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I really like the Sims for PC. But this is not the Sims for PC. I bought it for the Online thing and guess what? Maxis randomly decided to take the best feature out of the game! No more servers! And it shut down around 2004. When it was still new! Stupid.
The new features are.
More sim customization tools. But don't think it's like the Sims 2 for PC. You pick from a small variety of whatever part you are working on. 4 different skin colors, 3 different body shapes, and 3 face customization tools
Incredible 3-D graphics. The 3-D graphics are absolutely stunning and breath-taking! It is so beautiful! Even prettier than the Sims 2 for PC which is unbelievable.
New objects from recent expansion packs from The Sims 1 franchise which are pretty much cool. Especially the Sim-Eating Plant! Really hilarious!
A WIDE variety of interactions such as "Bust a move" and "Bear Hug" which aren't a big deal but if you have either high or low relationship points it could turn out to be a funny reaction! Like, if you Bear Hug someone who is your enemy that sim will throw you to the ground.
16 all-new locations which is pretty nice. My favorite was Mimi's Place. Most other places weren't that fun. OH OH and the Goth Manor!! Awesome!
New NPC's not included in the Sims for PC such as Monica, Rubb, and some other weird sim who I don't know :-)
New wallpaper coverings, floor coverings, and plantings. | 1 | neutral | [
"I really like the Sims for PC.",
"But this is not the Sims for PC.",
"I bought it for the Online thing and guess what?",
"Maxis randomly decided to take the best feature out of the game!",
"No more servers!",
"And it shut down around 2004.",
"When it was still new!",
"Stupid.",
"The new features are.",
"More sim customization tools.",
"But don't think it's like the Sims 2 for PC.",
"You pick from a small variety of whatever part you are working on.",
"4 different skin colors, 3 different body shapes, and 3 face customization tools\n\nIncredible 3-D graphics.",
"The 3-D graphics are absolutely stunning and breath-taking!",
"It is so beautiful!",
"Even prettier than the Sims 2 for PC which is unbelievable.",
"New objects from recent expansion packs from The Sims 1 franchise which are pretty much cool.",
"Especially the Sim-Eating Plant!",
"Really hilarious!",
"A WIDE variety of interactions such as \"Bust a move\" and \"Bear Hug\" which aren't a big deal but if you have either high or low relationship points it could turn out to be a funny reaction!",
"Like, if you Bear Hug someone who is your enemy that sim will throw you to the ground.",
"16 all-new locations which is pretty nice.",
"My favorite was Mimi's Place.",
"Most other places weren't that fun.",
"OH OH and the Goth Manor!!",
"Awesome!",
"New NPC's not included in the Sims for PC such as Monica, Rubb, and some other weird sim who I don't know :-)\n\nNew wallpaper coverings, floor coverings, and plantings."
] |
Not great. I was trying to replace some of the plastic sprayers I have lost in a move... this seemed to get good reviews but really it lacks several things. The bottle seems smaller than the others, fine... the "fan" nozzle is a joke. Spray distance is lacking since you can't do anything to really adjust (fan... or no fan... or upside down fan... those are your options). It works... so 3 stars... but I'm going back to plastic next time. | 1 | neutral | [
"Not great.",
"I was trying to replace some of the plastic sprayers I have lost in a move...",
"this seemed to get good reviews but really it lacks several things.",
"The bottle seems smaller than the others, fine...",
"the \"fan\" nozzle is a joke.",
"Spray distance is lacking since you can't do anything to really adjust (fan...",
"or no fan...",
"or upside down fan...",
"those are your options).",
"It works...",
"so 3 stars...",
"but I'm going back to plastic next time."
] |
I'm a huge fan of the Shutoku Battle series and thought I would give this a try, but I wasn't thoroughly impressed. There are some high points, like the car selection, which is very good. However, it is mostly riddled with annoyances and confusion that really make it not fun. I'm just going to ramble about some of the things that were annoying. The menus are a travesty. Once you screw around long enough to figure them out, you'll find your way to a race. There's some sort of vague leveling up system which it never really explains to you, but I assume it has something to do with unlocking more events. Once you start, you're thrown in with no tutorial whatsoever. No hints or tips for beginners that no nothing about drifting. The physics are pretty terrible along with the unresponsive controls. You are expected to drift through very narrow roads without even tapping the wall or your score for the entire section is negated. It all becomes tedious and aggravating very quickly. The music is painful and bizarre. I don't even know how to describe it. It's nothing like the other TXR games I've played where I've actually really liked the music. Maybe TXRD is just not for me, so I'll stick with TXR | 1 | neutral | [
"I'm a huge fan of the Shutoku Battle series and thought I would give this a try, but I wasn't thoroughly impressed.",
"There are some high points, like the car selection, which is very good.",
"However, it is mostly riddled with annoyances and confusion that really make it not fun.",
"I'm just going to ramble about some of the things that were annoying.",
"The menus are a travesty.",
"Once you screw around long enough to figure them out, you'll find your way to a race.",
"There's some sort of vague leveling up system which it never really explains to you, but I assume it has something to do with unlocking more events.",
"Once you start, you're thrown in with no tutorial whatsoever.",
"No hints or tips for beginners that no nothing about drifting.",
"The physics are pretty terrible along with the unresponsive controls.",
"You are expected to drift through very narrow roads without even tapping the wall or your score for the entire section is negated.",
"It all becomes tedious and aggravating very quickly.",
"The music is painful and bizarre.",
"I don't even know how to describe it.",
"It's nothing like the other TXR games I've played where I've actually really liked the music.",
"Maybe TXRD is just not for me, so I'll stick with TXR"
] |
I used to absolutely love this mouse. I still use it. Every day. Constantly. I also have to clean it out. Every day.
Literally all that is stopping me from replacing it is remembering to actually go out and buy a new one. I think I need to stamp the words "buy new mouse" on my forehead.
It is asinine to buy one of these now. Unless, you know, you're ridiculously nostalgic. | 1 | neutral | [
"I used to absolutely love this mouse.",
"I still use it.",
"Every day.",
"Constantly.",
"I also have to clean it out.",
"Every day.",
"Literally all that is stopping me from replacing it is remembering to actually go out and buy a new one.",
"I think I need to stamp the words \"buy new mouse\" on my forehead.",
"It is asinine to buy one of these now.",
"Unless, you know, you're ridiculously nostalgic."
] |
I just love these egg timers. I've bought several already. They work really well on one egg or several eggs. The only problem I have with it is the outside coating on the timer. After so many uses it gets a cloudy residue and the reading is not clear anymore. I tried to scrub one to make it clear and it was the worst thing I could have done! It took ALL the coating surface completely off and it was totally unreadable anymore. Had to throw it away and buy another. Now I have this one, and I've only used it a couple of times and it's cloudy too! I've washed it with Dawn and nothing makes it clear again like new. But I can still read it somewhat. Just remember to not use anything abrasive on the surface to clean it.
Update: 19 Oct 2015- I don't know what the deal is on these egg timers. The outer coating goes away after only a couple of uses. The only thing I've done is use it in the boiling water with the eggs. And NOW I can't read this one anymore unless it's submerged in water. I haven't used it that much either. I'm downgrading this from 4 stars to 3 stars because of this problem. | 1 | neutral | [
"I just love these egg timers.",
"I've bought several already.",
"They work really well on one egg or several eggs.",
"The only problem I have with it is the outside coating on the timer.",
"After so many uses it gets a cloudy residue and the reading is not clear anymore.",
"I tried to scrub one to make it clear and it was the worst thing I could have done!",
"It took ALL the coating surface completely off and it was totally unreadable anymore.",
"Had to throw it away and buy another.",
"Now I have this one, and I've only used it a couple of times and it's cloudy too!",
"I've washed it with Dawn and nothing makes it clear again like new.",
"But I can still read it somewhat.",
"Just remember to not use anything abrasive on the surface to clean it.",
"Update: 19 Oct 2015- I don't know what the deal is on these egg timers.",
"The outer coating goes away after only a couple of uses.",
"The only thing I've done is use it in the boiling water with the eggs.",
"And NOW I can't read this one anymore unless it's submerged in water.",
"I haven't used it that much either.",
"I'm downgrading this from 4 stars to 3 stars because of this problem."
] |
Being a teenager sucks but it sucks twice as hard when your mom is bat-crap crazy and has to be locked in the attic for everyone's safety! So begins Phaedra's story in Marcia Colette's young adult novel Bittersweet. Any book which starts out with this kind of description is going to grab my attention.
The first half of Bittersweet outlines the life young Phaedra is forced to live as a result of her mother's unique abilities. In a nutshell: Phaedra attends high school (BLECK); cares for her spunky younger sister Nadia; ventures into the attic on a regular basis to care for mom; and tries to keep her emotions in check so that her own abilities don't bring death, despair, and destruction to those around her. Add to all of this: the regular trips to the ER to repair the bodily harm caused by mom; the constant fear that Child Services will show up; and the sudden and unexpected return of the prodigal brother, Kurt. And you thought your teenage years sucked - WIMP! Phaedra must deal constantly with her worry over her mother's condition, the knowledge that the condition is genetic and already manifesting in Phaedra, as well as her anger at her brother Kurt for abandoning the family and then returning as if nothing happened. The first half of the book is good and there is plenty of low-level action but I found myself always feeling as if something big was coming and it never did. As a reader, I found this very frustrating.
The second half of Bittersweet was much more intense and fast-paced as Colette finally begins to unravel what she was leading up too in the first half of the book - something big, finally happens. And there are hags - HAGS! I must say, the use of hags is something that doesn't appear in paranormal novels very often and I was quite glad to read something new. Don't get me wrong, I loves me some vampires and werewolves but a girl cannot live on vampire and werewolf porn alone. Colette completely devotes the last half of the book to the solving of problems: Kurt has brought a not-so-ideal "cure" back with him that can help the entire family; Phaedra is admitted to the Hub - a school which specializes in the training and teaching of people like her; and the hags, who have caused a great deal of trouble for the family are dealt with handily. It is in this half of the book that we see Phaedra get over herself and start truly fighting for her future. Phaedra unleashes her abilities in order to save her family. Phaedra becomes more than an angsty teenager: she becomes a strong lead character that will play well in future novels.
Bittersweet is a typical first-in-a-series novel. That is, the author has a lot of ground to cover in terms of establishing characters, creating an interesting plot, and setting the reader up for the future of the series. This is a tall order and one that Colette fills reasonably well. While I was frustrated by the first half of the book I found the second half to be quite satisfying. By novel's end there is a sense of resolution but also the knowledge that the series is going to continue. Bottom line: this series has potential but only if Colette allows her characters and plot to evolve. As long as there is evolution I will continue to read this series as it becomes available but I don't see it as a series topping my must-read list. | 1 | neutral | [
"Being a teenager sucks but it sucks twice as hard when your mom is bat-crap crazy and has to be locked in the attic for everyone's safety!",
"So begins Phaedra's story in Marcia Colette's young adult novel Bittersweet.",
"Any book which starts out with this kind of description is going to grab my attention.",
"The first half of Bittersweet outlines the life young Phaedra is forced to live as a result of her mother's unique abilities.",
"In a nutshell: Phaedra attends high school (BLECK); cares for her spunky younger sister Nadia; ventures into the attic on a regular basis to care for mom; and tries to keep her emotions in check so that her own abilities don't bring death, despair, and destruction to those around her.",
"Add to all of this: the regular trips to the ER to repair the bodily harm caused by mom; the constant fear that Child Services will show up; and the sudden and unexpected return of the prodigal brother, Kurt.",
"And you thought your teenage years sucked - WIMP!",
"Phaedra must deal constantly with her worry over her mother's condition, the knowledge that the condition is genetic and already manifesting in Phaedra, as well as her anger at her brother Kurt for abandoning the family and then returning as if nothing happened.",
"The first half of the book is good and there is plenty of low-level action but I found myself always feeling as if something big was coming and it never did.",
"As a reader, I found this very frustrating.",
"The second half of Bittersweet was much more intense and fast-paced as Colette finally begins to unravel what she was leading up too in the first half of the book - something big, finally happens.",
"And there are hags - HAGS!",
"I must say, the use of hags is something that doesn't appear in paranormal novels very often and I was quite glad to read something new.",
"Don't get me wrong, I loves me some vampires and werewolves but a girl cannot live on vampire and werewolf porn alone.",
"Colette completely devotes the last half of the book to the solving of problems: Kurt has brought a not-so-ideal \"cure\" back with him that can help the entire family; Phaedra is admitted to the Hub - a school which specializes in the training and teaching of people like her; and the hags, who have caused a great deal of trouble for the family are dealt with handily.",
"It is in this half of the book that we see Phaedra get over herself and start truly fighting for her future.",
"Phaedra unleashes her abilities in order to save her family.",
"Phaedra becomes more than an angsty teenager: she becomes a strong lead character that will play well in future novels.",
"Bittersweet is a typical first-in-a-series novel.",
"That is, the author has a lot of ground to cover in terms of establishing characters, creating an interesting plot, and setting the reader up for the future of the series.",
"This is a tall order and one that Colette fills reasonably well.",
"While I was frustrated by the first half of the book I found the second half to be quite satisfying.",
"By novel's end there is a sense of resolution but also the knowledge that the series is going to continue.",
"Bottom line: this series has potential but only if Colette allows her characters and plot to evolve.",
"As long as there is evolution I will continue to read this series as it becomes available but I don't see it as a series topping my must-read list."
] |
At this price, don't expect a precision sharpener. Lansky makes a big deal about the 20 degree and 25 degree angles, and how you should sharpen your fine kitchen knives at 20 degrees and your machetes at 25 degrees. In fact, the angles of the sharpening rods are random and bogus. I ordered two of these sharpeners and returned both of them. On the first one, the 20 degree angles were both 26 degrees. One of the 25 degree angles was 27 and the other was 23. (Who knew that my old protractor would be so handy.) On my 2nd sharpener, the 20 degree rod angles were both 25 degrees; The 25 degree angles were 23 and 25.
The rods themselves are apparently made in the USA, and the package and assembly is also USA. The wooden boxes are made in China. The boxes are nicely finished, but the rods are somewhat loose fitting. I measured the angles with the rods in the "down" position, where they would be when you sharpen your knife.
I suggest you clamp the box onto your workbench, rather than holding it with your other hand. It will be safer, the box won't move around, and you can use two hands on the knife handle while sharpening.
I liked the way you can store the rods in the box. The rods are round, compared to triangular rods that come with the Spyderco brand. I would judge this to be an advantage, having round rods. You can use all of the round sharpening surface, rather than just the edge of the triangle. Plus, you would eventually be able to find replacements if they roll onto the floor and break. They are ceramic. Of course, the Spyderco triangular rods would not roll onto the floor.
So, keep in mind that this is not a precision sharpening product. It will sharpen your knives nicely but not exactly. I will wait a few months and order another one; maybe Lansky quality control will bring about some improvements. | 1 | neutral | [
"At this price, don't expect a precision sharpener.",
"Lansky makes a big deal about the 20 degree and 25 degree angles, and how you should sharpen your fine kitchen knives at 20 degrees and your machetes at 25 degrees.",
"In fact, the angles of the sharpening rods are random and bogus.",
"I ordered two of these sharpeners and returned both of them.",
"On the first one, the 20 degree angles were both 26 degrees.",
"One of the 25 degree angles was 27 and the other was 23.",
"(Who knew that my old protractor would be so handy.",
") On my 2nd sharpener, the 20 degree rod angles were both 25 degrees; The 25 degree angles were 23 and 25.",
"The rods themselves are apparently made in the USA, and the package and assembly is also USA.",
"The wooden boxes are made in China.",
"The boxes are nicely finished, but the rods are somewhat loose fitting.",
"I measured the angles with the rods in the \"down\" position, where they would be when you sharpen your knife.",
"I suggest you clamp the box onto your workbench, rather than holding it with your other hand.",
"It will be safer, the box won't move around, and you can use two hands on the knife handle while sharpening.",
"I liked the way you can store the rods in the box.",
"The rods are round, compared to triangular rods that come with the Spyderco brand.",
"I would judge this to be an advantage, having round rods.",
"You can use all of the round sharpening surface, rather than just the edge of the triangle.",
"Plus, you would eventually be able to find replacements if they roll onto the floor and break.",
"They are ceramic.",
"Of course, the Spyderco triangular rods would not roll onto the floor.",
"So, keep in mind that this is not a precision sharpening product.",
"It will sharpen your knives nicely but not exactly.",
"I will wait a few months and order another one; maybe Lansky quality control will bring about some improvements."
] |
It doesn't get much better than Crash!! I love all his games! note to those ps2 UNsavvy people as myself... this will play on ps2 but you CANNOT save!! You can write down all the little shapes they give you to save but be careful... one mistake and you loose your game! This was irritating. So... I got out my old PS1... Memory cards from ps2 are NOT compatible with PS1... so I ordered a PS1 from ever reliable Amazon and all is good now in Crash bandicoot world. People who live and breath Playstation... stop rolling your eyes at me and saying "duh". This is just a hobby. Live and learn! Happy gaming! | 1 | neutral | [
"It doesn't get much better than Crash!!",
"I love all his games!",
"note to those ps2 UNsavvy people as myself...",
"this will play on ps2 but you CANNOT save!!",
"You can write down all the little shapes they give you to save but be careful...",
"one mistake and you loose your game!",
"This was irritating.",
"So...",
"I got out my old PS1...",
"Memory cards from ps2 are NOT compatible with PS1...",
"so I ordered a PS1 from ever reliable Amazon and all is good now in Crash bandicoot world.",
"People who live and breath Playstation...",
"stop rolling your eyes at me and saying \"duh\".",
"This is just a hobby.",
"Live and learn!",
"Happy gaming!"
] |
I researched microcurrent technology and I found no journal articles stating that microcurrent works for either wrinkles or scars. There's been no conclusive evidence so far.
That said, I tested this for 2.5 weeks when I was alone without my family. This was perfect because then I could see what they thought when I returned. I used it 6 days a week and did the full treatment (with the original trainer and the ele attachment) nearly every day (there were probably 3 days out of the entire 2.5 weeks where I didn't have time for the Ele attachment). When I returned, no one noticed anything different.
I had one coworker who told me I look good, well-rested. But there are so many variables there, being away from the family and work for 2.5 weeks could have been the reason for looking well-rested, I cannot attribute that to the NuFace.
I, personally, did notice that my lips plump slightly when using the ele attachment. I noticed it particularly when doing half of my face (which is actually what they recommend). But it was no greater than the plumping I get from my favorite lip gloss.
Overall, I personally wouldn't spend the money on this. However, if you go to the spa regularly to get these kinds of treatments that just make a hint of a difference, then it will pay for itself over time. | 1 | neutral | [
"I researched microcurrent technology and I found no journal articles stating that microcurrent works for either wrinkles or scars.",
"There's been no conclusive evidence so far.",
"That said, I tested this for 2.",
"5 weeks when I was alone without my family.",
"This was perfect because then I could see what they thought when I returned.",
"I used it 6 days a week and did the full treatment (with the original trainer and the ele attachment) nearly every day (there were probably 3 days out of the entire 2.",
"5 weeks where I didn't have time for the Ele attachment).",
"When I returned, no one noticed anything different.",
"I had one coworker who told me I look good, well-rested.",
"But there are so many variables there, being away from the family and work for 2.",
"5 weeks could have been the reason for looking well-rested, I cannot attribute that to the NuFace.",
"I, personally, did notice that my lips plump slightly when using the ele attachment.",
"I noticed it particularly when doing half of my face (which is actually what they recommend).",
"But it was no greater than the plumping I get from my favorite lip gloss.",
"Overall, I personally wouldn't spend the money on this.",
"However, if you go to the spa regularly to get these kinds of treatments that just make a hint of a difference, then it will pay for itself over time."
] |
Poco
From The Inside
1. Hoe Down
2. Bad Weather
3. What Am I Gonna Do
4. You Are The One
5. Railroad Days
6. From The Inside
7. Do You Feel It Too
8. Ol' Forgiver
9. What If I Should Say I Love You
10. Just For Me And You | 1 | neutral | [
"Poco\nFrom The Inside\n1.",
"Hoe Down\n2.",
"Bad Weather\n3.",
"What Am I Gonna Do\n4.",
"You Are The One\n5.",
"Railroad Days\n6.",
"From The Inside\n7.",
"Do You Feel It Too\n8.",
"Ol' Forgiver\n9.",
"What If I Should Say I Love You\n10.",
"Just For Me And You"
] |
We love all types of board games...but I avoid this one in the game closet at our house. I wish it were easier to get the game started; and likewise to break it down completely and put it away. I think I'm either going to "hide" it or re-gift it. haha. The only reason I gave it 3 stars is because the kids DO enjoy playing once it is set up. But since they are 4 & 7, they need a little help putting it together. It has to be set up *just* right or the whole game is off. Not my favorite. :o | 1 | neutral | [
"We love all types of board games...",
"but I avoid this one in the game closet at our house.",
"I wish it were easier to get the game started; and likewise to break it down completely and put it away.",
"I think I'm either going to \"hide\" it or re-gift it.",
"haha.",
"The only reason I gave it 3 stars is because the kids DO enjoy playing once it is set up.",
"But since they are 4 & 7, they need a little help putting it together.",
"It has to be set up *just* right or the whole game is off.",
"Not my favorite.",
":o"
] |
Eagles players believe Pats knew signals in Super Bowl XXXIX
“I’m not crying over spilled milk here — but we believed that ( Brady ) knew when we were pressuring because he certainly got the ball out pretty quick ” said Spagnuolo.
“I wouldn’t put it past the Patriots to do anything to win. They don’t care. Belichick is the kind of coach who’s like ‘Forget you.’ Bill don’t care. He’s a rebel ” said Sheldon Brown the ex-Eagles cornerback who started opposite Belichick’s and Tom Brady’s Patriots in that Super Bowl XXXIX. “It’s Bill’s way or no way.”
Tom Brady. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Even with five-time Super Bowl champion Brady still behind center .
“ Brady ’s definitely one of those guys you want to try and rattle get him off of his spot. Try to get to him early and often and try to knock him down a few times ” said Kearse. “Then again sometimes he gets up wipes it off just looks at you and then back to the huddle. He ’ll get another big play on you the next time. He has ice in his veins for real.” | 1 | neutral | [
"Eagles players believe Pats knew signals in Super Bowl XXXIX\n“I’m not crying over spilled milk here — but we believed that ( Brady ) knew when we were pressuring because he certainly got the ball out pretty quick ” said Spagnuolo.",
"“I wouldn’t put it past the Patriots to do anything to win.",
"They don’t care.",
"Belichick is the kind of coach who’s like ‘Forget you.",
"’ Bill don’t care.",
"He’s a rebel ” said Sheldon Brown the ex-Eagles cornerback who started opposite Belichick’s and Tom Brady’s Patriots in that Super Bowl XXXIX.",
"“It’s Bill’s way or no way.",
"”\nTom Brady.",
"(Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)\nEven with five-time Super Bowl champion Brady still behind center.",
"“ Brady ’s definitely one of those guys you want to try and rattle get him off of his spot.",
"Try to get to him early and often and try to knock him down a few times ” said Kearse.",
"“Then again sometimes he gets up wipes it off just looks at you and then back to the huddle.",
"He ’ll get another big play on you the next time.",
"He has ice in his veins for real.",
"”"
] |
First ever review on these and I have owned them for over 9 years. Still going strong, but there have been several issues over the years. The first issue had to do with the earpads.... they only lasted about three years and had to be replaced. Not an expensive replacement, but worth noting. Then, sometime within the last 5 years, I started getting intermittent sound and had to replace the wire connecting both sides together. This wasn't a horrendous job, but still had to be done right (I used some cheap two wire speaker cable I had lying around). The current problem seems to be that the left headphone speaker and pad have pulled away from the main part of the headphone. I think the screw holes warped or broke and the assembly gave way. Something else I'll have to repair soon, but for now these units are still working as long as I'm not careful to tug too much on that side. The biggest reason for 3 stars though is frequency response. I didn't find the frequency response close enough really to use for any serious recording work. You can equalize this out to compensate, but I thought the response would be better initially. What response is present though is ok. | 1 | neutral | [
"First ever review on these and I have owned them for over 9 years.",
"Still going strong, but there have been several issues over the years.",
"The first issue had to do with the earpads....",
"they only lasted about three years and had to be replaced.",
"Not an expensive replacement, but worth noting.",
"Then, sometime within the last 5 years, I started getting intermittent sound and had to replace the wire connecting both sides together.",
"This wasn't a horrendous job, but still had to be done right (I used some cheap two wire speaker cable I had lying around).",
"The current problem seems to be that the left headphone speaker and pad have pulled away from the main part of the headphone.",
"I think the screw holes warped or broke and the assembly gave way.",
"Something else I'll have to repair soon, but for now these units are still working as long as I'm not careful to tug too much on that side.",
"The biggest reason for 3 stars though is frequency response.",
"I didn't find the frequency response close enough really to use for any serious recording work.",
"You can equalize this out to compensate, but I thought the response would be better initially.",
"What response is present though is ok."
] |
I came upon Elvis Costello's "Imperial Bedroom," by way of a Rolling Stone article something along the lines of the best 100 albums of this century and sure enough Costello's "Imperial Bedroom," made the cut. I already was a big fan with a greatest hits tape that introduced me to "Allison," and "Pump it Up." "Imperial Bedroom," is pretty steeped in the 80's. Though it contains some memorable songs, the general tenor is symphonic, jazzy, flowing numbers. For some reason it didn't strike a chord with me like other Costello and the Attractions works I've come to know and love.
Granted, "Almost Blue," and "Beyond Belief," rank right up there with Costello's best, the album stays on the surface slick and sleepy, torchy and touched. Granted it was hard to live up to the expectations set forth by making a Rolling Stones top 100 list, but with the likes of Elvis Costello it was possible.
I believe you should give Costello his due...the man is ultra-talented and knows his way around a song. But unless you are drawn to the more pop-ish polished side of Elvis, go elsewhere. If you need some "Peace, Love, and Understanding," and don't mind some of the sameness give "Imperial Bedroom," a whirl. Just don't get your expectations up too high unless you are a "Seal," crossed with Burt Bacharach fan. If you are...first seek counseling...next get Imperial Bedroom...it's only bound to make the condition exasperated. Not bad for a sleepy Friday night date under candle-light but other than that the Bed ain't spinning, it's imperial after all.
--MMW | 1 | neutral | [
"I came upon Elvis Costello's \"Imperial Bedroom,\" by way of a Rolling Stone article something along the lines of the best 100 albums of this century and sure enough Costello's \"Imperial Bedroom,\" made the cut.",
"I already was a big fan with a greatest hits tape that introduced me to \"Allison,\" and \"Pump it Up.",
"\" \"Imperial Bedroom,\" is pretty steeped in the 80's.",
"Though it contains some memorable songs, the general tenor is symphonic, jazzy, flowing numbers.",
"For some reason it didn't strike a chord with me like other Costello and the Attractions works I've come to know and love.",
"Granted, \"Almost Blue,\" and \"Beyond Belief,\" rank right up there with Costello's best, the album stays on the surface slick and sleepy, torchy and touched.",
"Granted it was hard to live up to the expectations set forth by making a Rolling Stones top 100 list, but with the likes of Elvis Costello it was possible.",
"I believe you should give Costello his due...",
"the man is ultra-talented and knows his way around a song.",
"But unless you are drawn to the more pop-ish polished side of Elvis, go elsewhere.",
"If you need some \"Peace, Love, and Understanding,\" and don't mind some of the sameness give \"Imperial Bedroom,\" a whirl.",
"Just don't get your expectations up too high unless you are a \"Seal,\" crossed with Burt Bacharach fan.",
"If you are...",
"first seek counseling...",
"next get Imperial Bedroom...",
"it's only bound to make the condition exasperated.",
"Not bad for a sleepy Friday night date under candle-light but other than that the Bed ain't spinning, it's imperial after all.",
"--MMW"
] |
I had heard great things about Dyson vacuums, but I'm rather disappointed with this one, especially considering its price. I can't find a reason to justify the price tag of the DC47, given that I've used much cheaper vacuums that worked better. It does eventually get the job done, but not in any extraordinary way.
Pros:
- Assembles very quickly and intuitively
- Looks cool
- No bags needed! You just dump the canister and occasionally rinse the filter.
Cons:
- The price tag $$$
- Doesn't seem any more powerful than much cheaper vacuums I've used.
- The regular brush head is small. It's nice for tighter spaces (and it did seem to suck from edge-to-edge), but it really should be wider. Trying to vacuum a few rooms becomes tiresome due to the many passes required. The special brush head is even smaller! But I get that's probably more for vacuuming the car.
- There is a mechanism to turn off the rotating brush (but keep it sucking). This is supposed to be used for sensitive floors that might scratch with the brush. I found the brush turning off very often, anytime it slightly knocked against the wall, or went under a cabinet. I even counted - it turned off 13 times during a 15 minute session. You have to bend over and pull out the sliding mechanism to get it to turn on again. It is very annoying.
- The small canister unit flips over easily, especially when the cord gets in the way.
- There's no holder attachment for the long pole...it would be nice if it could clip onto the ball unit for storage. | 1 | neutral | [
"I had heard great things about Dyson vacuums, but I'm rather disappointed with this one, especially considering its price.",
"I can't find a reason to justify the price tag of the DC47, given that I've used much cheaper vacuums that worked better.",
"It does eventually get the job done, but not in any extraordinary way.",
"Pros:\n- Assembles very quickly and intuitively\n- Looks cool\n- No bags needed!",
"You just dump the canister and occasionally rinse the filter.",
"Cons:\n- The price tag $$$\n- Doesn't seem any more powerful than much cheaper vacuums I've used.",
"- The regular brush head is small.",
"It's nice for tighter spaces (and it did seem to suck from edge-to-edge), but it really should be wider.",
"Trying to vacuum a few rooms becomes tiresome due to the many passes required.",
"The special brush head is even smaller!",
"But I get that's probably more for vacuuming the car.",
"- There is a mechanism to turn off the rotating brush (but keep it sucking).",
"This is supposed to be used for sensitive floors that might scratch with the brush.",
"I found the brush turning off very often, anytime it slightly knocked against the wall, or went under a cabinet.",
"I even counted - it turned off 13 times during a 15 minute session.",
"You have to bend over and pull out the sliding mechanism to get it to turn on again.",
"It is very annoying.",
"- The small canister unit flips over easily, especially when the cord gets in the way.",
"- There's no holder attachment for the long pole...",
"it would be nice if it could clip onto the ball unit for storage."
] |
I say that because most players have to turn down the graphic detail of their city in order for it to run on their computer. I have a P4 3.0, 30G HD, 512RAM and it runs the smaller and medium cities very well, but churns hard and even freezes up on the larger cities. When graphics are turned up to high, the buildings in the city are very nice to look at, but most computer players can't PLAY in this mode... it is a game that is very taxing on your hardware. I found that the longer I played my cities at one sitting, the slower my computer got and it couldn't keep up with the city growing.
I was disappointed in this game and it pains me to say that because I have been a big Maxis/SimCity fan since Day 1. I think SimCity 3000 Unlimited was a much better game with a lot more things to do than just build a city. After playing a few cities on SC4, I have actually become bored with the game and doubt I will play it much anymore (unless maybe if they release an expansion pack with a building architect, city scenarios, etc.). This game just does not have much to keep you coming back for more game play like SC3 Unlimited. Once you figure out how to build a perfect city, SC4 becomes quite a bore. | 1 | neutral | [
"I say that because most players have to turn down the graphic detail of their city in order for it to run on their computer.",
"I have a P4 3.",
"0, 30G HD, 512RAM and it runs the smaller and medium cities very well, but churns hard and even freezes up on the larger cities.",
"When graphics are turned up to high, the buildings in the city are very nice to look at, but most computer players can't PLAY in this mode...",
"it is a game that is very taxing on your hardware.",
"I found that the longer I played my cities at one sitting, the slower my computer got and it couldn't keep up with the city growing.",
"I was disappointed in this game and it pains me to say that because I have been a big Maxis/SimCity fan since Day 1.",
"I think SimCity 3000 Unlimited was a much better game with a lot more things to do than just build a city.",
"After playing a few cities on SC4, I have actually become bored with the game and doubt I will play it much anymore (unless maybe if they release an expansion pack with a building architect, city scenarios, etc.",
").",
"This game just does not have much to keep you coming back for more game play like SC3 Unlimited.",
"Once you figure out how to build a perfect city, SC4 becomes quite a bore."
] |
I am a Yes fan caught between two factions. I entered the Yes world at age 11 in 1984, buying a cassette of "90125" after liking "Owner Of A Lonely Heart", "Leave It" and "It Can Happen"--all Trevor Rabin penned songs. This might cause anger and disgust with older Yes fans as I am sure many of them did not/do not enjoy the Rabin-era Yes (1983-1994). I sure do, but I also liked "Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe". I think it's fair to say that most 11 year old kids were not listening to Yes, even if they were more marketable in the 1980's. Since that time I have embraced progressive rock: King Crimson, ELP, Genesis, Rush, but Yes win the title of best progressive rock band of all time in my book. I now own all of their albums, and I listened to all of them in sequential order leading up to "Fly From Here".
My first listen was jarring. Benoit David's vocals are not Jon Anderson. Trevor Horn, Chris Squire and Steve Howe cleverly mimicked Jon Anderson on 1980's "Drama", but the same is not true here. Benoit David is serviceable, but he does not have the range or depth of Jon Anderson's one-of-a-kind vocals. He also is not a primary songwriter here. This means he is singing what the band has given him. That must have been difficult. It is much harder to sing something that you did not write, and you might not feel committed to. Still, with repeated listening, Benoit David's vocals end up being fine, but in no way does it change my preference for Jon Anderson whether he has asthma or other respiratory issues or not. Whether his voice isn't the same now that he is in his late 60's or not. Jon Anderson is Jon Anderson, founding member of Yes.
I'm tired of all the talk about Trevor Horn and Geoffrey Downes resurrecting old Buggles tracks for this album. I don't care. I liked The Buggles, and I like Yes. The problem I have with the suite of "Fly From Here" that opens the album is why did the band feel they needed to make six separate parts? There was a time when Yes would boldly make 20+ minute songs, heck, they'd even make a double album of four long tracks. What happened here? Personally, I think they should have ditched the overture, "Bumpy Ride" and the reprise and just stuck with the three main tracks: "We Can Fly", "Sad Night At The Airfield" and "Madman At The Screens". These three songs combined, without any stupid segues, would have made a great singular opening track--re-asserting that Yes is back with a vengeance. But no, they divide the song up into six parts that lose focus.
The second half of "Fly From Here" is a total mess. Chris Squire's "The Man You Always Wanted Me To Be" is one of the weakest Yes songs ever made and reeks of vanity project. "Life On A Film Set" is okay, but nothing special. Surprisingly, it is Steve Howe who saves the album's second half with "Hour Of Need" which sounds like a classic Yes ballad, not unlike something Jon Anderson might come up with. Then there's Howe's instrumental "Solitaire". Much has been said about this track as being one of his finest ever. Really? I dare say that I like "Sketches In The Sun" from Howe's side project "GTR" from 1986 (I actually own it on cd, and I bought it on cassette originally in May 1986 when it was released at the tender age of 13). Lastly, "Into The Storm" finishes off the album pretty nicely. I have to admit that I didn't really notice Oliver Wakeman's input on the keyboards. I'm sure he's there, but his playing blends seamlessly like a session musician's rather than standing out. I mean, Rick Wakeman's contributions stood out. I knew he was playing. Not so for Oliver, and that may be no fault of his own, but more Horn and Squire's doing.
As other reviewers have said here, this isn't Yes' best work or worst. The guys are old now, not just older. They chose to not have Jon Anderson this time out. It's been a decade between albums (that's several generations of music listeners who are just now finding out about Yes for the first time). "Fly From Here" is passable, and does seem to get better with repeated listening. So three stars for being above average Yes.
