
"R. Martin is a master of prose and is a skilled writer.",
"There were some big moments in the novel such as Jon Snows fate and Cerseis walk of shame.",
"Its just that I feel with some serious editing the novel could have been much better.",
"Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity"
] |
I really enjoy this game, I think they could have done better, some of the driving chases just seem a bit silly. I enjoy the more tactical work he is required to do. However, I ran into a glitch and I went online and found there are others who had the same problem where you get totally stuck and cannot move forward at all. I played 2 nights in a row thinking I did something wrong before I looked up a walkthrough online and found out it was just a glitch in the game. One I followed the instuctions, I was finally able to move on so watch out for that. It's right after you go up in a watch tower with a sniper rifle, then enter a wharehouse to protect Madsen which as soon as you enter there should be a lot of men coming in, my problem was only 1 guy or other people say no men at all, if that happens then you hit the glitch because a lot of men should come rushing in. The instructions I followed are as follows:
Turn on your PS2 is turned off with game and memory card in, then load the game (it should be at 4:28. If its not, see NOTE below). When the cut scene with Jack and Tony begins remove the memory card and the "Warning, memory card removed Use save game option to manually save progress & re-enable autosave?" Press X for OK and re-insert the memory card, then watch the cut scene. The "Previously on 24" dialog box will appear, press X. then play the game as usual. If done correctly, many men will enter. After you complete the mission, make sure you save it.
NOTE: If your memory card is at 4:41. Go restart the mission and do a save during the cut scene. You will overwrite 4:41 and be back at 4:28.
It helped me and if it happens to you, believe me, you will be glad you read this because I sure was. | 1 | neutral | [
"I really enjoy this game, I think they could have done better, some of the driving chases just seem a bit silly.",
"I enjoy the more tactical work he is required to do.",
"However, I ran into a glitch and I went online and found there are others who had the same problem where you get totally stuck and cannot move forward at all.",
"I played 2 nights in a row thinking I did something wrong before I looked up a walkthrough online and found out it was just a glitch in the game.",
"One I followed the instuctions, I was finally able to move on so watch out for that.",
"It's right after you go up in a watch tower with a sniper rifle, then enter a wharehouse to protect Madsen which as soon as you enter there should be a lot of men coming in, my problem was only 1 guy or other people say no men at all, if that happens then you hit the glitch because a lot of men should come rushing in.",
"The instructions I followed are as follows:\n\nTurn on your PS2 is turned off with game and memory card in, then load the game (it should be at 4:28.",
"If its not, see NOTE below).",
"When the cut scene with Jack and Tony begins remove the memory card and the \"Warning, memory card removed Use save game option to manually save progress & re-enable autosave?",
"\" Press X for OK and re-insert the memory card, then watch the cut scene.",
"The \"Previously on 24\" dialog box will appear, press X.",
"then play the game as usual.",
"If done correctly, many men will enter.",
"After you complete the mission, make sure you save it.",
"NOTE: If your memory card is at 4:41.",
"Go restart the mission and do a save during the cut scene.",
"You will overwrite 4:41 and be back at 4:28.",
"It helped me and if it happens to you, believe me, you will be glad you read this because I sure was."
] |
This is indeed a great recording of the Emperor (the same May 1, 1962 session also yielded a great Choral Fantasy, now paired with the 3rd Piano Concerto, <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Beethoven-Piano-Concerto-No-3-in-C-Minor-Op-37-Choral-Fantasy/dp/B0000025U9/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37 / Choral Fantasy</a>, already its companion on the original LP release), but who would want a CD with ONLY the Emperor and less than 39 minutes of music (apparently this series from Sony reproduces the original LPs), when one can have the same, very cheap as I write, paired with an excellent reading of the 3rd Piano Concerto with the same performers (adding a substantial 36 minutes), on various Sony Bernstein or Sony Serkin editions? See <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Bernstein-Century-Beethoven-Piano-Concertos-No-3-and-5-New-York-Philharmonic/dp/B0000029XE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Bernstein Century - Beethoven: Piano Concertos No. 3 and 5 / New York Philharmonic</a>,<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Beethoven-Piano-Concertos-Nos-3-5-Emperor-Bernstein-The/dp/B00000DSFH/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 5 "Emperor" (Bernstein: The</a>,<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Beethoven-Piano-Concertos-Nos-3-5/dp/B00064AENS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 5</a> or (more expensive as I write, but nobody can predict the future except Nouriel Roubini and you don't really want to know about THAT future) <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Beethoven-Piano-Concertos-Nos-3-5-Emperor/dp/B0002J58Y2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 5 "Emperor"</a>. I have reviewed the performances in details under these various entries. I'm also a bit puzzled by the comments of other reviewers pertaining to the poor audio quality of this specific reissue (not clear if they are refering to the download only, or also to the CD): I have this recording in its earliest CBS reissue from 1987 (not yet Sony!), paired with the 4th Piano Concerto (<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Beethoven-Piano-Concertos-No-4-No-5-Emperor-Serkin/dp/B00000DS7K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Beethoven: Piano Concertos No. 4 & No. 5 "Emperor " ~ Serkin</a>), and the sonics are simply stupendous.
So I guess this release can be of interest only to those who have already the 3rd Piano Concerto either in its pairing with the Choral Fantasy or in its earlier CBS release, paired with the 1st (conducted by Ormandy): <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Rudolf-Serkin-Beethoven-Piano-Concertos-1-3/dp/B000QRN1I0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Rudolf Serkin: Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1 & 3</a>. Even in those cases (I have 1 & 3), duplications can be avoided by purchasing the Choral Fantasy on the Bernstein Edition, volume 11, where it is paired with the Missa Solemnis and Haydn's Theresienmesse (<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Beethoven-Missa-Solemnis-Choral-Fantasy-Haydn-Theresia-Mass/dp/B0000027LX/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Beethoven : Missa Solemnis / Choral Fantasy & Haydn : Theresia Mass</a>), and the Emperor paired with the 4th on the early CBS reissue refered to above. But truth is, I bought the latter years ago. Now, rarity of that early reissue has apparently propelled the price upwards.
Anyway, if those duplication issues aren't a concern to you, go to any of those cheap CDs with the 3rd Piano Concerto. | 1 | neutral | [
"This is indeed a great recording of the Emperor (the same May 1, 1962 session also yielded a great Choral Fantasy, now paired with the 3rd Piano Concerto, <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Beethoven-Piano-Concerto-No-3-in-C-Minor-Op-37-Choral-Fantasy/dp/B0000025U9/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.",
"3 in C Minor, Op.",
"37 / Choral Fantasy</a>, already its companion on the original LP release), but who would want a CD with ONLY the Emperor and less than 39 minutes of music (apparently this series from Sony reproduces the original LPs), when one can have the same, very cheap as I write, paired with an excellent reading of the 3rd Piano Concerto with the same performers (adding a substantial 36 minutes), on various Sony Bernstein or Sony Serkin editions?",
"See <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Bernstein-Century-Beethoven-Piano-Concertos-No-3-and-5-New-York-Philharmonic/dp/B0000029XE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Bernstein Century - Beethoven: Piano Concertos No.",
"3 and 5 / New York Philharmonic</a>,<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Beethoven-Piano-Concertos-Nos-3-5-Emperor-Bernstein-The/dp/B00000DSFH/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos.",
"3 & 5 \"Emperor\" (Bernstein: The</a>,<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Beethoven-Piano-Concertos-Nos-3-5/dp/B00064AENS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos.",
"3 & 5</a> or (more expensive as I write, but nobody can predict the future except Nouriel Roubini and you don't really want to know about THAT future) <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Beethoven-Piano-Concertos-Nos-3-5-Emperor/dp/B0002J58Y2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos.",
"3 & 5 \"Emperor\"</a>.",
"I have reviewed the performances in details under these various entries.",
"I'm also a bit puzzled by the comments of other reviewers pertaining to the poor audio quality of this specific reissue (not clear if they are refering to the download only, or also to the CD): I have this recording in its earliest CBS reissue from 1987 (not yet Sony!",
"), paired with the 4th Piano Concerto (<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Beethoven-Piano-Concertos-No-4-No-5-Emperor-Serkin/dp/B00000DS7K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Beethoven: Piano Concertos No.",
"4 & No.",
"5 \"Emperor \" ~ Serkin</a>), and the sonics are simply stupendous.",
"So I guess this release can be of interest only to those who have already the 3rd Piano Concerto either in its pairing with the Choral Fantasy or in its earlier CBS release, paired with the 1st (conducted by Ormandy): <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Rudolf-Serkin-Beethoven-Piano-Concertos-1-3/dp/B000QRN1I0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Rudolf Serkin: Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1 & 3</a>.",
"Even in those cases (I have 1 & 3), duplications can be avoided by purchasing the Choral Fantasy on the Bernstein Edition, volume 11, where it is paired with the Missa Solemnis and Haydn's Theresienmesse (<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Beethoven-Missa-Solemnis-Choral-Fantasy-Haydn-Theresia-Mass/dp/B0000027LX/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Beethoven : Missa Solemnis / Choral Fantasy & Haydn : Theresia Mass</a>), and the Emperor paired with the 4th on the early CBS reissue refered to above.",
"But truth is, I bought the latter years ago.",
"Now, rarity of that early reissue has apparently propelled the price upwards.",
"Anyway, if those duplication issues aren't a concern to you, go to any of those cheap CDs with the 3rd Piano Concerto."
] |
Im giving the XYZ Davinci Jr. 1 a three-star rating. Bottom line: this is a visionary product, but I think the company rushed to market without working out the bugs. I believe, unfortunately, that they're going to be swamped with technical issues and product returns. Thats why I say good idea, not quite ready for prime time.
Im old enough to remember the early versions of Apple and PC products: lots of bugs, lots of crashes. Lots of downtime. I would have liked to give the printer 5 stars, as 3D printing for the home or desktop is hot, and this is the least expensive, and in many ways, the most attractive such printer on the market. At 350 bucks, its an affordable choice. Kudos to XYZ Printing (founded in 2013) for putting in the investment and taking the risk
BUT (and its a big BUT), there are a lot of challenges. In my first 30 minutes after plugging it in, the internal light flickered and died, and so I have no light on the workspace. Then, in spite of the companys claims that the printer needs no calibration, I have ongoing issues with the setup of the print head (the nozzle on the extruder) and the paper-covered glass bed (on which your object takes shape).
Also, you have to be pretty comfortably technically in order to even get set up. There are quite a few pieces you need to assemble. I strongly recommend you do some research before you take the plunge. Otherwise, you could end up like the one-star reviewers who couldn't get the thing to work, got fed up, and returned it.
Picture your typical (computer connected) paper printer. Now imagine that you need to open it, reach in and connect various parts, and even take some out and put them back in. And thats just to get going. It is daunting, and theres a steep learning curve. It took me a couple of hours to figure it out, including the time required to log onto the companys website and download the updates to firmware and software, and install the operating system on my laptop. Then, when I was finally ready to go, the companys own 3D samples (included with the software) wouldnt print. I kept getting an error message that there was a mismatch between the settings and the printer. Not so. I had the right computer entered. Theres no live chat or phone support, and I had to fill out a ticket to tech support. Its now a couple of days later, and I got a response that they wanted to see a copy of the purchase receipt and a report on how many hours of printing Id already done before theyd do more. Not acceptable customer service for a company expecting to sell on Amazon!
