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It was very easy to clean. I took the end of my hose and did like the instructions suggested: cut two holes in top of bag at either end, and stuck one end of the hose thru one hole deep down and turned on the water. Eventually, I just stuck my faucet wand (unscrewed the wand part) right into the bag). It only took a very small amount of rinsing before it ran clear. There was minimal cloudiness once I put it in the tank. I started doing it with a lemonade jug but ended up just pouring it in with the bag. No problems with the fish, at all.
I put a good amount in my 29g, enough for real and plastic plants to be covered well and still had enough to put a thin layer in my 55g. I usually only keep bare bottom tanks, so I only wanted enough to just cover the bottom without it being deep. So one bag worked for two tanks. 40 would've been over-kill, despite 1.5-2 20lb bags being suggested for my 29g. Within 30 mins the 29 was completely clear and the 55 never wasn't. Very pleased, it looks great. | 2 | positive | [
"It was very easy to clean.",
"I took the end of my hose and did like the instructions suggested: cut two holes in top of bag at either end, and stuck one end of the hose thru one hole deep down and turned on the water.",
"Eventually, I just stuck my faucet wand (unscrewed the wand part) right into the bag).",
"It only took a very small amount of rinsing before it ran clear.",
"There was minimal cloudiness once I put it in the tank.",
"I started doing it with a lemonade jug but ended up just pouring it in with the bag.",
"No problems with the fish, at all.",
"I put a good amount in my 29g, enough for real and plastic plants to be covered well and still had enough to put a thin layer in my 55g.",
"I usually only keep bare bottom tanks, so I only wanted enough to just cover the bottom without it being deep.",
"So one bag worked for two tanks.",
"40 would've been over-kill, despite 1.",
"5-2 20lb bags being suggested for my 29g.",
"Within 30 mins the 29 was completely clear and the 55 never wasn't.",
"Very pleased, it looks great."
] |
I have had this saw for a bit over a year now and I am satisfied overall. It has limits but for me, they are irrelevent as my needs are met. The guy recommending the Jet must be a ringer as he labels this saw as made in China. The Jet is made in China and the Dewalt is made in the U.S. In any case, here goes:
The Good:
Runs both 120 and 220V.
Flat table.
Decent power.
Deat accurate arbor run-out.
Fairly space efficent..mobile with mobile base.
Decent fence design..but..more about this later.
Once adjusted, stays so..but..more about this later.
The Bad:
1)The fence adjustment to parallel was quite difficult and there
was a 0.0015" bow in the middle of the aluminum fence face. I
ended up getting an Accusquare fence.
2)Adjusting the tabletop for square with the blade was extremely
challenging. I think that use of Torx bolts is a bit unwise.
It makes less sense, to me, than using allen bolts.
3)Aftermarket gizmos like PALS (precision alignment for trunion
tool) won't fit this saw. Also, aftermarket precision pullys
will not fit it.
4)Choices of aftermarket additions like fences, splitters, blade
guards and so forth is extremely limited.
5) In my opinion, cast iron wings should be standard, not an
extra $200 option. The pressed steel wings now serve as
a shelf for my air cleaner.
The Ugly:
Well, nothing to say here since ugly is a matter of perception. I happen to like yellow and black though. Despite what some people opine, I have found all of my Dewalt tools to be of high quality and durable and functional as well. This saw is no exception.
Addenda:
Things I have added to this saw. The Accusquare fence, the Microjig splitter and multiple inserts for use with thin kerf blades and the Freud 508 super dado stack. The saw benefits greatly from a rear extension table or roller stands, but I'd recommend building your own rather than buying the one from Dewalt.