Here's how "Fly From Here" compares with Yes' previous works:
1969 Yes: Three and a Half Stars
1970 Time And A Word: Three and a Half Stars
1971 The Yes Album: Four Stars
1971 Fragile: Five Stars
1972 Close To The Edge: Five Stars
1973 Tales From Topographic Oceans: Three and a Half Stars
1974 Relayer: Four Stars
1977 Going For The One: Three and a Half Stars
1978 Tormato: Four Stars
1980 Drama: Three and a Half Stars
1983 90125: Five Stars
1987 Big Generator: Three and a Half Stars
1989 Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe: Five Stars
1991 Union: Three Stars
1994 Talk: Four Stars
1996-1997 Keystudio: Four Stars
1997 Open Your Eyes: Two and a Half Stars
1999 The Ladder: Three and a Half Stars
2001 Magnification: Four Stars
2011 Fly From Here: Three Stars | 1 | neutral | [
"I am a Yes fan caught between two factions.",
"I entered the Yes world at age 11 in 1984, buying a cassette of \"90125\" after liking \"Owner Of A Lonely Heart\", \"Leave It\" and \"It Can Happen\"--all Trevor Rabin penned songs.",
"This might cause anger and disgust with older Yes fans as I am sure many of them did not/do not enjoy the Rabin-era Yes (1983-1994).",
"I sure do, but I also liked \"Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe\".",
"I think it's fair to say that most 11 year old kids were not listening to Yes, even if they were more marketable in the 1980's.",
"Since that time I have embraced progressive rock: King Crimson, ELP, Genesis, Rush, but Yes win the title of best progressive rock band of all time in my book.",
"I now own all of their albums, and I listened to all of them in sequential order leading up to \"Fly From Here\".",
"My first listen was jarring.",
"Benoit David's vocals are not Jon Anderson.",
"Trevor Horn, Chris Squire and Steve Howe cleverly mimicked Jon Anderson on 1980's \"Drama\", but the same is not true here.",
"Benoit David is serviceable, but he does not have the range or depth of Jon Anderson's one-of-a-kind vocals.",
"He also is not a primary songwriter here.",
"This means he is singing what the band has given him.",
"That must have been difficult.",
"It is much harder to sing something that you did not write, and you might not feel committed to.",
"Still, with repeated listening, Benoit David's vocals end up being fine, but in no way does it change my preference for Jon Anderson whether he has asthma or other respiratory issues or not.",
"Whether his voice isn't the same now that he is in his late 60's or not.",
"Jon Anderson is Jon Anderson, founding member of Yes.",
"I'm tired of all the talk about Trevor Horn and Geoffrey Downes resurrecting old Buggles tracks for this album.",
"I don't care.",
"I liked The Buggles, and I like Yes.",
"The problem I have with the suite of \"Fly From Here\" that opens the album is why did the band feel they needed to make six separate parts?",
"There was a time when Yes would boldly make 20+ minute songs, heck, they'd even make a double album of four long tracks.",
"What happened here?",
"Personally, I think they should have ditched the overture, \"Bumpy Ride\" and the reprise and just stuck with the three main tracks: \"We Can Fly\", \"Sad Night At The Airfield\" and \"Madman At The Screens\".",
"These three songs combined, without any stupid segues, would have made a great singular opening track--re-asserting that Yes is back with a vengeance.",
"But no, they divide the song up into six parts that lose focus.",
"The second half of \"Fly From Here\" is a total mess.",
"Chris Squire's \"The Man You Always Wanted Me To Be\" is one of the weakest Yes songs ever made and reeks of vanity project.",
"\"Life On A Film Set\" is okay, but nothing special.",
"Surprisingly, it is Steve Howe who saves the album's second half with \"Hour Of Need\" which sounds like a classic Yes ballad, not unlike something Jon Anderson might come up with.",
"Then there's Howe's instrumental \"Solitaire\".",
"Much has been said about this track as being one of his finest ever.",
"Really?",
"I dare say that I like \"Sketches In The Sun\" from Howe's side project \"GTR\" from 1986 (I actually own it on cd, and I bought it on cassette originally in May 1986 when it was released at the tender age of 13).",
"Lastly, \"Into The Storm\" finishes off the album pretty nicely.",
"I have to admit that I didn't really notice Oliver Wakeman's input on the keyboards.",
"I'm sure he's there, but his playing blends seamlessly like a session musician's rather than standing out.",
"I mean, Rick Wakeman's contributions stood out.",
"I knew he was playing.",
"Not so for Oliver, and that may be no fault of his own, but more Horn and Squire's doing.",
"As other reviewers have said here, this isn't Yes' best work or worst.",
"The guys are old now, not just older.",
"They chose to not have Jon Anderson this time out.",
"It's been a decade between albums (that's several generations of music listeners who are just now finding out about Yes for the first time).",
"\"Fly From Here\" is passable, and does seem to get better with repeated listening.",
"So three stars for being above average Yes.",
"Here's how \"Fly From Here\" compares with Yes' previous works:\n\n1969 Yes: Three and a Half Stars\n1970 Time And A Word: Three and a Half Stars\n1971 The Yes Album: Four Stars\n1971 Fragile: Five Stars\n1972 Close To The Edge: Five Stars\n1973 Tales From Topographic Oceans: Three and a Half Stars\n1974 Relayer: Four Stars\n1977 Going For The One: Three and a Half Stars\n1978 Tormato: Four Stars\n1980 Drama: Three and a Half Stars\n1983 90125: Five Stars\n1987 Big Generator: Three and a Half Stars\n1989 Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe: Five Stars\n1991 Union: Three Stars\n1994 Talk: Four Stars\n1996-1997 Keystudio: Four Stars\n1997 Open Your Eyes: Two and a Half Stars\n1999 The Ladder: Three and a Half Stars\n2001 Magnification: Four Stars\n2011 Fly From Here: Three Stars"
] |
John Carpenters Village of the Damned Collectors Edition gets an HD upgrade from our good friends at Scream Factory. John Carpenter directed the movie from a screenplay by David Himmelstein, Steven Siebert, and Larry Sulkis. The original script for the 1960 film was written by Stirling Silliphant, Wolf Rilla, and Ronald Kinnoch based on the novel by John Wyndham. The cast is made up of Christopher Reeve in his last performance before being paralyzed, Kirstie Alley, Mark Hamill, Linda Kozlowski, and Michael Pare.
Something is terribly wrong in the tiny village of Midwich. After an unseen force invades a quiet coastal town, ten women mysteriously find themselves pregnant. Local physician Dr. Alan Chaffee (Christopher Reeve) and government scientist Dr. Susan Verner (Kirstie Alley) join forces when the women simultaneously give birth... and the reign of supernatural terror begins. The people of Midwich must try to find a way to stop the unstoppable in the "Village of the Damned."
Village of the Damned doesnt have that John Carpenter quality weve come to expect from the directors more personal projects. The passion we see in his remake of The Thing from Another World is all but absent here. I don't get a sense of emotional attachment to the source material like I do for Howard Hawks original 1951film. Maybe thats because Ive read and seen interviews with Carpenter and his production partner where they admitted they were less than enthused to take on the movie and had ulterior motives.
Since "Village of the Damned" was made before the CGI craze hit Hollywood, we get a lot of practical and traditional special effects. Director Carpenter features not just one, but two burned and charred bodies for horror enthusiasts to enjoy. The visual effects of the children's eyes are also a treat to look upon.
John Carpenter shares the responsibility of the musical score for Village of the Damned with The Kinks singer, songwriter and guitarist Dave Davies. The combination of these two talents makes for an eclectic soundtrack. Lets just say its not quite as menacing as what weve come to expect when sitting down to watch Carpenters productions.
Village of the Damned Collectors Edition is rated R for some sci-fi terror and violence. Its rather tame by todays standards. It also contains gore, profanity, and frightening and intense scenes. If released today, the movie would be rated PG-13.
Scream Factory provides us with new special features for their Blu-ray release of Village of the Damned. It Takes a Village: The Making of Village of the Damnedcontains interviews with Director John Carpenter, Producer Sandy King, Actors Michael Pare, Peter Jason, Meredith Salenger, Cody Dorkin, Karen Kahn, Lindsey Haun, Danielle Wiener, Thomas Dekker, and Makeup Effects Artist Greg Nicotero. We get to return to the Village with Horrors Hallowed Grounds - Revisiting the Locations of the Film.
Producer / Actor Peter Jason opens up in The Go To Guy: My Career with John Carpenter. Vintage interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, a theatrical trailer, and a behind-the-scenes still gallery are found as well.
John Carpenter's "Village of the Damned" isn't necessarily a bad movie. It just feels like the iconic director was going through the motions. Almost like he really didn't have any personal stakes in creating something that would stand the test of time like his own "Halloween" or "The Fog." The acting isn't really bad and there are some chilling moments, but I couldn't shake the idea that I was being walked through an updated Reader's Digest condensed version of the original 1960 British film.
Village of the Damned Collectors Edition is available now on Blu-ray. | 1 | neutral | [
"John Carpenters Village of the Damned Collectors Edition gets an HD upgrade from our good friends at Scream Factory.",
"John Carpenter directed the movie from a screenplay by David Himmelstein, Steven Siebert, and Larry Sulkis.",
"The original script for the 1960 film was written by Stirling Silliphant, Wolf Rilla, and Ronald Kinnoch based on the novel by John Wyndham.",
"The cast is made up of Christopher Reeve in his last performance before being paralyzed, Kirstie Alley, Mark Hamill, Linda Kozlowski, and Michael Pare.",
"Something is terribly wrong in the tiny village of Midwich.",
"After an unseen force invades a quiet coastal town, ten women mysteriously find themselves pregnant.",
"Local physician Dr.",
"Alan Chaffee (Christopher Reeve) and government scientist Dr.",
"Susan Verner (Kirstie Alley) join forces when the women simultaneously give birth...",
"and the reign of supernatural terror begins.",
"The people of Midwich must try to find a way to stop the unstoppable in the \"Village of the Damned.",
"\"\n\nVillage of the Damned doesnt have that John Carpenter quality weve come to expect from the directors more personal projects.",
"The passion we see in his remake of The Thing from Another World is all but absent here.",
"I don't get a sense of emotional attachment to the source material like I do for Howard Hawks original 1951film.",
"Maybe thats because Ive read and seen interviews with Carpenter and his production partner where they admitted they were less than enthused to take on the movie and had ulterior motives.",
"Since \"Village of the Damned\" was made before the CGI craze hit Hollywood, we get a lot of practical and traditional special effects.",
"Director Carpenter features not just one, but two burned and charred bodies for horror enthusiasts to enjoy.",
"The visual effects of the children's eyes are also a treat to look upon.",
"John Carpenter shares the responsibility of the musical score for Village of the Damned with The Kinks singer, songwriter and guitarist Dave Davies.",
"The combination of these two talents makes for an eclectic soundtrack.",
"Lets just say its not quite as menacing as what weve come to expect when sitting down to watch Carpenters productions.",
"Village of the Damned Collectors Edition is rated R for some sci-fi terror and violence.",
"Its rather tame by todays standards.",
"It also contains gore, profanity, and frightening and intense scenes.",
"If released today, the movie would be rated PG-13.",
"Scream Factory provides us with new special features for their Blu-ray release of Village of the Damned.",
"It Takes a Village: The Making of Village of the Damnedcontains interviews with Director John Carpenter, Producer Sandy King, Actors Michael Pare, Peter Jason, Meredith Salenger, Cody Dorkin, Karen Kahn, Lindsey Haun, Danielle Wiener, Thomas Dekker, and Makeup Effects Artist Greg Nicotero.",
"We get to return to the Village with Horrors Hallowed Grounds - Revisiting the Locations of the Film.",
"Producer / Actor Peter Jason opens up in The Go To Guy: My Career with John Carpenter.",
"Vintage interviews and behind-the-scenes footage, a theatrical trailer, and a behind-the-scenes still gallery are found as well.",
"John Carpenter's \"Village of the Damned\" isn't necessarily a bad movie.",
"It just feels like the iconic director was going through the motions.",
"Almost like he really didn't have any personal stakes in creating something that would stand the test of time like his own \"Halloween\" or \"The Fog.",
"\" The acting isn't really bad and there are some chilling moments, but I couldn't shake the idea that I was being walked through an updated Reader's Digest condensed version of the original 1960 British film.",
"Village of the Damned Collectors Edition is available now on Blu-ray."
] |
Intro:
We live on the edge of a large forested area and have all kinds of wildlife coming through (which is fine) but unfortunately some of them like to go live under the deck around the pool, which isn't cool as they'll gnaw on wood, wiring and plumbing. Plus the porcupines destroy pine trees.
So, I have two other havahart traps, one small one for squirrels and a large one (12x12x36) ... both of which I have had for 3 years. With the large one I've caught over two dozen raccoons, porcupines, ground hogs and skunks. In two weeks time this spring I caught 6 porcupines that had moved in this winter.
My recent attempts to get the big new groundhog have been going on for two weeks and I think it is because my trap is too small. So I decided to purchase a larger one, which means I will also be able to set two traps out.
Trap 1081.
---------
Arrived in its box, fully pre-assembled from Amazon in one and a half days. Which I was happy about as the email said it was going to arrive Wednesday May 2nd.
The trap is pretty well made and looks sturdy overall, but unfortunately Havahart skimped on quality and/or quality control in a few areas:
( I will post photos to detail these )
- the rear panel is of thinner gauge then the rest of the trap. Experience has told me that is where the animals try to get out (not under the slanted part) and will pry paneling open, so if anything the gauge thickness of the panel in my opinion should match that of the rest of the cage
- the clips holding the rear panel in are of the wrong size (too big), are not closed all the way ... and there should probably be at least half again as many clips. Again, from experience with my other trap, which I have had to reinforce.
- there is a handle on the rear top end ... but not on the front top end? So you cannot carry it with two hands across the widest part or have two people carry it. If you buy this trap, you're quite likely looking to trap something big, which is going to weigh a lot and you will not carry it by the center handle. Again from experience with my smaller trap, where some critters have had me walking lopsided.
- the center handle has a protective piece, keeping your hand safe, but the rear handle doesn't?
- the handles are pretty thin and you will need to wear gloves whenever you move the cage with the trapped animal
- the hook to set the door open is pretty small, smaller then the manual suggests as far as setting the trap with light pressure or heavy pressure. All you can do is heavy pressure.
- there is some bent wire included to open the trap to release the animal, I'm not thrilled about that. My other trap has easy close and easy release with one hand. It seems with this trap they suggest you turn the trap over 90 degrees, unlock the door then fold the flap up. The door does open easier on its side then when it is right side up. I may employ a small leash so that once it is unlocked I can stand away a little and pull the flap open to let the animal out. I prefer to have my hands away and be a few steps back. Many times the critters hunker down away from where your hand is trying to open the cage. A little extra distance is a good thing.
Prior to deployment, to counter the loose back panel, I did tighten up the rear panel with 16 loops of #14 gauge copper electrical wire. Cut a section of wire and twisted it like a twist tie and then trimmed it off. I would suggest other people getting this trap to do the same. Clips that are loose with only three per side (two corners, one in the middle) will open up farther when a determined critter is fighting to get out.
All in all not a bad trap. I hope it will serve me well for several years. Just a bit disappointing about the above details. For the price, from supposedly the #1 manufacturer of these things, they should have this thing solid all the way around, without a thinner end panel nor loose clips that the homeowner needs to correct. That thinner gauge panel is just cost cutting and not using proper clips nor closing them tight is just sloppy. If you can have all the other clips tight where pieces meet; why not those on the rear end?
And, judging from other comments and reviews, this has been going on for years.
I still have to figure something out for the front handle, and may slip some old garden hose over the other ones. It is no fun trying to carry to 20+ critters by a wire handle. | 1 | neutral | [
"Intro:\nWe live on the edge of a large forested area and have all kinds of wildlife coming through (which is fine) but unfortunately some of them like to go live under the deck around the pool, which isn't cool as they'll gnaw on wood, wiring and plumbing.",
"Plus the porcupines destroy pine trees.",
"So, I have two other havahart traps, one small one for squirrels and a large one (12x12x36)...",
"both of which I have had for 3 years.",
"With the large one I've caught over two dozen raccoons, porcupines, ground hogs and skunks.",
"In two weeks time this spring I caught 6 porcupines that had moved in this winter.",
"My recent attempts to get the big new groundhog have been going on for two weeks and I think it is because my trap is too small.",
"So I decided to purchase a larger one, which means I will also be able to set two traps out.",
"Trap 1081.",
"---------\n\nArrived in its box, fully pre-assembled from Amazon in one and a half days.",
"Which I was happy about as the email said it was going to arrive Wednesday May 2nd.",
"The trap is pretty well made and looks sturdy overall, but unfortunately Havahart skimped on quality and/or quality control in a few areas:\n\n( I will post photos to detail these )\n\n- the rear panel is of thinner gauge then the rest of the trap.",
"Experience has told me that is where the animals try to get out (not under the slanted part) and will pry paneling open, so if anything the gauge thickness of the panel in my opinion should match that of the rest of the cage\n\n- the clips holding the rear panel in are of the wrong size (too big), are not closed all the way...",
"and there should probably be at least half again as many clips.",
"Again, from experience with my other trap, which I have had to reinforce.",
"- there is a handle on the rear top end...",
"but not on the front top end?",
"So you cannot carry it with two hands across the widest part or have two people carry it.",
"If you buy this trap, you're quite likely looking to trap something big, which is going to weigh a lot and you will not carry it by the center handle.",
"Again from experience with my smaller trap, where some critters have had me walking lopsided.",
"- the center handle has a protective piece, keeping your hand safe, but the rear handle doesn't?",
"- the handles are pretty thin and you will need to wear gloves whenever you move the cage with the trapped animal\n\n- the hook to set the door open is pretty small, smaller then the manual suggests as far as setting the trap with light pressure or heavy pressure.",
"All you can do is heavy pressure.",
"- there is some bent wire included to open the trap to release the animal, I'm not thrilled about that.",
"My other trap has easy close and easy release with one hand.",
"It seems with this trap they suggest you turn the trap over 90 degrees, unlock the door then fold the flap up.",
"The door does open easier on its side then when it is right side up.",
"I may employ a small leash so that once it is unlocked I can stand away a little and pull the flap open to let the animal out.",
"I prefer to have my hands away and be a few steps back.",
"Many times the critters hunker down away from where your hand is trying to open the cage.",
"A little extra distance is a good thing.",
"Prior to deployment, to counter the loose back panel, I did tighten up the rear panel with 16 loops of #14 gauge copper electrical wire.",
"Cut a section of wire and twisted it like a twist tie and then trimmed it off.",
"I would suggest other people getting this trap to do the same.",
"Clips that are loose with only three per side (two corners, one in the middle) will open up farther when a determined critter is fighting to get out.",
"All in all not a bad trap.",
"I hope it will serve me well for several years.",
"Just a bit disappointing about the above details.",
"For the price, from supposedly the #1 manufacturer of these things, they should have this thing solid all the way around, without a thinner end panel nor loose clips that the homeowner needs to correct.",
"That thinner gauge panel is just cost cutting and not using proper clips nor closing them tight is just sloppy.",
"If you can have all the other clips tight where pieces meet; why not those on the rear end?",
"And, judging from other comments and reviews, this has been going on for years.",
"I still have to figure something out for the front handle, and may slip some old garden hose over the other ones.",
"It is no fun trying to carry to 20+ critters by a wire handle."
] |
First of all, it's as big as a walnut. I feel badly because I gave it a bad review earlier today. Then as a joke, we put it on my gl2. It was really bright. I'd said before that it wasn't but I was using it during an earlier part of the day. I only wish it came with some kind of diffusion because when it came on, I saw white circles everywhere I looked for like 30 minutes. I am really glad to have this little thing if ever I get into a low-light pinch because it probably will not eat up the battery too quickly. Maybe I can make some kind of diffuser for it too. Plugs right into the camera's shoe. I have deep set eyes, so I felt more confident when the camera was on me knowing it was helping to balance that a little. If my subjects don't go blind, I'm hoping that they too will feel good about having a little eyelight. Also, I dissed the price before, but all photography equipment is ridiculously expensive. This is cheap by comparison. I'd change it to 4 stars despite the fact that a professional camera man laughed at this little thing the other day and told me not to use it. I might have to use it though so it's part of my lightweight kit. | 1 | neutral | [
"First of all, it's as big as a walnut.",
"I feel badly because I gave it a bad review earlier today.",
"Then as a joke, we put it on my gl2.",
"It was really bright.",
"I'd said before that it wasn't but I was using it during an earlier part of the day.",
"I only wish it came with some kind of diffusion because when it came on, I saw white circles everywhere I looked for like 30 minutes.",
"I am really glad to have this little thing if ever I get into a low-light pinch because it probably will not eat up the battery too quickly.",
"Maybe I can make some kind of diffuser for it too.",
"Plugs right into the camera's shoe.",
"I have deep set eyes, so I felt more confident when the camera was on me knowing it was helping to balance that a little.",
"If my subjects don't go blind, I'm hoping that they too will feel good about having a little eyelight.",
"Also, I dissed the price before, but all photography equipment is ridiculously expensive.",
"This is cheap by comparison.",
"I'd change it to 4 stars despite the fact that a professional camera man laughed at this little thing the other day and told me not to use it.",
"I might have to use it though so it's part of my lightweight kit."
] |
I ordered this bluetooth because i couldn't find my plantronics. I was looking for one that you can listen to your music as well. This Q2 blueant is an awesome piece, but after just a few weeks of use the trademarks started to fall off. first I noticed that there was a sticky substance on my piece, after inspecting it thoroughly, the Q2 logo, fell off, it's just like a piece of rubber glued poorly on the back of the earpiece, now it looks more like a Q1, oh well. Later on, like about 2 weeks, the covering at the tip of the bluetooth started to slide off, the same poorly glued covering, and the black tiny piece of foam or whatever material naturally fell off exposing the mic. I would have given this a 5 star because of its performance and design, but the quality of its product is a little off.
UPDATE: Oct. 29, 2013
My bluetooth is broken in two, no force, it was just on my shirt pocket and when I pulled it out, it's like it disintegrated and little pieces fell off. Well at least it lasted more than a year. I hope Blueant can make a better quality bluetooth... my other bluetooth I was using it for more than 2 yrs and it was still fine, much sturdier, just lost it. This product is great except for its quality sucks! | 1 | neutral | [
"I ordered this bluetooth because i couldn't find my plantronics.",
"I was looking for one that you can listen to your music as well.",
"This Q2 blueant is an awesome piece, but after just a few weeks of use the trademarks started to fall off.",
"first I noticed that there was a sticky substance on my piece, after inspecting it thoroughly, the Q2 logo, fell off, it's just like a piece of rubber glued poorly on the back of the earpiece, now it looks more like a Q1, oh well.",
"Later on, like about 2 weeks, the covering at the tip of the bluetooth started to slide off, the same poorly glued covering, and the black tiny piece of foam or whatever material naturally fell off exposing the mic.",
"I would have given this a 5 star because of its performance and design, but the quality of its product is a little off.",
"UPDATE: Oct.",
"29, 2013\nMy bluetooth is broken in two, no force, it was just on my shirt pocket and when I pulled it out, it's like it disintegrated and little pieces fell off.",
"Well at least it lasted more than a year.",
"I hope Blueant can make a better quality bluetooth...",
"my other bluetooth I was using it for more than 2 yrs and it was still fine, much sturdier, just lost it.",
"This product is great except for its quality sucks!"
] |
Pros:
Light, portable, and beautiful colors compared to 24-70mm I or 24-105mm.
Cons:
A tad bit sharper than 24-70mm I or 24-105mm but still not sharp at all. (expect almost same blurriness as 24-70mm I)
Lots of aberration on corners compared to 16-35mm 2.8 II (Sorry, I don't own 24-70mm I anymore to compare aberration)
IS is usable and is not as effective as that on other IS lenses.
Expect 1/3-1/2 stop less light at 70mm on video mode. I have no clue why it has to be darker when the aperture is fixed. Someone please give me feedback on this if you own the same lens.
Macro is a bit limited. And sadly you often have to operate "zoom" ring depending on distance.
Don't listen to all the hypes from Canon saying that this lens is the second sharpest lens after 24-70mm f/2.8 II. If this is the second sharpest, then third and fourth are sheer garbage. I regret I paid $1500 when it first came out. I keep it for the video use but I wouldn't recommend it if you have a good working 24-70mm I. | 1 | neutral | [
"Pros:\nLight, portable, and beautiful colors compared to 24-70mm I or 24-105mm.",
"Cons:\nA tad bit sharper than 24-70mm I or 24-105mm but still not sharp at all.",
"(expect almost same blurriness as 24-70mm I)\nLots of aberration on corners compared to 16-35mm 2.",
"8 II (Sorry, I don't own 24-70mm I anymore to compare aberration)\nIS is usable and is not as effective as that on other IS lenses.",
"Expect 1/3-1/2 stop less light at 70mm on video mode.",
"I have no clue why it has to be darker when the aperture is fixed.",
"Someone please give me feedback on this if you own the same lens.",
"Macro is a bit limited.",
"And sadly you often have to operate \"zoom\" ring depending on distance.",
"Don't listen to all the hypes from Canon saying that this lens is the second sharpest lens after 24-70mm f/2.",
"8 II.",
"If this is the second sharpest, then third and fourth are sheer garbage.",
"I regret I paid $1500 when it first came out.",
"I keep it for the video use but I wouldn't recommend it if you have a good working 24-70mm I."
] |
This magazine is a product of CondeNet publishing and it is aimed at the younger female market, roughly from ages 18 to 30. This publication is a shopper's paradise, with more advertising than most any other magazine on the market.
I got a complimentary subscription to this magazine one day and I accepted, not only because it was free, but also because I really didn't know it was a woman's fashion magazine. With a title like "Lucky", there were all sorts of possibilities. It could have been about gambling, sweepstakes, or about getting lucky. I didn't know it was a woman's magazine, so I accepted it. And from what I can see, this magazine is one of average worth to the average person and it will appeal mostly to younger women.
Fashion covers a good amount of the magazine's 200 plus pages. Beauty tips are another important area of coverage. It is also common to see samples of different products inside the pages of each issue. Things like perfume samples, shampoo, and other things can be found buried somewhere within each copy. The coverage includes casual as well as high- class clothing and beauty products, with most of it falling at the upper end of the cost scale.
If you can tolerate the clogging of advertisements, this magazine might be a good choice for the younger female crowd that likes to keep in- tune with the latest styles and trends. Outside of that targeted market, however, I don't see much use for Lucky magazine. The photography is very good and the presentation is professional, but the magazine will likely be rated average by a large cross- section of the population. | 1 | neutral | [
"This magazine is a product of CondeNet publishing and it is aimed at the younger female market, roughly from ages 18 to 30.",
"This publication is a shopper's paradise, with more advertising than most any other magazine on the market.",
"I got a complimentary subscription to this magazine one day and I accepted, not only because it was free, but also because I really didn't know it was a woman's fashion magazine.",
"With a title like \"Lucky\", there were all sorts of possibilities.",
"It could have been about gambling, sweepstakes, or about getting lucky.",
"I didn't know it was a woman's magazine, so I accepted it.",
"And from what I can see, this magazine is one of average worth to the average person and it will appeal mostly to younger women.",
"Fashion covers a good amount of the magazine's 200 plus pages.",
"Beauty tips are another important area of coverage.",
"It is also common to see samples of different products inside the pages of each issue.",
"Things like perfume samples, shampoo, and other things can be found buried somewhere within each copy.",
"The coverage includes casual as well as high- class clothing and beauty products, with most of it falling at the upper end of the cost scale.",
"If you can tolerate the clogging of advertisements, this magazine might be a good choice for the younger female crowd that likes to keep in- tune with the latest styles and trends.",
"Outside of that targeted market, however, I don't see much use for Lucky magazine.",
"The photography is very good and the presentation is professional, but the magazine will likely be rated average by a large cross- section of the population."
] |
I really thought this game would be more fun, or even more funny, than it is. I have played other Scene It? games, so I knew what to expect with the gameboard set up, rules, categories, and so on. I think this game works best when it caters to a more specific movie interest, like Harry Potter, Star Trek, Twilight, etc. "Comedy Movies" just seems too generic. If you were to create a game around this, it might have been better to sample some older classics like Some Like It Hot or the Marx Brothers films, and mix them in with more modern classics like Tootsie or Groundhog Day, rather than relying exclusively on more recent films, some of which were not so great. And couldn't they find funnier clips? As for the "bonus games", they're nothing special, just some on-screen prompts to play versions of games like Charades and Pictionary. I'm sure some players will find this fun, and if it were the first Scene It? game I ever played, I might find it more fun too. It's just that there are so many better versions out there. | 1 | neutral | [
"I really thought this game would be more fun, or even more funny, than it is.",
"I have played other Scene It?",
"games, so I knew what to expect with the gameboard set up, rules, categories, and so on.",
"I think this game works best when it caters to a more specific movie interest, like Harry Potter, Star Trek, Twilight, etc.",
"\"Comedy Movies\" just seems too generic.",
"If you were to create a game around this, it might have been better to sample some older classics like Some Like It Hot or the Marx Brothers films, and mix them in with more modern classics like Tootsie or Groundhog Day, rather than relying exclusively on more recent films, some of which were not so great.",
"And couldn't they find funnier clips?",
"As for the \"bonus games\", they're nothing special, just some on-screen prompts to play versions of games like Charades and Pictionary.",
"I'm sure some players will find this fun, and if it were the first Scene It?",
"game I ever played, I might find it more fun too.",
"It's just that there are so many better versions out there."
] |
First of all, let me start out by saying that I
absolutely loved the original Red Faction. I gave
it 5 stars. So, I expected this sequel to be even
better than the first...NOT!!! Sure, you can just
about blow everything up, but that's where the
sweetness ends.
My best piece of advice when playing this game:
RELOAD OFTEN. The enemies take a rediculous
amount of punishment before they croak. I basically
used the one weapon which fires three short bursts,
one to knock off the helmet (if he's wearing one),
and two more for a facial. Unless it's an explosive
weapon, the others are useless unless you want to
receive major damage in the process. There's very
little time to take a breather, so be ready to do a
lot of fighting.
I liked being able to fight along with team members,
except that my actions didn't quite determine their
longevity. I could sit there and do nothing while t
hey're getting shot at and it wouldn't matter. So
much for teamwork. The vehicles and battle suits you
get to use are ok, but infrequent.
Size does matter. I finished this game way too quickly,
partly because it's very short and partly because I
wanted to move on to 007 Nightfire. I had to use a
cheat code to beat the final boss because the fight
is unfair and the health doesn't seem to span when it's
supposed to.
By my title, I suggested this game should've been called
Red "Fraction" because it's partially fun compared to the
first edition. Too bad I bought it. I'll keep it until
I need to make space for more video games and gladly sell
it. Good rental, but don't put it underneath the Christmas
tree as a present. Try the fireplace instead. | 1 | neutral | [
"First of all, let me start out by saying that I\nabsolutely loved the original Red Faction.",
"I gave\nit 5 stars.",
"So, I expected this sequel to be even\nbetter than the first...",
"NOT!!!",
"Sure, you can just\nabout blow everything up, but that's where the\nsweetness ends.",
"My best piece of advice when playing this game:\nRELOAD OFTEN.",
"The enemies take a rediculous\namount of punishment before they croak.",
"I basically\nused the one weapon which fires three short bursts,\none to knock off the helmet (if he's wearing one),\nand two more for a facial.",
"Unless it's an explosive\nweapon, the others are useless unless you want to\nreceive major damage in the process.",
"There's very\nlittle time to take a breather, so be ready to do a\nlot of fighting.",
"I liked being able to fight along with team members,\nexcept that my actions didn't quite determine their\nlongevity.",
"I could sit there and do nothing while t\nhey're getting shot at and it wouldn't matter.",
"So\nmuch for teamwork.",
"The vehicles and battle suits you\nget to use are ok, but infrequent.",
"Size does matter.",
"I finished this game way too quickly,\npartly because it's very short and partly because I\nwanted to move on to 007 Nightfire.",
"I had to use a\ncheat code to beat the final boss because the fight\nis unfair and the health doesn't seem to span when it's\nsupposed to.",
"By my title, I suggested this game should've been called\nRed \"Fraction\" because it's partially fun compared to the\nfirst edition.",
"Too bad I bought it.",
"I'll keep it until\nI need to make space for more video games and gladly sell\nit.",
"Good rental, but don't put it underneath the Christmas\ntree as a present.",
"Try the fireplace instead."
] |
I bought the Kodak DC 3200 and sold it because it over exposed pictures that where too close. The Fuji FinePix A101 is by far one of the finest camera's. It is very small and fits in your pocket compared to other cheaper brands that are bulky and large.
The LCD screen looks choppy in dim light but trust me the pictures although look choppy in the display they are excellently clear and sharp when you display them on your PC. The over exposure problem I had with the Kodak from the flash with pictures taken at close range is now a thing of the past. The A101 takes pictures up close and although they may seem over exposed in the LCD they are premium quality when you view them on your PC.
I would recommend this camera to anyone. I've even suggested it to family members telling them that I would buy it from them if they did not like it. I'm that sure that you will like it. This is most certainly not a camera for a professional or expert user. I would rate this camera a beginner to novice user level. | 1 | neutral | [
"I bought the Kodak DC 3200 and sold it because it over exposed pictures that where too close.",
"The Fuji FinePix A101 is by far one of the finest camera's.",
"It is very small and fits in your pocket compared to other cheaper brands that are bulky and large.",
"The LCD screen looks choppy in dim light but trust me the pictures although look choppy in the display they are excellently clear and sharp when you display them on your PC.",
"The over exposure problem I had with the Kodak from the flash with pictures taken at close range is now a thing of the past.",
"The A101 takes pictures up close and although they may seem over exposed in the LCD they are premium quality when you view them on your PC.",
"I would recommend this camera to anyone.",
"I've even suggested it to family members telling them that I would buy it from them if they did not like it.",
"I'm that sure that you will like it.",
"This is most certainly not a camera for a professional or expert user.",
"I would rate this camera a beginner to novice user level."
] |
The reason for only three stars really came down to two things: 1. It came with NO instructions. Thankfully I read the reviews to know that I needed a coffee stirrer size straw to blow the letters up. However, I didn't know anything else. I assumed you pulled the blue tabs at the bottom out because I thought it looked strange with them hanging out. Nope- do not do this. Your letters will deflate. So I had to blow each letter up again and then tape the bottoms to keep them from deflating. Would have been nice to get some instructions so I could have avoided all these extra steps. 2. It came with an extra C instead of a G. Thankfully it was still funny without the G but I would have been screwed if it were any other letter. Overall, with some extra time, it all worked out and my best friend loved it. But I feel like some instructions should definitely be included and they should be more careful about including all the right letters. | 1 | neutral | [
"The reason for only three stars really came down to two things: 1.",
"It came with NO instructions.",
"Thankfully I read the reviews to know that I needed a coffee stirrer size straw to blow the letters up.",
"However, I didn't know anything else.",
"I assumed you pulled the blue tabs at the bottom out because I thought it looked strange with them hanging out.",
"Nope- do not do this.",
"Your letters will deflate.",
"So I had to blow each letter up again and then tape the bottoms to keep them from deflating.",
"Would have been nice to get some instructions so I could have avoided all these extra steps.",
"2.",
"It came with an extra C instead of a G.",
"Thankfully it was still funny without the G but I would have been screwed if it were any other letter.",
"Overall, with some extra time, it all worked out and my best friend loved it.",
"But I feel like some instructions should definitely be included and they should be more careful about including all the right letters."
] |
Basic: Take the previous X-Men Legends game and add some good/new features, and the ability to play both Brotherhood and X-Men. Unfortunately they took away some good characters to do so.
Review: In my opinion, the game is good for playing with friends, online, or if you get hooked on trying to unlock or improve your characters. The Normal setting is fairly easy so far and even so, I enjoy seeing what I can unlock for each character.
The cinematics are pretty good, but when it displays cut-scenes, the characters are just like they were in the previous game, very cartoon-ish.
I'd recommend renting the first if you have not yet already, and then getting this game. You can play previous missions, online, etc., so it is very versatile. In the first if you want to backtrack at all, you better have a save game to go to. And if you fail a mission, you better hope that save game isn't that far back in your travels.
It is a RPG due to the fact that you're controlling your characters and their progress/development. And the game is centered around the Team-based combat and combos.
Overall: A good game, this 2nd one will have replay-value, on top of the new features.
...but only if you have the patience to develop your characters into a good team. And if you don't want to control their development, you can put it on "Auto" and the game will distribute their stats accordingly. | 1 | neutral | [
"Basic: Take the previous X-Men Legends game and add some good/new features, and the ability to play both Brotherhood and X-Men.",
"Unfortunately they took away some good characters to do so.",
"Review: In my opinion, the game is good for playing with friends, online, or if you get hooked on trying to unlock or improve your characters.",
"The Normal setting is fairly easy so far and even so, I enjoy seeing what I can unlock for each character.",
"The cinematics are pretty good, but when it displays cut-scenes, the characters are just like they were in the previous game, very cartoon-ish.",
"I'd recommend renting the first if you have not yet already, and then getting this game.",
"You can play previous missions, online, etc.",
", so it is very versatile.",
"In the first if you want to backtrack at all, you better have a save game to go to.",
"And if you fail a mission, you better hope that save game isn't that far back in your travels.",
"It is a RPG due to the fact that you're controlling your characters and their progress/development.",
"And the game is centered around the Team-based combat and combos.",
"Overall: A good game, this 2nd one will have replay-value, on top of the new features.",
"...",
"but only if you have the patience to develop your characters into a good team.",
"And if you don't want to control their development, you can put it on \"Auto\" and the game will distribute their stats accordingly."
] |
3
I had "heard" of SkinMedica and seen the products at our Dermatologist's office. Promoted by Oprah and featured in Allure Magazine. However, my knowledge was very limited. So I began reading all the "information" I could find. (Which everyone should do before using any kind of "fountain of youth product.") I was a bit taken-a-back by the idea of using 'foreskin' on my face. The IDEA was jarring, the facts not so much. Yes they start with foreskin in the lab and 1 foreskin can be used in the fibroblast procedure for years!