Instead, I did an internet search for free 3D images for the Davinci Jr. (remember the Junior! things that print on their bigger machines may not print on this one). I found something I could download and print a tiny spiral vase. This, the printer did accept. I loaded it, hit the print button and things began to whir and move. However, it was disconcerting when the extruder (the print head) came down, struck the bed, cut a line through the paper protector Id stuck down (as per instructions), and ripped across to center. I stood back a little. (By the way, you only get three pages of sticky-on-one-side paper. All of mine were ripped to shreds on the first few attempts. So now what?)
But soon the spool of plastic line was turning (you have to hook all this up yourself, by the way, including a feeder tube that actually sticks out of the machine like some sort of antenna and goes back through a slot). The vase began to materialize slowly (it took an hour), like something on a 21st century potters wheel. Still exciting!
In order to create things in three dimensions, I am willing to put in the time to learn, but the Davinci Jr. is not plug and play. And theres no manual. You need to go to the companys website and bone up. Heres my recommendation: do this BEFORE you buy. Watch all the videos on the following page, even the technical ones, before you burden your credit card. http://support.xyzprinting.com/us_en/Help/tutorial/dv10jr?productName=da%20Vinci%201.0%20Junior
Id start with the vid on unboxing the product (which I did not discover until Id already done it). It will familiarize you with the unit and main parts. Then watch all the others! The videos are better education than the paperwork that comes in the box, by-the-by, which is minimal and has errors. Another peeve with XYZ is their printed and written website information. If you're going to market on Amazon, at least take the time to have language checked by a native English speaker! If you make all kinds of grammatical and spelling errors and they do that undermines the professionalism of the company, and it is not easy to understand.
Even though the company says the Davinci Jr. does not need calibration, like many reviewers, I had problems with the extruder meeting the bed correctly (mine was more like a crash. Im still working on that. In fact, with the burned out light and the ongoing calibration issue, I want a warranty replacement of the entire unit. Ill return to update you on what the company does about that).
The extruder is belt-driven along a rod. It melts the plastic filament, spins out a finer version through its nozzle, and this is what prints your item. It hovers over the (also moving) bed the glass-topped platform on which your item will be built. Its the tandem dance that creates your item in plastic, in three dimensions.
So lets assume you are somewhat technically inclined and prepared to have a few challenges. What are you going to do with a 3D printer? Some reviewers have kids and theyve had fun making little toys and alien replicas. (You can download such 3D plans at http://us.gallery.xyzprinting.com/category/0/1/2/1). Apart from amusing yourself, someone with CAD software could make models for everything from jewelry to real estate to set design. There are some practical free 3D plans for hooks to hang things, door stops, phone covers, and one my wife likes; buttons. Im sure that over time, there will be lots more to choose from.
However, you cant make things to eat or drink from, or that might go in the dishwasher. The Davinci Jr. employs PLA plastic (line on a spool -- available in many colors, at $28 apiece at the time of this writing). PLA stands for polymerized lactic acid, which is made from sugar, derived from corn, sugarcane and so on. The company says this is green and a good thing. It is biodegradable.
I did a little research. A recent article in the UKs International Business Times says: Besides drones, 3D printing is the latest technology fad to have hit the consumer space, and Gartner predicts that by 2018, over 2.3 million 3D printers will be shipped. Yet it's still quite difficult to make the case for why consumers need a 3D printer, while currently people are using them mainly to print out plastic toys. Hmmm. In addition, The printers are very expensiveand they all contain their own proprietary software, which can be very complicated [and] it currently takes up to four days for 3D printer manufacturer support teams to respond to [consumers].
The encouraging thing with XYZ Printing is that theyve got deep pockets behind them. The company is backed by the Kinpo Group of Taiwan (and for once, this is a product not made it China. Its made in Thailand). Kinpo claims to be the worlds leading electronic manufacturer with more than $30 billion in annual revenue, and offices in China, Japan, the USA and Europe. Hopefully that means that very soon, theyll fix the bugs in this first version of the Davinci Jr., and invest in real-time customer phone and chat support. And I really do hope theyll get their written material checked by a native English speaking editor!
Bottom line: I give them kudos for bringing the first affordable 3D printer to market, and for making it an attractive unit. However, I do not think this version is quite ready for prime time on Amazon. | 1 | neutral | [
"Im giving the XYZ Davinci Jr.",
"1 a three-star rating.",
"Bottom line: this is a visionary product, but I think the company rushed to market without working out the bugs.",
"I believe, unfortunately, that they're going to be swamped with technical issues and product returns.",
"Thats why I say good idea, not quite ready for prime time.",
"Im old enough to remember the early versions of Apple and PC products: lots of bugs, lots of crashes.",
"Lots of downtime.",
"I would have liked to give the printer 5 stars, as 3D printing for the home or desktop is hot, and this is the least expensive, and in many ways, the most attractive such printer on the market.",
"At 350 bucks, its an affordable choice.",
"Kudos to XYZ Printing (founded in 2013) for putting in the investment and taking the risk\n\nBUT (and its a big BUT), there are a lot of challenges.",
"In my first 30 minutes after plugging it in, the internal light flickered and died, and so I have no light on the workspace.",
"Then, in spite of the companys claims that the printer needs no calibration, I have ongoing issues with the setup of the print head (the nozzle on the extruder) and the paper-covered glass bed (on which your object takes shape).",
"Also, you have to be pretty comfortably technically in order to even get set up.",
"There are quite a few pieces you need to assemble.",
"I strongly recommend you do some research before you take the plunge.",
"Otherwise, you could end up like the one-star reviewers who couldn't get the thing to work, got fed up, and returned it.",
"Picture your typical (computer connected) paper printer.",
"Now imagine that you need to open it, reach in and connect various parts, and even take some out and put them back in.",
"And thats just to get going.",
"It is daunting, and theres a steep learning curve.",
"It took me a couple of hours to figure it out, including the time required to log onto the companys website and download the updates to firmware and software, and install the operating system on my laptop.",
"Then, when I was finally ready to go, the companys own 3D samples (included with the software) wouldnt print.",
"I kept getting an error message that there was a mismatch between the settings and the printer.",
"Not so.",
"I had the right computer entered.",
"Theres no live chat or phone support, and I had to fill out a ticket to tech support.",
"Its now a couple of days later, and I got a response that they wanted to see a copy of the purchase receipt and a report on how many hours of printing Id already done before theyd do more.",
"Not acceptable customer service for a company expecting to sell on Amazon!",
"Instead, I did an internet search for free 3D images for the Davinci Jr.",
"(remember the Junior!",
"things that print on their bigger machines may not print on this one).",
"I found something I could download and print a tiny spiral vase.",
"This, the printer did accept.",
"I loaded it, hit the print button and things began to whir and move.",
"However, it was disconcerting when the extruder (the print head) came down, struck the bed, cut a line through the paper protector Id stuck down (as per instructions), and ripped across to center.",
"I stood back a little.",
"(By the way, you only get three pages of sticky-on-one-side paper.",
"All of mine were ripped to shreds on the first few attempts.",
"So now what?",
")\n\nBut soon the spool of plastic line was turning (you have to hook all this up yourself, by the way, including a feeder tube that actually sticks out of the machine like some sort of antenna and goes back through a slot).",
"The vase began to materialize slowly (it took an hour), like something on a 21st century potters wheel.",
"Still exciting!",
"In order to create things in three dimensions, I am willing to put in the time to learn, but the Davinci Jr.",
"is not plug and play.",
"And theres no manual.",
"You need to go to the companys website and bone up.",
"Heres my recommendation: do this BEFORE you buy.",
"Watch all the videos on the following page, even the technical ones, before you burden your credit card.",
"http://support.",
"xyzprinting.",
"com/us_en/Help/tutorial/dv10jr?",
"productName=da%20Vinci%201.",
"0%20Junior\n\nId start with the vid on unboxing the product (which I did not discover until Id already done it).",
"It will familiarize you with the unit and main parts.",
"Then watch all the others!",
"The videos are better education than the paperwork that comes in the box, by-the-by, which is minimal and has errors.",
"Another peeve with XYZ is their printed and written website information.",
"If you're going to market on Amazon, at least take the time to have language checked by a native English speaker!",
"If you make all kinds of grammatical and spelling errors and they do that undermines the professionalism of the company, and it is not easy to understand.",
"Even though the company says the Davinci Jr.",
"does not need calibration, like many reviewers, I had problems with the extruder meeting the bed correctly (mine was more like a crash.",
"Im still working on that.",
"In fact, with the burned out light and the ongoing calibration issue, I want a warranty replacement of the entire unit.",
"Ill return to update you on what the company does about that).",
"The extruder is belt-driven along a rod.",
"It melts the plastic filament, spins out a finer version through its nozzle, and this is what prints your item.",
"It hovers over the (also moving) bed the glass-topped platform on which your item will be built.",
"Its the tandem dance that creates your item in plastic, in three dimensions.",
"So lets assume you are somewhat technically inclined and prepared to have a few challenges.",
"What are you going to do with a 3D printer?",
"Some reviewers have kids and theyve had fun making little toys and alien replicas.",
"(You can download such 3D plans at http://us.",
"gallery.",
"xyzprinting.",
"com/category/0/1/2/1).",
"Apart from amusing yourself, someone with CAD software could make models for everything from jewelry to real estate to set design.",
"There are some practical free 3D plans for hooks to hang things, door stops, phone covers, and one my wife likes; buttons.",
"Im sure that over time, there will be lots more to choose from.",
"However, you cant make things to eat or drink from, or that might go in the dishwasher.",
"The Davinci Jr.",
"employs PLA plastic (line on a spool -- available in many colors, at $28 apiece at the time of this writing).",
"PLA stands for polymerized lactic acid, which is made from sugar, derived from corn, sugarcane and so on.",
"The company says this is green and a good thing.",
"It is biodegradable.",
"I did a little research.",
"A recent article in the UKs International Business Times says: Besides drones, 3D printing is the latest technology fad to have hit the consumer space, and Gartner predicts that by 2018, over 2.",
"3 million 3D printers will be shipped.",
"Yet it's still quite difficult to make the case for why consumers need a 3D printer, while currently people are using them mainly to print out plastic toys.",
"Hmmm.",
"In addition, The printers are very expensiveand they all contain their own proprietary software, which can be very complicated [and] it currently takes up to four days for 3D printer manufacturer support teams to respond to [consumers].",
"The encouraging thing with XYZ Printing is that theyve got deep pockets behind them.",
"The company is backed by the Kinpo Group of Taiwan (and for once, this is a product not made it China.",
"Its made in Thailand).",
"Kinpo claims to be the worlds leading electronic manufacturer with more than $30 billion in annual revenue, and offices in China, Japan, the USA and Europe.",
"Hopefully that means that very soon, theyll fix the bugs in this first version of the Davinci Jr.",
", and invest in real-time customer phone and chat support.",
"And I really do hope theyll get their written material checked by a native English speaking editor!",
"Bottom line: I give them kudos for bringing the first affordable 3D printer to market, and for making it an attractive unit.",
"However, I do not think this version is quite ready for prime time on Amazon."