Final update:
This saw has turned out to be pretty iffy, seems like Dewalt's exit from this market niche was justifiable. After nine years, the motor has problems either with the start capacitor, the run capacitor, the internal centrifugal startup switch or the motor windings. The problem is, Dewalt is no help...they will sell you a new motor, proprietary, for $432 plus shipping and tax but will not give any information on how to repair this situation. This is disappointing. It has pretty much put me off of Dewalt tools for the future. Since I am currently (bad pun) limited to 110V power, I am upgrading to a newer, hopefully better Laguna Fusion saw....it has more power and much nicer, new features like a riving knife and decent dust collection. Looks nicer too. | 2 | positive | [
"I have had this saw for a bit over a year now and I am satisfied overall.",
"It has limits but for me, they are irrelevent as my needs are met.",
"The guy recommending the Jet must be a ringer as he labels this saw as made in China.",
"The Jet is made in China and the Dewalt is made in the U.",
"S. In any case, here goes:\n\nThe Good:\n\n Runs both 120 and 220V.",
"Flat table.",
"Decent power.",
"Deat accurate arbor run-out.",
"Fairly space efficent..",
"mobile with mobile base.",
"Decent fence design..",
"but..",
"more about this later.",
"Once adjusted, stays so..",
"but..",
"more about this later.",
"The Bad:\n\n 1)The fence adjustment to parallel was quite difficult and there\n\n was a 0.",
"0015\" bow in the middle of the aluminum fence face.",
"I\n\n ended up getting an Accusquare fence.",
"2)Adjusting the tabletop for square with the blade was extremely\n\n challenging.",
"I think that use of Torx bolts is a bit unwise.",
"It makes less sense, to me, than using allen bolts.",
"3)Aftermarket gizmos like PALS (precision alignment for trunion\n\n tool) won't fit this saw.",
"Also, aftermarket precision pullys\n\n will not fit it.",
"4)Choices of aftermarket additions like fences, splitters, blade\n\n guards and so forth is extremely limited.",
"5) In my opinion, cast iron wings should be standard, not an\n\n extra $200 option.",
"The pressed steel wings now serve as\n\n a shelf for my air cleaner.",
"The Ugly:\n\n Well, nothing to say here since ugly is a matter of perception.",
"I happen to like yellow and black though.",
"Despite what some people opine, I have found all of my Dewalt tools to be of high quality and durable and functional as well.",
"This saw is no exception.",
"Addenda:\n\n Things I have added to this saw.",
"The Accusquare fence, the Microjig splitter and multiple inserts for use with thin kerf blades and the Freud 508 super dado stack.",
"The saw benefits greatly from a rear extension table or roller stands, but I'd recommend building your own rather than buying the one from Dewalt.",
"Final update:\n\n This saw has turned out to be pretty iffy, seems like Dewalt's exit from this market niche was justifiable.",
"After nine years, the motor has problems either with the start capacitor, the run capacitor, the internal centrifugal startup switch or the motor windings.",
"The problem is, Dewalt is no help...",
"they will sell you a new motor, proprietary, for $432 plus shipping and tax but will not give any information on how to repair this situation.",
"This is disappointing.",
"It has pretty much put me off of Dewalt tools for the future.",
"Since I am currently (bad pun) limited to 110V power, I am upgrading to a newer, hopefully better Laguna Fusion saw....",
"it has more power and much nicer, new features like a riving knife and decent dust collection.",
"Looks nicer too."
] |
Vampire Parker Hollis took full advantage of the free love and hippie lifestyle of the sixties...right up until he ignored a friend's warning and dallied with someone he would long regret ever meeting. Sure, he learned a valuable life lesson: hell hath no fury like a witch scorned, but he payed dearly for that lesson. Determined to be Parker's blood wife, the crazy witch captures the vampire, then casts a dark spell that will change Parker...and his existence...forever.
That's how Parker Hollis becomes the world's first vegetarian vampire.
Decades later, Parker's best friend Greg's death, and his deathbed vision, prompts Parker to move to a town called Maggie's Grove. What he and Greg's ghost finds astounds them, a town dedicated to the various supernatural races. It isn't long before Parker meets his neighbor, a dryad and for some inexplicable - and inexcusable reason, the town outcast, Amara Schwedler. Her scent makes him yearn for a taste and her heart calls to his.
Amara's used to the petty hurts from being ostracized her whole life. She knows she's different. Heck, even other dryads avoid her - and that's the cruelest hurt of all. Still, she lives her life and she has a few select friends, even a job with a boss who understands her need to occasionally commune with her tree. Still, when Parker moves in next door, Amara is captivated by him...if a little perplexed by his diet, and his easy acceptance of her is a balm to her soul that puts hope in her heart.