So after the initial shock, I had to be totally, unapologetically honest and admit I would use almost any ingredient that could deliver a refreshed, more youthful look.
Upon Arrival: As pictured, it arrives in a black slip box. Removing the box reveals the 1.0 ounce, single touch, dual dispense, product bottle with chrome colored cap, lightly attached to the base of the box. (Simply wiggle the bottle slightly to remove it from the box bottom.)
I have used this product exclusively for 31 days. (The day I placed the order to try the TNS Essential Serum I stopped my daily regiment of Nerium products. This gave me 5 days in between.) Before engaging the pump the first time, I lightly tapped the bottom of the bottle on the counter three times. Holding it firmly and making sure to tap the bottle evenly. (As this was suggested by my clinician, as well as, many websites.) I have NOT had any problem with the use or function of the bottle.
You can see from the pictures - with a single press of the button there are two products simultaneously released. . . One, off-white and lotiony-like. The second is crimson colored and gel-like. I dispensed one "pump" onto the back of my hand, mixed with my finger, and applied to my face, forehead, nose, and around my mouth. Then a second pump for my jawline, neck, and decolletage.
It feels incredibly silky while applying. When I touched my face As it was drying, it felt sticky-ish. It takes up to 7 seconds to fully dry. Then lightly touching/sweeping my face it feels soft, almost creamy-ish. That's a really nice feeling! There is an odor - that I can best describe as slightly medicinal. It doesn't last long and definitely would not prevent me from using the product.
I am 47-years-old, was a sun lover, have two forehead frown lines, laugh/smile lines, and the dreaded "tired" or "hollowed" under eye issue. (Thankfully I haven't battled acne in many years.) Unfortunately I was NOT impressed with the TNS Serum. NO, I did NOT expect a face transformation. But at 238$ an ounce and all the hype I did expect something more than the creamy feeling after application. I do think my liquid make-up looked smoother, which I really liked. But I can get the same result from a good face primer. (And it's a lot cheaper.) Maybe you have to use this with other SkinMedia products or maybe results take more than one bottle to get. (I had Visable, Noticeable results with my regular regiment the first week.)
Like all skin revitalize, rejuvenate products individual results vary. This may be a miracle cream for some - It was simply so-so for me.
**BUYER BEWARE of faulty, outdated, and out-right FAKE SkinMedia products. There's a growing list on SkinMedia's website.
*The research is ongoing, and of course being argued, so I would advise anyone to do YOUR research, ask your doctor and/dermatologist questions, read reviews, etc. Whatever YOU need to do to be comfortable with the product you purchase. | 1 | neutral | [
"3\nI had \"heard\" of SkinMedica and seen the products at our Dermatologist's office.",
"Promoted by Oprah and featured in Allure Magazine.",
"However, my knowledge was very limited.",
"So I began reading all the \"information\" I could find.",
"(Which everyone should do before using any kind of \"fountain of youth product.",
"\") I was a bit taken-a-back by the idea of using 'foreskin' on my face.",
"The IDEA was jarring, the facts not so much.",
"Yes they start with foreskin in the lab and 1 foreskin can be used in the fibroblast procedure for years!",
"So after the initial shock, I had to be totally, unapologetically honest and admit I would use almost any ingredient that could deliver a refreshed, more youthful look.",
"Upon Arrival: As pictured, it arrives in a black slip box.",
"Removing the box reveals the 1.",
"0 ounce, single touch, dual dispense, product bottle with chrome colored cap, lightly attached to the base of the box.",
"(Simply wiggle the bottle slightly to remove it from the box bottom.",
")\n\nI have used this product exclusively for 31 days.",
"(The day I placed the order to try the TNS Essential Serum I stopped my daily regiment of Nerium products.",
"This gave me 5 days in between.",
") Before engaging the pump the first time, I lightly tapped the bottom of the bottle on the counter three times.",
"Holding it firmly and making sure to tap the bottle evenly.",
"(As this was suggested by my clinician, as well as, many websites.",
") I have NOT had any problem with the use or function of the bottle.",
"You can see from the pictures - with a single press of the button there are two products simultaneously released.",
".",
".",
"One, off-white and lotiony-like.",
"The second is crimson colored and gel-like.",
"I dispensed one \"pump\" onto the back of my hand, mixed with my finger, and applied to my face, forehead, nose, and around my mouth.",
"Then a second pump for my jawline, neck, and decolletage.",
"It feels incredibly silky while applying.",
"When I touched my face As it was drying, it felt sticky-ish.",
"It takes up to 7 seconds to fully dry.",
"Then lightly touching/sweeping my face it feels soft, almost creamy-ish.",
"That's a really nice feeling!",
"There is an odor - that I can best describe as slightly medicinal.",
"It doesn't last long and definitely would not prevent me from using the product.",
"I am 47-years-old, was a sun lover, have two forehead frown lines, laugh/smile lines, and the dreaded \"tired\" or \"hollowed\" under eye issue.",
"(Thankfully I haven't battled acne in many years.",
") Unfortunately I was NOT impressed with the TNS Serum.",
"NO, I did NOT expect a face transformation.",
"But at 238$ an ounce and all the hype I did expect something more than the creamy feeling after application.",
"I do think my liquid make-up looked smoother, which I really liked.",
"But I can get the same result from a good face primer.",
"(And it's a lot cheaper.",
") Maybe you have to use this with other SkinMedia products or maybe results take more than one bottle to get.",
"(I had Visable, Noticeable results with my regular regiment the first week.",
")\n\nLike all skin revitalize, rejuvenate products individual results vary.",
"This may be a miracle cream for some - It was simply so-so for me.",
"**BUYER BEWARE of faulty, outdated, and out-right FAKE SkinMedia products.",
"There's a growing list on SkinMedia's website.",
"*The research is ongoing, and of course being argued, so I would advise anyone to do YOUR research, ask your doctor and/dermatologist questions, read reviews, etc.",
"Whatever YOU need to do to be comfortable with the product you purchase."
] |
People have already discussed how nice the phone looks and how good the packaging is. What nobody seems to mention are some of the flaws. 1. Periodically the phone will pick up the line after the first ring by itself. This means that it will go off-hook and stay off hook, until I find it. Unfortunately this can be 3 hours or more. 2. The software to make VOIP calls disables the sound card so I have to keep switching it back and forth between my music and speakers and my Calisto VOIP calls. 3. The charger design seems like the contacts on the headset will get corroded from sweat and cease to work. Overall the phone looks nice and works well so far, but the auto answer really takes your phone out of commission until you realize it.
1/30/09 Update
About 1 month ago I sent the phone back to Plantronics since the tech support thought it was defective. Well they know this is a piece of junk, since as soon as they hear the model of the phone they sujest a replacement immediately. Unfortunately this is not a game for me and I need to use this as a business phone as well as a Bluetooth for my cell and my Skype headset. Since Plantronics insists on playing games; they have already suggested that if the next one does not work they will send me another one. I can't give any less stars now, but do not consider wasting your money on this junk. | 1 | neutral | [
"People have already discussed how nice the phone looks and how good the packaging is.",
"What nobody seems to mention are some of the flaws.",
"1.",
"Periodically the phone will pick up the line after the first ring by itself.",
"This means that it will go off-hook and stay off hook, until I find it.",
"Unfortunately this can be 3 hours or more.",
"2.",
"The software to make VOIP calls disables the sound card so I have to keep switching it back and forth between my music and speakers and my Calisto VOIP calls.",
"3.",
"The charger design seems like the contacts on the headset will get corroded from sweat and cease to work.",
"Overall the phone looks nice and works well so far, but the auto answer really takes your phone out of commission until you realize it.",
"1/30/09 Update\nAbout 1 month ago I sent the phone back to Plantronics since the tech support thought it was defective.",
"Well they know this is a piece of junk, since as soon as they hear the model of the phone they sujest a replacement immediately.",
"Unfortunately this is not a game for me and I need to use this as a business phone as well as a Bluetooth for my cell and my Skype headset.",
"Since Plantronics insists on playing games; they have already suggested that if the next one does not work they will send me another one.",
"I can't give any less stars now, but do not consider wasting your money on this junk."
] |
This was the first KISS album I ever owned, my folks buying it for me as a youngster, so while I had heard other KISS songs on the radio and through friends who owned older KISS albums, I really didn't have the frame of mind that this was their "sell out" album. I simply enjoyed it for what it was - part musical exploration, part snapshot of its time. And my impressions have changed little since then.
Sure, "I Was Made For Lovin' You" was a "disco" song, but that cannot be said of the rest of the album. "Hard Pop" might be a better description, as the album still has a strong rhythmic rock underpinning, but is shaped by a production quality that shines with the sheen of a radio programmer's wetdream.
Once passed the opening track, you get into the meat of some fine KISS tunes; "2000 Man", a cover of an obsure Stones' song, is reworked by Ace Frehley with amazing results, though the song is a tad lengthy. "Sure Know Something" contains one of Gene Simmons' best bass riffs, and would be a minor hit. Peter Criss checks in (or actually, checks out, due to drugs and a growing distaste for the music business) with "Dirty Livin'". The song is odd, but works. Sadly, this would be Criss' last track until the reunion album 20 years later, Psycho Circus. He also provided drums on this one track only, with Anton Fig (of Late Show with David Letterman fame) filling in on the rest of the disc.
"Charisma" (as well as "X-Ray Eyes") are typical, formulaic Simmons lyrics, but musically they work - he knew how to turn a phrase and the underlying "darkness" drives the tunes.
"Magic Touch" is a hit or miss Paul Stanley tune, and is the one song of which my opinion has changed over the years -- I used to hate it, now I see it as a decent, interesting track.
In my mind, however, this album was elevated by Frehley's contributions - his two original tracks are two of his best, "Hard Times" being the B-side of the "I Was Made For Lovin' You" single, (and Ace's best track here), and "Save Your Love" being alluring, with an off-kilter arrangement for the chorus that still works.
My only disappointment is the fact that there are only 9 tracks here. Two more solid rockers and this would have been considered KISS' greatest discs. There is a lot of variety and attempts at exploring a more commercial sound, but there is also a very plain, grayness to some of the arrangements; they lack the fire, color, and spirit of earlier material. These reasons are what keep me from commiting to a 4 star rating.
Still, all in all, the album, marred by years of spite from older fans, deserves to be recognized on its own merits and seen for being better than you would think, and actually very enjoyable, after all these years. | 1 | neutral | [
"This was the first KISS album I ever owned, my folks buying it for me as a youngster, so while I had heard other KISS songs on the radio and through friends who owned older KISS albums, I really didn't have the frame of mind that this was their \"sell out\" album.",
"I simply enjoyed it for what it was - part musical exploration, part snapshot of its time.",
"And my impressions have changed little since then.",
"Sure, \"I Was Made For Lovin' You\" was a \"disco\" song, but that cannot be said of the rest of the album.",
"\"Hard Pop\" might be a better description, as the album still has a strong rhythmic rock underpinning, but is shaped by a production quality that shines with the sheen of a radio programmer's wetdream.",
"Once passed the opening track, you get into the meat of some fine KISS tunes; \"2000 Man\", a cover of an obsure Stones' song, is reworked by Ace Frehley with amazing results, though the song is a tad lengthy.",
"\"Sure Know Something\" contains one of Gene Simmons' best bass riffs, and would be a minor hit.",
"Peter Criss checks in (or actually, checks out, due to drugs and a growing distaste for the music business) with \"Dirty Livin'\".",
"The song is odd, but works.",
"Sadly, this would be Criss' last track until the reunion album 20 years later, Psycho Circus.",
"He also provided drums on this one track only, with Anton Fig (of Late Show with David Letterman fame) filling in on the rest of the disc.",
"\"Charisma\" (as well as \"X-Ray Eyes\") are typical, formulaic Simmons lyrics, but musically they work - he knew how to turn a phrase and the underlying \"darkness\" drives the tunes.",
"\"Magic Touch\" is a hit or miss Paul Stanley tune, and is the one song of which my opinion has changed over the years -- I used to hate it, now I see it as a decent, interesting track.",
"In my mind, however, this album was elevated by Frehley's contributions - his two original tracks are two of his best, \"Hard Times\" being the B-side of the \"I Was Made For Lovin' You\" single, (and Ace's best track here), and \"Save Your Love\" being alluring, with an off-kilter arrangement for the chorus that still works.",
"My only disappointment is the fact that there are only 9 tracks here.",
"Two more solid rockers and this would have been considered KISS' greatest discs.",
"There is a lot of variety and attempts at exploring a more commercial sound, but there is also a very plain, grayness to some of the arrangements; they lack the fire, color, and spirit of earlier material.",
"These reasons are what keep me from commiting to a 4 star rating.",
"Still, all in all, the album, marred by years of spite from older fans, deserves to be recognized on its own merits and seen for being better than you would think, and actually very enjoyable, after all these years."
] |
Pressure rises on Maldives leader to obey court order to free jailed foes
MALE (Reuters) - Maldives President Abdulla Yameen fired his second police chief in three days and the opposition said it feared violence as the island nation was pitched deeper into a crisis caused by Yameen ’s failure to obey a court order to free jailed opponents.
Three days after the Supreme Court threw out terrorism convictions against Yameen ’s political opponents his government on Saturday was still ignoring international and domestic pressure to set them free.
Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets to demand compliance with the court order and Western countries and international organizations have urged Yameen to obey it .
The court also ordered 12 members of parliament who had been stripped of their seats to be restored to the body. The 12 had quit Yameen ’s ruling party last year and allowing them to return to the legislature would deprive him of a majority.
The crisis poses the biggest threat to Yameen ’s control of the Maldives since he took power in 2013 defeating Nasheed in an election that Nasheed’s supporters say was rigged.
Yameen has stopped short of saying he will not obey the court order to free his opponents. He told a party meeting on Saturday he “did not expect the Supreme Court ruling at all”.
“We’ve started dialogue with the Supreme Court. We’ve sat and started talking about difficulties or concerns the state has ” he said. “We’re working on making sure we can respect the court order in a way that doesn’t cause any difficulties to the people.”
He fired the chief of police on Thursday shortly after the court order was handed down and on Saturday he fired the acting police chief he had chosen to replace him .
The Maldives an Indian Ocean island chain of around 400 000 people known to outsiders mainly as a tropical paradise for the tourists that provide most of its foreign exchange income has experienced political unrest since Yameen took power.
Yameen is the half brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who ruled the Maldives for three decades until losing an election to Nasheed in 2008. Yameen and Gayoom have since had a falling out and Gayoom is now aligned with the opposition. | 1 | neutral | [
"Pressure rises on Maldives leader to obey court order to free jailed foes\nMALE (Reuters) - Maldives President Abdulla Yameen fired his second police chief in three days and the opposition said it feared violence as the island nation was pitched deeper into a crisis caused by Yameen ’s failure to obey a court order to free jailed opponents.",
"Three days after the Supreme Court threw out terrorism convictions against Yameen ’s political opponents his government on Saturday was still ignoring international and domestic pressure to set them free.",
"Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets to demand compliance with the court order and Western countries and international organizations have urged Yameen to obey it.",
"The court also ordered 12 members of parliament who had been stripped of their seats to be restored to the body.",
"The 12 had quit Yameen ’s ruling party last year and allowing them to return to the legislature would deprive him of a majority.",
"The crisis poses the biggest threat to Yameen ’s control of the Maldives since he took power in 2013 defeating Nasheed in an election that Nasheed’s supporters say was rigged.",
"Yameen has stopped short of saying he will not obey the court order to free his opponents.",
"He told a party meeting on Saturday he “did not expect the Supreme Court ruling at all”.",
"“We’ve started dialogue with the Supreme Court.",
"We’ve sat and started talking about difficulties or concerns the state has ” he said.",
"“We’re working on making sure we can respect the court order in a way that doesn’t cause any difficulties to the people.",
"”\n He fired the chief of police on Thursday shortly after the court order was handed down and on Saturday he fired the acting police chief he had chosen to replace him.",
"The Maldives an Indian Ocean island chain of around 400 000 people known to outsiders mainly as a tropical paradise for the tourists that provide most of its foreign exchange income has experienced political unrest since Yameen took power.",
"Yameen is the half brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who ruled the Maldives for three decades until losing an election to Nasheed in 2008.",
"Yameen and Gayoom have since had a falling out and Gayoom is now aligned with the opposition."
] |
I ordered this 545 based on measurements quoted in the discription... I also assumed the 545 would be similar or equal to the EZ545 I had used before. The actual measurements of the EZ 545 are a Diameter of 1.508" with a thickness of .024".. The measurements of the 545 actual are .875" Diameter and a thickness of .020".... Not what I thought I was going to receive. Will have to wait and see how it performs compared to the EZ545... | 1 | neutral | [
"I ordered this 545 based on measurements quoted in the discription...",
"I also assumed the 545 would be similar or equal to the EZ545 I had used before.",
"The actual measurements of the EZ 545 are a Diameter of 1.",
"508\" with a thickness of.",
"024\"..",
"The measurements of the 545 actual are.",
"875\" Diameter and a thickness of.",
"020\"....",
"Not what I thought I was going to receive.",
"Will have to wait and see how it performs compared to the EZ545..."
] |
Released in december 1982. Thriller became one of the most hyped album ever made and it was a massive hit 1983 and 1984. by the end of 1984 two years after its release Thriller had sold astonish 20 million copies in the US alone and another 15 million copies outside the US. Thriller has sold 51 million copies to date and is the biggest selling album in history ( worldwide).
Thriller has one of the greatest pop songs ever created such as Billie Jean, Thriller, I Wanna be startin something, Beat It and Human Nature. Quincy Jones was a hot producer and everything he did was gold. Michael himself believe it or not only wrote 4 songs on this album although 2 of those songs were the albums biggest hits.
But why the 3 stars. There some tracks on this album. P.Y.T. , The Girl is mine and Baby Be Mine that are not near as good as the other tracks on the album. The songs are a bit silly and cheesy and in my humble opinion fillers. I do not care if they were hit singels.
Vocally this album isn't amazing. Michael Jackson has is not exactly the greatest vocalist ever but not bad either. I would also like to say that Thriller has not aged well and If you look at all Jacko's releases none of them haven't aged very well. It is a bit shame because this album has some brilliant songs on it and the videos that came a long with it rocked however Thriller only gets 3 stars here because there were some songs better than others and it is a bit dated however. A good album but not great | 1 | neutral | [
"Released in december 1982.",
"Thriller became one of the most hyped album ever made and it was a massive hit 1983 and 1984.",
"by the end of 1984 two years after its release Thriller had sold astonish 20 million copies in the US alone and another 15 million copies outside the US.",
"Thriller has sold 51 million copies to date and is the biggest selling album in history ( worldwide).",
"Thriller has one of the greatest pop songs ever created such as Billie Jean, Thriller, I Wanna be startin something, Beat It and Human Nature.",
"Quincy Jones was a hot producer and everything he did was gold.",
"Michael himself believe it or not only wrote 4 songs on this album although 2 of those songs were the albums biggest hits.",
"But why the 3 stars.",
"There some tracks on this album.",
"P.",
"Y.T. , The Girl is mine and Baby Be Mine that are not near as good as the other tracks on the album.",
"The songs are a bit silly and cheesy and in my humble opinion fillers.",
"I do not care if they were hit singels.",
"Vocally this album isn't amazing.",
"Michael Jackson has is not exactly the greatest vocalist ever but not bad either.",
"I would also like to say that Thriller has not aged well and If you look at all Jacko's releases none of them haven't aged very well.",
"It is a bit shame because this album has some brilliant songs on it and the videos that came a long with it rocked however Thriller only gets 3 stars here because there were some songs better than others and it is a bit dated however.",
"A good album but not great"
] |
Outlaws was released in 1996, and was one of the last 1st-person shooters to retain a sprite-based game engine over a true 3D polygonal one. It's also one of the few western-based shooting games on the market.
You're Marshall James Anderson, a former lawman who takes up the badge again when a railroad baron's goons kill your wife and kidnap your daughter. You'll fight through nine stages, including ghost towns, mines, cliff dwellings, and saw mills on your quest for revenge. Bonus missions send you on bounty-hunting quests for those thugs you never saw during the main game. Lucasarts really nailed the spaghetti western atmosphere and trappings with lots of animated cutscenes and excellent voice work. You can also pop the game CDs into your CD player and hear the highly memorable full-length soundtrack.
But there are problems with Outlaws' gameplay. The environments are still pretty decent, but the enemy sprites were average by 1996 standards, and look pretty bad today. Some of the levels can be disorienting and confusing, and the missions fall into key hunts that aren't much better than the original DOOM. There's really no sense of direction except to run around and open passages until you meet the boss. Bosses aren't as distinctive as in other games, and you might not know you've killed one until the game jumps to a cutscene. To its credit, Outlaws included elements that later became staples of the shooter genre, including having to manually reload (bullet by bullet!), a sniper rifle, and a stamina meter where your character becomes slower and out of breath the longer you run.
I can't say there's much reason to buy this title today if you've been raised on shooters like Half-Life and Halo, but if you're a collector of Lucasarts games and want to experience the high-quality cutscenes and soundtrack, Outlaws is a must-have. | 1 | neutral | [
"Outlaws was released in 1996, and was one of the last 1st-person shooters to retain a sprite-based game engine over a true 3D polygonal one.",
"It's also one of the few western-based shooting games on the market.",
"You're Marshall James Anderson, a former lawman who takes up the badge again when a railroad baron's goons kill your wife and kidnap your daughter.",
"You'll fight through nine stages, including ghost towns, mines, cliff dwellings, and saw mills on your quest for revenge.",
"Bonus missions send you on bounty-hunting quests for those thugs you never saw during the main game.",
"Lucasarts really nailed the spaghetti western atmosphere and trappings with lots of animated cutscenes and excellent voice work.",
"You can also pop the game CDs into your CD player and hear the highly memorable full-length soundtrack.",
"But there are problems with Outlaws' gameplay.",
"The environments are still pretty decent, but the enemy sprites were average by 1996 standards, and look pretty bad today.",
"Some of the levels can be disorienting and confusing, and the missions fall into key hunts that aren't much better than the original DOOM.",
"There's really no sense of direction except to run around and open passages until you meet the boss.",
"Bosses aren't as distinctive as in other games, and you might not know you've killed one until the game jumps to a cutscene.",
"To its credit, Outlaws included elements that later became staples of the shooter genre, including having to manually reload (bullet by bullet!",
"), a sniper rifle, and a stamina meter where your character becomes slower and out of breath the longer you run.",
"I can't say there's much reason to buy this title today if you've been raised on shooters like Half-Life and Halo, but if you're a collector of Lucasarts games and want to experience the high-quality cutscenes and soundtrack, Outlaws is a must-have."
] |
I have tried many diffrent tools while camping and this product is just ok. My prefered tool is the recently purchased Columbia utensile set but that looks to be a limited production run for the holidays and lacks a can opener. I actually own two of these Coleman Untensil's and have used them on several trips.
The knife and spoon are functional. The fork is too narrow and frustrating to use. The bottle opener and can opener are functional also. Knife and can opener needed some sharpening. Most of the time I use my Leatherman Super Tool to open bottles and cans simply because the product is far superior for accomplishing those tasks.
If they widened the fork it would get an extra star.
Like another reviewer also stated I would NOT put this in a dishwasher. Just hand clean it. It will last a lot longer. | 1 | neutral | [
"I have tried many diffrent tools while camping and this product is just ok.",
"My prefered tool is the recently purchased Columbia utensile set but that looks to be a limited production run for the holidays and lacks a can opener.",
"I actually own two of these Coleman Untensil's and have used them on several trips.",
"The knife and spoon are functional.",
"The fork is too narrow and frustrating to use.",
"The bottle opener and can opener are functional also.",
"Knife and can opener needed some sharpening.",
"Most of the time I use my Leatherman Super Tool to open bottles and cans simply because the product is far superior for accomplishing those tasks.",
"If they widened the fork it would get an extra star.",
"Like another reviewer also stated I would NOT put this in a dishwasher.",
"Just hand clean it.",
"It will last a lot longer."
] |
George RR Martin writes with such flair, intensity and most of all at such length that publishers struggle to cram his creations between covers. A FEAST FOR CROWS is 976 pages long in my mass market paperback edition, but it is only half the book of its predecessors. Most of the characters that the reader has been following are given scant attention or no mention here. While still well written and a cut above most modern fantasy I feel as if I have just finished reading a book where most of what happened is at the fringes of the real action.
I'm deducting one star for the clumsy beginning. A prologue where a new character is killed is almost a stock beginning. The names and setting reappear in the last chapter. Martin is almost assuredly going for one of his trademark twists--but it is like a conjuring trick that falls flat.
At the end of STORM OF SWORDS, Martin delivers a number of plot twists including a real gasper. A character known to be dead shows up alive. Unfortunately he does not develop this in CROWS. He serves up a Dornish subplot but each time this plot comes up again it is from the point of view of yet another character. None of these characters are as compelling or as memorable as the ones he is ignoring. Failure to strike while the reader's interest is piqued and for serving up a lame substitute loses another star.
For the first time in the series, we get inside the head of Queen Cersei. She paranoid and unappealing and does as good a job of repelling the reader as she does in alienating her supporters. I have to say that Martin's characters are masterworks and his females are particularly fine. Even his evil queen transcends all stereotypes. Add to Cersei, Sansa Stark, Arya, Brienne and dozens of other lively woman characters and one realizes why I would rather read a George R R Martin "failure" than a dozen other more mundane fantasies. Yes, I'll be buying the next book... | 1 | neutral | [
"George RR Martin writes with such flair, intensity and most of all at such length that publishers struggle to cram his creations between covers.",
"A FEAST FOR CROWS is 976 pages long in my mass market paperback edition, but it is only half the book of its predecessors.",
"Most of the characters that the reader has been following are given scant attention or no mention here.",
"While still well written and a cut above most modern fantasy I feel as if I have just finished reading a book where most of what happened is at the fringes of the real action.",
"I'm deducting one star for the clumsy beginning.",
"A prologue where a new character is killed is almost a stock beginning.",
"The names and setting reappear in the last chapter.",
"Martin is almost assuredly going for one of his trademark twists--but it is like a conjuring trick that falls flat.",
"At the end of STORM OF SWORDS, Martin delivers a number of plot twists including a real gasper.",
"A character known to be dead shows up alive.",
"Unfortunately he does not develop this in CROWS.",
"He serves up a Dornish subplot but each time this plot comes up again it is from the point of view of yet another character.",
"None of these characters are as compelling or as memorable as the ones he is ignoring.",
"Failure to strike while the reader's interest is piqued and for serving up a lame substitute loses another star.",
"For the first time in the series, we get inside the head of Queen Cersei.",
"She paranoid and unappealing and does as good a job of repelling the reader as she does in alienating her supporters.",
"I have to say that Martin's characters are masterworks and his females are particularly fine.",
"Even his evil queen transcends all stereotypes.",
"Add to Cersei, Sansa Stark, Arya, Brienne and dozens of other lively woman characters and one realizes why I would rather read a George R R Martin \"failure\" than a dozen other more mundane fantasies.",
"Yes, I'll be buying the next book..."
] |
----------Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic:
-(***__) Overall: The longtime favorite of many players, undisputed best for decades and, in my opinion, still a fantastic wood-comb harmonica at the mid-price range. Many pros still use it, though often custom versions (which any of us can easily buy, at a cost). The Marine Band has an amazing sound, but the reason I did not rate it higher is there are other harmonicas I prefer in terms of comfort and playability (full comparison and ranking below). My favorite wood-comb harmonica is the Marine Band Crossover, which is simply an upgraded version of the Marine Band 1896 classic. If you are a beginner I strongly recommend the Hohner Special 20 (plastic comb) for its ease of play. If you are willing to spend more I recommend the Suzuki Promaster (metal comb), which is my favorite off-the-shelf harmonica.
-(*****) Sound: Excellent. This harmonica feels warm and deep. It is as good as my favorite: the Marine Band Crossover. However variations in sound quality between harmonicas are slight and likely to be lost on an audience. I'd much rather focus on getting a comfortable harmonica.
-(**___) Comfort: Wood-comb harmonicas just never seem to be as comfortable as plastic-comb ones. The Marine Band is not the worst I have experienced, but the coverplates do stick out over the wood comb slightly. This means the lips press and slide against two sharp pieces of metal, which is uncomfortable. The Special 20 (plastic comb) and Suzuki Promaster (metal comb) are significantly more comfortable.
-(***__) Playability: The protruding coverplates make it harder to get a tight seal and are an issue. I didn't have excessive gapping issues with any individual reeds or any being excessively out of tune. I didn't have issues with reeds getting "stuck", which is unusual at this price range.
-(**___) Durability: Durability is the weakness of Hohner overall. With wood-combs you add the additional issue that the comb can/will warp over time.
-(**___ Aesthetics): Very standard classic look, but the yellow coating on the wood is unattractive. I give it two stars instead of three because I much prefer the natural look of the Marine Band Crossover's wood comb. The carrying case is hard plastic and will break eventually, not as nice as the crossover's zippable pouch.
-----------Qualitative Comparison with other mid-price Harmonicas (lowest to highest score)
---(**___) Hohner Blues Harp: This is the harmonica I own that I don't enjoy playing. The redeeming quality is the Blues Harp sounds very good, enough to compete with any harmonica in its price range. However the metal covers protrude and are sharp on the lips, making it simply too uncomfortable to be any good. The Marine Band is more comfortable (covers protrude less).
---(**___) Hohner Big River: Nothing memorable. It's perfectly fine but there's no reason to buy it over the Special 20(the $ savings is minimal). Unlike the Special 20 it has a wood comb, but if you want a wood comb buy a Marine Band.
---(***__) Seydel 1847 Silver (plastic comb) and Noble (metal comb): Seydel 1847 and its distinctive steel reeds is the company's flagship and a harmonica I find very polarizing. positive is that the coverplates form an uniquely thin opening for the mouth which makes it extremely easy to play. The downside is my Seydel 1847's are my only harmonicas that sound undeniably unpleasant. Both harmonicas have a distinctly metallic tinny sound, which is probably due to the steel reeds, and explains why steel is not a common choice for reed material. Comfortable harmonica with tinny sound; overall not recommended.
---(****_) Suzuki Pureharp: Having both coverplates and the comb made out of rosewood makes the Pureharp perhaps the most attractive harmonica available and theone with the warmest and most enjoyable sound. It is surprisingly easy to play, though the wood coverplates slide less smoothly and require more saliva. Not recommended for a fast song. Too unique to be a first harmonica, it is great for a player looking to expand their collection with a harmonica that has a great warm tone.
---(****_) Lee Oskar Major Diatonic: Excellent harmonica, extremely comfortable, great sound. It is extremely similar to the Special 20. It has a good reputation for durability, and my experience is that it outlasts the Special 20. One downside is the plastic case can break within a month from normal daily opening/closing. Ultimately I prefer the Special 20: The Lee Oskar feels slightly thicker on the lips because of the way the coverplates are rounded, which I don't like
---(****_) Suzuki Firebreath: Excellent harmonica but poor value for the high price tag. In true Suzuki style, this black beauty and its rosewood comb look stunning. The sound is awesome and distinct: it is very soothing and my absolute favorite for slower melodies. The Firebreath is comfortable for a wood-comb harmonica; no sharp angles. The drawback is I find it difficult to get a tight seal on this harmonica and therefore can't comfortably play blues or other fast music. This is my favorite high-quality harmonica for slow songs, but I do not find it versatile and would not recommend it as a first/main harmonica or as a blues harmonica.
---(*****) Hohner Marine Band Crossover: My favorite wood-comb harmonica. This is an upgraded version of the Marine Band 1896 Classic. The nails that hold shut the 1896 have been replaced with screws that permit cleaning and replacing the reeds, the comb's yellow finish has been replaced with a smooth clear finish which keeps the natural color of the wood and looks much better. It comes with a great zippable case, which is the best of any harmonica. The Crossover maintains the great tone of a Marine Band, producing a great wood comb harmonica.
--(*****) Hohner Special 20: My favorite Plastic Comb Harmonica, and outstanding in terms of comfort and ease of play. The plastic comb protrudes, making it extremely comfortable and smooth to use. The sound is great. Durability is terrible. The case is more durable than the Lee Oskar one but not as nice as the (excellent) pouch that comes with the Marine Band Crossover.
---(*****) Suzuki Promaster Valved: This metal-comb harmonica is my favorite off-the-shelf harmonica. It hits all the marks with a great sound and a particularly outstanding playability. The surface is smooth and comfortable on the lips and allows for a tight seal and easy playability. The harmonica is shiny and sleek looking, and comes with a good quality plastic case with rounded corners that make it comfortable in the pockets. If I could only own one off-the-shelf harmonica I would own this one.
---------- Custom Harmonica:
--(*****) Antony Dannecker Optimus: Simply the best harmonica I have played, but comes at a price. Antony is great and very available if you want to discuss any particular tweaks to your custom harmonica. This very heavy harmonica is objectively the easiest to play out of the many I own. I literally stopped to smile the first time I tried it. We can debate forever if it's actually worth the high price, maybe it isn't. What's certain is that a great harmonica is not enough to make you a great player but also that off-the-shelf quality can't compete with the Optimus.
----------Note on the 2-draw:
1-2-star reviews often complain their 2-draw was broken from day one. The 2-draw most likely is not broken, it is simply a very difficult note for beginners to play.
----------Note on which key to buy first:
--Start with a key of C.
This is the accepted standard since most beginner songs and lessons will all be in C. One harmonica is fine as a beginner.
--Then: A, D, G
A is common in blues and country. D is also common. G is often used when playing along with guitar.