] |
This headset arrived promptly and looked to be in good shape. It paired easily with my LG Android phone (even tho I had never worked with a Bluetooth device before - it was easy!), and my older LG phone. It seemed to function well for the weekend that I used it. It didn't fit my ear very well, but I adjusted it until it was reasonably secure. The audio was fine, and the party on the receiving end said they could hear me distinctly, so I thought everything was going well. Then yesterday it stopped functioning totally! I couldn't turn it on, the only way I could get any life out of it was to plug it into the charger- the red "charging" light would come on, but then would go off after a short time. Let it stay on the charger awhile, then tried again. No go. No life. Dead. I can only assume it was an initial failure. I'm not going to fault Plantronics, because I've used their products before in an office environment and they were very dependable. However, this IS a discontinued model and if you want any replacement parts such as ear tips, etc., be prepared - I couldn't locate any parts for this model even from the Plantronics people. Probably a good deal if you just want a cheap throwaway headset to try that's easy to operate. | 1 | neutral | [
"This headset arrived promptly and looked to be in good shape.",
"It paired easily with my LG Android phone (even tho I had never worked with a Bluetooth device before - it was easy!",
"), and my older LG phone.",
"It seemed to function well for the weekend that I used it.",
"It didn't fit my ear very well, but I adjusted it until it was reasonably secure.",
"The audio was fine, and the party on the receiving end said they could hear me distinctly, so I thought everything was going well.",
"Then yesterday it stopped functioning totally!",
"I couldn't turn it on, the only way I could get any life out of it was to plug it into the charger- the red \"charging\" light would come on, but then would go off after a short time.",
"Let it stay on the charger awhile, then tried again.",
"No go.",
"No life.",
"Dead.",
"I can only assume it was an initial failure.",
"I'm not going to fault Plantronics, because I've used their products before in an office environment and they were very dependable.",
"However, this IS a discontinued model and if you want any replacement parts such as ear tips, etc.",
", be prepared - I couldn't locate any parts for this model even from the Plantronics people.",
"Probably a good deal if you just want a cheap throwaway headset to try that's easy to operate."
] |
Many reviewers seem to consider The Final Cut a sequel to Roger Waters' masterpiece The Wall, but it has much more in common with his post-Floyd solo releases - even if it's much more focused than The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking or Radio KAOS. The only real difference between this and Roger's `official' solo albums is in the personnel, but David Gilmour and Nick Mason are little more than session players on this release - and Rick Wright was entirely cast out of the band during the Wall Tour. Then again, The Wall was also mostly about Roger; contributions from Gilmour, though crucial in the final product, were not all that made The Wall great. Why is it then that the Final Cut is so very much less fulfilling and less memorable than that classic, groundbreaking piece of music?
Doubtlessly one of the most talented lyric writers in the rock world, Roger's lyrics always tended to be very personal, and at the same time very global - by keeping them abstract and nonspecific, Roger managed to keep some distance between himself and his songs. That's what he did to brilliant ends on Meddle, Wish You Were Here and mostly on The Dark Side of the Moon. On The Wall, though, Roger got personal - real personal. Fortunate for us, because that digging into his own soul got us one of the most important masterpieces of modern music. Perhaps less fortunate for him. Maybe digging up his own demons was too exhausting for Mr. Waters; maybe it was just a bit scary. I think that's the main reason Roger refused to perform any material from The Wall for the next ten years. At any rate, on The Final Cut Roger took a careful step backwards and again distanced himself from his music. But the wall was already broken. After The Wall, little more could be said; and anything he made during those years since the beginning of the 80s was, simply put, soulless. Sure, the lyrics are still great. There is some clever wordplay in The Final Cut, some biting social commentary. But Roger proves here beyond doubt that he is no Dylan and no Lennon - he is not a political songwriter. He can't write political or social lyrics to arouse the masses; he's at his best only when he writes about himself, in one way or another. And when he tries to write political satire, it always comes out as the rather pathetic sarcastic ranting of a deeply depressed middle-aged man. Not even the mandatory reference to his father's death (on `The Post War Dream') can create the illusion of the spark that Waters once had.
Musically, of course, Roger is still in top shape for The Final Cut, and he has some first rate musicians around him. The arrangements and production are spotless as ever, and Gilmour makes a few more of his moving and melodic solos; no new musical statements are made, however. The instrumental work is not given the attention it deserves, and sound effects are greatly overused - it almost sounds like a tasteless parody on the sound of The Wall. Occasionally, though, The Final Cut does succeed in reaching true and genuine beauty. Two of the tracks stand up unmistakably, to my opinion, above the rest. One important exception is the title track itself - which, sadly, has little to nothing to do with the rest of the album - but it's the only song on the entire record in which Roger reluctantly dares to delve back into his own soul and come up with some real and genuine feelings. A rather simple arrangement and melody make for one of the most beautiful songs Roger had written, and a guitar solo that sounds like the Dave that we once knew completes it. The other standout track, my personal favorite on the album, is the closing track - `Two Suns in the Sunset', the only song on the album that manages to combine clever and beautiful lyrics with beautiful music to make for a truly complete piece. There are several other songs that are interesting, but ultimately soulless and not good for more than a couple of listens - `Not Now John' for instance is a nice rock piece with some good instrumental work and some clever, but shallow, lyrics; and `The Fletcher Memorial Home' is good and smartly written satire, but ultimately a cliché. On the other hand, `The Gunner's Dream' is a pretty song with nice harmonies and beautiful chord progression, but it doesn't really get to you, nor does it make any statement of importance.
`The Final Cut' is of course worth listening, especially for Floyd Fans; if you enjoyed any of Roger's solo expeditions, you're sure to like it. But know what to expect, and don't expect it to become a permanent favorite - it's entertaining for a few listens, no more. Songs like `Southampton Dock', `One Of The Few' and `Get Your Filthy Hands Of My Desert' are filler material, no more, no less; and while on The Wall all the little tracks that don't amount to much by themselves become crucial when the entire album is considered as a whole, The Final Cut just doesn't add up. Likewise, the effects and spoken parts, which were an important part of the puzzle in The Wall, sound pointless and pretentious here. Compare The Final Cut to The Division Bell to hear the two different halves of the Pink Floyd legend, and understand why in their case the whole really was much more than the sum of its parts. | 1 | neutral | [
"Many reviewers seem to consider The Final Cut a sequel to Roger Waters' masterpiece The Wall, but it has much more in common with his post-Floyd solo releases - even if it's much more focused than The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking or Radio KAOS.",
"The only real difference between this and Roger's `official' solo albums is in the personnel, but David Gilmour and Nick Mason are little more than session players on this release - and Rick Wright was entirely cast out of the band during the Wall Tour.",
"Then again, The Wall was also mostly about Roger; contributions from Gilmour, though crucial in the final product, were not all that made The Wall great.",
"Why is it then that the Final Cut is so very much less fulfilling and less memorable than that classic, groundbreaking piece of music?",
"Doubtlessly one of the most talented lyric writers in the rock world, Roger's lyrics always tended to be very personal, and at the same time very global - by keeping them abstract and nonspecific, Roger managed to keep some distance between himself and his songs.",
"That's what he did to brilliant ends on Meddle, Wish You Were Here and mostly on The Dark Side of the Moon.",
"On The Wall, though, Roger got personal - real personal.",
"Fortunate for us, because that digging into his own soul got us one of the most important masterpieces of modern music.",
"Perhaps less fortunate for him.",
"Maybe digging up his own demons was too exhausting for Mr.",
"Waters; maybe it was just a bit scary.",
"I think that's the main reason Roger refused to perform any material from The Wall for the next ten years.",
"At any rate, on The Final Cut Roger took a careful step backwards and again distanced himself from his music.",
"But the wall was already broken.",
"After The Wall, little more could be said; and anything he made during those years since the beginning of the 80s was, simply put, soulless.",
"Sure, the lyrics are still great.",
"There is some clever wordplay in The Final Cut, some biting social commentary.",
"But Roger proves here beyond doubt that he is no Dylan and no Lennon - he is not a political songwriter.",
"He can't write political or social lyrics to arouse the masses; he's at his best only when he writes about himself, in one way or another.",
"And when he tries to write political satire, it always comes out as the rather pathetic sarcastic ranting of a deeply depressed middle-aged man.",
"Not even the mandatory reference to his father's death (on `The Post War Dream') can create the illusion of the spark that Waters once had.",
"Musically, of course, Roger is still in top shape for The Final Cut, and he has some first rate musicians around him.",
"The arrangements and production are spotless as ever, and Gilmour makes a few more of his moving and melodic solos; no new musical statements are made, however.",
"The instrumental work is not given the attention it deserves, and sound effects are greatly overused - it almost sounds like a tasteless parody on the sound of The Wall.",
"Occasionally, though, The Final Cut does succeed in reaching true and genuine beauty.",
"Two of the tracks stand up unmistakably, to my opinion, above the rest.",
"One important exception is the title track itself - which, sadly, has little to nothing to do with the rest of the album - but it's the only song on the entire record in which Roger reluctantly dares to delve back into his own soul and come up with some real and genuine feelings.",
"A rather simple arrangement and melody make for one of the most beautiful songs Roger had written, and a guitar solo that sounds like the Dave that we once knew completes it.",
"The other standout track, my personal favorite on the album, is the closing track - `Two Suns in the Sunset', the only song on the album that manages to combine clever and beautiful lyrics with beautiful music to make for a truly complete piece.",
"There are several other songs that are interesting, but ultimately soulless and not good for more than a couple of listens - `Not Now John' for instance is a nice rock piece with some good instrumental work and some clever, but shallow, lyrics; and `The Fletcher Memorial Home' is good and smartly written satire, but ultimately a cliché.",
"On the other hand, `The Gunner's Dream' is a pretty song with nice harmonies and beautiful chord progression, but it doesn't really get to you, nor does it make any statement of importance.",
"`The Final Cut' is of course worth listening, especially for Floyd Fans; if you enjoyed any of Roger's solo expeditions, you're sure to like it.",
"But know what to expect, and don't expect it to become a permanent favorite - it's entertaining for a few listens, no more.",
"Songs like `Southampton Dock', `One Of The Few' and `Get Your Filthy Hands Of My Desert' are filler material, no more, no less; and while on The Wall all the little tracks that don't amount to much by themselves become crucial when the entire album is considered as a whole, The Final Cut just doesn't add up.",
"Likewise, the effects and spoken parts, which were an important part of the puzzle in The Wall, sound pointless and pretentious here.",
"Compare The Final Cut to The Division Bell to hear the two different halves of the Pink Floyd legend, and understand why in their case the whole really was much more than the sum of its parts."
] |
Update: This update is more for the value, or lack of value, this has become. I wanted to come back and order three more but will not pay $10 more for each one of these for a total of $30 more. I eventually wanted six more, but $60 more for all six is crazy! I love the ones that I have, but they are incredibly overpriced and not worth the cost increase for what they are. I'll be looking for something else that's more affordable to create the same type of filing system. It'll probably come in a form of folders, dividers, and rubberbands, but so be it if these don't come back down below $10 in price for each.