When psycho witch sweeps into town smelling of putrification and decay, intent on destroying anything standing in the way between herself and Parker, Amara considers her nothing more than a weed in need of pruning. A pervasive weed with an evil streak. When she messes up Amara's garden, then targets innocent townspeople, Amara gets very, very angry. And when Amara is angry, she's very, very scary. The witch may be almost impossible to kill but Amara is something else altogether, and she and Parker have every intention of finally plucking that damned weed and ending her reign of terror. The trick is going to be making sure they don't get mulched in the process.
Without a doubt, Bell's new series debut definitely offers something new to vampire fiction. It's first vegetarian vampire botanist. Poor, cursed Parker, with his dietary restrictions, ghostly best friend, town-appointed Renfield...who keeps getting it on with his gay ghost - all over Parker's furniture, and, of course, the homicidal and seriously messed up witch who wants to be Parker's one and only chew toy. I'd feel really bad for him...if I wasn't having such a darned good time chuckling at his plight.
Actually, I just had a darn good time with the whole book. It had it's serious, threatening moments, but the majority of the focus stayed towards the more comedic and sexier end of the spectrum. And the sexier end, in traditional Bell style, was quite yummy.
Amara was a pleasant surprise. I wasn't sure I was going to like her, worried she'd be a bit too naive for my tastes given her social seclusion. As it turns out, she totally kicked butt - even more so than Parker did, and had a dry but sharp-witted sense of humor I enjoyed. She was a definite force of nature, and I very much liked how she fit with Parker. Other characters, secondary and ancillary, were plentiful and delightfully quirky, as is also typical of Bell, and they provided a nice preview of future main characters for the series.
I wish the plot of the book had developed a little differently, with Amara and Parker's relationship evolving at a more gradual pace than it did. I thought the weedy witch of the west could've been introduced to the town a little farther along into the story, allowing for more time for all the characters and interpersonal relationships - especially but not exclusively the romantic one - to develop a little more thoroughly. And I would've liked Parker to have been a bit more successful in his endeavors. Seems he was getting his butt kicked - or cursed - fairly often throughout the book.
Still, for a light and humorous paranormal romance dripping with sizzling sexuality, <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Blood-of-the-Maple/dp/B004RQD3XO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Blood of the Maple</a> was a fun read and fairly classic example of the type and quality of funny, sexy fiction by Bell. I plan on continuing the series, as there was quite a lot of interesting and original mythos and world building here. I'm looking forward to seeing where Bell takes it all. I just hope we won't have to wait too long to get back to Maggie's Grove and its quirky coterie.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another. | 2 | positive | [
"Vampire Parker Hollis took full advantage of the free love and hippie lifestyle of the sixties...",
"right up until he ignored a friend's warning and dallied with someone he would long regret ever meeting.",
"Sure, he learned a valuable life lesson: hell hath no fury like a witch scorned, but he payed dearly for that lesson.",
"Determined to be Parker's blood wife, the crazy witch captures the vampire, then casts a dark spell that will change Parker...",
"and his existence...",
"forever.",
"That's how Parker Hollis becomes the world's first vegetarian vampire.",
"Decades later, Parker's best friend Greg's death, and his deathbed vision, prompts Parker to move to a town called Maggie's Grove.",
"What he and Greg's ghost finds astounds them, a town dedicated to the various supernatural races.",
"It isn't long before Parker meets his neighbor, a dryad and for some inexplicable - and inexcusable reason, the town outcast, Amara Schwedler.",
"Her scent makes him yearn for a taste and her heart calls to his.",
"Amara's used to the petty hurts from being ostracized her whole life.",
"She knows she's different.",
"Heck, even other dryads avoid her - and that's the cruelest hurt of all.",
"Still, she lives her life and she has a few select friends, even a job with a boss who understands her need to occasionally commune with her tree.",
"Still, when Parker moves in next door, Amara is captivated by him...",
"if a little perplexed by his diet, and his easy acceptance of her is a balm to her soul that puts hope in her heart.",
"When psycho witch sweeps into town smelling of putrification and decay, intent on destroying anything standing in the way between herself and Parker, Amara considers her nothing more than a weed in need of pruning.",
"A pervasive weed with an evil streak.",
"When she messes up Amara's garden, then targets innocent townspeople, Amara gets very, very angry.",
"And when Amara is angry, she's very, very scary.",
"The witch may be almost impossible to kill but Amara is something else altogether, and she and Parker have every intention of finally plucking that damned weed and ending her reign of terror.",
"The trick is going to be making sure they don't get mulched in the process.",
"Without a doubt, Bell's new series debut definitely offers something new to vampire fiction.",
"It's first vegetarian vampire botanist.",
"Poor, cursed Parker, with his dietary restrictions, ghostly best friend, town-appointed Renfield...",