--Then Bb, F, E,... here is gets more debatable
---------- If any edit would improve the review quality/thoroughness/clarity write me a comment. | 1 | neutral | [
"----------Hohner Marine Band 1896 Classic:\n-(***__) Overall: The longtime favorite of many players, undisputed best for decades and, in my opinion, still a fantastic wood-comb harmonica at the mid-price range.",
"Many pros still use it, though often custom versions (which any of us can easily buy, at a cost).",
"The Marine Band has an amazing sound, but the reason I did not rate it higher is there are other harmonicas I prefer in terms of comfort and playability (full comparison and ranking below).",
"My favorite wood-comb harmonica is the Marine Band Crossover, which is simply an upgraded version of the Marine Band 1896 classic.",
"If you are a beginner I strongly recommend the Hohner Special 20 (plastic comb) for its ease of play.",
"If you are willing to spend more I recommend the Suzuki Promaster (metal comb), which is my favorite off-the-shelf harmonica.",
"-(*****) Sound: Excellent.",
"This harmonica feels warm and deep.",
"It is as good as my favorite: the Marine Band Crossover.",
"However variations in sound quality between harmonicas are slight and likely to be lost on an audience.",
"I'd much rather focus on getting a comfortable harmonica.",
"-(**___) Comfort: Wood-comb harmonicas just never seem to be as comfortable as plastic-comb ones.",
"The Marine Band is not the worst I have experienced, but the coverplates do stick out over the wood comb slightly.",
"This means the lips press and slide against two sharp pieces of metal, which is uncomfortable.",
"The Special 20 (plastic comb) and Suzuki Promaster (metal comb) are significantly more comfortable.",
"-(***__) Playability: The protruding coverplates make it harder to get a tight seal and are an issue.",
"I didn't have excessive gapping issues with any individual reeds or any being excessively out of tune.",
"I didn't have issues with reeds getting \"stuck\", which is unusual at this price range.",
"-(**___) Durability: Durability is the weakness of Hohner overall.",
"With wood-combs you add the additional issue that the comb can/will warp over time.",
"-(**___ Aesthetics): Very standard classic look, but the yellow coating on the wood is unattractive.",
"I give it two stars instead of three because I much prefer the natural look of the Marine Band Crossover's wood comb.",
"The carrying case is hard plastic and will break eventually, not as nice as the crossover's zippable pouch.",
"-----------Qualitative Comparison with other mid-price Harmonicas (lowest to highest score)\n---(**___) Hohner Blues Harp: This is the harmonica I own that I don't enjoy playing.",
"The redeeming quality is the Blues Harp sounds very good, enough to compete with any harmonica in its price range.",
"However the metal covers protrude and are sharp on the lips, making it simply too uncomfortable to be any good.",
"The Marine Band is more comfortable (covers protrude less).",
"---(**___) Hohner Big River: Nothing memorable.",
"It's perfectly fine but there's no reason to buy it over the Special 20(the $ savings is minimal).",
"Unlike the Special 20 it has a wood comb, but if you want a wood comb buy a Marine Band.",
"---(***__) Seydel 1847 Silver (plastic comb) and Noble (metal comb): Seydel 1847 and its distinctive steel reeds is the company's flagship and a harmonica I find very polarizing.",
"positive is that the coverplates form an uniquely thin opening for the mouth which makes it extremely easy to play.",
"The downside is my Seydel 1847's are my only harmonicas that sound undeniably unpleasant.",
"Both harmonicas have a distinctly metallic tinny sound, which is probably due to the steel reeds, and explains why steel is not a common choice for reed material.",
"Comfortable harmonica with tinny sound; overall not recommended.",
"---(****_) Suzuki Pureharp: Having both coverplates and the comb made out of rosewood makes the Pureharp perhaps the most attractive harmonica available and theone with the warmest and most enjoyable sound.",
"It is surprisingly easy to play, though the wood coverplates slide less smoothly and require more saliva.",
"Not recommended for a fast song.",
"Too unique to be a first harmonica, it is great for a player looking to expand their collection with a harmonica that has a great warm tone.",
"---(****_) Lee Oskar Major Diatonic: Excellent harmonica, extremely comfortable, great sound.",
"It is extremely similar to the Special 20.",
"It has a good reputation for durability, and my experience is that it outlasts the Special 20.",
"One downside is the plastic case can break within a month from normal daily opening/closing.",
"Ultimately I prefer the Special 20: The Lee Oskar feels slightly thicker on the lips because of the way the coverplates are rounded, which I don't like\n---(****_) Suzuki Firebreath: Excellent harmonica but poor value for the high price tag.",
"In true Suzuki style, this black beauty and its rosewood comb look stunning.",
"The sound is awesome and distinct: it is very soothing and my absolute favorite for slower melodies.",
"The Firebreath is comfortable for a wood-comb harmonica; no sharp angles.",
"The drawback is I find it difficult to get a tight seal on this harmonica and therefore can't comfortably play blues or other fast music.",
"This is my favorite high-quality harmonica for slow songs, but I do not find it versatile and would not recommend it as a first/main harmonica or as a blues harmonica.",
"---(*****) Hohner Marine Band Crossover: My favorite wood-comb harmonica.",
"This is an upgraded version of the Marine Band 1896 Classic.",
"The nails that hold shut the 1896 have been replaced with screws that permit cleaning and replacing the reeds, the comb's yellow finish has been replaced with a smooth clear finish which keeps the natural color of the wood and looks much better.",
"It comes with a great zippable case, which is the best of any harmonica.",
"The Crossover maintains the great tone of a Marine Band, producing a great wood comb harmonica.",
"--(*****) Hohner Special 20: My favorite Plastic Comb Harmonica, and outstanding in terms of comfort and ease of play.",
"The plastic comb protrudes, making it extremely comfortable and smooth to use.",
"The sound is great.",
"Durability is terrible.",
"The case is more durable than the Lee Oskar one but not as nice as the (excellent) pouch that comes with the Marine Band Crossover.",
"---(*****) Suzuki Promaster Valved: This metal-comb harmonica is my favorite off-the-shelf harmonica.",
"It hits all the marks with a great sound and a particularly outstanding playability.",
"The surface is smooth and comfortable on the lips and allows for a tight seal and easy playability.",
"The harmonica is shiny and sleek looking, and comes with a good quality plastic case with rounded corners that make it comfortable in the pockets.",
"If I could only own one off-the-shelf harmonica I would own this one.",
"---------- Custom Harmonica:\n--(*****) Antony Dannecker Optimus: Simply the best harmonica I have played, but comes at a price.",
"Antony is great and very available if you want to discuss any particular tweaks to your custom harmonica.",
"This very heavy harmonica is objectively the easiest to play out of the many I own.",
"I literally stopped to smile the first time I tried it.",
"We can debate forever if it's actually worth the high price, maybe it isn't.",
"What's certain is that a great harmonica is not enough to make you a great player but also that off-the-shelf quality can't compete with the Optimus.",
"----------Note on the 2-draw:\n1-2-star reviews often complain their 2-draw was broken from day one.",
"The 2-draw most likely is not broken, it is simply a very difficult note for beginners to play.",
"----------Note on which key to buy first:\n--Start with a key of C.",
"This is the accepted standard since most beginner songs and lessons will all be in C.",
"One harmonica is fine as a beginner.",
"--Then: A, D, G\nA is common in blues and country.",
"D is also common.",
"G is often used when playing along with guitar.",
"--Then Bb, F, E,...",
"here is gets more debatable\n\n---------- If any edit would improve the review quality/thoroughness/clarity write me a comment."
] |
This third Manifold novel starts in time about half-way between the first two, in 2015. But that doesn't really matter because they are all three set in universes parallel to each other, and could each stand alone. In this version, Malenfant and his wife Emma are separated when she is thrown onto the Red Moon, which suddenly replaces our own familiar Luna one day. She survives, interacting with the local hominid peoples, while Malenfant mounts a NASA expedition to rescue her with the help of Nemoto. Parallel versions of each of these characters play roles in the first two books. In fact, this book is primarily about Emma, who is nothing more than a tattered photograph in Manifold:Space.
I found this story, unlike the first two, to be quite gory, with abundant descriptions of rape, torture, and cannibalism. I'm not sure if all that was necessary - except to show the pervasiveness of that across all the hominid species, and how it is a factor in evolution. The portrayal of Michael Praisegod, whose culture if not biology is close to our own, shows the use of more modern cultural institutions such as religion are not proof against the brutality.
Thematically, I think the hominid species can be categorized into two camps - with most in a static stagnant relationship with the universe, while a few are growth and expansion oriented. Baxter's position seems to be that both are flawed. With an infinity of time and space to play out to their logical outcomes, it's hard to find much ultimate hope - other than local and temporary happiness along the way.
Overall, I have to say that Baxter's Evolution is a more satisfying and enjoyable exploration of the concept of past and future evolution than this, although this one needs to be seen in the context of the series it is a part of. | 1 | neutral | [
"This third Manifold novel starts in time about half-way between the first two, in 2015.",
"But that doesn't really matter because they are all three set in universes parallel to each other, and could each stand alone.",
"In this version, Malenfant and his wife Emma are separated when she is thrown onto the Red Moon, which suddenly replaces our own familiar Luna one day.",
"She survives, interacting with the local hominid peoples, while Malenfant mounts a NASA expedition to rescue her with the help of Nemoto.",
"Parallel versions of each of these characters play roles in the first two books.",
"In fact, this book is primarily about Emma, who is nothing more than a tattered photograph in Manifold:Space.",
"I found this story, unlike the first two, to be quite gory, with abundant descriptions of rape, torture, and cannibalism.",
"I'm not sure if all that was necessary - except to show the pervasiveness of that across all the hominid species, and how it is a factor in evolution.",
"The portrayal of Michael Praisegod, whose culture if not biology is close to our own, shows the use of more modern cultural institutions such as religion are not proof against the brutality.",
"Thematically, I think the hominid species can be categorized into two camps - with most in a static stagnant relationship with the universe, while a few are growth and expansion oriented.",
"Baxter's position seems to be that both are flawed.",
"With an infinity of time and space to play out to their logical outcomes, it's hard to find much ultimate hope - other than local and temporary happiness along the way.",
"Overall, I have to say that Baxter's Evolution is a more satisfying and enjoyable exploration of the concept of past and future evolution than this, although this one needs to be seen in the context of the series it is a part of."
] |
Oh boy! You guys, I FINALLY finished A Feast for Crows. I started this book in June or July of 2013 and finished it January 21, 2014. I would read one chapter in A Feast for Crows and then read something else shorter for fun. And thats how I made progress. Ive been trying to stay ahead of the show. I know that season 4 is going to be a mix from books 3, 4, & 5 because Season 3 didn't end where book 3 (A Strom of Swords) ended. Theres more to come there. But I also know that Season 4 will include some stuff from book 5 (A Dance with Dragons) which I plan to start ASAP.
All of that being said, I would have finished A Feast for Crows sooner but this was a SLOW book for me. All of the books in this series have started off slowly and built until they ended with some pretty major events. And while the last 20% of this book definitely had bigger things happening, the cliffhangers weren't as big as the ones in books past. The speed at which I can get through a book always plays into my overall experience of the book, but a slow book thats 300 pages long is completely different from a slow book thats over 1000 pages long. I was more than 600 pages inprobably more like 700 pagesbefore events started picking up pace. For the earlier parts of the book, I was wondering how most of the events even played into what happened in the previous books. That wasn't exactly the right question. The better question would have been how those events played into the ending of this book. Due to the length and pacing of these books, I definitely expect that this series is not for the average reader, but A Feast for Crows even more so. At one point I told my SNL, Holly @ Words Fueled by Love, that if some big things didn't happen in the last half of the book then I was going to tell her to skip it and I would just tell her what happens. Im not sure what I would recommend for her at this point. (She's reading it anyway just in case you're wondering.)
Now to talk about the story itself.
Unlike the previous books in the series, A Feast for Crows focuses on a smaller section of main characters. George R R Martin puts a note at the end of the book that he didn't forget about the other characters. He was writing this book and realized it was too big to publish without breaking it in half and instead of giving ALL of the characters half their story he decided to split the characters and give all the story. So A Dance with Dragons will focus on the characters that weren't focused on in A Feast for Crows. The main narrators of A Feast for Crows were Jamie, Cersie, Brienne, Arya, Sansa, and Sam with a few chapters here and there narrated by a random additional character.
I did highlight a good bit in A Feast for Crows. I don't think Ive ever highlighted in any of the previous books in this series. These highlights were focused around things I thought might offer some foreshadowing. But truly it is so hard to tell with George R R Martin if hes even foreshadowing at all. Sometimes when reading this series, I find myself wondering if there was a point to what Ive been reading at all when all of a sudden a big surprise comes in and one of our characters gets killed off. Most books I consider masterpieces are the ones where every piece of information is important and fits into the overall story in just the right way. But with George R R Martin, I often wonder how much of any of it has a point and if that in and of itself isn't the brilliance of this series.
A Feast for Crows is definitely different from the previous books in this series. And while I won't say that I didn't like it, I can see how it would be my (and many others) least favorite of the series. I do look forward to seeing how everything continues to play out, and I look forward to getting back to the other characters that Ive missed. I know I haven't really given you any information involving the storyline at this point or even discussing the character growth, but I just feel like both of these things are such important aspects of the story that I can't spoil anything for you.
A Feast for Crows gets 3.5 Stars from me. Have you read A Feast for Crows? What did you think? Let me know!
For more book reviews, check out Somewhere Only We Know - [...]. | 1 | neutral | [
"Oh boy!",
"You guys, I FINALLY finished A Feast for Crows.",
"I started this book in June or July of 2013 and finished it January 21, 2014.",
"I would read one chapter in A Feast for Crows and then read something else shorter for fun.",
"And thats how I made progress.",
"Ive been trying to stay ahead of the show.",
"I know that season 4 is going to be a mix from books 3, 4, & 5 because Season 3 didn't end where book 3 (A Strom of Swords) ended.",
"Theres more to come there.",
"But I also know that Season 4 will include some stuff from book 5 (A Dance with Dragons) which I plan to start ASAP.",
"All of that being said, I would have finished A Feast for Crows sooner but this was a SLOW book for me.",
"All of the books in this series have started off slowly and built until they ended with some pretty major events.",
"And while the last 20% of this book definitely had bigger things happening, the cliffhangers weren't as big as the ones in books past.",
"The speed at which I can get through a book always plays into my overall experience of the book, but a slow book thats 300 pages long is completely different from a slow book thats over 1000 pages long.",
"I was more than 600 pages inprobably more like 700 pagesbefore events started picking up pace.",
"For the earlier parts of the book, I was wondering how most of the events even played into what happened in the previous books.",
"That wasn't exactly the right question.",
"The better question would have been how those events played into the ending of this book.",
"Due to the length and pacing of these books, I definitely expect that this series is not for the average reader, but A Feast for Crows even more so.",
"At one point I told my SNL, Holly @ Words Fueled by Love, that if some big things didn't happen in the last half of the book then I was going to tell her to skip it and I would just tell her what happens.",
"Im not sure what I would recommend for her at this point.",
"(She's reading it anyway just in case you're wondering.",
")\n\nNow to talk about the story itself.",
"Unlike the previous books in the series, A Feast for Crows focuses on a smaller section of main characters.",
"George R R Martin puts a note at the end of the book that he didn't forget about the other characters.",
"He was writing this book and realized it was too big to publish without breaking it in half and instead of giving ALL of the characters half their story he decided to split the characters and give all the story.",
"So A Dance with Dragons will focus on the characters that weren't focused on in A Feast for Crows.",
"The main narrators of A Feast for Crows were Jamie, Cersie, Brienne, Arya, Sansa, and Sam with a few chapters here and there narrated by a random additional character.",
"I did highlight a good bit in A Feast for Crows.",
"I don't think Ive ever highlighted in any of the previous books in this series.",
"These highlights were focused around things I thought might offer some foreshadowing.",
"But truly it is so hard to tell with George R R Martin if hes even foreshadowing at all.",
"Sometimes when reading this series, I find myself wondering if there was a point to what Ive been reading at all when all of a sudden a big surprise comes in and one of our characters gets killed off.",
"Most books I consider masterpieces are the ones where every piece of information is important and fits into the overall story in just the right way.",
"But with George R R Martin, I often wonder how much of any of it has a point and if that in and of itself isn't the brilliance of this series.",
"A Feast for Crows is definitely different from the previous books in this series.",
"And while I won't say that I didn't like it, I can see how it would be my (and many others) least favorite of the series.",
"I do look forward to seeing how everything continues to play out, and I look forward to getting back to the other characters that Ive missed.",
"I know I haven't really given you any information involving the storyline at this point or even discussing the character growth, but I just feel like both of these things are such important aspects of the story that I can't spoil anything for you.",
"A Feast for Crows gets 3.",
"5 Stars from me.",
"Have you read A Feast for Crows?",
"What did you think?",
"Let me know!",
"For more book reviews, check out Somewhere Only We Know - [...",
"]."
] |
The formula for this body repair treatment is interesting. It's not a drippy lotion; in fact, it is almost a solid, like a tub of Crisco. It goes on very greasy, and stays greasy for quite a while. It is very hard to rub in.
I don't see any incredible changes in my skin just yet, but will add that this has a very strong fragrance. I'm not sure why a company thinks this is a good idea. Besides causing a reaction on sensitive skin, it would clash with any perfume one might choose to wear.
Overall so far, this is just ok. It might have gotten a higher rating if it was unscented and I honestly don't know if I'll continue to use this because of the smell. It doesn't seem worth the $113 price.
edit: I decided to bite the bullet and use this daily at bedtime. I'm actually used to the fragrance now. It does leave my skin very soft and moisturized when I wake up, but I don't know if that has anything to do with this product being special, or just because it's so thick. | 1 | neutral | [
"The formula for this body repair treatment is interesting.",
"It's not a drippy lotion; in fact, it is almost a solid, like a tub of Crisco.",
"It goes on very greasy, and stays greasy for quite a while.",
"It is very hard to rub in.",
"I don't see any incredible changes in my skin just yet, but will add that this has a very strong fragrance.",
"I'm not sure why a company thinks this is a good idea.",
"Besides causing a reaction on sensitive skin, it would clash with any perfume one might choose to wear.",
"Overall so far, this is just ok.",
"It might have gotten a higher rating if it was unscented and I honestly don't know if I'll continue to use this because of the smell.",
"It doesn't seem worth the $113 price.",
"edit: I decided to bite the bullet and use this daily at bedtime.",
"I'm actually used to the fragrance now.",
"It does leave my skin very soft and moisturized when I wake up, but I don't know if that has anything to do with this product being special, or just because it's so thick."
] |
What strange turn of events has prompted yet another combination of characters from various 2D fighting realms? Surely not the surge of 3D fighters such as Dead or Alive and Mortal Kombat! Once a powerhouse in the 2D fighting-game arena, Capcom's latest amalgam of pastel-shaded brawlers quickly relegates itself to more-of-the same status. It seemed like a novel idea: tap the fighting rosters of Darkstalkers, Street Fighter II, Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter III, and Red Earth (whew!) into one giant brawl-game, and it can't miss, right? Unfortunately, Evolution falls short and fails to live up to its name. Evolution is a novel attempt to re-kindle the "uniqueness" of the Marvel/Street Fighter crossovers, but without any real gimmick. You can choose two different fighters before each match and change the lineup after each round. One of the few twists is to secretly select your fighter for the next round. The fighter lineup is a diverse one, and it makes for mostly even matches, yet for some peculiar reason, it was deemed fit to include Red Earth, an odd, obscure title that barely surfaced in the arcades. These characters are the oddballs of the bunch and don't mesh with the others. The gameplay is pure Street Fighter, with the usual half- and quarter-circle motions and charge moves, plus the controls respond splendidly most of the time (thumb-taxing Super Arts techniques aside). The optional analog-compatible stick is a decent option, as it makes complicated moves like Zangief's Screw Piledriver much easier to execute. The visuals are loaded with the trademark Capcom 2D splendor, and the fighting stages are loaded with subtle details like other Capcom characters lurking in the background. In the end, however, Evolution is too routine to stand out from the crowd--especially for Capcom fighting vets. After a few rounds, you should be more than satisfied. | 1 | neutral | [
"What strange turn of events has prompted yet another combination of characters from various 2D fighting realms?",
"Surely not the surge of 3D fighters such as Dead or Alive and Mortal Kombat!",
"Once a powerhouse in the 2D fighting-game arena, Capcom's latest amalgam of pastel-shaded brawlers quickly relegates itself to more-of-the same status.",
"It seemed like a novel idea: tap the fighting rosters of Darkstalkers, Street Fighter II, Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter III, and Red Earth (whew!",
") into one giant brawl-game, and it can't miss, right?",
"Unfortunately, Evolution falls short and fails to live up to its name.",
"Evolution is a novel attempt to re-kindle the \"uniqueness\" of the Marvel/Street Fighter crossovers, but without any real gimmick.",
"You can choose two different fighters before each match and change the lineup after each round.",
"One of the few twists is to secretly select your fighter for the next round.",
"The fighter lineup is a diverse one, and it makes for mostly even matches, yet for some peculiar reason, it was deemed fit to include Red Earth, an odd, obscure title that barely surfaced in the arcades.",
"These characters are the oddballs of the bunch and don't mesh with the others.",
"The gameplay is pure Street Fighter, with the usual half- and quarter-circle motions and charge moves, plus the controls respond splendidly most of the time (thumb-taxing Super Arts techniques aside).",
"The optional analog-compatible stick is a decent option, as it makes complicated moves like Zangief's Screw Piledriver much easier to execute.",
"The visuals are loaded with the trademark Capcom 2D splendor, and the fighting stages are loaded with subtle details like other Capcom characters lurking in the background.",
"In the end, however, Evolution is too routine to stand out from the crowd--especially for Capcom fighting vets.",
"After a few rounds, you should be more than satisfied."
] |
This La Roche-Posay Respectissime Soft Eyeliner Pencil for Sensitive Eyes is true to its claim. It did not irritate my sensitive skin. I was able to easily apply the eyeliner. I have found that it is easiest to apply when the pencil is sharp because it doesn't pull at all. It doesn't come with a sharpener but you can sharpen it with most any sharpener. As I said before, this product works well with sensitive eyes. I am emphasizing this because my friend who has even more sensitive skin than I do borrowed it and had no problems with irritation. It stays on pretty well but I found that when I did light exercise such as dancing, it did start to smudge and it made me look like I had been hit in the eye. This effect didn't last long because the eyeliner was very easy to remove. For me, the most annoying part of this product wasn't the product itself or its application but its packaging. I broke a fingernail trying to open it and ended up having to use a box cutter to open it. | 1 | neutral | [
"This La Roche-Posay Respectissime Soft Eyeliner Pencil for Sensitive Eyes is true to its claim.",
"It did not irritate my sensitive skin.",
"I was able to easily apply the eyeliner.",
"I have found that it is easiest to apply when the pencil is sharp because it doesn't pull at all.",
"It doesn't come with a sharpener but you can sharpen it with most any sharpener.",
"As I said before, this product works well with sensitive eyes.",
"I am emphasizing this because my friend who has even more sensitive skin than I do borrowed it and had no problems with irritation.",
"It stays on pretty well but I found that when I did light exercise such as dancing, it did start to smudge and it made me look like I had been hit in the eye.",
"This effect didn't last long because the eyeliner was very easy to remove.",
"For me, the most annoying part of this product wasn't the product itself or its application but its packaging.",
"I broke a fingernail trying to open it and ended up having to use a box cutter to open it."
] |
i was a little disappointed with this toy. I remember having something like it when i was little but i don't remember it being so difficult to maneuver. only one button is easy to push. the other 4 are more complicated and my toddler has a hard time popping the toys out. usually i make the animals pop out and he pushes them back in which is much easier to do. I also find the toy very loud and unsettling. each time an animal pops out there is this big bang. I don't like noisy toys and this kind of gets on my nerves. my son doesnt seem to like it too much either. I think if it wasn't so startling each time it pops he would enjoy it much more.
the concept is great and it is durable and has educational value (teaches hand coordination) which is why i still gave it 3 stars. | 1 | neutral | [
"i was a little disappointed with this toy.",
"I remember having something like it when i was little but i don't remember it being so difficult to maneuver.",
"only one button is easy to push.",
"the other 4 are more complicated and my toddler has a hard time popping the toys out.",
"usually i make the animals pop out and he pushes them back in which is much easier to do.",
"I also find the toy very loud and unsettling.",
"each time an animal pops out there is this big bang.",
"I don't like noisy toys and this kind of gets on my nerves.",
"my son doesnt seem to like it too much either.",
"I think if it wasn't so startling each time it pops he would enjoy it much more.",
"the concept is great and it is durable and has educational value (teaches hand coordination) which is why i still gave it 3 stars."
] |
This is a great moisturizing cream. I used it on my face and hands and it left them really hydrated and soft, without feeling greasy. I also like the ingredients. However, I could not get past this product's scent. It has a really strong flowery scent. I am sensitive to strong smells and this was just too strong for me. It did not seem to dissipate for a long time. Unfortunately, I don't think I can use this cream due to the strong fragrance.
If you don't mind strong scents, this is a great moisturizing cream with nice ingredients. However, if you have an aversion to strong scents, you should steer away from this one. | 1 | neutral | [
"This is a great moisturizing cream.",
"I used it on my face and hands and it left them really hydrated and soft, without feeling greasy.",
"I also like the ingredients.",
"However, I could not get past this product's scent.",
"It has a really strong flowery scent.",
"I am sensitive to strong smells and this was just too strong for me.",
"It did not seem to dissipate for a long time.",
"Unfortunately, I don't think I can use this cream due to the strong fragrance.",
"If you don't mind strong scents, this is a great moisturizing cream with nice ingredients.",
"However, if you have an aversion to strong scents, you should steer away from this one."
] |
I listened to this book as an unabridged audiobook read by Rosalyn Landor. She does a fine rather snooty job with the narration which fits the historical setting and a fabulous job with the heroine but when it comes time to do to the manly voices I cringed a little. I wouldve much rather had a male voicing the guy parts but they didn't ask me.
Its been a bit since Ive read a historical romance and this one had a lovely leisurely setup that introduced the relationship between childhood friends Michael and Penelope by letters they wrote when they were children and via flashbacks to their friendship. It gave me high hopes for the relationship to come.
As a young man, Michael lost everything in a moment of overeager stupidity and has spent the past decade working to reclaim what was once his. He disappeared from Penelopes life and hasn't been there when shes needed a friend. Because her daddy wants her married off, and soon, hes attached some very attractive land to Penelopes dowry. Land that once belonged to Michael, land Michael will do almost anything to get back . . .
Can you see where this is going?
So yeah, Michael suddenly re-enters her life and pretty much steamrolls over it to get what he wants. He doesnt seem anything like the Michael from the letters and that made me a little sad for Penelope who was so genuinely happy to see her old friend when they meet up again. But then he opens his mouth and ugly spew slips out and shes not so thrilled. Hes changed and hes a demanding ass who keeps secrets and strong-arms her into marrying him and then is all about The Revenge. He must get The Revenge! Even if it hurts those who love him.
Ugh. Ugh. And ugh. I don't like this type of hero. Never will, Im sad to say. He does eventually realize the error of his ways but its all a little too little, a little too late. I am not a patient gal so I can only give this one a three. The writing was great; there was wit, sensuality and Penelope was not a push over and I will read this author in the future but I cant give this story any more than a 3 because of Michael. He is a jerk, he knows hes a jerk at least, but that does not change the fact that he behaves like a jerk for a majority of the story. His character flaw causes no end of conflict and though his fingers may have been magical, his nonsense had me wanting to strangle him a little.
Im going to turn you from light to dark, from good to bad. Im going to ruin you. She didn't care. She was his. He owned her in this moment, with this touch. And do you know how it will feel? She sighed the word this time. Splendid. | 1 | neutral | [
"I listened to this book as an unabridged audiobook read by Rosalyn Landor.",
"She does a fine rather snooty job with the narration which fits the historical setting and a fabulous job with the heroine but when it comes time to do to the manly voices I cringed a little.",
"I wouldve much rather had a male voicing the guy parts but they didn't ask me.",
"Its been a bit since Ive read a historical romance and this one had a lovely leisurely setup that introduced the relationship between childhood friends Michael and Penelope by letters they wrote when they were children and via flashbacks to their friendship.",
"It gave me high hopes for the relationship to come.",
"As a young man, Michael lost everything in a moment of overeager stupidity and has spent the past decade working to reclaim what was once his.",
"He disappeared from Penelopes life and hasn't been there when shes needed a friend.",
"Because her daddy wants her married off, and soon, hes attached some very attractive land to Penelopes dowry.",
"Land that once belonged to Michael, land Michael will do almost anything to get back.",
".",
".",
"Can you see where this is going?",
"So yeah, Michael suddenly re-enters her life and pretty much steamrolls over it to get what he wants.",
"He doesnt seem anything like the Michael from the letters and that made me a little sad for Penelope who was so genuinely happy to see her old friend when they meet up again.",
"But then he opens his mouth and ugly spew slips out and shes not so thrilled.",
"Hes changed and hes a demanding ass who keeps secrets and strong-arms her into marrying him and then is all about The Revenge.",
"He must get The Revenge!",
"Even if it hurts those who love him.",
"Ugh.",
"Ugh.",
"And ugh.",
"I don't like this type of hero.",
"Never will, Im sad to say.",
"He does eventually realize the error of his ways but its all a little too little, a little too late.",
"I am not a patient gal so I can only give this one a three.",
"The writing was great; there was wit, sensuality and Penelope was not a push over and I will read this author in the future but I cant give this story any more than a 3 because of Michael.",
"He is a jerk, he knows hes a jerk at least, but that does not change the fact that he behaves like a jerk for a majority of the story.",
"His character flaw causes no end of conflict and though his fingers may have been magical, his nonsense had me wanting to strangle him a little.",
"Im going to turn you from light to dark, from good to bad.",
"Im going to ruin you.",
"She didn't care.",
"She was his.",
"He owned her in this moment, with this touch.",
"And do you know how it will feel?",
"She sighed the word this time.",
"Splendid."
] |
This was a pretty good book with a unique story line and intriguing characters. The book was suppose to be funny and at times it was pretty funny. Other times it just fell flat for me. This was a 'fun' book though. And appropriate for different ages.
My biggest problem with this book was that I felt like I was missing something most of the time. Like chunks of it had been edited out. Other then that I felt like I enjoyed it okay but I didn't love it. I didn't feel any overwhelming need to fly through the book but I did want to know how everything turned out.
I loved the friendship between the two girls and the relationship Crystal had with her mother was very interesting. There were some crazy guys and they went on some crazy exploits!
If your looking for a fun and fairly quick read with unique and quirky characters you should give it a try! | 1 | neutral | [
"This was a pretty good book with a unique story line and intriguing characters.",
"The book was suppose to be funny and at times it was pretty funny.",
"Other times it just fell flat for me.",
"This was a 'fun' book though.",
"And appropriate for different ages.",
"My biggest problem with this book was that I felt like I was missing something most of the time.",
"Like chunks of it had been edited out.",
"Other then that I felt like I enjoyed it okay but I didn't love it.",
"I didn't feel any overwhelming need to fly through the book but I did want to know how everything turned out.",
"I loved the friendship between the two girls and the relationship Crystal had with her mother was very interesting.",
"There were some crazy guys and they went on some crazy exploits!",
"If your looking for a fun and fairly quick read with unique and quirky characters you should give it a try!"
] |
<div id="video-block-R3NYPQ6VTMESVF" class="a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block"></div><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B19%2BEFMLwBS.mp4" class="video-url"><input type="hidden" name="" value="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61sQzfMWCxS.png" class="video-slate-img-url"> As you can see in the video, the em michelle phan The Great Cover Up Ultimate Concealer worked great for covering up my dark circles under my eye compared to the side, but looked caked on where I used it for covering up blemishes and dark spots.
I have mocha colored skin and rule of thumb is that you are suppose to choose at least one or two shades lighter when purchasing a concealer. This way you can neutralize dark areas without having unwanted attention because it is way too light. I am using the Medium Neutral Cool.
Concealers are for spot correctors and not to be used as an all over foundation substitute. It should always be worn underneath foundation and powers. You can apply it with your finger or use a small brush.
The em michelle brand feels very velvety smooth and dries up to a satin powdery finish. However, I found that it only looked smooth under my eyes, while areas where there are wrinkles and fine lines it looked caked on and very noticeable. My dark circles did appear quick a bit lighter and my skin even looked smoother under my eyes. However areas that I did spot covering for blemishes and acne dark spots did not look as smooth. It looked obvious I used makeup to hide blemishes on my face.
This makes a great under eye dark circle corrector, but if you are looking for a concealer to treat all problems areas I do not recommend this product. | 1 | neutral | [
"<div id=\"video-block-R3NYPQ6VTMESVF\" class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-spacing-top-mini video-block\"></div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.",
"ssl-images-amazon.",
"com/images/I/B19%2BEFMLwBS.",
"mp4\" class=\"video-url\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"\" value=\"https://images-na.",
"ssl-images-amazon.",
"com/images/I/61sQzfMWCxS.",
"png\" class=\"video-slate-img-url\"> As you can see in the video, the em michelle phan The Great Cover Up Ultimate Concealer worked great for covering up my dark circles under my eye compared to the side, but looked caked on where I used it for covering up blemishes and dark spots.",
"I have mocha colored skin and rule of thumb is that you are suppose to choose at least one or two shades lighter when purchasing a concealer.",
"This way you can neutralize dark areas without having unwanted attention because it is way too light.",
"I am using the Medium Neutral Cool.",
"Concealers are for spot correctors and not to be used as an all over foundation substitute.",
"It should always be worn underneath foundation and powers.",
"You can apply it with your finger or use a small brush.",
"The em michelle brand feels very velvety smooth and dries up to a satin powdery finish.",
"However, I found that it only looked smooth under my eyes, while areas where there are wrinkles and fine lines it looked caked on and very noticeable.",
"My dark circles did appear quick a bit lighter and my skin even looked smoother under my eyes.",
"However areas that I did spot covering for blemishes and acne dark spots did not look as smooth.",
"It looked obvious I used makeup to hide blemishes on my face.",
"This makes a great under eye dark circle corrector, but if you are looking for a concealer to treat all problems areas I do not recommend this product."
] |
I had this mic for one day, which was enough time for me to put it through its paces for my use: voice-over work. Unfortunately, this mic didn't have the presence I was looking for in a condenser microphone, and the mids were far too muddy. I couldn't EQ them out with my basic 4-channel audio board + phantom power. Garbage in = garbage out. I returned the mic to the store about 24 hours later.
Someone said in another review that you'll quickly grow out of the MXL 990 mic once you realize that it sounds like a cheap Chinese condenser mic. I totally agree with that.
Also, a condenser is really not a good choice for a podcast mic. They pick up far too much noise -- they are really meant to be used in studio applications with heavily treated rooms that have no background noise. If you use it in a normal room, you'll hear every tiny little sound along with your speech. I suggest you look at a decent Dynamic microphone. As far as super inexpensive, I've had good luck with the Audio Technica AT818II mic in Asia. In the US, it's actually more expensive, and is called the Audio Technica "Professional Unidirectional Microphone." You can find them here on Amazon for a song. I've been happy with the sound for my podcasts, and as a dynamic, they handle background noises much better.
A great (but a little expensive) mic for podcasts, probably the best, is the Shure SM7. You can read about that all over the web. | 1 | neutral | [
"I had this mic for one day, which was enough time for me to put it through its paces for my use: voice-over work.",
"Unfortunately, this mic didn't have the presence I was looking for in a condenser microphone, and the mids were far too muddy.",
"I couldn't EQ them out with my basic 4-channel audio board + phantom power.",
"Garbage in = garbage out.",
"I returned the mic to the store about 24 hours later.",
"Someone said in another review that you'll quickly grow out of the MXL 990 mic once you realize that it sounds like a cheap Chinese condenser mic.",
"I totally agree with that.",
"Also, a condenser is really not a good choice for a podcast mic.",
"They pick up far too much noise -- they are really meant to be used in studio applications with heavily treated rooms that have no background noise.",
"If you use it in a normal room, you'll hear every tiny little sound along with your speech.",
"I suggest you look at a decent Dynamic microphone.",
"As far as super inexpensive, I've had good luck with the Audio Technica AT818II mic in Asia.",
"In the US, it's actually more expensive, and is called the Audio Technica \"Professional Unidirectional Microphone.",
"\" You can find them here on Amazon for a song.",
"I've been happy with the sound for my podcasts, and as a dynamic, they handle background noises much better.",
"A great (but a little expensive) mic for podcasts, probably the best, is the Shure SM7.",
"You can read about that all over the web."
] |
I watched this film because it is a classic. I had never seen an adult Elizabeth Taylor film nor had I watched a Paul Newman film. I was excited to see them in a film but was somewhat disappointed. Elizabeth Taylor plays Maggie, an unhappy woman in a marriage to Brick, an alcoholic played by Paul Newman. They were certainly beautiful, especially Taylor who in this film is reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe's radiant beauty in The Seven Year Itch.
Their acting was not bad. In fact, it was excellent. I liked the characters and I related to them.
The problem was the script. I had seen A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams before I saw this film. I had not liked that one either. The problem with his stories is that nothing too exciting ever happens. The scripts are just character analysises. The movie is simply a random succession of events that are not exciting enough to keep one's attention for an hour and forty-eight minutes. Still, it is considered to be outstanding by many, mostly due to the ambiguous and tense dialogue.
If you like Williams' other work, then see this film. If you like character analysis, see this film. If you're looking for an exciting story, skip it. | 1 | neutral | [
"I watched this film because it is a classic.",
"I had never seen an adult Elizabeth Taylor film nor had I watched a Paul Newman film.",
"I was excited to see them in a film but was somewhat disappointed.",
"Elizabeth Taylor plays Maggie, an unhappy woman in a marriage to Brick, an alcoholic played by Paul Newman.",
"They were certainly beautiful, especially Taylor who in this film is reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe's radiant beauty in The Seven Year Itch.",
"Their acting was not bad.",
"In fact, it was excellent.",
"I liked the characters and I related to them.",
"The problem was the script.",
"I had seen A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams before I saw this film.",
"I had not liked that one either.",
"The problem with his stories is that nothing too exciting ever happens.",
"The scripts are just character analysises.",
"The movie is simply a random succession of events that are not exciting enough to keep one's attention for an hour and forty-eight minutes.",
"Still, it is considered to be outstanding by many, mostly due to the ambiguous and tense dialogue.",
"If you like Williams' other work, then see this film.",
"If you like character analysis, see this film.",
"If you're looking for an exciting story, skip it."
] |
Paranoia and jealousy are the backdrops of this story, where we travel a detailed and slightly crazy path of Leslie as she slowly seems to sink into madness.
In Intoxication by Tim Kizer, we begin with a scene in the office where Leslie's boyfriend drinks her coffee while she has left the room. He immediately takes ill, and the stage is set. Leslie is now convinced that one of the other workers is trying to poison her. When she confronts the other worker, Leslie is quite sure that even with her denial, that Helen must be guilty. After all, she is the one who delivered the coffee.
Sharing her fears with her boss, he is already aware of her thought process. Helen as gotten to him first and now Leslie is convinced that he thinks she is paranoid. As her decent into this dark void continues, she begins with how she can get back at Helen.
When she finds that Helen actually did not get her coffee but it was another worker, who was on her way to the break room instead, Leslie further descends into that world where strange and maddening things begin to take on perfect sense.
Can she find out who is responsible, or will she begin to realize her thought process has led her into some strangely odd behavior. Is the other worker guilty of trying to poison her, or has Leslie just gone off the deep end?
Kizer has written a creepy piece of work that has some strange and yet just a bit compelling characters. He has done a good job of following the decent into madness evinced by Leslie. The ending is a surprise, and it would have made a bit more sense had I known just a tweak of what caused her to have such a terrifying fall.
I did wonder how Leslie jumped to the conclusion of someone trying to poison her, it seemed a bit over the top, and while I understand the surprise element, it would have been easier to follow what was happening if just a hint had been weaved in earlier. The story is intriguing and it is a great rendition of how guilt and association go hand in hand.