________________________-
These have helped so much to sort through my stacks of classwork, materials, and standards documents. I have already purchased 6 of them to get papers sorted for each of Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 standards for grades 6 through 8. I have unwrapped documents, formatives, and problems of the week that I download and use to plan my teaching. Now, each section is dedicated to a standard. Any material that I use or want to use to teach each standard has a home. Some of it is foldables, bags of laminated cards, and other irregular/non-worksheet material. Even these things are tossed in the appropriate file and ready to reference next time I teach a standard. This is so much easier than having individual file folders in a cabinet or some other container because the entire quarter is in one place and can be grabbed quickly when it's time to plan. These aren't cheap, so I'll wait until December and use some holiday gift money to buy the next 6 for Quarter 3 and Quarter 4. : )
I also have sets for each of the classes I teach. The sections for these are for Monday to Thursday to hold daily copies and teaching notes/lesson plans (I don't teach regular classes on Friday), To Grade, To Return, Notes, On Deck (for standards materials I'm teaching at the time), Reteach (to hold standards materials that have already been tested but were not passed by certain students, and to hold material to reteach those students), and a final tab with no label where I put in reminders, notes from home, and other miscellaneous things that need action or need to be filed away.
Again, these are a little pricey, but they work very well for a piler like me who likes to be able to grab everything together and take it with me to update plans, revise and reshuffle the schedule as needed, and have all my grading together and ready to go. I've tried file folders in a cabinet, on a desk bin, in those plastic escalating sorters, and I tried dividing things in binders...and they just didn't work. I've used these for about 3 weeks now, and the amount of time I save both during class and at day's end is worth every penny. Everything that comes across my desk has a place where I can immediately put it. Because I'm not using file folders, these sorters stay much thinner than I expected. I love them and expect they'll last a long time, which will make them well worth the investment. | 1 | neutral | [
"Update: This update is more for the value, or lack of value, this has become.",
"I wanted to come back and order three more but will not pay $10 more for each one of these for a total of $30 more.",
"I eventually wanted six more, but $60 more for all six is crazy!",
"I love the ones that I have, but they are incredibly overpriced and not worth the cost increase for what they are.",
"I'll be looking for something else that's more affordable to create the same type of filing system.",
"It'll probably come in a form of folders, dividers, and rubberbands, but so be it if these don't come back down below $10 in price for each.",
"________________________-\n\nThese have helped so much to sort through my stacks of classwork, materials, and standards documents.",
"I have already purchased 6 of them to get papers sorted for each of Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 standards for grades 6 through 8.",
"I have unwrapped documents, formatives, and problems of the week that I download and use to plan my teaching.",
"Now, each section is dedicated to a standard.",
"Any material that I use or want to use to teach each standard has a home.",
"Some of it is foldables, bags of laminated cards, and other irregular/non-worksheet material.",
"Even these things are tossed in the appropriate file and ready to reference next time I teach a standard.",
"This is so much easier than having individual file folders in a cabinet or some other container because the entire quarter is in one place and can be grabbed quickly when it's time to plan.",
"These aren't cheap, so I'll wait until December and use some holiday gift money to buy the next 6 for Quarter 3 and Quarter 4.",
": )\n\nI also have sets for each of the classes I teach.",
"The sections for these are for Monday to Thursday to hold daily copies and teaching notes/lesson plans (I don't teach regular classes on Friday), To Grade, To Return, Notes, On Deck (for standards materials I'm teaching at the time), Reteach (to hold standards materials that have already been tested but were not passed by certain students, and to hold material to reteach those students), and a final tab with no label where I put in reminders, notes from home, and other miscellaneous things that need action or need to be filed away.",
"Again, these are a little pricey, but they work very well for a piler like me who likes to be able to grab everything together and take it with me to update plans, revise and reshuffle the schedule as needed, and have all my grading together and ready to go.",
"I've tried file folders in a cabinet, on a desk bin, in those plastic escalating sorters, and I tried dividing things in binders...",
"and they just didn't work.",
"I've used these for about 3 weeks now, and the amount of time I save both during class and at day's end is worth every penny.",
"Everything that comes across my desk has a place where I can immediately put it.",
"Because I'm not using file folders, these sorters stay much thinner than I expected.",
"I love them and expect they'll last a long time, which will make them well worth the investment."
] |
There is much to like with CUNNING SINGLE LADY. The cunning lady is Na Ae Ra (Min Jung Lee). But the title of "cunning" is one that is applied by others to her, all of whom assume that her actions are entirely motivated by a monomaniacal self-interest. Early on, we learn that she is happily married to Cha Jung Woo (Sang-wook Joo), who is a struggling and impoverished engineer trying to build a business from his own bare hands. In the cinematic universe of Korean dramas, the need of many a male need to make his mark in Corporate Korea is overpowering. Cha Jung Woo is no exception. He has promised Na Ae Ra a life free from want and her concept of marital bliss is inexorably commingled with her love for him. Min Jung Lee is convincing as the young wife of a would be magnate. The problem that arises time and again in various forms is the conflict between what was promised and what was delivered. His promise of a life free from financial woe clashes with his unexpected decision to quit a salaried job to start his own firm. He fails and both are reduced to penury. Na Ae Ra feels cheated and deceived so she divorces him in a manner that smacks of deliberate cruelty. She literally throws him out with no place for him to go. At this point, Na Ae Ra is less cunning but more vindictive. She sets in motion the plot driver of love twisted into hate with Cha Jung Woo determined to be a Korean Gatsby who will succeed if only to prove that his wife made a colossal blunder in abandoning him at the point that he viewed as inexcusably cruel.
As CUNNING SINGLE LADY continues past the first few episodes of a 16 episode run, the viewer can detect the general flow of theme and tone. The theme is can love be buried under a mish-mash of poorly thought out revenge and counter-revenge? This theme dominates until the very last episode. It is the tone that varies markedly. The first few episodes use flashbacks to set a tone of early hope marred by unwise bickering over establishing one's destiny. Quickly enough, there is a shift to drama as Na Ae Ra is now herself impoverished and is stunned to learn that Cha Jung Woo has channeled his rage at being unceremoniously dumped into becoming the fabulously successful CEO of a software giant. Determined to spite him by forcing him to admit that his success is due more to her than to his own initiative, she connives to get a job as an intern in his firm. For most of the movie's middle parts, the tone is an odd mixture of screwball comedy set as a backdrop of retribution in which Cha Jung Woo is equally fixated on proving that his success is a function of his genius rather than her bitterness at her earlier marital poverty.
The cunning of the title slowly arises as Na Ae Ra's co-workers suspect that something is going on between her and her ex-husband. No one suspects that they were married. They assume that she is merely using her feminine wiles to advance her career. During her internship, there is the usual assortment of subplots commonly found in Korean romantic dramas. Cha Jung Woo's best friend falls in love with Na Ae Ra. His female director loves Cha Jung Woo but he sees her only as a valued manager. Na Ae Ra's family loathes him as they understandably take her side. The family of the female director want her to marry him.
The tone shifts for a third time in the last several episodes. Cha Jung Woo morphs from a hard-headed realist to a mushy-headed love sick puppy dog who remembers his love for his ex-wife. It is difficult to accept this change in his view of an ex-wife who has alternated between making his life miserable on a personal level to one who accepts that professionally speaking she truly is a boon to his firm. In the last two episodes one can almost predict how matters will sort themselves out. Still the chemistry between the leads is so evident that one can almost overlook the occasionally shoddy scripting that pushes the actors into their accustomed slots such that by the last episode the inevitable re-unification of the lovers brings to mind the forced gaiety of a Shakespearean early comedy. I give CUNNING SINGLE LADY a cautious thumbs up mostly because I admired how the leads bounced off one another (sometimes literally) to produce a romantic comedy that even in its most somber moments dared pose the annoying question of where broken promises begin and forgiveness for them ends. | 1 | neutral | [
"There is much to like with CUNNING SINGLE LADY.",
"The cunning lady is Na Ae Ra (Min Jung Lee).",
"But the title of \"cunning\" is one that is applied by others to her, all of whom assume that her actions are entirely motivated by a monomaniacal self-interest.",
"Early on, we learn that she is happily married to Cha Jung Woo (Sang-wook Joo), who is a struggling and impoverished engineer trying to build a business from his own bare hands.",
"In the cinematic universe of Korean dramas, the need of many a male need to make his mark in Corporate Korea is overpowering.",
"Cha Jung Woo is no exception.",
"He has promised Na Ae Ra a life free from want and her concept of marital bliss is inexorably commingled with her love for him.",
"Min Jung Lee is convincing as the young wife of a would be magnate.",
"The problem that arises time and again in various forms is the conflict between what was promised and what was delivered.",
"His promise of a life free from financial woe clashes with his unexpected decision to quit a salaried job to start his own firm.",
"He fails and both are reduced to penury.",
"Na Ae Ra feels cheated and deceived so she divorces him in a manner that smacks of deliberate cruelty.",
"She literally throws him out with no place for him to go.",
"At this point, Na Ae Ra is less cunning but more vindictive.",
"She sets in motion the plot driver of love twisted into hate with Cha Jung Woo determined to be a Korean Gatsby who will succeed if only to prove that his wife made a colossal blunder in abandoning him at the point that he viewed as inexcusably cruel.",
"As CUNNING SINGLE LADY continues past the first few episodes of a 16 episode run, the viewer can detect the general flow of theme and tone.",
"The theme is can love be buried under a mish-mash of poorly thought out revenge and counter-revenge?",
"This theme dominates until the very last episode.",
"It is the tone that varies markedly.",
"The first few episodes use flashbacks to set a tone of early hope marred by unwise bickering over establishing one's destiny.",
"Quickly enough, there is a shift to drama as Na Ae Ra is now herself impoverished and is stunned to learn that Cha Jung Woo has channeled his rage at being unceremoniously dumped into becoming the fabulously successful CEO of a software giant.",
"Determined to spite him by forcing him to admit that his success is due more to her than to his own initiative, she connives to get a job as an intern in his firm.",
"For most of the movie's middle parts, the tone is an odd mixture of screwball comedy set as a backdrop of retribution in which Cha Jung Woo is equally fixated on proving that his success is a function of his genius rather than her bitterness at her earlier marital poverty.",
"The cunning of the title slowly arises as Na Ae Ra's co-workers suspect that something is going on between her and her ex-husband.",
"No one suspects that they were married.",
"They assume that she is merely using her feminine wiles to advance her career.",
"During her internship, there is the usual assortment of subplots commonly found in Korean romantic dramas.",
"Cha Jung Woo's best friend falls in love with Na Ae Ra.",
"His female director loves Cha Jung Woo but he sees her only as a valued manager.",
"Na Ae Ra's family loathes him as they understandably take her side.",
"The family of the female director want her to marry him.",
"The tone shifts for a third time in the last several episodes.",
"Cha Jung Woo morphs from a hard-headed realist to a mushy-headed love sick puppy dog who remembers his love for his ex-wife.",
"It is difficult to accept this change in his view of an ex-wife who has alternated between making his life miserable on a personal level to one who accepts that professionally speaking she truly is a boon to his firm.",
"In the last two episodes one can almost predict how matters will sort themselves out.",
"Still the chemistry between the leads is so evident that one can almost overlook the occasionally shoddy scripting that pushes the actors into their accustomed slots such that by the last episode the inevitable re-unification of the lovers brings to mind the forced gaiety of a Shakespearean early comedy.",
"I give CUNNING SINGLE LADY a cautious thumbs up mostly because I admired how the leads bounced off one another (sometimes literally) to produce a romantic comedy that even in its most somber moments dared pose the annoying question of where broken promises begin and forgiveness for them ends."