"who keeps getting it on with his gay ghost - all over Parker's furniture, and, of course, the homicidal and seriously messed up witch who wants to be Parker's one and only chew toy.",
"I'd feel really bad for him...",
"if I wasn't having such a darned good time chuckling at his plight.",
"Actually, I just had a darn good time with the whole book.",
"It had it's serious, threatening moments, but the majority of the focus stayed towards the more comedic and sexier end of the spectrum.",
"And the sexier end, in traditional Bell style, was quite yummy.",
"Amara was a pleasant surprise.",
"I wasn't sure I was going to like her, worried she'd be a bit too naive for my tastes given her social seclusion.",
"As it turns out, she totally kicked butt - even more so than Parker did, and had a dry but sharp-witted sense of humor I enjoyed.",
"She was a definite force of nature, and I very much liked how she fit with Parker.",
"Other characters, secondary and ancillary, were plentiful and delightfully quirky, as is also typical of Bell, and they provided a nice preview of future main characters for the series.",
"I wish the plot of the book had developed a little differently, with Amara and Parker's relationship evolving at a more gradual pace than it did.",
"I thought the weedy witch of the west could've been introduced to the town a little farther along into the story, allowing for more time for all the characters and interpersonal relationships - especially but not exclusively the romantic one - to develop a little more thoroughly.",
"And I would've liked Parker to have been a bit more successful in his endeavors.",
"Seems he was getting his butt kicked - or cursed - fairly often throughout the book.",
"Still, for a light and humorous paranormal romance dripping with sizzling sexuality, <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Blood-of-the-Maple/dp/B004RQD3XO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Blood of the Maple</a> was a fun read and fairly classic example of the type and quality of funny, sexy fiction by Bell.",
"I plan on continuing the series, as there was quite a lot of interesting and original mythos and world building here.",
"I'm looking forward to seeing where Bell takes it all.",
"I just hope we won't have to wait too long to get back to Maggie's Grove and its quirky coterie.",
"~*~*~*~\nReviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another."
] |
Well it had to happen someday my previous grill/island cover finally wore out and I have been searching for a replacement for quite some time. The store I purchased my original cover from is no longer in business and I've been unable to find a cover in the size I need at the local home and garden stores. The best I could do was buy one that was much longer than I needed just to get the right depth. Or I could find the depth I needed, but they were out of stock and didn't know when they'd receive any more. As a last resort I took a chance and spent a few days searching Amazon for a cover that met all of my needs, and here it is (I should have started with Amazon and saved myself some time).
The cover arrived very quickly, and I was glad to see that the color was true to the photo. It is also very heavy, as well as appearing very durable (strong enough to endure cold and wet winters and springs, and extremely hot summers). I like that it has a drawstring around the bottom as well as straps on the corners. The drawstring will come in handy since this is a small island that doesn't have wheels or legs. I needed the depth to be a minimum of 24" deep, and this one fit the bill perfectly. The length is great also, and I'm glad that the Medium wasn't too wide.
The only problem I had was getting the cover centered over the island, since the cover is meant for a grill which is higher in the middle than mine (it sits down in the island so it doesn't have as much height or angles to it). But this minor glitch didn't stop me from getting it fit my grill.
Overall this is a fantastic cover that should last me a few years. | 2 | positive | [
"Well it had to happen someday my previous grill/island cover finally wore out and I have been searching for a replacement for quite some time.",
"The store I purchased my original cover from is no longer in business and I've been unable to find a cover in the size I need at the local home and garden stores.",
"The best I could do was buy one that was much longer than I needed just to get the right depth.",
"Or I could find the depth I needed, but they were out of stock and didn't know when they'd receive any more.",
"As a last resort I took a chance and spent a few days searching Amazon for a cover that met all of my needs, and here it is (I should have started with Amazon and saved myself some time).",
"The cover arrived very quickly, and I was glad to see that the color was true to the photo.",
"It is also very heavy, as well as appearing very durable (strong enough to endure cold and wet winters and springs, and extremely hot summers).",
"I like that it has a drawstring around the bottom as well as straps on the corners.",
"The drawstring will come in handy since this is a small island that doesn't have wheels or legs.",
"I needed the depth to be a minimum of 24\" deep, and this one fit the bill perfectly.",
"The length is great also, and I'm glad that the Medium wasn't too wide.",
"The only problem I had was getting the cover centered over the island, since the cover is meant for a grill which is higher in the middle than mine (it sits down in the island so it doesn't have as much height or angles to it).",
"But this minor glitch didn't stop me from getting it fit my grill.",
"Overall this is a fantastic cover that should last me a few years."