This is a short novella and yet it is full of strangely creepy and compelling voices of the characters that are willing to go to such lengths to make a wrong right in their own mind. Without giving away the story with the author was at pains to protect, I will not spoil the surprise.
If you enjoy suspense, the strange, and just a bit of creepy behavior, you will find this an interesting read. His perception of that decent is well thought out, and at the end, we see that Leslie has finally realized her madness.
This book was received as a free download from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material. | 1 | neutral | [
"Paranoia and jealousy are the backdrops of this story, where we travel a detailed and slightly crazy path of Leslie as she slowly seems to sink into madness.",
"In Intoxication by Tim Kizer, we begin with a scene in the office where Leslie's boyfriend drinks her coffee while she has left the room.",
"He immediately takes ill, and the stage is set.",
"Leslie is now convinced that one of the other workers is trying to poison her.",
"When she confronts the other worker, Leslie is quite sure that even with her denial, that Helen must be guilty.",
"After all, she is the one who delivered the coffee.",
"Sharing her fears with her boss, he is already aware of her thought process.",
"Helen as gotten to him first and now Leslie is convinced that he thinks she is paranoid.",
"As her decent into this dark void continues, she begins with how she can get back at Helen.",
"When she finds that Helen actually did not get her coffee but it was another worker, who was on her way to the break room instead, Leslie further descends into that world where strange and maddening things begin to take on perfect sense.",
"Can she find out who is responsible, or will she begin to realize her thought process has led her into some strangely odd behavior.",
"Is the other worker guilty of trying to poison her, or has Leslie just gone off the deep end?",
"Kizer has written a creepy piece of work that has some strange and yet just a bit compelling characters.",
"He has done a good job of following the decent into madness evinced by Leslie.",
"The ending is a surprise, and it would have made a bit more sense had I known just a tweak of what caused her to have such a terrifying fall.",
"I did wonder how Leslie jumped to the conclusion of someone trying to poison her, it seemed a bit over the top, and while I understand the surprise element, it would have been easier to follow what was happening if just a hint had been weaved in earlier.",
"The story is intriguing and it is a great rendition of how guilt and association go hand in hand.",
"This is a short novella and yet it is full of strangely creepy and compelling voices of the characters that are willing to go to such lengths to make a wrong right in their own mind.",
"Without giving away the story with the author was at pains to protect, I will not spoil the surprise.",
"If you enjoy suspense, the strange, and just a bit of creepy behavior, you will find this an interesting read.",
"His perception of that decent is well thought out, and at the end, we see that Leslie has finally realized her madness.",
"This book was received as a free download from the author.",
"All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material."
] |
For Vanessa Williams, her start really began to shine within the early 90's. She also had some other joy within her hands, with her then husband, Ramon Harvey, with their children. Nevertheless, what always really stood out for Vanessa, was the fact that she survived a tragic scandal, and shined her light a whole lot further. In this case, it was absolutely a breakthrough for her career. At the time, she already began launching a huge acting career, with a role in The Pick-Up Artist, and a short appearance in the cancelled television drama, Partners In Crime, but as time will continue to tell, this might've been her one and only hit at the time.
Her 1991 album, The Comfort Zone, broke her through between the boundaries within the rankings of Pop and R&B. The songs blend in beautifully from Hip Hop, to smooth soul, with classic songs like Work To Do, and Save The Best For Last, which was Vanessa Williams first ever #1 hit song on the charts. The songs garnered several Grammy nominations, but she sadly lost those nods, to Unforgettable by Natalie Cole.
It is kind of sad that all the radio stations only play one hit song from the album, Save The Best For Last, which may make people think Vanessa Williams is a one-hit wonder, but she isn't. A lot of people would only buy this because of that one song, because it stands out the most. Anyway, I suggest this record as an introduction to the sophisticated diva. | 1 | neutral | [
"For Vanessa Williams, her start really began to shine within the early 90's.",
"She also had some other joy within her hands, with her then husband, Ramon Harvey, with their children.",
"Nevertheless, what always really stood out for Vanessa, was the fact that she survived a tragic scandal, and shined her light a whole lot further.",
"In this case, it was absolutely a breakthrough for her career.",
"At the time, she already began launching a huge acting career, with a role in The Pick-Up Artist, and a short appearance in the cancelled television drama, Partners In Crime, but as time will continue to tell, this might've been her one and only hit at the time.",
"Her 1991 album, The Comfort Zone, broke her through between the boundaries within the rankings of Pop and R&B.",
"The songs blend in beautifully from Hip Hop, to smooth soul, with classic songs like Work To Do, and Save The Best For Last, which was Vanessa Williams first ever #1 hit song on the charts.",
"The songs garnered several Grammy nominations, but she sadly lost those nods, to Unforgettable by Natalie Cole.",
"It is kind of sad that all the radio stations only play one hit song from the album, Save The Best For Last, which may make people think Vanessa Williams is a one-hit wonder, but she isn't.",
"A lot of people would only buy this because of that one song, because it stands out the most.",
"Anyway, I suggest this record as an introduction to the sophisticated diva."
] |
5 moments when Matt Lauer 's on
During Matt Lauerâs 20-plus years as an anchor on âToday â certain interviews and bits on the show and elsewhere have raised a few eyebrows or been seen as sexist.
NBC announced Wednesday that Lauer had been fired from his longtime stint after the network on Monday fielded âa detailed complaint from a colleague concerning inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace that violated company policy. Though NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack said in a memo that it was the first complaint they had gotten about Lauer âWe were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.â
Here are a few incidents where Lauer was criticized for his on-camera tactics.
In 2014 Lauer sat down with Barra the first female chief executive at General Motors. He noted that although she 'd gotten the job because she was âhugelyâ qualified with 30 yearsâ experience "there are some people who are speculating that you also got this job as a woman and as a mom because people within General Motors knew this company was in for a very tough time and as a woman and a mom you could present a softer face and softer image for this company ... Does it make sense or does it make you bristle?â
Her response: âItâs absolutely not trueâ that she got the job because she was female. Lauer went on to ask whether she thought she could handle double duty as a CEO and a mom. He later said she âd brought it up first.
âGood to see you â Lauer told Hathaway when she appeared on âTodayâ to promote the film âLes Misérables.â âSeen a lot of you lately.â He was referring to up-skirt photos of the actress sans underwear that were taken as she got out of an SUV at the filmâs premiere. (While the footage is not available via âToday â it was captured by Sam Seder for his Majority Report podcast; skip to the 1:05 mark to see Hathawayâs interview segment.) | 1 | neutral | [
"5 moments when Matt Lauer 's on\nDuring Matt Lauerâs 20-plus years as an anchor on âToday â certain interviews and bits on the show and elsewhere have raised a few eyebrows or been seen as sexist.",
"NBC announced Wednesday that Lauer had been fired from his longtime stint after the network on Monday fielded âa detailed complaint from a colleague concerning inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace that violated company policy.",
"Though NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack said in a memo that it was the first complaint they had gotten about Lauer âWe were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident.",
"â\nHere are a few incidents where Lauer was criticized for his on-camera tactics.",
"In 2014 Lauer sat down with Barra the first female chief executive at General Motors.",
"He noted that although she 'd gotten the job because she was âhugelyâ qualified with 30 yearsâ experience \"there are some people who are speculating that you also got this job as a woman and as a mom because people within General Motors knew this company was in for a very tough time and as a woman and a mom you could present a softer face and softer image for this company...",
"Does it make sense or does it make you bristle?",
"â\n Her response: âItâs absolutely not trueâ that she got the job because she was female.",
"Lauer went on to ask whether she thought she could handle double duty as a CEO and a mom.",
"He later said she âd brought it up first.",
"âGood to see you â Lauer told Hathaway when she appeared on âTodayâ to promote the film âLes Misérables.",
"â âSeen a lot of you lately.",
"â He was referring to up-skirt photos of the actress sans underwear that were taken as she got out of an SUV at the filmâs premiere.",
"(While the footage is not available via âToday â it was captured by Sam Seder for his Majority Report podcast; skip to the 1:05 mark to see Hathawayâs interview segment.",
")"
] |
This Politician Quit His Job Became A Vlogger And Changed The Course Of An Election
More than half the seats in Catalonia ' s 135 - seat parliament will be occupied by pro - independence parties . Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy ' s own right - wing People ' s Party alone looks to lose 60 % of their seats . But there ' s one person who most certainly won ' t be sitting in one of those seats even though — thanks to a YouTube video that ’ s been viewed almost a million times — he most likely did more than a little to help Thursday ' s overwhelming pro - independence win . “ The situation on Oct . 1 changed everything ” Albano Dante Fachin told BuzzFeed News as he cleaned out his office inside Catalonia ’ s parliament building on Thursday night . Oct . 1 was the day Catalonia held a referendum on whether to separate from Spain a move the Spanish government had tried desperately to prevent . Police and other armed forces were sent into the region to try to keep people from the polls but Catalan leaders still declared a victory for the independence movement . After the vote the Spanish senate triggered Article 155 of the country ’ s constitution which stripped the region of its autonomy . Thursday night ’ s snap election was called by Rajoy after he used his new authority to dissolve the Catalan parliament and imprison eight politicians . Catalan President Carles Puigdemont fled to Brussels where he has been campaigning via livestream and social media . It ’ s been a hectic election full of vicious identity politics disorienting misinformation and increasing paranoia among Catalans about Spanish governmental overreach . Seven major parties were vying for seats on Thursday . But for most voters instead of thinking of things in terms of right and left it was a decision between a pro - Catalan independence voting bloc and a rival bloc of parties that have campaigned on Catalonia remaining a part of Spain . For Catalans it came down to a race between the left - wing progressive party Esquerra Republicana on the “ independentista ” side and economic liberal party Ciudadanos on the unionist a victory for either deciding the region ’ s future relationship with Madrid . There was one party though that tried to stay out of the independence debate . Podemos a left - wing anti - corruption party that was founded in 2014 out of Spain ’ s Occupy Wall Street equivalent resisted choosing a side . But thanks to Fachin its now - former general secretary it ended up having one of the biggest impacts on this week ’ s vote . Fachin shocked Catalans last week after he announced via YouTube video that he was resigning from Podemos and voting for a pro - independence party . The video has currently been watched over 800 000 times and according to Spanish media it ’ s the most watched video of the election . His decision to vote for an independence party to protest Spain ’ s crackdown on the region and not because he agreed with the results of the Catalan referendum became a lightning rod on social media . | 1 | neutral | [
"This Politician Quit His Job Became A Vlogger And Changed The Course Of An Election\nMore than half the seats in Catalonia ' s 135 - seat parliament will be occupied by pro - independence parties.",
"Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy ' s own right - wing People ' s Party alone looks to lose 60 % of their seats.",
"But there ' s one person who most certainly won ' t be sitting in one of those seats even though — thanks to a YouTube video that ’ s been viewed almost a million times — he most likely did more than a little to help Thursday ' s overwhelming pro - independence win.",
"“ The situation on Oct.",
"1 changed everything ” Albano Dante Fachin told BuzzFeed News as he cleaned out his office inside Catalonia ’ s parliament building on Thursday night.",
"Oct.",
"1 was the day Catalonia held a referendum on whether to separate from Spain a move the Spanish government had tried desperately to prevent.",
"Police and other armed forces were sent into the region to try to keep people from the polls but Catalan leaders still declared a victory for the independence movement.",
"After the vote the Spanish senate triggered Article 155 of the country ’ s constitution which stripped the region of its autonomy.",
"Thursday night ’ s snap election was called by Rajoy after he used his new authority to dissolve the Catalan parliament and imprison eight politicians.",
"Catalan President Carles Puigdemont fled to Brussels where he has been campaigning via livestream and social media.",
"It ’ s been a hectic election full of vicious identity politics disorienting misinformation and increasing paranoia among Catalans about Spanish governmental overreach.",
"Seven major parties were vying for seats on Thursday.",
"But for most voters instead of thinking of things in terms of right and left it was a decision between a pro - Catalan independence voting bloc and a rival bloc of parties that have campaigned on Catalonia remaining a part of Spain.",
"For Catalans it came down to a race between the left - wing progressive party Esquerra Republicana on the “ independentista ” side and economic liberal party Ciudadanos on the unionist a victory for either deciding the region ’ s future relationship with Madrid.",
"There was one party though that tried to stay out of the independence debate.",
"Podemos a left - wing anti - corruption party that was founded in 2014 out of Spain ’ s Occupy Wall Street equivalent resisted choosing a side.",
"But thanks to Fachin its now - former general secretary it ended up having one of the biggest impacts on this week ’ s vote.",
"Fachin shocked Catalans last week after he announced via YouTube video that he was resigning from Podemos and voting for a pro - independence party.",
"The video has currently been watched over 800 000 times and according to Spanish media it ’ s the most watched video of the election.",
"His decision to vote for an independence party to protest Spain ’ s crackdown on the region and not because he agreed with the results of the Catalan referendum became a lightning rod on social media."
] |
I ordered a tan zytel case medium stockman and I was very disappointed in the finish and the blades. The springs in the back and the liners were not smooth. they were each at different heights instead of flush. The zytel scales themselves also appeared to be uneven in thickness. Blades were not that sharp, grinds were not symmetrical on some of the blades, and you could see a definite burr or roll on the edges of two knives. Scales had two impact or injection mold marks that weren't sanded down. This was purchased new, for American made it should of never been shipped like that. I read other reviews on the large zytel stockman and they had the same complaint. Not sure if this is happening just with the zytel models or what but I know Case had periods in the past where their quality control was poor.
It wasn't all bad though. Very light weight, satin "as ground" finish which I like over the chrome style finishes. Did end up sending it back. | 1 | neutral | [
"I ordered a tan zytel case medium stockman and I was very disappointed in the finish and the blades.",
"The springs in the back and the liners were not smooth.",
"they were each at different heights instead of flush.",
"The zytel scales themselves also appeared to be uneven in thickness.",
"Blades were not that sharp, grinds were not symmetrical on some of the blades, and you could see a definite burr or roll on the edges of two knives.",
"Scales had two impact or injection mold marks that weren't sanded down.",
"This was purchased new, for American made it should of never been shipped like that.",
"I read other reviews on the large zytel stockman and they had the same complaint.",
"Not sure if this is happening just with the zytel models or what but I know Case had periods in the past where their quality control was poor.",
"It wasn't all bad though.",
"Very light weight, satin \"as ground\" finish which I like over the chrome style finishes.",
"Did end up sending it back."
] |
What were we thinking back then? This was a top album at the time of its release in 1974, aided by a couple of hit singles -- and, apparently, Clapton's guitar-hero halo, which prevented us from taking a good listen.
The recording doesn't age well. It's largely uninspired, languid 70's rock. Great cover songs (Motherless Children, Willie and the Hand Jive, I Shot the Sheriff) are run through the de-flavorizer. Clapton's singing sounds like he's been told to keep it down and his playing shares a "don't wake the neighbors" restraint. Where's the fire? NOT on this album.
The best moments are the back-to-back ballads, Please be With Me & Let it Grow. Dated and sentimental, perhaps, but with great changes and gorgeous arrangements.
Clapton may be God, but even God rested on the 7th day. And now we know at what address. | 1 | neutral | [
"What were we thinking back then?",
"This was a top album at the time of its release in 1974, aided by a couple of hit singles -- and, apparently, Clapton's guitar-hero halo, which prevented us from taking a good listen.",
"The recording doesn't age well.",
"It's largely uninspired, languid 70's rock.",
"Great cover songs (Motherless Children, Willie and the Hand Jive, I Shot the Sheriff) are run through the de-flavorizer.",
"Clapton's singing sounds like he's been told to keep it down and his playing shares a \"don't wake the neighbors\" restraint.",
"Where's the fire?",
"NOT on this album.",
"The best moments are the back-to-back ballads, Please be With Me & Let it Grow.",
"Dated and sentimental, perhaps, but with great changes and gorgeous arrangements.",
"Clapton may be God, but even God rested on the 7th day.",
"And now we know at what address."
] |
I'll state it right up front; Sid Meier is a game making genius. Civ II is perhaps the greatest game of all time. So what happened? Civ III was fatally flawed and now Pirates looks like a huge misfire. I love the whole pirate concept, I love sailing around the Caribbean and visiting cities like Nassau, San Juan and Havana. The problem is that the game seems pointless and repetitive. I danced with every Governors daughter, found all my family members, collected all unique items but so what?
So how is it repetitive? Regardless of the city they all look the same; Tavern, Shipbuilder, Market. Same same same. The fights are the same. The opposing captain may have a slightly different uniform, the swordfight might be on a different part of the ship but they're all essentially the same. It goes even beyond that. The villain who captures your family needs to be caught in order to extract information on each ones whereabouts. Except that when you catch him he only offers one small piece of information. So you capture him again and again and again.
The game sets you on apprentice level to start with and I quickly, VERY QUICKLY, managed to upgrade my ship to the limit, purchase every single unique item and kill eight of the nine top pirates. At that point money was completely useless. I had nothing to spend it on except the occasional diamond necklace or ruby ring. I suppose I could work for a large estate but it seemed like an awful small reward.
Some of the fights were an exercise in frustration. If the ship doesn't have the wind behind its sails it moves like a badly wounded hippo. If the opposing ship is positioned into the wind you may find yourself flailing about unable to move as the other ship pounds on you. The positioning of the ships seem to be set at random so it's not even like you can use this information to your advantage.
There are lots of things to do in the game but it's hard to figure out why I might want to do them. I can assault a city, I can lead a new governor to a city, I can urge pirates to attack a city, I just can't figure out WHY I want to do these things. Even simulators like SIM City have a point. Build a cool city. In Pirates you can build up a fleet, collect a treasure pile and gather a pirate gang but before you know it you have to divide the loot and you lose everything you've collected except for a tiny percentage of the loot.
I think the fatal flaw in this game is when you ask yourself `Why am I still playing this'. I know that a game isn't working when I keep wondering when it's going to get better. Sid Meier will always be a legend in my book but a game really should have a desirable goal. | 1 | neutral | [
"I'll state it right up front; Sid Meier is a game making genius.",
"Civ II is perhaps the greatest game of all time.",
"So what happened?",
"Civ III was fatally flawed and now Pirates looks like a huge misfire.",
"I love the whole pirate concept, I love sailing around the Caribbean and visiting cities like Nassau, San Juan and Havana.",
"The problem is that the game seems pointless and repetitive.",
"I danced with every Governors daughter, found all my family members, collected all unique items but so what?",
"So how is it repetitive?",
"Regardless of the city they all look the same; Tavern, Shipbuilder, Market.",
"Same same same.",
"The fights are the same.",
"The opposing captain may have a slightly different uniform, the swordfight might be on a different part of the ship but they're all essentially the same.",
"It goes even beyond that.",
"The villain who captures your family needs to be caught in order to extract information on each ones whereabouts.",
"Except that when you catch him he only offers one small piece of information.",
"So you capture him again and again and again.",
"The game sets you on apprentice level to start with and I quickly, VERY QUICKLY, managed to upgrade my ship to the limit, purchase every single unique item and kill eight of the nine top pirates.",
"At that point money was completely useless.",
"I had nothing to spend it on except the occasional diamond necklace or ruby ring.",
"I suppose I could work for a large estate but it seemed like an awful small reward.",
"Some of the fights were an exercise in frustration.",
"If the ship doesn't have the wind behind its sails it moves like a badly wounded hippo.",
"If the opposing ship is positioned into the wind you may find yourself flailing about unable to move as the other ship pounds on you.",
"The positioning of the ships seem to be set at random so it's not even like you can use this information to your advantage.",
"There are lots of things to do in the game but it's hard to figure out why I might want to do them.",
"I can assault a city, I can lead a new governor to a city, I can urge pirates to attack a city, I just can't figure out WHY I want to do these things.",
"Even simulators like SIM City have a point.",
"Build a cool city.",
"In Pirates you can build up a fleet, collect a treasure pile and gather a pirate gang but before you know it you have to divide the loot and you lose everything you've collected except for a tiny percentage of the loot.",
"I think the fatal flaw in this game is when you ask yourself `Why am I still playing this'.",
"I know that a game isn't working when I keep wondering when it's going to get better.",
"Sid Meier will always be a legend in my book but a game really should have a desirable goal."
] |
This ain't no Disney Alice.
Take good long look at the cover of Alice's box. Get the idea? Something has gone horribly wrong in Wonderland. Alice, who has spent the last several years in an asylum for telling people the truth (about Wonderland), now must return and again set things right.
Simple enough plot, right? It is. VERY simple.
All three of stars I gave this game were for its visuals. Everything from the backgrounds, the baddies, and the buildings to Alice herself are rendered beautifully! Movement is very fluid and realistic.
I was also suprised at the ease of the keyboard/mouse interface. It didn't take long to get the hang of moving Alice around in the twisted Wonderland.
But these two pluses don't make up for the game itself. This one is a simple "run, jump, shoot" game like all too many others. The game leads you by the nose as you stumble through the plot. Not too many surpises here. For those of you who've played them before, this is one of those: I need X, so I see person 1 who will give me X if I get him Z. So I see person 2 who will give me Z if I give him Y. So I find person 3 who... you get the picture.
The puzzles are easy enough, and there's a lot of jumping involved in this game. But once you get down how to jump, sidestep, and shoot... it's all too easy.
OH! I would be remiss if I didn't note: If your PC (no Mac support from EA, kiddies!) isn't TOP OF THE LINE (Pentium 3, 128MB RAM, geForce 256 video card, Creative x-gamer LIVE sound - or better on all) the game will bog down, graphics won't render, or it won't run at all. Don't even think about running this game on a laptop.
While I liked the game and love the graphics, I was still disappointed. If you want to be scared by a video game, play Resident Evil. If you want great action, play DeusEx. | 1 | neutral | [
"This ain't no Disney Alice.",
"Take good long look at the cover of Alice's box.",
"Get the idea?",
"Something has gone horribly wrong in Wonderland.",
"Alice, who has spent the last several years in an asylum for telling people the truth (about Wonderland), now must return and again set things right.",
"Simple enough plot, right?",
"It is.",
"VERY simple.",
"All three of stars I gave this game were for its visuals.",
"Everything from the backgrounds, the baddies, and the buildings to Alice herself are rendered beautifully!",
"Movement is very fluid and realistic.",
"I was also suprised at the ease of the keyboard/mouse interface.",
"It didn't take long to get the hang of moving Alice around in the twisted Wonderland.",
"But these two pluses don't make up for the game itself.",
"This one is a simple \"run, jump, shoot\" game like all too many others.",
"The game leads you by the nose as you stumble through the plot.",
"Not too many surpises here.",
"For those of you who've played them before, this is one of those: I need X, so I see person 1 who will give me X if I get him Z.",
"So I see person 2 who will give me Z if I give him Y.",
"So I find person 3 who...",
"you get the picture.",
"The puzzles are easy enough, and there's a lot of jumping involved in this game.",
"But once you get down how to jump, sidestep, and shoot...",
"it's all too easy.",
"OH!",
"I would be remiss if I didn't note: If your PC (no Mac support from EA, kiddies!",
") isn't TOP OF THE LINE (Pentium 3, 128MB RAM, geForce 256 video card, Creative x-gamer LIVE sound - or better on all) the game will bog down, graphics won't render, or it won't run at all.",
"Don't even think about running this game on a laptop.",
"While I liked the game and love the graphics, I was still disappointed.",
"If you want to be scared by a video game, play Resident Evil.",
"If you want great action, play DeusEx."
] |
So how does Resident Evil Code: Veronica compare with the previous RE games? Despite the new look and outstanding visuals, Resident Evil Code: Veronica hasn't really offered anything new, and instead delivers more of the same RE gameplay.
The story is very awkward. As the game progresses, Code: Veronica's storyline begins to lack the cool plot twists and startling mysteries found in the last Resident Evils. RE:CV relied on too much puzzle-solving to drive the story. There aren't any interwinding plots like before. Instead, the story reveals a weak cast of characters. This includes transvestites and unnecessary characters who have nothing to do with the main plot and RE storyline.
As you might expect, the graphics are mind-blowing. Its the best-looking Resident Evil yet. Gone are the pre-rendered backgrounds and still perspectives of the old games. Code: Veronica's sound is good, but has some bad voice-acting.
What's disappointing is that the dodge feature from RE3: Nemesis has been removed and the auto-aiming is so annoying, causing you to aim at unwanted targets and wasting ammunition. RE:CV's puzzle-solving, box-pushing, and switch-pressing will eventually become tedious especially to experienced Resident Evil players.
Resident Evil Code: Veronica pales in comparison to the other Resident Evil games in almost every area. Once you forget about the awesome graphics, you're left with nothing but the same Resident Evil we've been playing all along. | 1 | neutral | [
"So how does Resident Evil Code: Veronica compare with the previous RE games?",
"Despite the new look and outstanding visuals, Resident Evil Code: Veronica hasn't really offered anything new, and instead delivers more of the same RE gameplay.",
"The story is very awkward.",
"As the game progresses, Code: Veronica's storyline begins to lack the cool plot twists and startling mysteries found in the last Resident Evils.",
"RE:CV relied on too much puzzle-solving to drive the story.",
"There aren't any interwinding plots like before.",
"Instead, the story reveals a weak cast of characters.",
"This includes transvestites and unnecessary characters who have nothing to do with the main plot and RE storyline.",
"As you might expect, the graphics are mind-blowing.",
"Its the best-looking Resident Evil yet.",
"Gone are the pre-rendered backgrounds and still perspectives of the old games.",
"Code: Veronica's sound is good, but has some bad voice-acting.",
"What's disappointing is that the dodge feature from RE3: Nemesis has been removed and the auto-aiming is so annoying, causing you to aim at unwanted targets and wasting ammunition.",
"RE:CV's puzzle-solving, box-pushing, and switch-pressing will eventually become tedious especially to experienced Resident Evil players.",
"Resident Evil Code: Veronica pales in comparison to the other Resident Evil games in almost every area.",
"Once you forget about the awesome graphics, you're left with nothing but the same Resident Evil we've been playing all along."
] |
Released in 1983 and directed by Lewis Gilbert from Willy Russells script, Educating Rita is a drama starring Julie Walters in the titular role as a spirited 26 year-old blue-collar woman from Liverpool, England, who wants to improve her life by enrolling in a special Open University class. She meets with her jaded tutor, Professor Frank (Michael Caine), once a week to study great literature. The morose Frank spends his days in a boozy haze and is intrigued by the outspoken Rita as the mentee lights a fire in the mentor thats been out for a long time.
The plot was taken from George Bernard Shaws Pygmalion (1913), which was the basis for the 1956 Broadway play My Fair Lady, which was in turn made into the famous 1964 movie of the same name. In Roman mythology Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with an ivory statue of a beautiful woman he had carved. Thats fitting for Educating Rita.
I generally enjoyed this drama for several reasons. For instance, I appreciate the locations (Dublin, Ireland, standing in for Liverpool) and the theme: Rita's preconceptions that those in academia lead superior, happier lives are challenged by Frank's failing relationships and pathetic alcoholism, not to mention her cultured flat mate's struggles with severe depression(Maureen Lipman). Despite this, Rita seems to become a stronger person as she learns and adapts to academia.
Unfortunately, the movies lacking in some ways. For one, while Walters is fine in the eponymous role, she was 32 during filming and looked about 35 (her character is supposed to be 26 when introduced). More importantly, the drama just isn't that compelling. I suppose it doesnt help that the character arc of one of the main characters is unsatisfying, even frustrating, but I suppose it could be argued that thats just the way it is sometimes; and it is.
ADDITIONAL CAST: Jeananne Crowley plays Franks live-in non-lover, Professor Julia, while Michael Williams plays the dean of the university and Julias secret lover, Brian. Malcolm Douglas appears as Ritas husband, Denny.
The movie runs 110 minutes and was shot in Dublin, Ireland.
GRADE: C+ | 1 | neutral | [
"Released in 1983 and directed by Lewis Gilbert from Willy Russells script, Educating Rita is a drama starring Julie Walters in the titular role as a spirited 26 year-old blue-collar woman from Liverpool, England, who wants to improve her life by enrolling in a special Open University class.",
"She meets with her jaded tutor, Professor Frank (Michael Caine), once a week to study great literature.",
"The morose Frank spends his days in a boozy haze and is intrigued by the outspoken Rita as the mentee lights a fire in the mentor thats been out for a long time.",
"The plot was taken from George Bernard Shaws Pygmalion (1913), which was the basis for the 1956 Broadway play My Fair Lady, which was in turn made into the famous 1964 movie of the same name.",
"In Roman mythology Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with an ivory statue of a beautiful woman he had carved.",
"Thats fitting for Educating Rita.",
"I generally enjoyed this drama for several reasons.",
"For instance, I appreciate the locations (Dublin, Ireland, standing in for Liverpool) and the theme: Rita's preconceptions that those in academia lead superior, happier lives are challenged by Frank's failing relationships and pathetic alcoholism, not to mention her cultured flat mate's struggles with severe depression(Maureen Lipman).",
"Despite this, Rita seems to become a stronger person as she learns and adapts to academia.",
"Unfortunately, the movies lacking in some ways.",
"For one, while Walters is fine in the eponymous role, she was 32 during filming and looked about 35 (her character is supposed to be 26 when introduced).",
"More importantly, the drama just isn't that compelling.",
"I suppose it doesnt help that the character arc of one of the main characters is unsatisfying, even frustrating, but I suppose it could be argued that thats just the way it is sometimes; and it is.",
"ADDITIONAL CAST: Jeananne Crowley plays Franks live-in non-lover, Professor Julia, while Michael Williams plays the dean of the university and Julias secret lover, Brian.",
"Malcolm Douglas appears as Ritas husband, Denny.",
"The movie runs 110 minutes and was shot in Dublin, Ireland.",
"GRADE: C+"
] |
This would have gotten 4 or 5 stars if the manufacturer hadn't caused me major frustration today with one of the recipes on the bag.
The bread made from this mix is okay, not REAL bread but close as one can get without wheat.
Pizza crust was fine too.
I used it to make pie crust, following the recipe on the bag. What a disaster. IMPOSSIBLE to get the pie dough transferred to the pan, kept falling apart. No way I could get the top crust on in one piece. I ended up cutting strips. Tastes okay but very frustrating to make.
Also, the recipe is for a tart crust, not a pie crust as that it insists you use butter. Makes the crust REALLY rich, even substituting half shortening as the allows. | 1 | neutral | [
"This would have gotten 4 or 5 stars if the manufacturer hadn't caused me major frustration today with one of the recipes on the bag.",
"The bread made from this mix is okay, not REAL bread but close as one can get without wheat.",
"Pizza crust was fine too.",
"I used it to make pie crust, following the recipe on the bag.",
"What a disaster.",
"IMPOSSIBLE to get the pie dough transferred to the pan, kept falling apart.",
"No way I could get the top crust on in one piece.",
"I ended up cutting strips.",
"Tastes okay but very frustrating to make.",
"Also, the recipe is for a tart crust, not a pie crust as that it insists you use butter.",
"Makes the crust REALLY rich, even substituting half shortening as the allows."
] |
I'd really like this keyboard if the paint would stop coming off the keys. Yesh, that's my biggest concern; it becomes hard to tell the difference between them when half of the right-hand ones have some or all of the letter stripped from them. Never had that problem with other keyboards, even the cheap-arse Dell and Gateway keys that come with their respective computers.
While I loved the media features and the backlight dimmer knob, because of the backlight, you can see the gunk that builds up inside, and at least for me that drives me nuts. Trying to clean it is a hassle, namely because any button bigger than the Tab or Ctrl buttons have small bars in them that I guess help stabilize the keys - but once they come out they're a pain to put back in. It shouldn't be that hard, esp. when the other buttons just pop out easily.
Finally, the entire unit just feels cheaply made after a while; the wrist rest on both of the ones I have owned cracked within a few weeks, and the rest of the unit has fallen apart similarly. But for such a cheaply-made keyboard, the prices some people ask for USED units is extravagant; I've seen them as high as $300+!! This is ridiculous.
Not going to buy a new one - despite how much I love it, apparently the Saitek drivers clash with some of the software (namely games) that I use, and thus there's no point in getting a third one that'll break.
NOTE ON PHOTO(S): some of the keys are missing because I kept hitting the Windows key and getting sent to Desktop when I didn't want to in the middle of most games, and because there was an additional key that pulled down a menu that was entirely useless to me. Also they're dusty because I haven't used the keyboard in a long time, and still deciding whether to toss it out or not. | 1 | neutral | [
"I'd really like this keyboard if the paint would stop coming off the keys.",
"Yesh, that's my biggest concern; it becomes hard to tell the difference between them when half of the right-hand ones have some or all of the letter stripped from them.",
"Never had that problem with other keyboards, even the cheap-arse Dell and Gateway keys that come with their respective computers.",
"While I loved the media features and the backlight dimmer knob, because of the backlight, you can see the gunk that builds up inside, and at least for me that drives me nuts.",
"Trying to clean it is a hassle, namely because any button bigger than the Tab or Ctrl buttons have small bars in them that I guess help stabilize the keys - but once they come out they're a pain to put back in.",
"It shouldn't be that hard, esp.",
"when the other buttons just pop out easily.",
"Finally, the entire unit just feels cheaply made after a while; the wrist rest on both of the ones I have owned cracked within a few weeks, and the rest of the unit has fallen apart similarly.",
"But for such a cheaply-made keyboard, the prices some people ask for USED units is extravagant; I've seen them as high as $300+!!",
"This is ridiculous.",
"Not going to buy a new one - despite how much I love it, apparently the Saitek drivers clash with some of the software (namely games) that I use, and thus there's no point in getting a third one that'll break.",
"NOTE ON PHOTO(S): some of the keys are missing because I kept hitting the Windows key and getting sent to Desktop when I didn't want to in the middle of most games, and because there was an additional key that pulled down a menu that was entirely useless to me.",
"Also they're dusty because I haven't used the keyboard in a long time, and still deciding whether to toss it out or not."
] |
I received this product and was very impressed with the bottle design. The nice cover over the dispenser is something you don't see. Since the name implied it was clean and clear, I proceeded to use it. I even used it several days. It makes a nice lather and felt good on my face. But then came the rash! This has fragrance in it! Why does everything have to have added fragrance?!! The description says for "sensitive skin." Well, I have sensitive skin and it can't take fragrances!! I was very disappointed. Everyone needs to know there is FRAGRANCE ADDED!!! | 1 | neutral | [
"I received this product and was very impressed with the bottle design.",
"The nice cover over the dispenser is something you don't see.",
"Since the name implied it was clean and clear, I proceeded to use it.",
"I even used it several days.",
"It makes a nice lather and felt good on my face.",
"But then came the rash!",
"This has fragrance in it!",
"Why does everything have to have added fragrance?!!",
"The description says for \"sensitive skin.",
"\" Well, I have sensitive skin and it can't take fragrances!!",
"I was very disappointed.",
"Everyone needs to know there is FRAGRANCE ADDED!!!"
] |
I really enjoyed this novel because it involved a good romance story that was part of the overall action. It was actually a sweet romance story and I liked the two main characters - Grace Donnelly and Nick Jackson. One of the things I really hate about many romance stories is that often the main characters are so annoying that you really don't care if they end up together. The trouble with romances is that there has to be a reason to keep the lovers apart for a good part of the story or you have no story. My least favorite method is to make the lovers both headstrong, feisty, stubborn or whatever you want to call it. They are just too stubborn to admit their feelings for each other.
In FUR BALL FEVER, the issue that kept the couple apart was that Grace could be too reckless and Nick worried too much about her to handle it. Grace was reckless, but it was often in an effort to help other people so she came across as quite likable. Nick's problem was that he was worried about her, and that made him likable as well.
In addition to the main characters, there was the delightful character of Aunt Beth who was an oddball stoner. In reading this book, I felt like I was reading something new. I didn't feel like I had seen these characters a million times before.
One flaw I noticed in this book was one that I am quite guilty of myself. Some scenes went on way too long and I found myself skimming some parts. Sometimes you love your characters so much that you go on too long and you need an editor to tell you when to scale back. Sometimes it's tough to cut your work down, but it's vital to keep the story running at a good pace.
Overall, I enjoyed this story very much and highly recommend it for a fun, entertaining read. | 1 | neutral | [
"I really enjoyed this novel because it involved a good romance story that was part of the overall action.",
"It was actually a sweet romance story and I liked the two main characters - Grace Donnelly and Nick Jackson.",
"One of the things I really hate about many romance stories is that often the main characters are so annoying that you really don't care if they end up together.",
"The trouble with romances is that there has to be a reason to keep the lovers apart for a good part of the story or you have no story.",
"My least favorite method is to make the lovers both headstrong, feisty, stubborn or whatever you want to call it.",
"They are just too stubborn to admit their feelings for each other.",
"In FUR BALL FEVER, the issue that kept the couple apart was that Grace could be too reckless and Nick worried too much about her to handle it.",
"Grace was reckless, but it was often in an effort to help other people so she came across as quite likable.",
"Nick's problem was that he was worried about her, and that made him likable as well.",
"In addition to the main characters, there was the delightful character of Aunt Beth who was an oddball stoner.",
"In reading this book, I felt like I was reading something new.",
"I didn't feel like I had seen these characters a million times before.",
"One flaw I noticed in this book was one that I am quite guilty of myself.",
"Some scenes went on way too long and I found myself skimming some parts.",
"Sometimes you love your characters so much that you go on too long and you need an editor to tell you when to scale back.",
"Sometimes it's tough to cut your work down, but it's vital to keep the story running at a good pace.",
"Overall, I enjoyed this story very much and highly recommend it for a fun, entertaining read."