] |
I have mixed feelings about this machine. I used it to join oak rails and stiles as a face frame for bookcases. I don't normally use biscuits and consider them one of the weaker joints, preferring to use mortise and tenons for any casework. The biscuit joinery system, unlike dowels or mortise and tenon, is very forgiving and allows some latitude during assembly. There is a learning curve associated with this machine of approximately an hour or so. Adjustments need to be made and I recommend always testing your first cut on a scrap piece of work. All work needs to be clamped down so there is no movement whatsoever. The machine will not cut accurate slots unless the work is held down securely. "Freehanding" is a very dangerous practice as the tendency of the joiner is to move left as the direction of the cutter blade is clockwise. So make sure you have real clamps with holding power - not your left arm or the cheap Ez-Grip clamps which have no holding power at all, to hold down your work while you cut the slots. I still have more time to spend with this machine, but my reaction going forward is that it is cheaply made (Mexico) and not on the same level as the old Porter Cable 555 Joiner that was made more than 20 years ago. Porter Cable had a good thing going with the 555 but has gone down the road of thrifting and NAFTA outsourcing. If you can find a good 555, buy it. There are still some brand-new ones in the box for sale on EBay. For critical work, and work that requires structural integrity, I will continue to use dowels, rabbets, mortise and tenons, and the new Festool Domino Joiner. If you can afford it, get the Festool Domino. It is light years ahead of anything else on the market. | 1 | neutral | [
"I have mixed feelings about this machine.",
"I used it to join oak rails and stiles as a face frame for bookcases.",
"I don't normally use biscuits and consider them one of the weaker joints, preferring to use mortise and tenons for any casework.",
"The biscuit joinery system, unlike dowels or mortise and tenon, is very forgiving and allows some latitude during assembly.",
"There is a learning curve associated with this machine of approximately an hour or so.",
"Adjustments need to be made and I recommend always testing your first cut on a scrap piece of work.",
"All work needs to be clamped down so there is no movement whatsoever.",
"The machine will not cut accurate slots unless the work is held down securely.",
"\"Freehanding\" is a very dangerous practice as the tendency of the joiner is to move left as the direction of the cutter blade is clockwise.",
"So make sure you have real clamps with holding power - not your left arm or the cheap Ez-Grip clamps which have no holding power at all, to hold down your work while you cut the slots.",
"I still have more time to spend with this machine, but my reaction going forward is that it is cheaply made (Mexico) and not on the same level as the old Porter Cable 555 Joiner that was made more than 20 years ago.",
"Porter Cable had a good thing going with the 555 but has gone down the road of thrifting and NAFTA outsourcing.",
"If you can find a good 555, buy it.",
"There are still some brand-new ones in the box for sale on EBay.",
"For critical work, and work that requires structural integrity, I will continue to use dowels, rabbets, mortise and tenons, and the new Festool Domino Joiner.",
"If you can afford it, get the Festool Domino.",
"It is light years ahead of anything else on the market."
] |
Picked these up because my Freeman 3-in-1 nailer was splitting the tongues of the flooring when used with L-cleats. The flooring is acacia a.k.a. asian walnut, which rates harder than bamboo on the Janka scales I have seen. The general online consensus is that using nails over staples is preferred for very hard species. Well, the L-cleats split the tongues often and then so did these T-cleats. The T-cleats seemed to be worse, actually. I shot two of them and they split the wood so bad I didn't even shoot any more. I had tried all different air pressures and angles with the L-cleats and didn't bother to do that with these T-cleats because I had also bought a small pack of staples to try. Welp, the 15.5ga, 2" long, 1/2" crown staples have only barely split a few tongues since I switched to them. So much for the common consensus, and so much for these T-cleats. I'm sure they will work well for many less-hard species, but not for what I have. Wish I hadn't spent the 20 bucks to try them. | 1 | neutral | [
"Picked these up because my Freeman 3-in-1 nailer was splitting the tongues of the flooring when used with L-cleats.",
"The flooring is acacia a.",
"k.a. asian walnut, which rates harder than bamboo on the Janka scales I have seen.",
"The general online consensus is that using nails over staples is preferred for very hard species.",
"Well, the L-cleats split the tongues often and then so did these T-cleats.",
"The T-cleats seemed to be worse, actually.",
"I shot two of them and they split the wood so bad I didn't even shoot any more.",
"I had tried all different air pressures and angles with the L-cleats and didn't bother to do that with these T-cleats because I had also bought a small pack of staples to try.",
"Welp, the 15.",
"5ga, 2\" long, 1/2\" crown staples have only barely split a few tongues since I switched to them.",
"So much for the common consensus, and so much for these T-cleats.",
"I'm sure they will work well for many less-hard species, but not for what I have.",
"Wish I hadn't spent the 20 bucks to try them."
] |
No one will ever accuse Naomi Klein of nuance and subtlety, and her conviction and directness have made her one of the intellectual leaders of the anti-corporate, anti-globalization movement. Her book "No Logo" is one of the manifestos of this movement, and while it's easy to forgive the book for being long and polemical what's not forgivable is that it's boring and turgid. While it's still influential today it won't have the everlasting value of engaging and well-written polemics such as Thomas Paine's pamphlets and Rosseau's essays.
The book is long, and while it's around 400 pages it feels like 4,000 pages. I had great difficulty reading the book. Most nights I would read about ten pages before falling asleep (so this book is great for people who have difficulty falling asleep). This book was hastily written, and the author was so convinced of the righteousness and sincerity of her argument that she paid no attention to style and fluency.
Her argument, simplified, runs as follows: it's not enough that corporations have taken over the world -- they're trying to colonize our minds as well, and the only way to stop them is to disrupting their branding ("culture jamming"). Corporations such as Nike and Apple have abandoned the mundane task of manufacturing (actually making things) to focus on branding, creating concepts and values -- essentially, brainwashing the consumer to think that his identity could be strengthened and enhanced by associating with (buying) certain brands. To facilitate this, multinationals have crushed unions and destroyed local communities by moving factories overseas (China), where their subcontractors exploit poor, uneducated workers. At home, the multinationals prey on poor black communities to discover what is cool and further develop their brand (because rich white kids like to pretend they're poor black gangsters), and to create loyal consumers (who will rob their own mothers to buy the new pair of Nike basketball shoes). What makes these corporations particularly nefarious is that they're shameless -- if they're caught in a lie, they'll admit it, and their legions of diabolical marketers will think of endless ways of translating their guilt into profit.
All of this is very grim, and having stated that the world is hopeless Naomi Klein explains how to save the world. Apparently, saving the world involves a lot of graffiti and vandalism: it's important to disrupt the brainwashing by pointing out how ads brainwash people.
Like all messiahs, Naomi Klein is incredibly angry but also incredibly simplistic. I honestly don't know how to reverse the trends that rightfully upset Klein, but I do know that "No Logo" is a boring and predictable book that's only slightly easier to read and deal with than the other nonsense that PhDs in cultural studies write. | 1 | neutral | [
"No one will ever accuse Naomi Klein of nuance and subtlety, and her conviction and directness have made her one of the intellectual leaders of the anti-corporate, anti-globalization movement.",
"Her book \"No Logo\" is one of the manifestos of this movement, and while it's easy to forgive the book for being long and polemical what's not forgivable is that it's boring and turgid.",
"While it's still influential today it won't have the everlasting value of engaging and well-written polemics such as Thomas Paine's pamphlets and Rosseau's essays.",
"The book is long, and while it's around 400 pages it feels like 4,000 pages.",
"I had great difficulty reading the book.",
"Most nights I would read about ten pages before falling asleep (so this book is great for people who have difficulty falling asleep).",
"This book was hastily written, and the author was so convinced of the righteousness and sincerity of her argument that she paid no attention to style and fluency.",
"Her argument, simplified, runs as follows: it's not enough that corporations have taken over the world -- they're trying to colonize our minds as well, and the only way to stop them is to disrupting their branding (\"culture jamming\").",
"Corporations such as Nike and Apple have abandoned the mundane task of manufacturing (actually making things) to focus on branding, creating concepts and values -- essentially, brainwashing the consumer to think that his identity could be strengthened and enhanced by associating with (buying) certain brands.",
"To facilitate this, multinationals have crushed unions and destroyed local communities by moving factories overseas (China), where their subcontractors exploit poor, uneducated workers.",
"At home, the multinationals prey on poor black communities to discover what is cool and further develop their brand (because rich white kids like to pretend they're poor black gangsters), and to create loyal consumers (who will rob their own mothers to buy the new pair of Nike basketball shoes).",
"What makes these corporations particularly nefarious is that they're shameless -- if they're caught in a lie, they'll admit it, and their legions of diabolical marketers will think of endless ways of translating their guilt into profit.",
"All of this is very grim, and having stated that the world is hopeless Naomi Klein explains how to save the world.",
"Apparently, saving the world involves a lot of graffiti and vandalism: it's important to disrupt the brainwashing by pointing out how ads brainwash people.",
"Like all messiahs, Naomi Klein is incredibly angry but also incredibly simplistic.",
"I honestly don't know how to reverse the trends that rightfully upset Klein, but I do know that \"No Logo\" is a boring and predictable book that's only slightly easier to read and deal with than the other nonsense that PhDs in cultural studies write."
] |
I've been enjoying Twinings English Breakfast Tea for many years. I also like the Earl Grey Tea, and have tried some of the other Twinings products, but this is my favorite. This review is for the tea as traditional tea bags, not powdered or in other forms.
I normally purchase this at the local W**Mart store, and I decided to see if it would be possible to purchase it here on Amazon, hoping both to save money as well as make it more convenient to re-supply when I run out.
There are a few different listings for these Twinings tea bags on Amazon, so I've looked at quite a few of them to determine which is most competitively priced. The basic question is - which one is the least cost per bag, and does it compare with what I pay locally at the local discount supermarket?
I paid just over five bucks yesterday for 50 bag box at the local W**Mart store - that works out to about 10.6 cents per bag.
Here are the various choices I found that are available on Amazon, with the per bag costs using today's pricing as I am writing this review:
- <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Twinings-English-Breakfast-Tea-Tea-Bags/dp/B000F4F952/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Twinings English Breakfast Tea, Tea Bags</a> - (product on this page) several different size packages are currently available on Amazon, from a variety of sellers at this product listing:
--- 3 pack, 20 bags per box (60 bags total), at 30.5 cents per bag (offered by 11 sellers, this is the lowest price with shipping included)
--- 6 pack, 20 bags per box (120 bags total), at 15 cents per bag (23 sellers)
--- 6 pack, 50 bags per box (300 bags total), at 9.6 cents per bag (25 sellers) *** BEST BUY ***
- <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Twinings-English-Breakfast-Tea-Tea-Bags-single-box-20-bags-at-44-2-cents-per-bag-4-sellers/dp/B00AAL3YH0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Twinings English Breakfast Tea, Tea Bags -- single box, 20 bags, at 44.2 cents per bag (4 sellers)</a>
- <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Twinings-English-Breakfast-Tea-single-box-50-bags-at-23-9-cents-per-bag-8-sellers/dp/B001MOP88W/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Twinings English Breakfast Tea -- single box, 50 bags, at 23.9 cents per bag (8 sellers)</a>
- <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Twinings-English-Breakfast-Tea-single-box-100-bags-at-16-2-cents-per-bag-6-sellers/dp/B001GM60LE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Twinings English Breakfast Tea -- single box, 100 bags, at 16.2 cents per bag (6 sellers)</a>
- <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Twinings-English-Breakfast-Tea-5-pack-100-bags-per-box-500-bags-total-at-11-9-cents-per-bag-2-sellers/dp/B0083CP8OA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Twinings English Breakfast Tea -- 5 pack, 100 bags per box (500 bags total), at 11.9 cents per bag (2 sellers)</a>
- <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Twinings-English-Breakfast-Tea-single-box-50-bags-at-22-cents-per-bag-7-sellers/dp/B0046ID9AA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Twinings English Breakfast Tea -- single box, 50 bags, at 22 cents per bag (7 sellers)</a>
Price per bag above was calculated using the current prices on Amazon as I write this review. I did include shipping costs in the calculation above, for those products that were non-Prime and have additional shipping costs. I'm including the links above not only to show the comparison, but because pricing on Amazon can vary widely, and it is very possible that price changes could be made after I write this review, which would result in one of these other offerings becoming more competitively priced.