] |
I really enjoyed this story if it wasn't for the drastic ending. It left me feeling deprived, especially after the sensual realizations of their attraction for one another. Roan's growing admiration of the now mature Addy is played so perfectly in this story, and then BAM! It's over. He's older, world-wise, so respectful of her and fiercely attracted to her...not to mention her older brother's trusted friend and someone who seems to have passions running deep...and so does she! The romantic possibilities between them are tangible and yet we're given nothing in the way of a taste, despite the delicious build-up. This fade-to-black was painful, leaving a bad taste in my mouth for reading anything else by this author.
I just think about what could've been, had we been given one more chapter and the passion they could've realized given their history - such a let down for an otherwise excellent story! I give it 3 stars for that reason. | 1 | neutral | [
"I really enjoyed this story if it wasn't for the drastic ending.",
"It left me feeling deprived, especially after the sensual realizations of their attraction for one another.",
"Roan's growing admiration of the now mature Addy is played so perfectly in this story, and then BAM!",
"It's over.",
"He's older, world-wise, so respectful of her and fiercely attracted to her...",
"not to mention her older brother's trusted friend and someone who seems to have passions running deep...",
"and so does she!",
"The romantic possibilities between them are tangible and yet we're given nothing in the way of a taste, despite the delicious build-up.",
"This fade-to-black was painful, leaving a bad taste in my mouth for reading anything else by this author.",
"I just think about what could've been, had we been given one more chapter and the passion they could've realized given their history - such a let down for an otherwise excellent story!",
"I give it 3 stars for that reason."
] |
Ok, I do cook a lot, but my hubby is gluten free so a lot of the recipes are unusable, or need modification.
Like all other "home" mags it's very consumer-driven. Buy this new cleaner/foundation/moisturizer. Buy these new rugs/lamps/sofas. Buy these backpacks/storage cubes/clothes that are trending now for your kids. Buy, buy, buy. I find this very off-putting.
There are articles on handling family, financial, and social issues, party planning, etc as you would expect. It is very current, with discussions of sex (though not as frank as Redbook is), social media, and other issues.
Bottom line, if you are a modern mom with some disposable income trying to "do it all and look fabulous" this is probably right for you. For me, no kids, not so youth-driven, seldom entertain, it's not that interesting. | 1 | neutral | [
"Ok, I do cook a lot, but my hubby is gluten free so a lot of the recipes are unusable, or need modification.",
"Like all other \"home\" mags it's very consumer-driven.",
"Buy this new cleaner/foundation/moisturizer.",
"Buy these new rugs/lamps/sofas.",
"Buy these backpacks/storage cubes/clothes that are trending now for your kids.",
"Buy, buy, buy.",
"I find this very off-putting.",
"There are articles on handling family, financial, and social issues, party planning, etc as you would expect.",
"It is very current, with discussions of sex (though not as frank as Redbook is), social media, and other issues.",
"Bottom line, if you are a modern mom with some disposable income trying to \"do it all and look fabulous\" this is probably right for you.",
"For me, no kids, not so youth-driven, seldom entertain, it's not that interesting."
] |
Former teacher sexually assaulted student victim testifies
Allyson B. Moran 26 was arrested last month for having sex with the teen while he was a student at Stockbridge High School. Moran had been working at the school as a long-term substitute chemistry teacher and girls soccer coach.
The victim testified Wednesday in a preliminary hearing that Moran invited him over to her Dansville home and sexually assaulted him the Lansing State Journal reports.
The teen said he first started communicating with the teacher outside of the classroom on Snapchat.
"At first it was just normal ... asking how I was doing " he said.
The boy said they "started talking more in a sexual manner" and exchanged nude photos. The teen also testified that he would sometimes eat lunch in Moran 's classroom.
During his spring break in April he said Moran invited him over to her home.
Moran allegedly told the teen not to park near her house because she didn't want the neighbors seeing the car.
When he arrived at the home he said Moran took him to her basement "man cave " disrobed and kissed him.
She then took him upstairs to her bedroom where the teen says she sexually assaulted him.
Moran invited the teen back to her house a day or two later and they had sex again he said.
The relationship was reported in August after the teen told his girlfriend what happened.
According to the Lansing State Journal Moran was bound over for trial on three felony counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a student and one misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a student.
Her arraignment date is set for Nov. 8. She could face up to 15 years in prison. | 1 | neutral | [
"Former teacher sexually assaulted student victim testifies\nAllyson B.",
"Moran 26 was arrested last month for having sex with the teen while he was a student at Stockbridge High School.",
"Moran had been working at the school as a long-term substitute chemistry teacher and girls soccer coach.",
"The victim testified Wednesday in a preliminary hearing that Moran invited him over to her Dansville home and sexually assaulted him the Lansing State Journal reports.",
"The teen said he first started communicating with the teacher outside of the classroom on Snapchat.",
"\"At first it was just normal...",
"asking how I was doing \" he said.",
"The boy said they \"started talking more in a sexual manner\" and exchanged nude photos.",
"The teen also testified that he would sometimes eat lunch in Moran 's classroom.",
"During his spring break in April he said Moran invited him over to her home.",
"Moran allegedly told the teen not to park near her house because she didn't want the neighbors seeing the car.",
"When he arrived at the home he said Moran took him to her basement \"man cave \" disrobed and kissed him.",
"She then took him upstairs to her bedroom where the teen says she sexually assaulted him.",
"Moran invited the teen back to her house a day or two later and they had sex again he said.",
"The relationship was reported in August after the teen told his girlfriend what happened.",
"According to the Lansing State Journal Moran was bound over for trial on three felony counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a student and one misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a student.",
"Her arraignment date is set for Nov.",
"8.",
"She could face up to 15 years in prison."
] |
Important Comment: The manual that comes with the unit is not THE manual. The full manual is on line. e.g. When you set the start time, the number indicator is for one of four start times per day. It is NOT the station number. All stations run consecutively on every start time if a duration is set. This is in the full manual not the manual shipped with the unit. As a result, I almost threw this thing away when it ran 16 times on one day on one program! But the fine print sent me on-line to get the thing to work. The comments on the orbit web site are that this is a non intuitive device! End of important comment. Looks good so far, easy enough to program though you should keep THE manual. Operations is not at all intuitive unless you already owned one of these. Some buttons have two labels (enter/manual). You have to cycle through modes to get to the mode you want (e.g. manual water individual stations.) But, if you just try them all, you will find what you want sooner or later. I took off one star for the non-intuitive interface. This is an outdoor controller. Thus it limits the openings to the controller. That is good. But installing it is a bear. I am a grown man. Trying to get my adult fingers in the sideways crook to access the common left me cursing. That cost them another star. The indoor Rainbird is easier to install but it is indoor which is where you should put this Orbit anyway. You can't leave this Orbit outdoors in the sun or rain either. So what is outdoors about it other than it is a bear to install? Anyway it works. | 1 | neutral | [
"Important Comment: The manual that comes with the unit is not THE manual.",
"The full manual is on line.",
"e.",
"g. When you set the start time, the number indicator is for one of four start times per day.",
"It is NOT the station number.",
"All stations run consecutively on every start time if a duration is set.",
"This is in the full manual not the manual shipped with the unit.",
"As a result, I almost threw this thing away when it ran 16 times on one day on one program!",
"But the fine print sent me on-line to get the thing to work.",
"The comments on the orbit web site are that this is a non intuitive device!",
"End of important comment.",
"Looks good so far, easy enough to program though you should keep THE manual.",
"Operations is not at all intuitive unless you already owned one of these.",
"Some buttons have two labels (enter/manual).",
"You have to cycle through modes to get to the mode you want (e.",
"g. manual water individual stations.",
") But, if you just try them all, you will find what you want sooner or later.",
"I took off one star for the non-intuitive interface.",
"This is an outdoor controller.",
"Thus it limits the openings to the controller.",
"That is good.",
"But installing it is a bear.",
"I am a grown man.",
"Trying to get my adult fingers in the sideways crook to access the common left me cursing.",
"That cost them another star.",
"The indoor Rainbird is easier to install but it is indoor which is where you should put this Orbit anyway.",
"You can't leave this Orbit outdoors in the sun or rain either.",
"So what is outdoors about it other than it is a bear to install?",
"Anyway it works."
] |
This has all been done before. Whatever inspiration The Godfather movie may have provided mobster-game designers over the past decades, the boat for this genre sailed long ago, and The Godfather game seems like a desperate attempt to catch up. It plays like the counterparts it may have inspired, namely the GTA series and Mafia. The slight differences in game play are negligible for the most part, so the only thing the game has going for it is that it is the genuine article. In other words, the main reason to buy this game is if you are really into The Godfather movies; it offers nothing substantially different than any other game in the genre.
There is, however, one innovation that turns out to be a colossal failing of the interface, and that should NEVER be used again - AUTO-TARGETING. Let me explain how this "works":
In most shooter games, the player moves the cursor toward the target, then the cursor changes into a crosshairs or lights up etc. to indicate a good shot. If you want to lock onto a target, you may press a button or click a mouse key, but the player controls the aim. In The Godfather game, the interface SELECTS A TARGET FOR YOU when you click the mouse button. Try to imagine the horror of this. The computer inevitably picks the wrong target (civilians, dead bodies, non-hostile NPCs, concealed targets when wide open targets are available). CYCLING between targets simply DOES NOT WORK. You are more likely to reselect the same target you just dropped than another target you want. This leaves you in the awkward position of firing repeatedly at a non-target far away while being shot at close distance by the guy in front of you. Yes, you are given the ability to manually aim, but this doesn't work either. Your manual aim is done from (literally) the hip. This makes using cover pointless if you want to aim for yourself because although you point the cursor at the head of your enemy, you are unable to shoot over the box you are behind because it is at waist height! The use of cover and shooting around walls is very important because you have no body armor in the game, but the flakiness of the autotarget feature and the limitations of manual aiming makes this part of play very frustrating.
The developers totally wasted the Mature rating their game garnered. Yes there is "intense violence", but not gore: no amputations, decapitations, exploding or burned bodies, splatter, and barely any blood spray. In this regard, GTA has it beat. There is also no sex or drugs, just a few f-bombs here and there.
And for God's sake will someone please turn that Godfather music off? Nope - can't be done. No skipping through most cut-scenes either so you may want to have something else ready to do while you sit through them.
The game is fun, but so is GTA. There is nothing particularly fresh here. The mobster genre is just exhausted, and introducing an old-classic doesn't revive it. Note that gameplay is beautifully stable and glitch free, kudos on that. | 1 | neutral | [
"This has all been done before.",
"Whatever inspiration The Godfather movie may have provided mobster-game designers over the past decades, the boat for this genre sailed long ago, and The Godfather game seems like a desperate attempt to catch up.",
"It plays like the counterparts it may have inspired, namely the GTA series and Mafia.",
"The slight differences in game play are negligible for the most part, so the only thing the game has going for it is that it is the genuine article.",
"In other words, the main reason to buy this game is if you are really into The Godfather movies; it offers nothing substantially different than any other game in the genre.",
"There is, however, one innovation that turns out to be a colossal failing of the interface, and that should NEVER be used again - AUTO-TARGETING.",
"Let me explain how this \"works\":\n\nIn most shooter games, the player moves the cursor toward the target, then the cursor changes into a crosshairs or lights up etc.",
"to indicate a good shot.",
"If you want to lock onto a target, you may press a button or click a mouse key, but the player controls the aim.",
"In The Godfather game, the interface SELECTS A TARGET FOR YOU when you click the mouse button.",
"Try to imagine the horror of this.",
"The computer inevitably picks the wrong target (civilians, dead bodies, non-hostile NPCs, concealed targets when wide open targets are available).",
"CYCLING between targets simply DOES NOT WORK.",
"You are more likely to reselect the same target you just dropped than another target you want.",
"This leaves you in the awkward position of firing repeatedly at a non-target far away while being shot at close distance by the guy in front of you.",
"Yes, you are given the ability to manually aim, but this doesn't work either.",
"Your manual aim is done from (literally) the hip.",
"This makes using cover pointless if you want to aim for yourself because although you point the cursor at the head of your enemy, you are unable to shoot over the box you are behind because it is at waist height!",
"The use of cover and shooting around walls is very important because you have no body armor in the game, but the flakiness of the autotarget feature and the limitations of manual aiming makes this part of play very frustrating.",
"The developers totally wasted the Mature rating their game garnered.",
"Yes there is \"intense violence\", but not gore: no amputations, decapitations, exploding or burned bodies, splatter, and barely any blood spray.",
"In this regard, GTA has it beat.",
"There is also no sex or drugs, just a few f-bombs here and there.",
"And for God's sake will someone please turn that Godfather music off?",
"Nope - can't be done.",
"No skipping through most cut-scenes either so you may want to have something else ready to do while you sit through them.",
"The game is fun, but so is GTA.",
"There is nothing particularly fresh here.",
"The mobster genre is just exhausted, and introducing an old-classic doesn't revive it.",
"Note that gameplay is beautifully stable and glitch free, kudos on that."
] |
I purchased an Otterbox Case from Amazon after doing research on the best phone cases that were available. Otterbox was recommended by several sites and friends who used Otterbox cases on other phones. The Droid X case took forever to release and actually wasn't available until a couple of months ago even though the phone has been available since the beginning of last year. I was using a Body Glove case while i waited for the OtterBox case to be released. I received my OtterBox case last month. I wanted to have some hands on time with the case first before i wrote a review....
LIKES: The case is VERY durable. Comes with a hard two piece interior shell with a built in screen protector. A silicone case that covers the interior shell..provides ALOT of protection. I work in law enforcement and i drop my phone alot, so i need a tough case. In the last month this phone has hit the pavement about 20 times. The phone and case are still in perfect conditon. The OtterBox excels in this category. The case makes the already big Droid X BIGGER....this is not a negative for me because thats one of the trade offs for good protection.
DISLIKES: OtterBox took forever to release this case for the Droid X. Everyone waited patiently because Otterbox is known for releasing good products. But this case is NOT worth the money. The interior plastic case does not seal tightly enough at the bottom left corner of the case. When you place the silicone cover over the phone, the bottom left corner squeaks and feels mushy when using the most used buttons on the phone. If i paid $10 for this case this would not be an issue. OtterBox made us wait and charged alot for a case that is far from perfect. The silicone also is lose at the bottom of the phone....i've properly fitted the case in every way, but it still stays slightly lose. Some people stated that after a couple of weeks the silicone shrinks and finally fits the phone perfectly. Well ive had my case for over a month and still this thing stays loose. For the wait and the price OtterBox has left me disappointed. I know they make good cases that fit properly for other phones that i have actually tried...but they dropped the ball on the Droid X. I am still using the case, but have ordered another durable case from a new company that has received better reviews from the Droid X community. I want to like this case, but i'm reminded of the bad quality every time i hear a squeak when i press the mushy case buttons at the bottom of my X.
UPDATE: I received a Seido Rugged Case the other night as a replacement for my Otterbox. While removing the Otterbox, i noticed the top left corner of the plastic shell had chipped. The chip most likely happened from one of many falls my phone has taken. So the Otterbox did its job. But i must say the Seido case is alot better. The holster alone is worth the purchase. The Seido holster fits my duty belt..something the Otterbox could not do. If you are a police officer or wear a wide duty belt, the Otterbox will not clip securely to your belt. | 1 | neutral | [
"I purchased an Otterbox Case from Amazon after doing research on the best phone cases that were available.",
"Otterbox was recommended by several sites and friends who used Otterbox cases on other phones.",
"The Droid X case took forever to release and actually wasn't available until a couple of months ago even though the phone has been available since the beginning of last year.",
"I was using a Body Glove case while i waited for the OtterBox case to be released.",
"I received my OtterBox case last month.",
"I wanted to have some hands on time with the case first before i wrote a review....",
"LIKES: The case is VERY durable.",
"Comes with a hard two piece interior shell with a built in screen protector.",
"A silicone case that covers the interior shell..",
"provides ALOT of protection.",
"I work in law enforcement and i drop my phone alot, so i need a tough case.",
"In the last month this phone has hit the pavement about 20 times.",
"The phone and case are still in perfect conditon.",
"The OtterBox excels in this category.",
"The case makes the already big Droid X BIGGER....",
"this is not a negative for me because thats one of the trade offs for good protection.",
"DISLIKES: OtterBox took forever to release this case for the Droid X.",
"Everyone waited patiently because Otterbox is known for releasing good products.",
"But this case is NOT worth the money.",
"The interior plastic case does not seal tightly enough at the bottom left corner of the case.",
"When you place the silicone cover over the phone, the bottom left corner squeaks and feels mushy when using the most used buttons on the phone.",
"If i paid $10 for this case this would not be an issue.",
"OtterBox made us wait and charged alot for a case that is far from perfect.",
"The silicone also is lose at the bottom of the phone....",
"i've properly fitted the case in every way, but it still stays slightly lose.",
"Some people stated that after a couple of weeks the silicone shrinks and finally fits the phone perfectly.",
"Well ive had my case for over a month and still this thing stays loose.",
"For the wait and the price OtterBox has left me disappointed.",
"I know they make good cases that fit properly for other phones that i have actually tried...",
"but they dropped the ball on the Droid X.",
"I am still using the case, but have ordered another durable case from a new company that has received better reviews from the Droid X community.",
"I want to like this case, but i'm reminded of the bad quality every time i hear a squeak when i press the mushy case buttons at the bottom of my X.",
"UPDATE: I received a Seido Rugged Case the other night as a replacement for my Otterbox.",
"While removing the Otterbox, i noticed the top left corner of the plastic shell had chipped.",
"The chip most likely happened from one of many falls my phone has taken.",
"So the Otterbox did its job.",
"But i must say the Seido case is alot better.",
"The holster alone is worth the purchase.",
"The Seido holster fits my duty belt..",
"something the Otterbox could not do.",
"If you are a police officer or wear a wide duty belt, the Otterbox will not clip securely to your belt."
] |
This CD is a reissue of a single-pocket Lp set; the TC 38068 album release dates from April, 1982. The CD is CK 38068. CD insert folds out to lyrics to all 12 songs.
Songs and sources:
Beautiful Noise -- Columbia 10452 45 single, BEAUTIFUL NOISE Lp (easy listening hit only on 45)
Hello Again*
Forever in Blue Jeans -- Columbia 10897 45 single, YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS Lp
September Morn -- Columbia 11175 45 single, SEPTEMBER MORN Lp
Desiree -- Columbia 10657 45 single, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH ME TONIGHT Lp
You Don't Bring Me Flowers -- Columbia 10840 45 single, YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS Lp
America*
Be -- Columbia 4-45942 45 single, JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL 2Lp set -- September, 1973
Longfellow Serenade -- Columbia 10043 45 single, SERENADE Lp
If You Know What I Mean -- Columbia 10366 45 single, BEAUTIFUL NOISE Lp
Yesterday's Songs -- Columbia 02604 45 single, ON THE WAY TO THE SKY Lp -- October, 1981
Love On The Rocks*
* The three hits from the Capitol Records SWAV 12120 JAZZ SINGER soundtrack. This package was the first Columbia use of those songs. At the time this album was released, the JAZZ SINGER album had been on the Top Lps chart for 79 weeks and it's obvious that this was the first chance that Columbia Records had to siphon off some of that business.
The playing time on the CD version clocks at 45:06, roughly 22 minutes an Lp side, which was about the limit of decent sound fidelity on vinyl. The following hit 45 singles are missing from this set, though at the time that was most likely due to the time constraints of the single-pocket vinyl Lp nature of the original album release:
(listed in release/chart order; Columbia renumbered the singles' release series; chart peak listed is via Cash Box pop singles' charts, via Frank Hoffmann's book on Scarecrow Press.)
Skybird -- Columbia 4-45998 (#48)
I've Been This Way Before -- Columbia 10084 (#43)
The Last Picasso -- Columbia 10138 (uncharted, though it was an easy listening hit on Billboard)
Don't Think...Feel -- Columbia 10405 (#77)
Say Maybe -- Columbia 10945 (#63)
The Good Lord Loves You -- Columbia 11232 (#97)
Greatest hits' albums usually bookend (kill, cutout) catalog album sales, and this album sources virtually all of Neil Diamond's Columbia Lp catalog at the time:
JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL (soundtrack), Columbia 32550 2Lp set (October, 1973)
SERENADE, Columbia 32919 (October, 1974)
BEAUTIFUL NOISE, Columbia 33965 (June, 1976)
LOVE AT THE GREEK, Columbia 34404 2Lp set (February, 1977)
I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH ME TONIGHT, Columbia 34990 (November, 1977)
YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS, Columbia 35625 (November, 1978)
SEPTEMBER MORN, Columbia 36121 (December, 1979)
THE JAZZ SINGER (soundtrack), Capitol Records SWAV 12120 (November, 1980)
ON THE WAY TO THE SKY, Columbia 37628 (November, 1981: Columbia released two followup 45 singles from this album after "Yesterday's Songs" was featured on both the current ON THE WAY TO THE SKY Lp and this repackage 12 GREATEST HITS Lp comp some five months later) | 1 | neutral | [
"This CD is a reissue of a single-pocket Lp set; the TC 38068 album release dates from April, 1982.",
"The CD is CK 38068.",
"CD insert folds out to lyrics to all 12 songs.",
"Songs and sources:\nBeautiful Noise -- Columbia 10452 45 single, BEAUTIFUL NOISE Lp (easy listening hit only on 45)\nHello Again*\nForever in Blue Jeans -- Columbia 10897 45 single, YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS Lp\nSeptember Morn -- Columbia 11175 45 single, SEPTEMBER MORN Lp\nDesiree -- Columbia 10657 45 single, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH ME TONIGHT Lp\nYou Don't Bring Me Flowers -- Columbia 10840 45 single, YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS Lp\nAmerica*\nBe -- Columbia 4-45942 45 single, JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL 2Lp set -- September, 1973\nLongfellow Serenade -- Columbia 10043 45 single, SERENADE Lp\nIf You Know What I Mean -- Columbia 10366 45 single, BEAUTIFUL NOISE Lp\nYesterday's Songs -- Columbia 02604 45 single, ON THE WAY TO THE SKY Lp -- October, 1981\nLove On The Rocks*\n\n* The three hits from the Capitol Records SWAV 12120 JAZZ SINGER soundtrack.",
"This package was the first Columbia use of those songs.",
"At the time this album was released, the JAZZ SINGER album had been on the Top Lps chart for 79 weeks and it's obvious that this was the first chance that Columbia Records had to siphon off some of that business.",
"The playing time on the CD version clocks at 45:06, roughly 22 minutes an Lp side, which was about the limit of decent sound fidelity on vinyl.",
"The following hit 45 singles are missing from this set, though at the time that was most likely due to the time constraints of the single-pocket vinyl Lp nature of the original album release:\n\n(listed in release/chart order; Columbia renumbered the singles' release series; chart peak listed is via Cash Box pop singles' charts, via Frank Hoffmann's book on Scarecrow Press.",
")\n\nSkybird -- Columbia 4-45998 (#48)\nI've Been This Way Before -- Columbia 10084 (#43)\nThe Last Picasso -- Columbia 10138 (uncharted, though it was an easy listening hit on Billboard)\nDon't Think...",
"Feel -- Columbia 10405 (#77)\nSay Maybe -- Columbia 10945 (#63)\nThe Good Lord Loves You -- Columbia 11232 (#97)\n\nGreatest hits' albums usually bookend (kill, cutout) catalog album sales, and this album sources virtually all of Neil Diamond's Columbia Lp catalog at the time:\n\nJONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL (soundtrack), Columbia 32550 2Lp set (October, 1973)\nSERENADE, Columbia 32919 (October, 1974)\nBEAUTIFUL NOISE, Columbia 33965 (June, 1976)\nLOVE AT THE GREEK, Columbia 34404 2Lp set (February, 1977)\nI'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH ME TONIGHT, Columbia 34990 (November, 1977)\nYOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS, Columbia 35625 (November, 1978)\nSEPTEMBER MORN, Columbia 36121 (December, 1979)\nTHE JAZZ SINGER (soundtrack), Capitol Records SWAV 12120 (November, 1980)\nON THE WAY TO THE SKY, Columbia 37628 (November, 1981: Columbia released two followup 45 singles from this album after \"Yesterday's Songs\" was featured on both the current ON THE WAY TO THE SKY Lp and this repackage 12 GREATEST HITS Lp comp some five months later)"
] |
I have never been really sure what I think of this album. In some ways, it is a standout moment for the band -- it features their first mega-hit classic, Pride (in the name of love). It also features great production. The album also frames and cements the band's political/religious musings in a way that would define them and their image for atleast the next several years.
But on the flipside, it sounds uneven, unfinished, and ultimately unsatisfying. Yes, Bad, Wire, Pride (in the name of love), and A Sort Of Homecoming are great songs. But Promenade is average at best, and the title track sounds more like an attempt at writing an 80's hit and doesn't really fit in with the other tracks. MLK ends the album on a relaxing, pensive note, but in the end, The Unforgettable Fire leaves you wanting more. It is certainly a good album. But I think this was the band planting seeds for bigger and better things. This was the big inhale before the giant exhale of The Joshua Tree.
So if you are a fan, you will like it. If not, buy their Greatest Hits if you want Pride (in the name of love). | 1 | neutral | [
"I have never been really sure what I think of this album.",
"In some ways, it is a standout moment for the band -- it features their first mega-hit classic, Pride (in the name of love).",
"It also features great production.",
"The album also frames and cements the band's political/religious musings in a way that would define them and their image for atleast the next several years.",
"But on the flipside, it sounds uneven, unfinished, and ultimately unsatisfying.",
"Yes, Bad, Wire, Pride (in the name of love), and A Sort Of Homecoming are great songs.",
"But Promenade is average at best, and the title track sounds more like an attempt at writing an 80's hit and doesn't really fit in with the other tracks.",
"MLK ends the album on a relaxing, pensive note, but in the end, The Unforgettable Fire leaves you wanting more.",
"It is certainly a good album.",
"But I think this was the band planting seeds for bigger and better things.",
"This was the big inhale before the giant exhale of The Joshua Tree.",
"So if you are a fan, you will like it.",
"If not, buy their Greatest Hits if you want Pride (in the name of love)."
] |
I purchased a poppy case in Red Tangerine. The product description on this website says this case is for Logitech K811. I do not think this is accurate in terms of the protection the case offers, but it may depend on what the owner is comfortable with. The case I received was a few millimeters short lengthwise, so all four corners of my keyboard were exposed in the front. Perhaps the one I received was defective, so I returned it. For reference, Logitech's support Web page specifies the dimensions of the Bluetooth "Easy-Switch" Illuminated Keyboard K811 for Mac, iPad, iPhone as follows: height, 10 mm or 0.39 inches; width, 287 mm or 11.30 inches; and depth, 127 mm or 5.00 inches.
The two shorter edges of the keyboard are partially covered by the elastic band only. Good luck with a drop. To be fair, the product description implies that this case is to be used inside another bag. Still, I question how much scratch protection is actually offered when sharp objects that might be in the bag, like keys or pens, could slip in between the elastic.
The back storage pocket is sewn on flat and is very tight. My keyboard's cord fit in there fine. The keyboard's slim start guide booklet (roughly 5 x 5 inches) slipped in but partially covered the Velcro closure in the middle. I would not plan on putting much in there.
The material is nice looking and sturdy, and it is padded; there just is not enough of it to cover my keyboard to my satisfaction. The dimensions may not be an issue for an Apple Wireless Keyboard, in which case this could be a good buy for someone who does not desire functional storage beyond the keyboard itself. Otherwise, there are likely less expensive, if less attractive, options for simple scratch protection for Logitech's K811. | 1 | neutral | [
"I purchased a poppy case in Red Tangerine.",
"The product description on this website says this case is for Logitech K811.",
"I do not think this is accurate in terms of the protection the case offers, but it may depend on what the owner is comfortable with.",
"The case I received was a few millimeters short lengthwise, so all four corners of my keyboard were exposed in the front.",
"Perhaps the one I received was defective, so I returned it.",
"For reference, Logitech's support Web page specifies the dimensions of the Bluetooth \"Easy-Switch\" Illuminated Keyboard K811 for Mac, iPad, iPhone as follows: height, 10 mm or 0.",
"39 inches; width, 287 mm or 11.",
"30 inches; and depth, 127 mm or 5.",
"00 inches.",
"The two shorter edges of the keyboard are partially covered by the elastic band only.",
"Good luck with a drop.",
"To be fair, the product description implies that this case is to be used inside another bag.",
"Still, I question how much scratch protection is actually offered when sharp objects that might be in the bag, like keys or pens, could slip in between the elastic.",
"The back storage pocket is sewn on flat and is very tight.",
"My keyboard's cord fit in there fine.",
"The keyboard's slim start guide booklet (roughly 5 x 5 inches) slipped in but partially covered the Velcro closure in the middle.",
"I would not plan on putting much in there.",
"The material is nice looking and sturdy, and it is padded; there just is not enough of it to cover my keyboard to my satisfaction.",
"The dimensions may not be an issue for an Apple Wireless Keyboard, in which case this could be a good buy for someone who does not desire functional storage beyond the keyboard itself.",
"Otherwise, there are likely less expensive, if less attractive, options for simple scratch protection for Logitech's K811."
] |
Back in 1961, Johnny Crawford appeared on the TV show <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Rifleman/dp/B000FC2GG4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Rifleman</a>, playing the son of Chuck Conners. He was a good looking kid who was popular with girls, so LA based independent record label Del-Fi decided to turn him into a singing teen idol. Fortunately, it turned out that he had a pleasant light tenor voice. He went on to become the most successful recording artist that Del-Fi had. He placed eight singles on the Hot 100, including one Top 10 and two Top 20s. His records were all of the teenage pop variety, mostly ballads that didn't rock too hard. Most of them are pretty enjoyable. The first eight songs on this CD are his eight chart singles, in order of how big a hit they were. Then there are 16 other songs, which consist of b-sides, album tracks and flop singles. This is more Johnny Crawford than most people will want to listen to, but it's better too have too many songs than not enough songs. | 1 | neutral | [
"Back in 1961, Johnny Crawford appeared on the TV show <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/The-Rifleman/dp/B000FC2GG4/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">The Rifleman</a>, playing the son of Chuck Conners.",
"He was a good looking kid who was popular with girls, so LA based independent record label Del-Fi decided to turn him into a singing teen idol.",
"Fortunately, it turned out that he had a pleasant light tenor voice.",
"He went on to become the most successful recording artist that Del-Fi had.",
"He placed eight singles on the Hot 100, including one Top 10 and two Top 20s.",
"His records were all of the teenage pop variety, mostly ballads that didn't rock too hard.",
"Most of them are pretty enjoyable.",
"The first eight songs on this CD are his eight chart singles, in order of how big a hit they were.",
"Then there are 16 other songs, which consist of b-sides, album tracks and flop singles.",
"This is more Johnny Crawford than most people will want to listen to, but it's better too have too many songs than not enough songs."
] |
So I LOVE Melissa and Doug, and was psyched to buy this for my 3 year old boy. The materials are nice and sturdy, just like you'd expect from Melissa and Doug.
I was a little surprised though that the design was so weak. The nails were very hard to nail into the side of the box - and crazy hard to remove. Certainly my son couldn't do it without my help, and I struggled a little too. As for the screws - you can't use them in the box at all! You can only screw in the screws in the enclosed bolts, so that part has nothing to do with the actual box (I thought it would be cool for my son to build something ON the box, but he couldn't do that with the current design.
So my son doesn't play with this toy. Now my problem is that it's so nice that I feel guilty to throw it out, but not designed smartly enough for him to really get use out of it. #decisionsdecisions | 1 | neutral | [
"So I LOVE Melissa and Doug, and was psyched to buy this for my 3 year old boy.",
"The materials are nice and sturdy, just like you'd expect from Melissa and Doug.",
"I was a little surprised though that the design was so weak.",
"The nails were very hard to nail into the side of the box - and crazy hard to remove.",
"Certainly my son couldn't do it without my help, and I struggled a little too.",
"As for the screws - you can't use them in the box at all!",
"You can only screw in the screws in the enclosed bolts, so that part has nothing to do with the actual box (I thought it would be cool for my son to build something ON the box, but he couldn't do that with the current design.",
"So my son doesn't play with this toy.",
"Now my problem is that it's so nice that I feel guilty to throw it out, but not designed smartly enough for him to really get use out of it.",
"#decisionsdecisions"
] |
Quick read.
Overall 3 stars cuz I wanted a bit more.
Sexwise hott I give it a 4 or 5
Dane left home and Charlotte behind 10 years ago to become a journalist and make something of himself. He returns to find his lost love Charlotte is back in town too. Well after she throws a wrench at his head they have hot quick office sex.
She drives home leaving him in the dust. He goes to the bar with his brothers and gets a huge surprise that has him tearing out of the bar to find Charlotte. At her house they again have sex, multiple times until he asks her to marry him.
Well first off damn does Dane have stamina and the quickest recovery time I've ever read. The story is really short and a tad unbelievable. Separated for 10 years then bam im back surprise and within minutes they are having sex. Then more sex and a proposal after mer hours.
Sex scenes were good and dominated the story. I was disappointed that jayden and Dane didn't ger to meet. | 1 | neutral | [
"Quick read.",
"Overall 3 stars cuz I wanted a bit more.",
"Sexwise hott I give it a 4 or 5\n\nDane left home and Charlotte behind 10 years ago to become a journalist and make something of himself.",
"He returns to find his lost love Charlotte is back in town too.",
"Well after she throws a wrench at his head they have hot quick office sex.",
"She drives home leaving him in the dust.",
"He goes to the bar with his brothers and gets a huge surprise that has him tearing out of the bar to find Charlotte.",
"At her house they again have sex, multiple times until he asks her to marry him.",
"Well first off damn does Dane have stamina and the quickest recovery time I've ever read.",
"The story is really short and a tad unbelievable.",
"Separated for 10 years then bam im back surprise and within minutes they are having sex.",
"Then more sex and a proposal after mer hours.",
"Sex scenes were good and dominated the story.",
"I was disappointed that jayden and Dane didn't ger to meet."
] |
This is your classic HP business financial calculator -- about equivalent to the HP 38C that came before it. In the past HP used to provide a quick start guide, user use & programming manual, some little pocket quick-reference foldout cards, and even would mail you a special programming guide. Now you only get the quick start guide and a CD. The quick start guide is fairly USELESS for a calculator with so many quirks and features. The CD is no replacement for a physical owners manual because (1) the computer-printout manual is very bulky and (2) it lacks color. So you have to go onto ebay and buy an 12c manual -- which adds another $15 or $20 to the cost of the calcualtor. Also, the case feels cheap, but there's nothing new about that. A leather case will cost another $20. All that being said, it's a WONDERFUL calculator. Just plan on buying a manual and possibly as case. Bad job, HP!!! | 1 | neutral | [
"This is your classic HP business financial calculator -- about equivalent to the HP 38C that came before it.",
"In the past HP used to provide a quick start guide, user use & programming manual, some little pocket quick-reference foldout cards, and even would mail you a special programming guide.",
"Now you only get the quick start guide and a CD.",
"The quick start guide is fairly USELESS for a calculator with so many quirks and features.",
"The CD is no replacement for a physical owners manual because (1) the computer-printout manual is very bulky and (2) it lacks color.",
"So you have to go onto ebay and buy an 12c manual -- which adds another $15 or $20 to the cost of the calcualtor.",
"Also, the case feels cheap, but there's nothing new about that.",
"A leather case will cost another $20.",
"All that being said, it's a WONDERFUL calculator.",
"Just plan on buying a manual and possibly as case.",
"Bad job, HP!!!"
] |
As with most anthology movies, this 1985 flick is rather uneven regarding the quality of the various stories within. Scripted by THE modern horror-meister himself, CAT'S EYE (a.k.a. STEPHEN KING'S CAT'S EYE) features adaptations of two of King's previously published short stories and one original tale, all tied together with a feline-centric wraparound.
The first segment, "Quitter's Inc.," is a dark comedy in which a chronic smoker (James Woods) engages the services of an professional firm to help him break his nasty habit, but he doubts his decision when he learns that the organization's CEO (Alan King) is a former Mob boss who utilizes the "techniques" of his previous profession to "help" current clients. This is definitely the strongest of the three tales.
Segment two, "The Ledge," again involves an underworld kingpin (Kenneth McMillan), this time one who forces his wife's lover (Robert Hays) to engage in a questionable bet. Not as clever nor as interesting as the first story, but not too bad either.
"The General," the final segment of the trio, is about an abnormally intelligent cat who, despite protests from the mother (Candy Clark), "adopts" a family and moves into their rural home. Unbenknownst to the humans, the feline's raison d'etre is to defend the daughter (Drew Barrymore) from the attacks of a wicked woodland troll who has also claimed squatting rights in the home. Definitely the weakest of the three stories--and thematically out of step with the other two--though the animatronics FX for the wee creature are kinda cool.
The final segment is also meant to be the climax of the wraparound, but that might be rather unclear to some viewers. Director Lewis Teague has claimed that the wraparound's prologue was originally longer and made its connection to "The General" much more obvious, but the resulting ambiguity was created by studio-enforced cuts beyond Lewis' control. Pity. The overall movie might have been more cohesive if studio suits had kept their scissors away from the director's and screenwriter's joint vision.
CAT'S EYE is not the best film based on the works of Stephen King, to be sure, but it is still a well-made and entertaining diversion. Jack Cardiff's cinematography is excellent, the editing is top-notch, and the pacing of the stories is good. And director Teague--who earlier directed CUJO (1983), another King adaptation--elicits great performances from most of the cast. Genre buffs, especially fans of writer King, will enjoy spotting all of the self-referential--and often humorously self-deprecating--in-jokes (which include the killer car Christine and a clip from 1983's THE DEAD ZONE, among others). Also watch for the very brief appearance of actor Charles S. Dutton in one of his first screen appearances.
The DVD from Warner seems about as low-budget as the film itself, but it still offers a nice digital transfer of the film in anamorphic widescreen. And unlike a lot of Warner cheapies, there is also an informative feature commentary with director Teague. Well worth amazon.com's VERY reasonable price of admission. | 1 | neutral | [
"As with most anthology movies, this 1985 flick is rather uneven regarding the quality of the various stories within.",
"Scripted by THE modern horror-meister himself, CAT'S EYE (a.",
"k.a. STEPHEN KING'S CAT'S EYE) features adaptations of two of King's previously published short stories and one original tale, all tied together with a feline-centric wraparound.",
"The first segment, \"Quitter's Inc.",
",\" is a dark comedy in which a chronic smoker (James Woods) engages the services of an professional firm to help him break his nasty habit, but he doubts his decision when he learns that the organization's CEO (Alan King) is a former Mob boss who utilizes the \"techniques\" of his previous profession to \"help\" current clients.",
"This is definitely the strongest of the three tales.",
"Segment two, \"The Ledge,\" again involves an underworld kingpin (Kenneth McMillan), this time one who forces his wife's lover (Robert Hays) to engage in a questionable bet.",
"Not as clever nor as interesting as the first story, but not too bad either.",
"\"The General,\" the final segment of the trio, is about an abnormally intelligent cat who, despite protests from the mother (Candy Clark), \"adopts\" a family and moves into their rural home.",
"Unbenknownst to the humans, the feline's raison d'etre is to defend the daughter (Drew Barrymore) from the attacks of a wicked woodland troll who has also claimed squatting rights in the home.",
"Definitely the weakest of the three stories--and thematically out of step with the other two--though the animatronics FX for the wee creature are kinda cool.",
"The final segment is also meant to be the climax of the wraparound, but that might be rather unclear to some viewers.",
"Director Lewis Teague has claimed that the wraparound's prologue was originally longer and made its connection to \"The General\" much more obvious, but the resulting ambiguity was created by studio-enforced cuts beyond Lewis' control.",
"Pity.",
"The overall movie might have been more cohesive if studio suits had kept their scissors away from the director's and screenwriter's joint vision.",
"CAT'S EYE is not the best film based on the works of Stephen King, to be sure, but it is still a well-made and entertaining diversion.",
"Jack Cardiff's cinematography is excellent, the editing is top-notch, and the pacing of the stories is good.",
"And director Teague--who earlier directed CUJO (1983), another King adaptation--elicits great performances from most of the cast.",
"Genre buffs, especially fans of writer King, will enjoy spotting all of the self-referential--and often humorously self-deprecating--in-jokes (which include the killer car Christine and a clip from 1983's THE DEAD ZONE, among others).",
"Also watch for the very brief appearance of actor Charles S.",
"Dutton in one of his first screen appearances.",
"The DVD from Warner seems about as low-budget as the film itself, but it still offers a nice digital transfer of the film in anamorphic widescreen.",
"And unlike a lot of Warner cheapies, there is also an informative feature commentary with director Teague.",
"Well worth amazon.",
"com's VERY reasonable price of admission."
] |
I traded in my Keurig for this. I wanted a real cup of coffee and not the slightly artificial Keurig cup that I put up with for so long. And this machine delivers that. It's easy to use and clean and I do like it. However, it has this special button to push if you make less than 5 cups of coffee that is supposed to help make it hot enough for consumption. This button works just fine for 4 cups. But anything less, the coffee is just not hot enough when the machine beeps to say it's ready. Even if I increase the plate temperature to the max amount. I end up putting it in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute to get it up to the right temp. I just thought people should be aware if they are used to making a single cup of coffee. Also the lines inside the reservoir to indicate the cups are very difficult to see less than 6 cups. There should be a clear window to see the water level on the outside. Simple addition that would make it so much better. | 1 | neutral | [
"I traded in my Keurig for this.",
"I wanted a real cup of coffee and not the slightly artificial Keurig cup that I put up with for so long.",
"And this machine delivers that.",
"It's easy to use and clean and I do like it.",
"However, it has this special button to push if you make less than 5 cups of coffee that is supposed to help make it hot enough for consumption.",
"This button works just fine for 4 cups.",
"But anything less, the coffee is just not hot enough when the machine beeps to say it's ready.",
"Even if I increase the plate temperature to the max amount.",
"I end up putting it in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute to get it up to the right temp.",
"I just thought people should be aware if they are used to making a single cup of coffee.",
"Also the lines inside the reservoir to indicate the cups are very difficult to see less than 6 cups.",
"There should be a clear window to see the water level on the outside.",
"Simple addition that would make it so much better."
] |
Ninja Assault was actually a very interesting concept, although a bit bizarre. One friend mentioned that he thought it was bizarre for Ninjas to use guns. If you like Ninja games, don't buy this game, go and get Shinobi. If you like shooting games, then get this game. The game is similar in effect to the House of the Dead games. Very similar style, but different plot and story. I purchased the game a year ago and have not played it all that much, but have enjoyed the times that I did play it. It isn't a terribly cerebral game, but then again what shooter is? By definition of a shooter game you just shoot things, you don't really think all that much. I did find the save game option difficult and that was basically, because I didn't read the insert.
All in all I gave it a 3 out of 5 because it is a fun shooter game in the same vein as HOTD, and if you like HOTD, like me then you will probably like this game. If you don't like HOTD then don't get this game. | 1 | neutral | [
"Ninja Assault was actually a very interesting concept, although a bit bizarre.",
"One friend mentioned that he thought it was bizarre for Ninjas to use guns.",
"If you like Ninja games, don't buy this game, go and get Shinobi.",
"If you like shooting games, then get this game.",
"The game is similar in effect to the House of the Dead games.",
"Very similar style, but different plot and story.",
"I purchased the game a year ago and have not played it all that much, but have enjoyed the times that I did play it.",
"It isn't a terribly cerebral game, but then again what shooter is?",
"By definition of a shooter game you just shoot things, you don't really think all that much.",
"I did find the save game option difficult and that was basically, because I didn't read the insert.",
"All in all I gave it a 3 out of 5 because it is a fun shooter game in the same vein as HOTD, and if you like HOTD, like me then you will probably like this game.",
"If you don't like HOTD then don't get this game."
] |
In October of 1966, Barbra Streisand released her eighth album entitled, JE M'APPELLE BARBRA. This was not that great of an album, putting it into a three-star position.
FREE AGAIN
Not bad.
AUTUMN LEAVES
Not bad.
WHAT NOW MY LOVE
Not bad.
MA PREMIERE CHANSON
Don't like it.
CLOPIN CLOPANT
Don't like it.
LE MUR
Hate it.
I WISH YOU LOVE
Great.
SPEAK TO ME OF LOVE
Not bad
LOVE AND LEARN
Not bad.
ONCE UPON A SUMMERTIME
Not bad.
MARTINA
Not bad.
I'VE BEEN HERE
Not bad.
Three of the songs are hateful, one is enjoyable, with the other eight songs being just okay. JE M'APPELLE BARBRA is not that great of an album, but I'd still recommend that you buy, just so you cold have Barbra's entire catalog. So, go ahead and buy away. | 1 | neutral | [
"In October of 1966, Barbra Streisand released her eighth album entitled, JE M'APPELLE BARBRA.",
"This was not that great of an album, putting it into a three-star position.",
"FREE AGAIN\n\n Not bad.",
"AUTUMN LEAVES\n\n Not bad.",
"WHAT NOW MY LOVE\n\n Not bad.",
"MA PREMIERE CHANSON\n\n Don't like it.",
"CLOPIN CLOPANT\n\n Don't like it.",
"LE MUR\n\n Hate it.",
"I WISH YOU LOVE\n\n Great.",
"SPEAK TO ME OF LOVE\n\n Not bad\n\nLOVE AND LEARN\n\n Not bad.",
"ONCE UPON A SUMMERTIME\n\n Not bad.",
"MARTINA\n\n Not bad.",
"I'VE BEEN HERE\n\n Not bad.",
"Three of the songs are hateful, one is enjoyable, with the other eight songs being just okay.",
"JE M'APPELLE BARBRA is not that great of an album, but I'd still recommend that you buy, just so you cold have Barbra's entire catalog.",
"So, go ahead and buy away."
] |
St. John's takes down No. 5 Duke at Madison Square Garden
The Duke Blue Devils don't look like a team ready to make a March Madness run.
Or that they are the No. 5 team in the country. In fact coach Mike Krzyzewski called their performance Saturday disgusting.
Shamorie Ponds scored 33 points and St. John’s rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat Duke 81-77 in a non-conference clash at Madison Square Garden in New York. It ends an 11-game skid for the Red Storm.
Bashir Ahmed added 19 points and Tariq Owens had 17 for the Red Storm (11-13 0-11 Big East) who overcame an early 10-point deficit and fought off Duke’s heralded freshmen down the stretch in their biggest win under third-year coach Chris Mullin.
And it's another surprising loss for Duke (19-4 7-3 ACC) who were sloppy throughout the game — 18 turnovers — and flat to open the second half.
Duke which fell behind by double digits in the second half woke up late to regain the lead with just more than a minute to play but could not finish it off.
15:27 to go in the second half #SJUBB leads Duke 46-43. Tariq Owens now with 12 points after this thunderous throwdown from Shamorie Ponds (17 points). pic.twitter.com/9uNg6BfKYd — St. John's BBall (@StJohnsBBall) February 3 2018
Outhustled all afternoon Duke was coming off an easy win over Notre Dame that followed a disappointing 65-63 loss to No. 2 Virginia at home last weekend.
It was the first meeting between the teams since Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski got his 1 000th career win with a 77-68 victory at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 25 2015.
Duke : Fell to 34-19 at the Garden including 29-11 under Coach K. … The Blue Devils will be back in New York City next month for the ACC Tournament across the river at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. … Duke leads the all-time series 16-7.
Duke: Plays at North Carolina on Thursday night the first of two regular-season meetings between the longtime rivals. | 1 | neutral | [
"St.",
"John's takes down No.",
"5 Duke at Madison Square Garden\nThe Duke Blue Devils don't look like a team ready to make a March Madness run.",
"Or that they are the No.",
"5 team in the country.",
"In fact coach Mike Krzyzewski called their performance Saturday disgusting.",
"Shamorie Ponds scored 33 points and St.",
"John’s rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat Duke 81-77 in a non-conference clash at Madison Square Garden in New York.",
"It ends an 11-game skid for the Red Storm.",
"Bashir Ahmed added 19 points and Tariq Owens had 17 for the Red Storm (11-13 0-11 Big East) who overcame an early 10-point deficit and fought off Duke’s heralded freshmen down the stretch in their biggest win under third-year coach Chris Mullin.",
"And it's another surprising loss for Duke (19-4 7-3 ACC) who were sloppy throughout the game — 18 turnovers — and flat to open the second half.",
"Duke which fell behind by double digits in the second half woke up late to regain the lead with just more than a minute to play but could not finish it off.",
"15:27 to go in the second half #SJUBB leads Duke 46-43.",
"Tariq Owens now with 12 points after this thunderous throwdown from Shamorie Ponds (17 points).",
"pic.",
"twitter.",
"com/9uNg6BfKYd — St.",
"John's BBall (@StJohnsBBall) February 3 2018\nOuthustled all afternoon Duke was coming off an easy win over Notre Dame that followed a disappointing 65-63 loss to No.",
"2 Virginia at home last weekend.",
"It was the first meeting between the teams since Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski got his 1 000th career win with a 77-68 victory at Madison Square Garden on Jan.",
"25 2015.",
"Duke : Fell to 34-19 at the Garden including 29-11 under Coach K.",
"… The Blue Devils will be back in New York City next month for the ACC Tournament across the river at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.",
"… Duke leads the all-time series 16-7.",
"Duke: Plays at North Carolina on Thursday night the first of two regular-season meetings between the longtime rivals."
] |
iS CLINICAL Youth Eye Complex, 0.5 Oz. Its manufacturers, INNOVATIVE SKINCARE, state that they are dedicated to developing clinically-validated skincare products that improve the physical, emotional well-being of people globally. They claim that their YOUTH EYE COMPLEX will combat the signs of aging around the eyes. They state that the product provides penetrating hydration, reduces the appearance of periorbital fine lines and wrinkles (including crow's feet), enhances the appearance of firmness and elasticity, soothes and brightens the under-eye area They add that its innovative formula of intelligent proteins-- powerful peptides, key growth factors, potent antioxidants will rapidly reduce the look of wrinkles, puffiness, dark under-eye circles to keep that delicate skin smooth all day. They state that this paraben-free formula of hyaluronic acid, acetyl ocyapeptide-3, copper tripeptide growth factor and pseudoalteromonas ferment extract is clinically proven to target, regenerate damaged sites; will rebuild skin structures from a cellular level, while providing protection. Its also made in the U.S.A. Suggested use: Half a pump full to clean dry skin at night.
Ive been using this for several weeks now, and wish I knew what to say about it. Am not a professional cosmetics person, don't have tools to measure change, not in the habit of taking selfies to memorialize possible progress. However, clearly, the product is, at a minimum, a good moisturizer; I find bits of eyebrow not seen in a long time showing regrowth. Skin feels soft and smooth. Reduced wrinkles: don't know about that. Reduced puffiness: don't think so. Reduced dark undereye circles: don't think so. And I really, as an older person, have dark undereye circles, tending to show red, and puffiness, and sure would like them reduced. Had high hopes for this $100 product, which I got for free in order to test. But Id be reluctant to buy it again, at this price. | 1 | neutral | [
"iS CLINICAL Youth Eye Complex, 0.",
"5 Oz.",
"Its manufacturers, INNOVATIVE SKINCARE, state that they are dedicated to developing clinically-validated skincare products that improve the physical, emotional well-being of people globally.",
"They claim that their YOUTH EYE COMPLEX will combat the signs of aging around the eyes.",
"They state that the product provides penetrating hydration, reduces the appearance of periorbital fine lines and wrinkles (including crow's feet), enhances the appearance of firmness and elasticity, soothes and brightens the under-eye area They add that its innovative formula of intelligent proteins-- powerful peptides, key growth factors, potent antioxidants will rapidly reduce the look of wrinkles, puffiness, dark under-eye circles to keep that delicate skin smooth all day.",
"They state that this paraben-free formula of hyaluronic acid, acetyl ocyapeptide-3, copper tripeptide growth factor and pseudoalteromonas ferment extract is clinically proven to target, regenerate damaged sites; will rebuild skin structures from a cellular level, while providing protection.",
"Its also made in the U.",
"S.A. Suggested use: Half a pump full to clean dry skin at night.",
"Ive been using this for several weeks now, and wish I knew what to say about it.",
"Am not a professional cosmetics person, don't have tools to measure change, not in the habit of taking selfies to memorialize possible progress.",
"However, clearly, the product is, at a minimum, a good moisturizer; I find bits of eyebrow not seen in a long time showing regrowth.",
"Skin feels soft and smooth.",
"Reduced wrinkles: don't know about that.",
"Reduced puffiness: don't think so.",
"Reduced dark undereye circles: don't think so.",
"And I really, as an older person, have dark undereye circles, tending to show red, and puffiness, and sure would like them reduced.",
"Had high hopes for this $100 product, which I got for free in order to test.",
"But Id be reluctant to buy it again, at this price."
] |
I've owned a Gameboy Advance, Advance SP, PSP, and now a DS Lite. I'm an adult and I buy portable game devices to play while traveling. I like the portablility of a game player as opposed to packing a heavy stack of books.
On my last trip I played Clubhouse Games, Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow, Metroid Pinball, and Tiger Woods golf. Castlevania and Metroid bored me, but I enjoyed golf and playing solitare and bowling in Clubhouse. The touchpad was very useful for card games in general, but I don't think it improved the gameplay in golf. I'm also concerned about its durability. After only 2 weeks of light use and gentle play, my pad was already showing signs of scratching and wear.
The form of the DS Lite is nice. The screens are sharp and bright, the size and weight are good. However, using the shoulder buttons was a bit awkward. All of my previous portables lasted about 4-5 hours on a single charge. The DS lasted a couple of hours longer, but still not long enough for a 13 hour flight. However, I set the screen brightness to the second to lowest setting and not the lowest setting. In darkness, the lowest setting is fine, but if any ambient light is present, the lowest setting is too dim in my opinion. My DS would also not charge when using a 220 to 120 voltage adapter in China. Thankfully the hotels we stayed in had 115 voltage outlets in the bathrooms.
So how does the DS Lite compare to the PSP? I like the clam shell case for the DS since it protects the screens when not in use. The DS is also lighter, the battery lasts longer, and its cheaper. The PSP has a bigger screen, built in web browser, can play movies on either memory cards or UMD discs, and can also play mp3 music files. But the main decision should be based on the game libraries. I personally don't care for either library very much. The DS library has a lot of cartoonish, kiddie games, while the PSP has a lot of just plain mediocre games. Ultimately I decided that I don't care for portable gaming. The games flat out disappoint me as compared to my Xbox 360 and PS3 games. When traveling, I get much more enjoyment out of reading good books and I don't have to worry about battery charging. So the DS Lite is going to Ebay along with all my other portables. I guess I'll just have to lug around a stack of books. | 1 | neutral | [
"I've owned a Gameboy Advance, Advance SP, PSP, and now a DS Lite.",
"I'm an adult and I buy portable game devices to play while traveling.",
"I like the portablility of a game player as opposed to packing a heavy stack of books.",
"On my last trip I played Clubhouse Games, Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow, Metroid Pinball, and Tiger Woods golf.",
"Castlevania and Metroid bored me, but I enjoyed golf and playing solitare and bowling in Clubhouse.",
"The touchpad was very useful for card games in general, but I don't think it improved the gameplay in golf.",
"I'm also concerned about its durability.",
"After only 2 weeks of light use and gentle play, my pad was already showing signs of scratching and wear.",
"The form of the DS Lite is nice.",
"The screens are sharp and bright, the size and weight are good.",
"However, using the shoulder buttons was a bit awkward.",
"All of my previous portables lasted about 4-5 hours on a single charge.",
"The DS lasted a couple of hours longer, but still not long enough for a 13 hour flight.",
"However, I set the screen brightness to the second to lowest setting and not the lowest setting.",
"In darkness, the lowest setting is fine, but if any ambient light is present, the lowest setting is too dim in my opinion.",
"My DS would also not charge when using a 220 to 120 voltage adapter in China.",
"Thankfully the hotels we stayed in had 115 voltage outlets in the bathrooms.",
"So how does the DS Lite compare to the PSP?",
"I like the clam shell case for the DS since it protects the screens when not in use.",
"The DS is also lighter, the battery lasts longer, and its cheaper.",
"The PSP has a bigger screen, built in web browser, can play movies on either memory cards or UMD discs, and can also play mp3 music files.",
"But the main decision should be based on the game libraries.",
"I personally don't care for either library very much.",
"The DS library has a lot of cartoonish, kiddie games, while the PSP has a lot of just plain mediocre games.",
"Ultimately I decided that I don't care for portable gaming.",
"The games flat out disappoint me as compared to my Xbox 360 and PS3 games.",
"When traveling, I get much more enjoyment out of reading good books and I don't have to worry about battery charging.",
"So the DS Lite is going to Ebay along with all my other portables.",
"I guess I'll just have to lug around a stack of books."
] |
I loved this fountain in the time I was able to use it. It functions well and isn't too hard to clean or deal with if you are committed to helping your animals get filtered, aerated water, which most animals prefer.
The problem is that the plastic breaks down over time and gets into the water and they drink it, which can lead to bacterial infections IN SOME CATS, most commonly "kitty zits" or feline acne. (NOTE: "Fastidious cleaning" -- mentioned in the review above -- won't prevent eventual breakdown of plastic. The particle breakdown here, which took about eight months, has nothing to do with "clean.") Three of our four cats ended up with various degrees of the acne on their chins, and despite a topical cream to help aleviate the symptoms, the acne didn't go away until we got rid of the fountain. The acne can come from food allergies and a few other things you'll probably never be able to pinpoint, but my vet said it was likely the fountain's breakdown of plastics that was the culprit.
So... while it works great and our cats loved it, the eventual breakdown of materials forced us to replace it. Unfortunately, all the fountains out there are made of plastic. So, until they make one of ceramic or something else, we'll be buying a new one every 6-12 months from now on to avoid getting our cats sick. | 1 | neutral | [
"I loved this fountain in the time I was able to use it.",
"It functions well and isn't too hard to clean or deal with if you are committed to helping your animals get filtered, aerated water, which most animals prefer.",
"The problem is that the plastic breaks down over time and gets into the water and they drink it, which can lead to bacterial infections IN SOME CATS, most commonly \"kitty zits\" or feline acne.",
"(NOTE: \"Fastidious cleaning\" -- mentioned in the review above -- won't prevent eventual breakdown of plastic.",
"The particle breakdown here, which took about eight months, has nothing to do with \"clean.",
"\") Three of our four cats ended up with various degrees of the acne on their chins, and despite a topical cream to help aleviate the symptoms, the acne didn't go away until we got rid of the fountain.",
"The acne can come from food allergies and a few other things you'll probably never be able to pinpoint, but my vet said it was likely the fountain's breakdown of plastics that was the culprit.",
"So...",
"while it works great and our cats loved it, the eventual breakdown of materials forced us to replace it.",
"Unfortunately, all the fountains out there are made of plastic.",
"So, until they make one of ceramic or something else, we'll be buying a new one every 6-12 months from now on to avoid getting our cats sick."
] |
You would think with the name 'Rubbermaid' and a $120 price tag that this thing would be amazing! Well, it's not. The directions stink. No actual directions - just pictures that you need a magnifying glass to see (at least if you're over 40). Never did figure out how to put the straps on for the lid. No indication of where the stupid microscopic screws belonged. But the real kicker was, once it was all 'snapped' together, the minute anyone touched it, it fell apart again. The sides just popped loose and the whole thing opened up like a flower and fell to the ground. I am VERY glad no one tried to actually sit on it - me in particular since I already have a herniated disk and that would have crippled me. Unfortunately, I bought this for my copious bags of animal food and had already discarded my VERY old and VERY broken one. It simply never occurred to me that I would have a problem with a Rubbermaid product. Consequently, I had to keep this one because I can't just leave the bags out on the ground. Soooooo I got some flat metal brackets and screwed them across the joints with some 1 1/2 " wood screws and it's working fine. So, buyer beware. Don't try and use it the way its stated in the ad. But, with a little shoring up, it's working fine. Now I just need to find some spray paint that matches so I can camouflage the brackets. | 1 | neutral | [
"You would think with the name 'Rubbermaid' and a $120 price tag that this thing would be amazing!",
"Well, it's not.",
"The directions stink.",
"No actual directions - just pictures that you need a magnifying glass to see (at least if you're over 40).",
"Never did figure out how to put the straps on for the lid.",
"No indication of where the stupid microscopic screws belonged.",
"But the real kicker was, once it was all 'snapped' together, the minute anyone touched it, it fell apart again.",
"The sides just popped loose and the whole thing opened up like a flower and fell to the ground.",
"I am VERY glad no one tried to actually sit on it - me in particular since I already have a herniated disk and that would have crippled me.",
"Unfortunately, I bought this for my copious bags of animal food and had already discarded my VERY old and VERY broken one.",
"It simply never occurred to me that I would have a problem with a Rubbermaid product.",
"Consequently, I had to keep this one because I can't just leave the bags out on the ground.",
"Soooooo I got some flat metal brackets and screwed them across the joints with some 1 1/2 \" wood screws and it's working fine.",
"So, buyer beware.",
"Don't try and use it the way its stated in the ad.",
"But, with a little shoring up, it's working fine.",
"Now I just need to find some spray paint that matches so I can camouflage the brackets."
] |
Hip hop icon, Jay-Z with his foot in the game coming from the classic <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Reasonable-Doubt/dp/B00000HZG9/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Reasonable Doubt</a> comes with his second album Vol. 1 In My Lifetime (part 1 of a 3 part series). Jay's second album has less street appeal and more of a pop appeal, possible because he switched major labels from Priority to Def Jam (the rest is history on that note).
I'm not sure how much the death of Notorious BIG impacted the recording of this album, but you can tell it did is sort of a way. The second song, "The City Is Mine" has a verse dedicated to him. Jay-Z really starts the album on a strong note with "A Million and One Questions/Rhyme No More". "Streets Is Watching" is another notable song (aside from the fact that it's edited). "Friend or Foe '98" continues from the previous back on the last album, and it actually sounds better than that version too. The album most introspective track is the last song "You Must Love Me" where Jay-Z looks back on the negativity caused in his life and how it's impacted him (especially with him shooting his brother). Other great tracks include the single "Who You Wit", "Where I'm From", and "Rap Game/Crack Game".
Portions where the album fails are the songs with a pop appeal. Of course back in '97, Diddy (or who was Puff Daddy) had his hand in almost every single from the east coast, and him with Lil Kim coming in for "I Know What Girls Like" just doesn't fit, and sounds way dated in my opinion. "(Always Be My) Sunshine" with Foxy Brown isn't "Ain't No ***** part 2" either. Also "Imaginary Player" sounds dry.
Overall Vol. 1 is a solid, very good release. Some, as myself, might see this a little dated. Jay-Z might have lost a step or two coming from <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Reasonable-Doubt/dp/B00000HZG9/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Reasonable Doubt</a>, so I can easily see many people disappointed. This used to be considered his worst album, that was until he made <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Vol-3-Life-and-Times-of-S-Carter/dp/B00003NHAR/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter</a>, and <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Blueprint-2-The-Gift-The-Curse/dp/B00006ZCFI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse</a>, but now people will see this as him enjoying the success of pop life, and would carry him on throughout his career. Either way, Vol. 1 should not be overlooked, and is worth a purchase for the millions of Jay fans. Peace.
Lyrics: B
Production: B
Guest Appearances: B-
Musical Vibes: B-
Top 5 Tracks:
1. You Must Love Me
2. Friend Or Foe '98
3. Streets Is Watching
4. Who You Wit
5. A Million And One Questions/Rhyme No More
Honorable Mention:
1. City Is Mine (featuring BlackStreet)
2. Rap Game/Crack Game | 1 | neutral | [
"Hip hop icon, Jay-Z with his foot in the game coming from the classic <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Reasonable-Doubt/dp/B00000HZG9/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Reasonable Doubt</a> comes with his second album Vol.",
"1 In My Lifetime (part 1 of a 3 part series).",
"Jay's second album has less street appeal and more of a pop appeal, possible because he switched major labels from Priority to Def Jam (the rest is history on that note).",
"I'm not sure how much the death of Notorious BIG impacted the recording of this album, but you can tell it did is sort of a way.",
"The second song, \"The City Is Mine\" has a verse dedicated to him.",
"Jay-Z really starts the album on a strong note with \"A Million and One Questions/Rhyme No More\".",
"\"Streets Is Watching\" is another notable song (aside from the fact that it's edited).",
"\"Friend or Foe '98\" continues from the previous back on the last album, and it actually sounds better than that version too.",
"The album most introspective track is the last song \"You Must Love Me\" where Jay-Z looks back on the negativity caused in his life and how it's impacted him (especially with him shooting his brother).",
"Other great tracks include the single \"Who You Wit\", \"Where I'm From\", and \"Rap Game/Crack Game\".",
"Portions where the album fails are the songs with a pop appeal.",
"Of course back in '97, Diddy (or who was Puff Daddy) had his hand in almost every single from the east coast, and him with Lil Kim coming in for \"I Know What Girls Like\" just doesn't fit, and sounds way dated in my opinion.",
"\"(Always Be My) Sunshine\" with Foxy Brown isn't \"Ain't No ***** part 2\" either.",
"Also \"Imaginary Player\" sounds dry.",
"Overall Vol.",
"1 is a solid, very good release.",
"Some, as myself, might see this a little dated.",
"Jay-Z might have lost a step or two coming from <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Reasonable-Doubt/dp/B00000HZG9/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Reasonable Doubt</a>, so I can easily see many people disappointed.",
"This used to be considered his worst album, that was until he made <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Vol-3-Life-and-Times-of-S-Carter/dp/B00003NHAR/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Vol.",
"3: Life and Times of S.",
"Carter</a>, and <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Blueprint-2-The-Gift-The-Curse/dp/B00006ZCFI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse</a>, but now people will see this as him enjoying the success of pop life, and would carry him on throughout his career.",
"Either way, Vol.",
"1 should not be overlooked, and is worth a purchase for the millions of Jay fans.",
"Peace.",
"Lyrics: B\nProduction: B\nGuest Appearances: B-\nMusical Vibes: B-\n\nTop 5 Tracks:\n1.",
"You Must Love Me\n2.",
"Friend Or Foe '98\n3.",
"Streets Is Watching\n4.",
"Who You Wit\n5.",
"A Million And One Questions/Rhyme No More\n\nHonorable Mention:\n1.",
"City Is Mine (featuring BlackStreet)\n2.",
"Rap Game/Crack Game"
] |
Although I find the MEANINGFUL BEAUTY CREME DE SERUM works pretty good as a non-greasy moisturizer the high price tag for this stuff keeps it in the 3-star range.
The creme de serum is a light lotion that absorbs quickly and makes skin feel soft and smooth. It has a slight scent that reminds me of the old fashioned lipstick (I knew it smelt familiar) that had a heavy wax scent and flavor, but it isn't too strong in this stuff and it doesn't linger.
You apply it once a day either in the morning or night.
The tiny lilac colored typeface on the bottle make the instructions a nightmare to read, not sure who came up with that (maybe they didn't want you to read the ingredients list), but there's really no details other than use it once a day.
I've been applying it to my face once a day for a month, one pump is all it takes, and so far I've only used about 1/4 of the product so that's a plus. I'm not sure if you're supposed to be using this in conjunction with other products in the same line to boost effectiveness or not since I only got the MEANINGFUL BEAUTY CREME DE SERUM.
It hasn't broken my face out either. I'll continue to use it until the bottle runs out but I'll doubt I'll be buying another bottle. Also, I'll post more information if anything earth shattering happens to my face. | 1 | neutral | [
"Although I find the MEANINGFUL BEAUTY CREME DE SERUM works pretty good as a non-greasy moisturizer the high price tag for this stuff keeps it in the 3-star range.",
"The creme de serum is a light lotion that absorbs quickly and makes skin feel soft and smooth.",
"It has a slight scent that reminds me of the old fashioned lipstick (I knew it smelt familiar) that had a heavy wax scent and flavor, but it isn't too strong in this stuff and it doesn't linger.",
"You apply it once a day either in the morning or night.",
"The tiny lilac colored typeface on the bottle make the instructions a nightmare to read, not sure who came up with that (maybe they didn't want you to read the ingredients list), but there's really no details other than use it once a day.",
"I've been applying it to my face once a day for a month, one pump is all it takes, and so far I've only used about 1/4 of the product so that's a plus.",
"I'm not sure if you're supposed to be using this in conjunction with other products in the same line to boost effectiveness or not since I only got the MEANINGFUL BEAUTY CREME DE SERUM.",
"It hasn't broken my face out either.",
"I'll continue to use it until the bottle runs out but I'll doubt I'll be buying another bottle.",
"Also, I'll post more information if anything earth shattering happens to my face."
] |
We enjoy playing all kinds of puzzles games, including Dr. Eggman's mean bean machine and Wario's woods because they combine both action and a story. However, Meteos just isn't as played as the other puzzle games.
I may be the only one giving this game a low rating, but I just don't find Meteos as challenging as other puzzle games. Basically, all you have to do is scribble the magic pen around in order to get the blocks to disappear. Another thing that bothers me about this game is the sound balance system. When you turn down the music, you turn up the sound effects (and vice versa). My advice is to turn down the volume with the switch on your DS because otherwise, this thing is not quiet at all!
The only reason why I gave this game 3 stars instead of 1 is because the graphics are colorful and attractive, and there is a variety of activities to play, which is no doubt why this game gets plugged in and played with for about 15 minutes every few weeks. If you are new to puzzle games, this game is a good choice, but if you're an advanced gamer, you might not be as challenged. | 1 | neutral | [
"We enjoy playing all kinds of puzzles games, including Dr.",
"Eggman's mean bean machine and Wario's woods because they combine both action and a story.",
"However, Meteos just isn't as played as the other puzzle games.",
"I may be the only one giving this game a low rating, but I just don't find Meteos as challenging as other puzzle games.",
"Basically, all you have to do is scribble the magic pen around in order to get the blocks to disappear.",
"Another thing that bothers me about this game is the sound balance system.",
"When you turn down the music, you turn up the sound effects (and vice versa).",
"My advice is to turn down the volume with the switch on your DS because otherwise, this thing is not quiet at all!",
"The only reason why I gave this game 3 stars instead of 1 is because the graphics are colorful and attractive, and there is a variety of activities to play, which is no doubt why this game gets plugged in and played with for about 15 minutes every few weeks.",
"If you are new to puzzle games, this game is a good choice, but if you're an advanced gamer, you might not be as challenged."
] |
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a 1970 novella by Richard Bach with photographs by Russell Munson. It's about a seagull who shuns the social conventions of his flock to pursue his love of flying.
The book is divided into three parts, beginning with a predictable follow-your-dreams story and then moving into an Eastern-style cycle of self-perfection and reincarnation, and then there's some business about love and forgiveness tossed in at the end.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a short book, but even within these confines Bach does little to give the book much ambition or depth. The seagull flies this maneuver, the seagull flies that maneuver, the seagull spouts some platitude about transcending reality. There's no sense of setting, no real insight - just flying birds and superficial philosophy. Bach's writing is otherwise unimpressive. There's at least one continuity issue, and it does feel rather absurd that these birds have such amazingly accurate internal speedometers (Bach rather belabors that point).
Munson's photographs of seagulls and beachscapes help to set the mood, but the low quality in which they are reproduced in every version of the book I've ever seen just doesn't do them justice. Nevertheless, they do imbue the book with a certain charm that it badly needs.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull basically comes down to banal fable and trite spirituality. There are a innumerable better "follow your dreams" stories out there, most of which don't get into this unlocking-the-unlimited-freedom-inside-you nonsense. | 1 | neutral | [
"Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a 1970 novella by Richard Bach with photographs by Russell Munson.",
"It's about a seagull who shuns the social conventions of his flock to pursue his love of flying.",
"The book is divided into three parts, beginning with a predictable follow-your-dreams story and then moving into an Eastern-style cycle of self-perfection and reincarnation, and then there's some business about love and forgiveness tossed in at the end.",
"Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a short book, but even within these confines Bach does little to give the book much ambition or depth.",
"The seagull flies this maneuver, the seagull flies that maneuver, the seagull spouts some platitude about transcending reality.",
"There's no sense of setting, no real insight - just flying birds and superficial philosophy.",
"Bach's writing is otherwise unimpressive.",
"There's at least one continuity issue, and it does feel rather absurd that these birds have such amazingly accurate internal speedometers (Bach rather belabors that point).",
"Munson's photographs of seagulls and beachscapes help to set the mood, but the low quality in which they are reproduced in every version of the book I've ever seen just doesn't do them justice.",
"Nevertheless, they do imbue the book with a certain charm that it badly needs.",
"Jonathan Livingston Seagull basically comes down to banal fable and trite spirituality.",
"There are a innumerable better \"follow your dreams\" stories out there, most of which don't get into this unlocking-the-unlimited-freedom-inside-you nonsense."