Of these various choices available on Amazon, only one was competitive with my local supermarket - the product on this page, and then only when you select the 6 Pack with the 50 bag box, purchasing 300 bags at one time. With such a wide variation in pricing here on Amazon, clearly it is necessary to shop carefully and check unit pricing, to make sure that the product is not over-priced before placing an order.
I am rating the product listing on this page as 3-star because only the largest quantity is cost-effective, with the smaller quantities considerably more expensive than you should be able to get in your local supermarket. The tea itself is top quality.
Some further comments regarding the various sellers offering these products here on Amazon, since most if not all of the various product listings given above offer multiple sellers to chose from. Generally, on the Amazon product page, near the top if you see something like "11 new from $xx.xx" and click on that link, then you'll see the full listing of sellers for that product and their various prices. These vary widely and from time to time one or the other will be the cheapest - the overall cheapest with shipping included is NOT necessarily the one displayed on the main Amazon page.
And given that there are many sellers claiming to offer the same thing on Amazon, buyers should know that the different sellers are not equivalent with respect to customer service, and there is even the possibility that the product supplied by some of the sellers could differ from what they claim they are selling. If you have not purchased from a particular seller in the past, then at a minimum I recommend clicking on the sellers name, and looking at the recent customer feedback posted by others who have purchased from them. If the seller has a high positive rating (I personally want to see 90% minimum), and if you don't see too many one or two star ratings, then that can provide some assurance. Unfortunately it is necessary to be skeptical about sellers here on Amazon - for some products you just cannot be sure of getting the 'real' name-brand product and not a knock-off or generic 'equivalent'. This is a real problem with some products on Amazon. I can't attempt to evaluate each of these sellers here, that would require purchasing something from each and every one of them, so the best I can do is simply include this heads-up in my review so that others are made aware.
The bottom line for me is that tea is a great product and I use it regularly. Purchasing it on Amazon at the current time is only worthwhile if you're interested in purchasing a the large quantity packaging, which is fine. This large difference in pricing on Amazon, for the same products but from different sellers, and with the added complication of Amazon having multiple product pages for essentially the same product, means that care is needed in order to ensure that the price paid is reasonable, Again, the 3-stars rating is intended to simply draw attention to these pricing discrepancies and make potential purchasers aware of them. | 1 | neutral | [
"I've been enjoying Twinings English Breakfast Tea for many years.",
"I also like the Earl Grey Tea, and have tried some of the other Twinings products, but this is my favorite.",
"This review is for the tea as traditional tea bags, not powdered or in other forms.",
"I normally purchase this at the local W**Mart store, and I decided to see if it would be possible to purchase it here on Amazon, hoping both to save money as well as make it more convenient to re-supply when I run out.",
"There are a few different listings for these Twinings tea bags on Amazon, so I've looked at quite a few of them to determine which is most competitively priced.",
"The basic question is - which one is the least cost per bag, and does it compare with what I pay locally at the local discount supermarket?",
"I paid just over five bucks yesterday for 50 bag box at the local W**Mart store - that works out to about 10.",
"6 cents per bag.",
"Here are the various choices I found that are available on Amazon, with the per bag costs using today's pricing as I am writing this review:\n\n- <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Twinings-English-Breakfast-Tea-Tea-Bags/dp/B000F4F952/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Twinings English Breakfast Tea, Tea Bags</a> - (product on this page) several different size packages are currently available on Amazon, from a variety of sellers at this product listing:\n--- 3 pack, 20 bags per box (60 bags total), at 30.",
"5 cents per bag (offered by 11 sellers, this is the lowest price with shipping included)\n--- 6 pack, 20 bags per box (120 bags total), at 15 cents per bag (23 sellers)\n--- 6 pack, 50 bags per box (300 bags total), at 9.",
"6 cents per bag (25 sellers) *** BEST BUY ***\n\n- <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Twinings-English-Breakfast-Tea-Tea-Bags-single-box-20-bags-at-44-2-cents-per-bag-4-sellers/dp/B00AAL3YH0/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Twinings English Breakfast Tea, Tea Bags -- single box, 20 bags, at 44.",
"2 cents per bag (4 sellers)</a>\n\n- <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Twinings-English-Breakfast-Tea-single-box-50-bags-at-23-9-cents-per-bag-8-sellers/dp/B001MOP88W/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Twinings English Breakfast Tea -- single box, 50 bags, at 23.",
"9 cents per bag (8 sellers)</a>\n\n- <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Twinings-English-Breakfast-Tea-single-box-100-bags-at-16-2-cents-per-bag-6-sellers/dp/B001GM60LE/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Twinings English Breakfast Tea -- single box, 100 bags, at 16.",
"2 cents per bag (6 sellers)</a>\n\n- <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Twinings-English-Breakfast-Tea-5-pack-100-bags-per-box-500-bags-total-at-11-9-cents-per-bag-2-sellers/dp/B0083CP8OA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Twinings English Breakfast Tea -- 5 pack, 100 bags per box (500 bags total), at 11.",
"9 cents per bag (2 sellers)</a>\n\n- <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Twinings-English-Breakfast-Tea-single-box-50-bags-at-22-cents-per-bag-7-sellers/dp/B0046ID9AA/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Twinings English Breakfast Tea -- single box, 50 bags, at 22 cents per bag (7 sellers)</a>\n\nPrice per bag above was calculated using the current prices on Amazon as I write this review.",
"I did include shipping costs in the calculation above, for those products that were non-Prime and have additional shipping costs.",
"I'm including the links above not only to show the comparison, but because pricing on Amazon can vary widely, and it is very possible that price changes could be made after I write this review, which would result in one of these other offerings becoming more competitively priced.",
"Of these various choices available on Amazon, only one was competitive with my local supermarket - the product on this page, and then only when you select the 6 Pack with the 50 bag box, purchasing 300 bags at one time.",
"With such a wide variation in pricing here on Amazon, clearly it is necessary to shop carefully and check unit pricing, to make sure that the product is not over-priced before placing an order.",
"I am rating the product listing on this page as 3-star because only the largest quantity is cost-effective, with the smaller quantities considerably more expensive than you should be able to get in your local supermarket.",
"The tea itself is top quality.",
"Some further comments regarding the various sellers offering these products here on Amazon, since most if not all of the various product listings given above offer multiple sellers to chose from.",
"Generally, on the Amazon product page, near the top if you see something like \"11 new from $xx.",
"xx\" and click on that link, then you'll see the full listing of sellers for that product and their various prices.",
"These vary widely and from time to time one or the other will be the cheapest - the overall cheapest with shipping included is NOT necessarily the one displayed on the main Amazon page.",
"And given that there are many sellers claiming to offer the same thing on Amazon, buyers should know that the different sellers are not equivalent with respect to customer service, and there is even the possibility that the product supplied by some of the sellers could differ from what they claim they are selling.",
"If you have not purchased from a particular seller in the past, then at a minimum I recommend clicking on the sellers name, and looking at the recent customer feedback posted by others who have purchased from them.",
"If the seller has a high positive rating (I personally want to see 90% minimum), and if you don't see too many one or two star ratings, then that can provide some assurance.",
"Unfortunately it is necessary to be skeptical about sellers here on Amazon - for some products you just cannot be sure of getting the 'real' name-brand product and not a knock-off or generic 'equivalent'.",
"This is a real problem with some products on Amazon.",
"I can't attempt to evaluate each of these sellers here, that would require purchasing something from each and every one of them, so the best I can do is simply include this heads-up in my review so that others are made aware.",
"The bottom line for me is that tea is a great product and I use it regularly.",
"Purchasing it on Amazon at the current time is only worthwhile if you're interested in purchasing a the large quantity packaging, which is fine.",
"This large difference in pricing on Amazon, for the same products but from different sellers, and with the added complication of Amazon having multiple product pages for essentially the same product, means that care is needed in order to ensure that the price paid is reasonable, Again, the 3-stars rating is intended to simply draw attention to these pricing discrepancies and make potential purchasers aware of them."
] |
We had a squirrel that got into our house and did significant damage to our sewing pattern inventory ($1500 worth!) from our on-line store Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts. To say the least, I was not happy with that critter. They look cute running through trees but not making a nest out of sewing patterns they have ripped up. Anyhow my husband tried multiple different ways to get rid of the squirrel population which is kind of hard to do when you live in the country. This Critter Ridder was part of the arsenal he used. What actual item worked the best, I don't know. I could only give 3 stars as we haven't heard from the squirrel in some time so something worked, but I don't know why or if it was the Critter Ridder. I'm not going to worry about it as long as they stay out of our patterns! We are keeping it handy though, just in case. | 1 | neutral | [
"We had a squirrel that got into our house and did significant damage to our sewing pattern inventory ($1500 worth!",
") from our on-line store Moonwishes Sewing and Crafts.",
"To say the least, I was not happy with that critter.",
"They look cute running through trees but not making a nest out of sewing patterns they have ripped up.",
"Anyhow my husband tried multiple different ways to get rid of the squirrel population which is kind of hard to do when you live in the country.",
"This Critter Ridder was part of the arsenal he used.",
"What actual item worked the best, I don't know.",
"I could only give 3 stars as we haven't heard from the squirrel in some time so something worked, but I don't know why or if it was the Critter Ridder.",
"I'm not going to worry about it as long as they stay out of our patterns!",
"We are keeping it handy though, just in case."
] |
I HAVE BEEN USING 13 FOR 1 YEAR, AND IT IS WORKING (GOTTA PAY ATTENTION, HOWEVER).
I DOWNLOADED V15 PRO INDIVIDUAL TODAY - 092716 - AND SPENT TWO HOURS TRYING TO INSTALL IT!!!
"THIRTY DAYS, FULL REFUND"', SAYS THE AD.
NO INFO AS TO HOW TO CANCEL, NO TELEPHONE #, IT ROUTES US TO KNOWLEGE BASE FOR EITHER "TELEPHONE SUPPORT"
OR FOR "TECHNICAL SUPPORT". TECH SUPPORT IT REQUIRES A LOT OF SYSTEM INFO AND THEN FREEZES ON A "MUST
SELECT--" . THE DROP DOWN MENU FOR THE SELECTION DOESN'T DROP AND IT JUST STAYS THERE..
FOR THE ERROR MSG I RCVD "ERROR 2753 NAT SPEAK NOT SELECTED" . DATA BASE NO HELP.