] |
These blocks are gorgeous, but they just aren't that much fun. I know I'm going to get some downvotes for saying that, but it's sadly true. Listen, I wanted to like them too. I spent a fortune getting the Fantasy blocks, the Sevilla set, the Cordoba set, the First Blocks, and another set of Haba. I wanted something made by workers who enjoy first-world wages and working conditions. I wanted something non-toxic, and I wanted something durable from a respected brand. These blocks delivered on all three. Plus, they are just beautiful. Each one is like a neat little treasure. The colors are gorgeous and the different sets look stunning together. They are beautifully made of solid, heavy beech-wood.
BUT
BUT
BUT.....
My daughter never played with them. Not at nine months, or twelve, or fifteen, or eighteen months. Not at two or two-and-a-half. Her cousin, who's almost four now, spends time with us every day for the last two years, and he never played with these either, nor do visiting playdate friends.
It's not that the kids don't like blocks. They play every day with our Wonderworld blocks, our Holz blocks, the Duplo Legos, and my old unit blocks from kindergarten. They just don't play with the Haba blocks, and I think I've figured out why.
Most of this set is decorated cubes and decorative "tower topper" blocks that can't be stacked. There are a couple of arch pieces and columns, but no triangular blocks. For the most part, all you can do is stack up straight towers, not too high, and make pretty color patterns. That's fun, but the kids have much more fun with sets that let them make cantilevered towers and explore proportions with multiple different size blocks. Those more diverse sets are also more educational, since the tots are exploring all kinds of spatial and engineering principles.
There's a limit to how much of that you can do with the Haba colored blocks. You can still build cantilevered towers with the arches, of course, but the plainer block sets with more rectangles and long pieces just offer more possibility and fun.
So to sum up: These are the prettiest, highest-quality blocks on the market, but they are more fun to look at than to play with. | 1 | neutral | [
"These blocks are gorgeous, but they just aren't that much fun.",
"I know I'm going to get some downvotes for saying that, but it's sadly true.",
"Listen, I wanted to like them too.",
"I spent a fortune getting the Fantasy blocks, the Sevilla set, the Cordoba set, the First Blocks, and another set of Haba.",
"I wanted something made by workers who enjoy first-world wages and working conditions.",
"I wanted something non-toxic, and I wanted something durable from a respected brand.",
"These blocks delivered on all three.",
"Plus, they are just beautiful.",
"Each one is like a neat little treasure.",
"The colors are gorgeous and the different sets look stunning together.",
"They are beautifully made of solid, heavy beech-wood.",
"BUT\n\nBUT\n\nBUT....",
".",
"My daughter never played with them.",
"Not at nine months, or twelve, or fifteen, or eighteen months.",
"Not at two or two-and-a-half.",
"Her cousin, who's almost four now, spends time with us every day for the last two years, and he never played with these either, nor do visiting playdate friends.",
"It's not that the kids don't like blocks.",
"They play every day with our Wonderworld blocks, our Holz blocks, the Duplo Legos, and my old unit blocks from kindergarten.",
"They just don't play with the Haba blocks, and I think I've figured out why.",
"Most of this set is decorated cubes and decorative \"tower topper\" blocks that can't be stacked.",
"There are a couple of arch pieces and columns, but no triangular blocks.",
"For the most part, all you can do is stack up straight towers, not too high, and make pretty color patterns.",
"That's fun, but the kids have much more fun with sets that let them make cantilevered towers and explore proportions with multiple different size blocks.",
"Those more diverse sets are also more educational, since the tots are exploring all kinds of spatial and engineering principles.",
"There's a limit to how much of that you can do with the Haba colored blocks.",
"You can still build cantilevered towers with the arches, of course, but the plainer block sets with more rectangles and long pieces just offer more possibility and fun.",
"So to sum up: These are the prettiest, highest-quality blocks on the market, but they are more fun to look at than to play with."
] |
The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult Bowling for Movie Score: 184.875 of 300
Where here at the Thomason Society for Movie Goodness have sat and pondered what we consider the Ultimate Question... after much time spent eating popcorn and variously flavored candies we came up with the Ultimate Answer - and didn't understand it. What has this to do with The Naked Gun 33 1/3? Well nothing really, except this - that "didn't understand it" moment started us on an unforeseen journey of further contemplations which resulted in a little something we like to call The Big Brain Flower (brain flower being a term I just invented today to describe a new flowering idea) and Bowling for Movies was born - a simple and easy to interpret score, awarded to movies, and based a super-secret formula created by, well, us - and loosely based on bowling score computational tables. While movies and bowling only share an "o" and "i" respectively, the scoring system works the same. A score of 108 would be a good middle of the movie, not great but good. A 192 would step that up to a really good movie - one I'd like recommend to friends. Break 200 and WOWIE ZOWIE, you have a real gem on your hands. At the time of this writing only two movies have been so stellar they've earned the illustrious honor of bowling a perfect 300 - they're rare and frankly, that's the way it should be.
The Naked Gun 33 1/3 - we own the DVD as part of a 3 pack combo with the first two... GREAT value!
What's the movie's facts, and just the facts:
This final entry in The Naked Gun trilogy of movies which were originally adapted from a failed T.V. show, Police Squad, finds our bumbling police hero finally retired and living out a domesticated life with his special lady friend. It's not long until he is pressed back into service (which causes a serious hiccup in his marriage) but who else would be able to break up a terrorist plot to blow up The Academy Awards... Frank Drebin to the rescue (or is it send in the rescue FOR Frank Drebin - in The Naked Gun movies, it's often one and the same).
We watched these three movies right in a row over the last two days and I have to tell you - the first movie was certainly the best and received a blazing hot score of 217.313, the second movie was still good but felt a little too familiar only earning 171 - it would seem movie makers got the hint and just as advertised (literally), this movie had "mostly all new jokes" in addition to a better developed and nearly new script making this movie better than the second. Personally, I was quite happy since I had vouched for these flicks with Little Miss Movie Dude based on 20 year old memories. While 33 1/3 certainly shared the same laugh a minute pace of the previous movies - special attention should be paid to the many spoofs including The Untouchables, Thelma and Louise, and Shawshank Redemption (to name a few).
What you'll like:
* If you were awake in the 1990's this movie is a great trip down memory lane and I doubt it was intended to be but it's a time capsule of sorts - the gags and spoofs may cause you to add some other once great but forgotten movies in your Amazon cart
* Seriously improved over the last movie the movie comes across smoother, the characters are better developed, and the laughs come easier
If you liked this movie consider these:
* Airplane and Airplane 2: The Sequel - Both good comedies in the same style from the same people (go figure)
* Murder by Death and The Cheap Detective - two great spoof-ish movies which already grace our shelves :]
Hey, if you have a question about this review, feel free to leave a comment and I will try to answer promptly. I will be leaving more movie reviews with bowling scores so check out my other reviews. Bowling for Movies is in no way affiliated with Amazon nor do I have a website or other business interest - I'm just a dude who watches movies (and dabbles in quasi/pseudo-science) :] Want me to review a movie and score it in an Amazon review - I'd be happy to - if I have it, you'll get it. | 1 | neutral | [
"The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult Bowling for Movie Score: 184.",
"875 of 300\n\nWhere here at the Thomason Society for Movie Goodness have sat and pondered what we consider the Ultimate Question...",
"after much time spent eating popcorn and variously flavored candies we came up with the Ultimate Answer - and didn't understand it.",
"What has this to do with The Naked Gun 33 1/3?",
"Well nothing really, except this - that \"didn't understand it\" moment started us on an unforeseen journey of further contemplations which resulted in a little something we like to call The Big Brain Flower (brain flower being a term I just invented today to describe a new flowering idea) and Bowling for Movies was born - a simple and easy to interpret score, awarded to movies, and based a super-secret formula created by, well, us - and loosely based on bowling score computational tables.",
"While movies and bowling only share an \"o\" and \"i\" respectively, the scoring system works the same.",
"A score of 108 would be a good middle of the movie, not great but good.",
"A 192 would step that up to a really good movie - one I'd like recommend to friends.",
"Break 200 and WOWIE ZOWIE, you have a real gem on your hands.",
"At the time of this writing only two movies have been so stellar they've earned the illustrious honor of bowling a perfect 300 - they're rare and frankly, that's the way it should be.",
"The Naked Gun 33 1/3 - we own the DVD as part of a 3 pack combo with the first two...",
"GREAT value!",
"What's the movie's facts, and just the facts:\nThis final entry in The Naked Gun trilogy of movies which were originally adapted from a failed T.",
"V. show, Police Squad, finds our bumbling police hero finally retired and living out a domesticated life with his special lady friend.",
"It's not long until he is pressed back into service (which causes a serious hiccup in his marriage) but who else would be able to break up a terrorist plot to blow up The Academy Awards...",
"Frank Drebin to the rescue (or is it send in the rescue FOR Frank Drebin - in The Naked Gun movies, it's often one and the same).",
"We watched these three movies right in a row over the last two days and I have to tell you - the first movie was certainly the best and received a blazing hot score of 217.",
"313, the second movie was still good but felt a little too familiar only earning 171 - it would seem movie makers got the hint and just as advertised (literally), this movie had \"mostly all new jokes\" in addition to a better developed and nearly new script making this movie better than the second.",
"Personally, I was quite happy since I had vouched for these flicks with Little Miss Movie Dude based on 20 year old memories.",
"While 33 1/3 certainly shared the same laugh a minute pace of the previous movies - special attention should be paid to the many spoofs including The Untouchables, Thelma and Louise, and Shawshank Redemption (to name a few).",
"What you'll like:\n* If you were awake in the 1990's this movie is a great trip down memory lane and I doubt it was intended to be but it's a time capsule of sorts - the gags and spoofs may cause you to add some other once great but forgotten movies in your Amazon cart\n* Seriously improved over the last movie the movie comes across smoother, the characters are better developed, and the laughs come easier\n\nIf you liked this movie consider these:\n* Airplane and Airplane 2: The Sequel - Both good comedies in the same style from the same people (go figure)\n* Murder by Death and The Cheap Detective - two great spoof-ish movies which already grace our shelves :]\n\nHey, if you have a question about this review, feel free to leave a comment and I will try to answer promptly.",
"I will be leaving more movie reviews with bowling scores so check out my other reviews.",
"Bowling for Movies is in no way affiliated with Amazon nor do I have a website or other business interest - I'm just a dude who watches movies (and dabbles in quasi/pseudo-science) :] Want me to review a movie and score it in an Amazon review - I'd be happy to - if I have it, you'll get it."
] |
well i like my women with meat on, not too much, not too little. this thing is just a tad on the skinny model side of life. so i am not too sure of it's life-span. from the heft and feel. maybe a few years. my old one was ok, but while on the downhill side of life, a big handle is of value (torque is good), so tis is a replacement. the old one is still alive and sharp and does a bang up job, save the torque thing. now i am ok with miss runway, but like a glamour gal she is on the pricey side...oh i'd say 8-9bucks would be a real deal. 15, well i am not shouting out in glee 'look how much i paid'. | 1 | neutral | [
"well i like my women with meat on, not too much, not too little.",
"this thing is just a tad on the skinny model side of life.",
"so i am not too sure of it's life-span.",
"from the heft and feel.",
"maybe a few years.",
"my old one was ok, but while on the downhill side of life, a big handle is of value (torque is good), so tis is a replacement.",
"the old one is still alive and sharp and does a bang up job, save the torque thing.",
"now i am ok with miss runway, but like a glamour gal she is on the pricey side...",
"oh i'd say 8-9bucks would be a real deal.",
"15, well i am not shouting out in glee 'look how much i paid'."
] |
Ah, the much maligned "Music from the Elder." This was a much anticipated release, and the first to feature Peter Criss replacement Eric Carr on drums. Fans only thought "Dynasty" and "Unmasked" were different - "The Elder" features spoken word, complex orchestral arrangements, and bad TV theme music. And some of the worse KISS music ever.
I have to be honest - I liked both "Dynasty" and (gasp) "Unmasked." When I became a KISS fan via "Alive," I also liked some of the pop bands of past and present. That KISS was now playing catchy pop tunes was actually okay with me. Paul was still one of the greatest rock singers on the planet, and Ace one of the best lead guitarists. I had no problem mixing these albums in with older KISS music. But "The Elder" was something totally different, and took some time to appreciate. No, it's not a great KISS album, but I'll take it over any of the non-makeup albums, save "Revenge." "The Elder" has some great moments, but, admittedly, some bad as well.
1. Fanfare - an introductory instrumental that sounds like it came from the Krofft Supershow or a bad porn movie. WTF?
2. Just A Boy - You might hate this song, but you'll find yourself singing it later. Beautiful Paul falsetto vocals and good acoustic guitar work. I've always thought the lyrics were cool on this one.
3. Odyssey - perhaps THE worse KISS song ever. Could have worked well in one of the "Lord of the Rings" movies, maybe. This song is comical. I still crack up when Paul sings "That enchanted place" with his New York accent.
4. Only You - Good Gene track. Reminds me of his KISS solo record.
5. Under the Rose - Another Gene track with a hokey cathedral-chant chorus. But it works for this album.
6. Dark Light - Ace friggin' Frehley on a good tune. His vocal delivery is classic Ace, and some fantastic guitar work.
7. A World Without Heroes - A very well-written song and not a bad Gene ballad, if you can take Gene doing a ballad. The acoustic version from the later "Unplugged" recordings is fantastic.
8. The Oath - fantastic tune with crunchin' guitars and the first KISS track I ever heard with double bass drums. I guarantee you the crowd would go nuts if KISS played this live today. The falsettos were probably a bad idea on this one, but the song rocks regardless.
9. Mr. Blackwell - I've always hated this song. Could be the worse Gene song ever, although "No No No" off "Crazy Nights" gives it a tough run for the money.
10. Escape from the Island - instrumental that isn't great, but it doesn't suck, either. Ace should have just wailed all over this one.
11. I - Good KISS tune featuring Gene and Paul trading-off lead vocals. Rockin' tune with a great, positive message.
While some of the material is nothing short of bizarre, this still comes off as a KISS record. I know some fans loathe this album, and I guess I do in a way. Ace was so disappointed with the record it proved to be the last straw and he left the band. Ironically, the band rocked on the follow-up "Creatures of the Night," what Frehly wanted to do all along. However, without the Space Man the band hired an array of 80's-style axe slingers that took the band in even another direction. "Who steers the ship through the stormy sea?" Sometimes the best thing to do in a storm is to stop and just go back where you came. It would be over 20 years before KISS would figure this out. | 1 | neutral | [
"Ah, the much maligned \"Music from the Elder.",
"\" This was a much anticipated release, and the first to feature Peter Criss replacement Eric Carr on drums.",
"Fans only thought \"Dynasty\" and \"Unmasked\" were different - \"The Elder\" features spoken word, complex orchestral arrangements, and bad TV theme music.",
"And some of the worse KISS music ever.",
"I have to be honest - I liked both \"Dynasty\" and (gasp) \"Unmasked.",
"\" When I became a KISS fan via \"Alive,\" I also liked some of the pop bands of past and present.",
"That KISS was now playing catchy pop tunes was actually okay with me.",
"Paul was still one of the greatest rock singers on the planet, and Ace one of the best lead guitarists.",
"I had no problem mixing these albums in with older KISS music.",
"But \"The Elder\" was something totally different, and took some time to appreciate.",
"No, it's not a great KISS album, but I'll take it over any of the non-makeup albums, save \"Revenge.",
"\" \"The Elder\" has some great moments, but, admittedly, some bad as well.",
"1.",
"Fanfare - an introductory instrumental that sounds like it came from the Krofft Supershow or a bad porn movie.",
"WTF?",
"2.",
"Just A Boy - You might hate this song, but you'll find yourself singing it later.",
"Beautiful Paul falsetto vocals and good acoustic guitar work.",
"I've always thought the lyrics were cool on this one.",
"3.",
"Odyssey - perhaps THE worse KISS song ever.",
"Could have worked well in one of the \"Lord of the Rings\" movies, maybe.",
"This song is comical.",
"I still crack up when Paul sings \"That enchanted place\" with his New York accent.",
"4.",
"Only You - Good Gene track.",
"Reminds me of his KISS solo record.",
"5.",
"Under the Rose - Another Gene track with a hokey cathedral-chant chorus.",
"But it works for this album.",
"6.",
"Dark Light - Ace friggin' Frehley on a good tune.",
"His vocal delivery is classic Ace, and some fantastic guitar work.",
"7.",
"A World Without Heroes - A very well-written song and not a bad Gene ballad, if you can take Gene doing a ballad.",
"The acoustic version from the later \"Unplugged\" recordings is fantastic.",
"8.",
"The Oath - fantastic tune with crunchin' guitars and the first KISS track I ever heard with double bass drums.",
"I guarantee you the crowd would go nuts if KISS played this live today.",
"The falsettos were probably a bad idea on this one, but the song rocks regardless.",
"9.",
"Mr.",
"Blackwell - I've always hated this song.",
"Could be the worse Gene song ever, although \"No No No\" off \"Crazy Nights\" gives it a tough run for the money.",
"10.",
"Escape from the Island - instrumental that isn't great, but it doesn't suck, either.",
"Ace should have just wailed all over this one.",
"11.",
"I - Good KISS tune featuring Gene and Paul trading-off lead vocals.",
"Rockin' tune with a great, positive message.",
"While some of the material is nothing short of bizarre, this still comes off as a KISS record.",
"I know some fans loathe this album, and I guess I do in a way.",
"Ace was so disappointed with the record it proved to be the last straw and he left the band.",
"Ironically, the band rocked on the follow-up \"Creatures of the Night,\" what Frehly wanted to do all along.",
"However, without the Space Man the band hired an array of 80's-style axe slingers that took the band in even another direction.",
"\"Who steers the ship through the stormy sea?",
"\" Sometimes the best thing to do in a storm is to stop and just go back where you came.",
"It would be over 20 years before KISS would figure this out."
] |
Trump takes cautious approach on Roy Moore
Washington (CNN) It's been five days since the White House said President Donald Trump believes Alabama Senate Republican candidate Roy Moore should drop out if the allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against him are true.
Since then Moore has faced more allegations and the national Republican Party has cast Moore aside. Trump however has remained mum.
Behind the scenes the President and his advisers are closely watching the developments in Alabama's special election two sources close to the White House and a White House official said. That includes in particular the reaction of influential conservative supporters such as Fox News host Sean Hannity. The White House is also mulling scenarios to prevent Moore from being elected according to the sources.
Trump one source said believes the allegations of child sexual abuse and sexual assault against Moore are bad for the Republican brand but has decided to wait and see how the situation shakes out before publicly commenting.
"He's worried about the conversation moving to his past accusers " the Republican familiar with the matter said noting that the President believes his accusers were unfair and some of Moore 's may be too.
Pressed by reporters Saturday while in Vietnam -- before a fifth alleged victim said Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 16 -- Trump said he had not been following the issue closely and declined to go beyond press secretary Sarah Sanders' earlier statement.
JUST WATCHED Bannon compares Moore Trump WaPo stories Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Bannon compares Moore Trump WaPo stories 00:51
But White House officials coordinating closely with Republicans on Capitol Hill have been mulling a range of scenarios to thwart Moore 's election which despite the allegations remains a serious possibility in the deep red state.
Sen. Lindsey Graham R-South Carolina said "It would probably be good if he would say something" about Moore given Trump is the leader of the Republican Party.
"If you are no-fly list for the mall you shouldn't be in the United States Senate " he said referring to reports that Moore had been banned from a local mall because of his pursuit of teenage girls.
JUST WATCHED McConnell hints at Roy Moore replacement Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH McConnell hints at Roy Moore replacement 00:56
All eyes at the White House including the President's will be on Hannity's Wednesday night show after the Trump loyalist said Tuesday night he was giving Moore 24 hours to "immediately and fully come up with a satisfactory explanation for your inconsistencies" or lose his support.
"You must remove any doubt. If you can't do this then Judge Moore needs to get out of this race " Hannity said.
But even that loss of support is unlikely to prompt Moore to exit the race where he has retained significant and fervent support as grassroots Republicans in the state have continued to dismiss the allegations as a ploy to thwart Moore 's election.
Nationally Moore is retaining the support of the White House's former chief strategist Steve Bannon who has campaigned with Moore .
As the conservative Drudge Report ran a banner Wednesday suggesting Bannon was turning on Moore a source close to Bannon rejected the claim. | 1 | neutral | [
"Trump takes cautious approach on Roy Moore\nWashington (CNN) It's been five days since the White House said President Donald Trump believes Alabama Senate Republican candidate Roy Moore should drop out if the allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against him are true.",
"Since then Moore has faced more allegations and the national Republican Party has cast Moore aside.",
"Trump however has remained mum.",
"Behind the scenes the President and his advisers are closely watching the developments in Alabama's special election two sources close to the White House and a White House official said.",
"That includes in particular the reaction of influential conservative supporters such as Fox News host Sean Hannity.",
"The White House is also mulling scenarios to prevent Moore from being elected according to the sources.",
"Trump one source said believes the allegations of child sexual abuse and sexual assault against Moore are bad for the Republican brand but has decided to wait and see how the situation shakes out before publicly commenting.",
"\"He's worried about the conversation moving to his past accusers \" the Republican familiar with the matter said noting that the President believes his accusers were unfair and some of Moore 's may be too.",
"Pressed by reporters Saturday while in Vietnam -- before a fifth alleged victim said Moore sexually assaulted her when she was 16 -- Trump said he had not been following the issue closely and declined to go beyond press secretary Sarah Sanders' earlier statement.",
"JUST WATCHED Bannon compares Moore Trump WaPo stories Replay More Videos...",
"MUST WATCH Bannon compares Moore Trump WaPo stories 00:51\nBut White House officials coordinating closely with Republicans on Capitol Hill have been mulling a range of scenarios to thwart Moore 's election which despite the allegations remains a serious possibility in the deep red state.",
"Sen.",
"Lindsey Graham R-South Carolina said \"It would probably be good if he would say something\" about Moore given Trump is the leader of the Republican Party.",
"\"If you are no-fly list for the mall you shouldn't be in the United States Senate \" he said referring to reports that Moore had been banned from a local mall because of his pursuit of teenage girls.",
"JUST WATCHED McConnell hints at Roy Moore replacement Replay More Videos...",
"MUST WATCH McConnell hints at Roy Moore replacement 00:56\nAll eyes at the White House including the President's will be on Hannity's Wednesday night show after the Trump loyalist said Tuesday night he was giving Moore 24 hours to \"immediately and fully come up with a satisfactory explanation for your inconsistencies\" or lose his support.",
"\"You must remove any doubt.",
"If you can't do this then Judge Moore needs to get out of this race \" Hannity said.",
"But even that loss of support is unlikely to prompt Moore to exit the race where he has retained significant and fervent support as grassroots Republicans in the state have continued to dismiss the allegations as a ploy to thwart Moore 's election.",
"Nationally Moore is retaining the support of the White House's former chief strategist Steve Bannon who has campaigned with Moore.",
"As the conservative Drudge Report ran a banner Wednesday suggesting Bannon was turning on Moore a source close to Bannon rejected the claim."
] |
Upon first use it did sharpen great and exceeded my expectations which landed 5 stars. After several uses with premiers and Verithins, it is starting to sharpen very uneven no matter how careful you are. Either that or the wood casings are poorly made just like others have stated. It can crack the casing too so be careful. I find that if you alternate with the wide and the fine side then it works better and if you dare try to sharpen to a fine point you will be disappointed! I ordered scholar sharpener to test and ordered an artist grade sharpener as well and will update on which works the best.
UPDATE:
Click on my name and read my reviews. I hope I help others in decision making prior to purchasing. The scholar sharpener sucks and if you are on a budget then I suppose you can get these sharpeners BUT if you can afford prismas or any other artist grade materials then you might want to rethink the best sharpener/tools to keep your products safe right? Well I ordered the Dahle 155 sharpener and although it is talked down upon by many reviewers not to use rotary sharpeners on any of your expensive pencils they are WRONG! The Dahle Sharpener is all you will need and it is the best and first professional sharpener I have tried. I highly recommend it so if you have the time then please take a peek at my reviews so you can see what I have tried/tested. | 1 | neutral | [
"Upon first use it did sharpen great and exceeded my expectations which landed 5 stars.",
"After several uses with premiers and Verithins, it is starting to sharpen very uneven no matter how careful you are.",
"Either that or the wood casings are poorly made just like others have stated.",
"It can crack the casing too so be careful.",
"I find that if you alternate with the wide and the fine side then it works better and if you dare try to sharpen to a fine point you will be disappointed!",
"I ordered scholar sharpener to test and ordered an artist grade sharpener as well and will update on which works the best.",
"UPDATE:\nClick on my name and read my reviews.",
"I hope I help others in decision making prior to purchasing.",
"The scholar sharpener sucks and if you are on a budget then I suppose you can get these sharpeners BUT if you can afford prismas or any other artist grade materials then you might want to rethink the best sharpener/tools to keep your products safe right?",
"Well I ordered the Dahle 155 sharpener and although it is talked down upon by many reviewers not to use rotary sharpeners on any of your expensive pencils they are WRONG!",
"The Dahle Sharpener is all you will need and it is the best and first professional sharpener I have tried.",
"I highly recommend it so if you have the time then please take a peek at my reviews so you can see what I have tried/tested."
] |
(2.5 Stars)
Don't worry, I'll speak from honesty more than from ego. Well well, so here is the "Black Sheep" in the family, the least praised album in the Jovi catalog, and the most avoided by everyone, including the band! Even I say that maybe some random people out there will love this album and NOT really be into Bon Jovi. Why? This album does not cater to the emotions and aesthetics of all subsequent albums, hence I also maintain the flip side of that, that you could also be one of the biggest Jovi fans in the world and not be big on this album. The bottom line is there is a definite separation in the function of this album from the "Bon Jovi Purpose" which we have come to know and love (or unfortunately for some people, hate) as evidenced through the rest of their history.
I, one of the biggest Bon Jovi fans in existence, do not see any value in those who try to say how intense THEY are by having been hooked BEFORE the Slippery days. I may or may not have liked Bon Jovi in '85, had I been older than 5 years old and able to tell such things, but this album contains very little of what is so great about the band. Please note the begging exception is "Silent Night," a hell of a power ballad before they were really even considered a "formulaec" song form. This song bleeds emotion all around, from the excellent keyboard lick (for the time) to Richie's sustained power chords, to Jon and Richie's Harmonies. THIS indeed was a huge embryo for the future. I would suggest to get the album just for this song!
Ok. Now for the rest of the album. Everything said, I find myself drawn to the album at times. It really is "mood" music! The band was struggling with relevant songwriting at the time, and through all the "women problems" they were going through at the time, something great came out of it, and now we have THE "relationship-miserable" album!!! Whenever your love life is anything but sunny and happy, use the album as the functional catharsis. When you are in such unfortunate moods, you don't beg for musical excellence, original lyrics, or, even great songwriting. You want to relate to something and you need something to do. Well, you want other things as well, but that would be a tangent... So you put on this album. Most of the songs say the same thing, though I might add, there IS a certain level of diversity here that also would prove embryonic for later efforts. Highlights are the piano on "Price of Love", the bridge to "Only Lonely," the guitar riff on "Always Run To You," and pretty much all of "Tokyo Road."
So through a fluke, we have a somewhat relevant album!!! Which of course does ironically only strengthen the respect I will always have for them. And if you are a hardcore fan, you absolutely can't be lacking an album (though you probably already have them all!), so do not avoid this. Just be educated as to what you are getting into! And then maybe, in some very unexpected way, this album too will love you back. | 1 | neutral | [
"(2.",
"5 Stars)\nDon't worry, I'll speak from honesty more than from ego.",
"Well well, so here is the \"Black Sheep\" in the family, the least praised album in the Jovi catalog, and the most avoided by everyone, including the band!",
"Even I say that maybe some random people out there will love this album and NOT really be into Bon Jovi.",
"Why?",
"This album does not cater to the emotions and aesthetics of all subsequent albums, hence I also maintain the flip side of that, that you could also be one of the biggest Jovi fans in the world and not be big on this album.",
"The bottom line is there is a definite separation in the function of this album from the \"Bon Jovi Purpose\" which we have come to know and love (or unfortunately for some people, hate) as evidenced through the rest of their history.",
"I, one of the biggest Bon Jovi fans in existence, do not see any value in those who try to say how intense THEY are by having been hooked BEFORE the Slippery days.",
"I may or may not have liked Bon Jovi in '85, had I been older than 5 years old and able to tell such things, but this album contains very little of what is so great about the band.",
"Please note the begging exception is \"Silent Night,\" a hell of a power ballad before they were really even considered a \"formulaec\" song form.",
"This song bleeds emotion all around, from the excellent keyboard lick (for the time) to Richie's sustained power chords, to Jon and Richie's Harmonies.",
"THIS indeed was a huge embryo for the future.",
"I would suggest to get the album just for this song!",
"Ok.",
"Now for the rest of the album.",
"Everything said, I find myself drawn to the album at times.",
"It really is \"mood\" music!",
"The band was struggling with relevant songwriting at the time, and through all the \"women problems\" they were going through at the time, something great came out of it, and now we have THE \"relationship-miserable\" album!!!",
"Whenever your love life is anything but sunny and happy, use the album as the functional catharsis.",
"When you are in such unfortunate moods, you don't beg for musical excellence, original lyrics, or, even great songwriting.",
"You want to relate to something and you need something to do.",
"Well, you want other things as well, but that would be a tangent...",
"So you put on this album.",
"Most of the songs say the same thing, though I might add, there IS a certain level of diversity here that also would prove embryonic for later efforts.",
"Highlights are the piano on \"Price of Love\", the bridge to \"Only Lonely,\" the guitar riff on \"Always Run To You,\" and pretty much all of \"Tokyo Road.",
"\"\nSo through a fluke, we have a somewhat relevant album!!!",
"Which of course does ironically only strengthen the respect I will always have for them.",
"And if you are a hardcore fan, you absolutely can't be lacking an album (though you probably already have them all!",
"), so do not avoid this.",
"Just be educated as to what you are getting into!",
"And then maybe, in some very unexpected way, this album too will love you back."
] |
This is the perfect title to rent. It's fun, the graphics are very good. The atmosphere is immersive, you really get a sense of being in the middle of a riot. You get to beat the heck out corporate drones and rent-a-cops. It's a blast...for a couple of days. Unfortunately, the game gets repetitive and formulaic after the 30th "mission" or so. This holds true for both the chaos mode and the story mode... Parents who are reading this should be warned: this game is incredibly violent, there is an option to turn off the gore but at it's heart the game is about shooting, stabbing, hacking and beating people to death. Don't say I didn't warn you. | 1 | neutral | [
"This is the perfect title to rent.",
"It's fun, the graphics are very good.",
"The atmosphere is immersive, you really get a sense of being in the middle of a riot.",
"You get to beat the heck out corporate drones and rent-a-cops.",
"It's a blast...",
"for a couple of days.",
"Unfortunately, the game gets repetitive and formulaic after the 30th \"mission\" or so.",
"This holds true for both the chaos mode and the story mode...",
"Parents who are reading this should be warned: this game is incredibly violent, there is an option to turn off the gore but at it's heart the game is about shooting, stabbing, hacking and beating people to death.",
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
] |
I purchased this cover for a 205/75R 14 trailer tire, which has a diameter of 25.5". The quality seems to be good but the ad is a bit misleading. Although the cover will fit a 25.5" diameter tire and will fit a 205 14" tire, it is actually designed for a 205 tire with a Aspect ratio no greater than 70 (143.5mm). On a 205/75R14 tire (Aspect ratio of 75 equals 153.25mm) the stretch cord will barely reach over the tread, onto the backside sidewall, because of the additional 10.25mm (0404") width. You can make it fit a 205/75R14 if you warm up the cover to 70F or greater and stretch the vinyl cover. It will fit, but will be very snug. | 1 | neutral | [
"I purchased this cover for a 205/75R 14 trailer tire, which has a diameter of 25.",
"5\".",
"The quality seems to be good but the ad is a bit misleading.",
"Although the cover will fit a 25.",
"5\" diameter tire and will fit a 205 14\" tire, it is actually designed for a 205 tire with a Aspect ratio no greater than 70 (143.",
"5mm).",
"On a 205/75R14 tire (Aspect ratio of 75 equals 153.",
"25mm) the stretch cord will barely reach over the tread, onto the backside sidewall, because of the additional 10.",
"25mm (0404\") width.",
"You can make it fit a 205/75R14 if you warm up the cover to 70F or greater and stretch the vinyl cover.",
"It will fit, but will be very snug."
] |
Let me first say that the Otterbox for my Droid Incredible is probably the most protective case I've ever seen! It pretty much turns it into a tank. I haven't tried to abuse it, but I'm sure it would stand up to quite a beating!
That being said, I am returning it to Amazon. The reason is purely functional. Sadly, the things that make this case so good at protecting the phone also make it difficult to live with. Here are my problems...
First, the case makes the phone huge! I have big hands, but this thing is pretty chunky, even for me!
Second, one of the three "layers" (and BTW, that's a bit misleading... it's only two layers plus a built-in screen protector), is the screen protector that is built into the inner hard case. The problem with this is two-fold: First, it isn't a screen protector in the traditional sense that sticks to the screen. It is just a layer between your finger and the screen (or anything else that would come in contact with the screen). Unfortunately, this leaves my nice capacitive touch screen feeling like a cheaper resistive touch screen, requiring much firmer presses on the screen to make it work. It also is very difficult to get anything at the extreme edges of the screen to work because there is a little extra space there where the hard case pulls it away from the screen. The second problem with the screen protector is that, as others have mentioned, dust gets in between the protector and the screen, probably through the whole left open for the optical joystick. This becomes obnoxious as time goes by and dust builds up. It should be mentioned that I did leave my attached screen protector on the screen since I had read ahead about the dust issue and didn't want my screen scratched up by caught dust and dirt. This may have contributed to the lack of sensitivity to some degree, but I didn't want my screen damaged. I suppose one could get around these issues by removing the screen protector portion of the case, (it doesn't look like it would be difficult), but you shouldn't have to. That removes a "layer" of protection and voids any warranty that it might have.
My other gripe is with the outer soft layer. It feels good in hand and makes it easy to grip, but it grabs dust and dirt very quickly and makes it look bad. I don't want my case looking dirty all the time, no matter how good at protecting my phone it may be.
In summary, I would probably recommend this phone to a contractor or mechanic who is working in a dirty and rough environment all the time or for the person who uses there phone outdoors a lot. But, for the average person using it around the house and work, I wouldn't recommend it at all.
I will probably be switching back to the Seidio Innocase II. I had that case/holster combo before, and while it has it's own set of problems, it leaves my phone looking nice and still quite functional. | 1 | neutral | [
"Let me first say that the Otterbox for my Droid Incredible is probably the most protective case I've ever seen!",
"It pretty much turns it into a tank.",
"I haven't tried to abuse it, but I'm sure it would stand up to quite a beating!",
"That being said, I am returning it to Amazon.",
"The reason is purely functional.",
"Sadly, the things that make this case so good at protecting the phone also make it difficult to live with.",
"Here are my problems...",
"First, the case makes the phone huge!",
"I have big hands, but this thing is pretty chunky, even for me!",
"Second, one of the three \"layers\" (and BTW, that's a bit misleading...",
"it's only two layers plus a built-in screen protector), is the screen protector that is built into the inner hard case.",
"The problem with this is two-fold: First, it isn't a screen protector in the traditional sense that sticks to the screen.",
"It is just a layer between your finger and the screen (or anything else that would come in contact with the screen).",
"Unfortunately, this leaves my nice capacitive touch screen feeling like a cheaper resistive touch screen, requiring much firmer presses on the screen to make it work.",
"It also is very difficult to get anything at the extreme edges of the screen to work because there is a little extra space there where the hard case pulls it away from the screen.",
"The second problem with the screen protector is that, as others have mentioned, dust gets in between the protector and the screen, probably through the whole left open for the optical joystick.",
"This becomes obnoxious as time goes by and dust builds up.",
"It should be mentioned that I did leave my attached screen protector on the screen since I had read ahead about the dust issue and didn't want my screen scratched up by caught dust and dirt.",
"This may have contributed to the lack of sensitivity to some degree, but I didn't want my screen damaged.",
"I suppose one could get around these issues by removing the screen protector portion of the case, (it doesn't look like it would be difficult), but you shouldn't have to.",
"That removes a \"layer\" of protection and voids any warranty that it might have.",
"My other gripe is with the outer soft layer.",
"It feels good in hand and makes it easy to grip, but it grabs dust and dirt very quickly and makes it look bad.",
"I don't want my case looking dirty all the time, no matter how good at protecting my phone it may be.",
"In summary, I would probably recommend this phone to a contractor or mechanic who is working in a dirty and rough environment all the time or for the person who uses there phone outdoors a lot.",
"But, for the average person using it around the house and work, I wouldn't recommend it at all.",
"I will probably be switching back to the Seidio Innocase II.",
"I had that case/holster combo before, and while it has it's own set of problems, it leaves my phone looking nice and still quite functional."
] |
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