APPEARS THAT ANY HELP HAS NOT BEEN ENTERED. SUPPORT USELESS.
THREE STARS ARE FOR V13, NONE FOR V15.
THOUROUGHLY DISGUSTED, CANNOT CONTACT ANYONE ALIVE AND THE ONLINE NAVIGATION IS BUGGY AND CONVULETED. CONTACTED MY BANK AND "DISPUTED" THE CHARGE, WELLS FARGO. | 1 | neutral | [
"I HAVE BEEN USING 13 FOR 1 YEAR, AND IT IS WORKING (GOTTA PAY ATTENTION, HOWEVER).",
"I DOWNLOADED V15 PRO INDIVIDUAL TODAY - 092716 - AND SPENT TWO HOURS TRYING TO INSTALL IT!!!",
"\"THIRTY DAYS, FULL REFUND\"', SAYS THE AD.",
"NO INFO AS TO HOW TO CANCEL, NO TELEPHONE #, IT ROUTES US TO KNOWLEGE BASE FOR EITHER \"TELEPHONE SUPPORT\"\nOR FOR \"TECHNICAL SUPPORT\".",
"TECH SUPPORT IT REQUIRES A LOT OF SYSTEM INFO AND THEN FREEZES ON A \"MUST\nSELECT--\".",
"THE DROP DOWN MENU FOR THE SELECTION DOESN'T DROP AND IT JUST STAYS THERE..",
"FOR THE ERROR MSG I RCVD \"ERROR 2753 NAT SPEAK NOT SELECTED\".",
"DATA BASE NO HELP.",
"APPEARS THAT ANY HELP HAS NOT BEEN ENTERED.",
"SUPPORT USELESS.",
"THREE STARS ARE FOR V13, NONE FOR V15.",
"THOUROUGHLY DISGUSTED, CANNOT CONTACT ANYONE ALIVE AND THE ONLINE NAVIGATION IS BUGGY AND CONVULETED.",
"CONTACTED MY BANK AND \"DISPUTED\" THE CHARGE, WELLS FARGO."
] |
for the price, I mean, what does one want? I do love that the top screws off/on, that's great. I also really like the many perches. it's been up outside for 9-10 months, and so far have seen no more than 2 birds on it at a time. but it is cute to see them hop from perch to perch to perch. though it's not the sturdiest feeder, nothing's broken.
what I don't like about it is that the bottom doesn't come off, which makes it difficult to clean out really well. also, the tube seams are not sealed, which I think is why the seed clumps up under a couple of the ports and then gets moldy. iww. this doesn't happen in our other tube feeder which has no seams in the tube. it's been moved to a spot under an awning so hopefully, being more out the weather, the clumping and molding will be at least less of an issue. but again, for the price, I mean, what does one want? | 1 | neutral | [
"for the price, I mean, what does one want?",
"I do love that the top screws off/on, that's great.",
"I also really like the many perches.",
"it's been up outside for 9-10 months, and so far have seen no more than 2 birds on it at a time.",
"but it is cute to see them hop from perch to perch to perch.",
"though it's not the sturdiest feeder, nothing's broken.",
"what I don't like about it is that the bottom doesn't come off, which makes it difficult to clean out really well.",
"also, the tube seams are not sealed, which I think is why the seed clumps up under a couple of the ports and then gets moldy.",
"iww.",
"this doesn't happen in our other tube feeder which has no seams in the tube.",
"it's been moved to a spot under an awning so hopefully, being more out the weather, the clumping and molding will be at least less of an issue.",
"but again, for the price, I mean, what does one want?"
] |
While we could debate backwards compatibility all day and until some of us are blue in the face because weve been holding our breaths for so long, the idea of PS2 games upscaled onto the PS4 with trophy support may be as good as we get. There are PS1 and PS2 classics for the PS3 and the Vita but its not the same as being able to take out the case for the game you want to play from two generations ago and insert its disk it into the most current generation.
On the subject of two generations ago, Dark Cloud was an early PS2 title. I own it physically for the PS2 but I own it because my brother loved it. Up until recently for this years Extra Life I had maybe done the first few floors as I had played much more of its Steampunked sequel Dark Cloud 2 (or Dark Chronicle in Japan). Figuring why not, I loaded up Dark Clouds PS4 port for part of my marathon and while nostalgia can be a great thing, sometimes, things don't quite scale well with time.
Before Yo-Kai Watch, before White Knight Chronicles, Rogue Galaxy, Dragon Quests VIII & IX*, was Level 5s first title. Designed for the PS2 at the beginning of its lifespan was a Roguelike that saw a young man named Toan (if you took the default) who was charged with restoring the world after surviving the Dark Genies attack. Needing to go into dungeon after dungeon in order to find people and buildings that were essentially time bubbled in order to spare them being annihilated, Toan has his work cut out for him.
From a design standpoint Dark Cloud is great. Multi-leveled dungeons with a thirst system (instead of hunger) and breakable weapons alongside a bit of a Simulation Town Builder and this Roguelike was in the bag. Even now the concepts that it works off of are great, however, the controls in which how to effectuate all of this? They felt awful and I would need to load the original version as Im not sure if they remained the same or if the PS4s controller was simply that much more sensitive than the PS2s.
When it came to the controls it was an accumulation of things. Hitboxes could feel off as sword swings wouldnt connect however monsters would simply hit you because you're standing too close even if you couldn't hit them. They hadnt even taking a swing or a bite at you either, they simply were standing too close and voila, loss of HP. That I know comes from the design aspect of a 2D roguelike in which if an enemy bumps up beside you then say goodbye to said HP but when in a 3D world in which you need to get up close and personal? It doesnt work.
The other portion of the overall design that drove me nuts was the long winded tutorials that lead to well do it yourself and youll understand better. I would have preferred the do it yourself from the beginning and save the frustration. More than that that however is that a lot of the features that I could have used on the first few floors? Those were all given much further down and would have saved loads of headaches such as how to lock on. It sounds dumb, but without knowing that O was there for facing the camera behind you AND targeting? I had a swell time on those floors.
In regards to the floor, Dark Clouds dungeon designs are among my favorite. Dungeon floors are random in regards to floor layouts and coming in and out was made easy by allowing Toan to restart from any floor thats already been cleared. Clearing floor 2 for example allowed for starting at floor 3. Better than this, once a floor was cleared then it was easy to head back to town to buy more supplies instead of heading down another level and possible biting the dust. If you really needed to escape then an item could be used but generally they weren't required.
Dungeon floors themselves were intriguing as some could hold two halves. Theres the normal half in which everything youll need is present such as the shells in which people or town parts can be acquired as well as the key to the next floor. Then there was the other half in which monsters were much harder but the possible rewards were more than worth exploring their depths. The items required to explore these other halves were not always present however which would be rather disappointing especially if you had the resources to possibly survive.
As the story advances it becomes clear that if you are not a completionist, this may really not be for you. In several cases it was required to dive back into older floors in order to obtain missing parts of the world in order to unlock the way forward. This could either come in the form of an obtainable item or of an additional playable character such as a stray cat that turns into a humanoid or a genie after being summoned from a lamp. Each character adds a bit of extra to the dungeon designs as only they can bypass certain elements.
Now while each new character can add new elements to the dungeons, in a lot of cases it may come down to you not wanting to use them for more than their dungeon mechanics. By the point that even the first new party member is added, its possibly been hours and youve upgraded Toan both in regards to his weapons and to his health and thirst meters. Each new character starts with weapons that are mediocre at best and in the case of the third available character? Hes too slow to hit anything before enemies take him out while he was trying to swing. This wouldnt have been an issue however each dungeon has locked floors in which one of these other characters is the only available one and in almost every case these floors were hell. I say hell because either the character did little to no damage or simply was too slow to ever lay a hit. I hoped every time that the first or second monster would lead me to the key in order to leave.
But if youve upgraded Toan why don't you upgrade them? Honestly while I asked myself this, unfortunately not every time a treasure chest was opened did it grant another character a weapon. More often than not it was a new weapon for Toan and not someone else even if someone else opened the chest. Once a new weapon was acquired however then it had to be used to be leveled up so most of the time, new weapons were acquired, equipped, and were generally left un-upgraded as that character was only used on locked floors.
Weapon upgrading itself was fun as it allowed for a fair amount of customization as weapons gained experience when used in order to become more powerful. Once ready to level, materials that offered bonuses could be fused in for permanent boosts. This meant that keeping multiples of certain weapons was not a bad idea as one could specialize in destroying the undead while another could be designed for dealing lots of fire damage. Once a weapon passed level five (not sure if that was on purpose of not but well done Level-5!) then it could be broken down into an upgrade material of its own containing sixty percent of its power. This means that older weapons were never useless as they could always be used in one way or another.
Where things broke down, literally, is that if a weapon broke, thats it. It was gone. Any fan of roguelikes or older Fire Emblems know this pain. The only weapon that could not shatter into the abyss of your broken heart as it disappeared from your inventory was your first weapon making it a good idea to infuse stronger weapons into it to make sure that if push comes to shove, youve got a backup. If your first weapon broke then it simply did a fraction of the damage.
While three quarters of Toans time will be spent dungeon crawling with his party, the other quarter will be spent building up the lost towns from the pieces acquired in the dungeons. Houses, shops and other establishments can be placed wherever you see fit, though, if you talk to everyone they can tell you what is missing and where they would really like their building to be. I honestly for the most part just put things where I saw fit but thats just me.
Because not every building is actually useful, it can sometimes be worth waiting until theres enough to put together before putting anything down. Each building can be placed on its own though it will have slots for people and for items. This means that a shop owner for example can be placed but without storage and a sign he won't open shop. Some slots are open by default but others will require talking to the people using that building in order to find out whats missing. This includes asking your mother who gives you crap for not knowing what goes into your own house.
Dark Cloud had a lot of interesting ideas from the dungeon crawling to the town building simulation. Unfortunately the controls and some of the design choices of the other characters made it more frustrating that it should have been. By all rights Dark Cloud could have been an epic title instead of just an ok one. I didn't have loads of nostalgia to back this one up as almost all of it was new to me. That being said, although Dark Cloud is now sixteen years old the graphical upgrade to the PS4 and the well aged Cel Shading does make it pretty to look at.
*Dragon Quest VIII & IX were co-developed between Level-5 and Square Enix | 1 | neutral | [
"While we could debate backwards compatibility all day and until some of us are blue in the face because weve been holding our breaths for so long, the idea of PS2 games upscaled onto the PS4 with trophy support may be as good as we get.",
"There are PS1 and PS2 classics for the PS3 and the Vita but its not the same as being able to take out the case for the game you want to play from two generations ago and insert its disk it into the most current generation.",
"On the subject of two generations ago, Dark Cloud was an early PS2 title.",
"I own it physically for the PS2 but I own it because my brother loved it.",
"Up until recently for this years Extra Life I had maybe done the first few floors as I had played much more of its Steampunked sequel Dark Cloud 2 (or Dark Chronicle in Japan).",
"Figuring why not, I loaded up Dark Clouds PS4 port for part of my marathon and while nostalgia can be a great thing, sometimes, things don't quite scale well with time.",
"Before Yo-Kai Watch, before White Knight Chronicles, Rogue Galaxy, Dragon Quests VIII & IX*, was Level 5s first title.",
"Designed for the PS2 at the beginning of its lifespan was a Roguelike that saw a young man named Toan (if you took the default) who was charged with restoring the world after surviving the Dark Genies attack.",
"Needing to go into dungeon after dungeon in order to find people and buildings that were essentially time bubbled in order to spare them being annihilated, Toan has his work cut out for him.",
"From a design standpoint Dark Cloud is great.",
"Multi-leveled dungeons with a thirst system (instead of hunger) and breakable weapons alongside a bit of a Simulation Town Builder and this Roguelike was in the bag.",
"Even now the concepts that it works off of are great, however, the controls in which how to effectuate all of this?",
"They felt awful and I would need to load the original version as Im not sure if they remained the same or if the PS4s controller was simply that much more sensitive than the PS2s.",
"When it came to the controls it was an accumulation of things.",
"Hitboxes could feel off as sword swings wouldnt connect however monsters would simply hit you because you're standing too close even if you couldn't hit them.",
"They hadnt even taking a swing or a bite at you either, they simply were standing too close and voila, loss of HP.",
"That I know comes from the design aspect of a 2D roguelike in which if an enemy bumps up beside you then say goodbye to said HP but when in a 3D world in which you need to get up close and personal?",
"It doesnt work.",
"The other portion of the overall design that drove me nuts was the long winded tutorials that lead to well do it yourself and youll understand better.",
"I would have preferred the do it yourself from the beginning and save the frustration.",
"More than that that however is that a lot of the features that I could have used on the first few floors?",
"Those were all given much further down and would have saved loads of headaches such as how to lock on.",
"It sounds dumb, but without knowing that O was there for facing the camera behind you AND targeting?",
"I had a swell time on those floors.",
"In regards to the floor, Dark Clouds dungeon designs are among my favorite.",
"Dungeon floors are random in regards to floor layouts and coming in and out was made easy by allowing Toan to restart from any floor thats already been cleared.",
"Clearing floor 2 for example allowed for starting at floor 3.",
"Better than this, once a floor was cleared then it was easy to head back to town to buy more supplies instead of heading down another level and possible biting the dust.",
"If you really needed to escape then an item could be used but generally they weren't required.",
"Dungeon floors themselves were intriguing as some could hold two halves.",
"Theres the normal half in which everything youll need is present such as the shells in which people or town parts can be acquired as well as the key to the next floor.",
"Then there was the other half in which monsters were much harder but the possible rewards were more than worth exploring their depths.",
"The items required to explore these other halves were not always present however which would be rather disappointing especially if you had the resources to possibly survive.",
"As the story advances it becomes clear that if you are not a completionist, this may really not be for you.",
"In several cases it was required to dive back into older floors in order to obtain missing parts of the world in order to unlock the way forward.",
"This could either come in the form of an obtainable item or of an additional playable character such as a stray cat that turns into a humanoid or a genie after being summoned from a lamp.",
"Each character adds a bit of extra to the dungeon designs as only they can bypass certain elements.",
"Now while each new character can add new elements to the dungeons, in a lot of cases it may come down to you not wanting to use them for more than their dungeon mechanics.",
"By the point that even the first new party member is added, its possibly been hours and youve upgraded Toan both in regards to his weapons and to his health and thirst meters.",
"Each new character starts with weapons that are mediocre at best and in the case of the third available character?",
"Hes too slow to hit anything before enemies take him out while he was trying to swing.",
"This wouldnt have been an issue however each dungeon has locked floors in which one of these other characters is the only available one and in almost every case these floors were hell.",
"I say hell because either the character did little to no damage or simply was too slow to ever lay a hit.",
"I hoped every time that the first or second monster would lead me to the key in order to leave.",
"But if youve upgraded Toan why don't you upgrade them?",
"Honestly while I asked myself this, unfortunately not every time a treasure chest was opened did it grant another character a weapon.",
"More often than not it was a new weapon for Toan and not someone else even if someone else opened the chest.",
"Once a new weapon was acquired however then it had to be used to be leveled up so most of the time, new weapons were acquired, equipped, and were generally left un-upgraded as that character was only used on locked floors.",
"Weapon upgrading itself was fun as it allowed for a fair amount of customization as weapons gained experience when used in order to become more powerful.",
"Once ready to level, materials that offered bonuses could be fused in for permanent boosts.",
"This meant that keeping multiples of certain weapons was not a bad idea as one could specialize in destroying the undead while another could be designed for dealing lots of fire damage.",
"Once a weapon passed level five (not sure if that was on purpose of not but well done Level-5!",
") then it could be broken down into an upgrade material of its own containing sixty percent of its power.",
"This means that older weapons were never useless as they could always be used in one way or another.",
"Where things broke down, literally, is that if a weapon broke, thats it.",
"It was gone.",
"Any fan of roguelikes or older Fire Emblems know this pain.",
"The only weapon that could not shatter into the abyss of your broken heart as it disappeared from your inventory was your first weapon making it a good idea to infuse stronger weapons into it to make sure that if push comes to shove, youve got a backup.",
"If your first weapon broke then it simply did a fraction of the damage.",
"While three quarters of Toans time will be spent dungeon crawling with his party, the other quarter will be spent building up the lost towns from the pieces acquired in the dungeons.",
"Houses, shops and other establishments can be placed wherever you see fit, though, if you talk to everyone they can tell you what is missing and where they would really like their building to be.",
"I honestly for the most part just put things where I saw fit but thats just me.",
"Because not every building is actually useful, it can sometimes be worth waiting until theres enough to put together before putting anything down.",
"Each building can be placed on its own though it will have slots for people and for items.",
"This means that a shop owner for example can be placed but without storage and a sign he won't open shop.",
"Some slots are open by default but others will require talking to the people using that building in order to find out whats missing.",
"This includes asking your mother who gives you crap for not knowing what goes into your own house.",
"Dark Cloud had a lot of interesting ideas from the dungeon crawling to the town building simulation.",
"Unfortunately the controls and some of the design choices of the other characters made it more frustrating that it should have been.",
"By all rights Dark Cloud could have been an epic title instead of just an ok one.",
"I didn't have loads of nostalgia to back this one up as almost all of it was new to me.",
"That being said, although Dark Cloud is now sixteen years old the graphical upgrade to the PS4 and the well aged Cel Shading does make it pretty to look at.",
"*Dragon Quest VIII & IX were co-developed between Level-5 and Square Enix"
] |
I ordered these for my 17 month old daughter because they looked super cute. We received them yesterday and we were very disappointed. The eggs come in a cute container that is easy to open and the faces are cute, however, our eggs don't squeak when you push them down. I like that they are different colors and the shapes on the bottom of the eggs fits into the shapes inside the container. This is a little educational for little ones, but they should squeak. My daughter played with them for about 2 minutes and then started throwing them across the room. We have a tile floor so I was worried that she was going to break them. They are still intact so I guess they are pretty durable, but it is a pretty simple and boring toy. While these are cute, they just aren't a lot of fun. I wouldn't recommend these to others. | 1 | neutral | [
"I ordered these for my 17 month old daughter because they looked super cute.",
"We received them yesterday and we were very disappointed.",
"The eggs come in a cute container that is easy to open and the faces are cute, however, our eggs don't squeak when you push them down.",
"I like that they are different colors and the shapes on the bottom of the eggs fits into the shapes inside the container.",
"This is a little educational for little ones, but they should squeak.",
"My daughter played with them for about 2 minutes and then started throwing them across the room.",
"We have a tile floor so I was worried that she was going to break them.",
"They are still intact so I guess they are pretty durable, but it is a pretty simple and boring toy.",
"While these are cute, they just aren't a lot of fun.",
"I wouldn't recommend these to others."
] |
The create it fun collection contains 4 software photo editing programs. The programs contained are digital scrapbook artist 2, panarama plus, photo album 7 deluxe, and Paint it. I think my biggest complaint is that many of the same effects are contained on the different programs. This collection is deffinitely not for someone looking for powerful editing tools. The editing tools are pretty cool: teeth whitening, removing red eye, adding a tan, turning photos into paintings, creating cards etc. However these are all pretty basic tools and editing features for most users with computer/photo editing experience. Corel makes excellent quality computer software programs, but they tend to take up allot of space on your pc. With this considered, it would have been nice if they had just created one new program with all of the features in these seperate programs. If you don't mind loading all four programs on your pc for these features then consider this product. Paint it and Photo Album 7 are fun for photo editing and might be worth the purchase if the price is right. | 1 | neutral | [
"The create it fun collection contains 4 software photo editing programs.",
"The programs contained are digital scrapbook artist 2, panarama plus, photo album 7 deluxe, and Paint it.",
"I think my biggest complaint is that many of the same effects are contained on the different programs.",
"This collection is deffinitely not for someone looking for powerful editing tools.",
"The editing tools are pretty cool: teeth whitening, removing red eye, adding a tan, turning photos into paintings, creating cards etc.",
"However these are all pretty basic tools and editing features for most users with computer/photo editing experience.",
"Corel makes excellent quality computer software programs, but they tend to take up allot of space on your pc.",
"With this considered, it would have been nice if they had just created one new program with all of the features in these seperate programs.",
"If you don't mind loading all four programs on your pc for these features then consider this product.",
"Paint it and Photo Album 7 are fun for photo editing and might be worth the purchase if the price is right."
] |
In this notable disaster film from 1974, a series of tremors begins to strike Los Angeles, California. Then the big one hits that leaves wide scale destruction across the city. Following several different characters played by big-name actors of the day, we see how the average lives of people are suddenly changed by the catastrophe.
First the good. Probably the best reason to see the film is the fantastic special effects that show not only the earthquake itself but also the destruction of the aftermath. Long before CGI, everything had to be made using miniatures and other tricks. These effects, for the most part, still hold up reasonably well today. Also of note is the use of detailed matte paintings showing L.A. destroyed after the quake.
However, I felt the story of the film was weak. While it mostly is a standard disaster film, the big quake itself happens about half-way through the film. The first hour or so plays out like a bad soap opera and even after all the characters are introduced, it is difficult to really care about any of them and leaves you wondering when the action is going to start. Some of the characters are rather stupidly written and the acting in some parts is poor.
This movie was a mixed bag for me. This is surely a must-see for anyone that is a fan of disaster films, especially those from the 1970s. | 1 | neutral | [
"In this notable disaster film from 1974, a series of tremors begins to strike Los Angeles, California.",
"Then the big one hits that leaves wide scale destruction across the city.",
"Following several different characters played by big-name actors of the day, we see how the average lives of people are suddenly changed by the catastrophe.",
"First the good.",
"Probably the best reason to see the film is the fantastic special effects that show not only the earthquake itself but also the destruction of the aftermath.",
"Long before CGI, everything had to be made using miniatures and other tricks.",
"These effects, for the most part, still hold up reasonably well today.",
"Also of note is the use of detailed matte paintings showing L.",
"A. destroyed after the quake.",
"However, I felt the story of the film was weak.",
"While it mostly is a standard disaster film, the big quake itself happens about half-way through the film.",
"The first hour or so plays out like a bad soap opera and even after all the characters are introduced, it is difficult to really care about any of them and leaves you wondering when the action is going to start.",
"Some of the characters are rather stupidly written and the acting in some parts is poor.",
"This movie was a mixed bag for me.",
"This is surely a must-see for anyone that is a fan of disaster films, especially those from the 1970s."
] |
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