] |
Being a manic-depressive, Metamorpho has extremely keen senses into the sheer depth of songwriting. There were only 2 albums in the 70's that were of high, asylum quality. One was Jackson Brownes' "Late for the Sky" and the other was this gem. Love Bruce. He's from my home state and has the ability to write poetry and relate the struggle of the common man as well. But, in this one folks, he goes way deep. It cuts very deep. And I found myself in a puddle of tears many times as I listened and clawed at my own soul and being to make sense of this world.
All of the rest of his efforts are great achievements and many are worthy of high praise. For me, though, 'Darkness' is THE MASTERPIECE! It's all a struggle. A struggle for redemption, for meaning, for elevation onto a better plain. Bruce doesn't mince words. Reality is what it is. The pain, hurt and depression are always there. We all must find a way to rise above it all and go on.
It's about the human need to redeem oneself. As in 'Racing in the Street' - "tonight my baby and me are going to run to the sea, to wash these sins off our hands." It's about faith. As in 'The Promised Land' - "there's a twister that will tear everything down, that ain't got the faith to hold it's ground."
But he will survive. He'll be out beyond 'the darkness on the edge of town'.
Bruce is very much a considerable song writer. He uses the sea in the classic English prose interpretation - as the flow of life, as a clensing. His talent extends well beyond the ordinary. Whether people really "get" all that he writes about is up to speculation. But, take it from me, Metamorpho, your favorite reflective seer, there is positively nothing shallow about Bruce Springsteen. For those that can delve into their soul - this album is a must. Yes---- we know that it isn't always pleasant - but how are you ever going to grow spiritually if you don't take the chance? Methinks, one of his very best. Trust Metamorpho. He will not lead you down a false path to sample poison kool-aid. Catch the "real" drift. View Metamorphos' other reviews. Courtesy of your local, friendly, Amazon.com reviews! Peace to all. Vision and fun to all - Metamorpho | 2 | positive | [
"Being a manic-depressive, Metamorpho has extremely keen senses into the sheer depth of songwriting.",
"There were only 2 albums in the 70's that were of high, asylum quality.",
"One was Jackson Brownes' \"Late for the Sky\" and the other was this gem.",
"Love Bruce.",
"He's from my home state and has the ability to write poetry and relate the struggle of the common man as well.",
"But, in this one folks, he goes way deep.",
"It cuts very deep.",
"And I found myself in a puddle of tears many times as I listened and clawed at my own soul and being to make sense of this world.",
"All of the rest of his efforts are great achievements and many are worthy of high praise.",
"For me, though, 'Darkness' is THE MASTERPIECE!",
"It's all a struggle.",
"A struggle for redemption, for meaning, for elevation onto a better plain.",
"Bruce doesn't mince words.",
"Reality is what it is.",
"The pain, hurt and depression are always there.",
"We all must find a way to rise above it all and go on.",
"It's about the human need to redeem oneself.",
"As in 'Racing in the Street' - \"tonight my baby and me are going to run to the sea, to wash these sins off our hands.",
"\" It's about faith.",
"As in 'The Promised Land' - \"there's a twister that will tear everything down, that ain't got the faith to hold it's ground.",
"\"\nBut he will survive.",
"He'll be out beyond 'the darkness on the edge of town'.",
"Bruce is very much a considerable song writer.",
"He uses the sea in the classic English prose interpretation - as the flow of life, as a clensing.",
"His talent extends well beyond the ordinary.",
"Whether people really \"get\" all that he writes about is up to speculation.",
"But, take it from me, Metamorpho, your favorite reflective seer, there is positively nothing shallow about Bruce Springsteen.",
"For those that can delve into their soul - this album is a must.",
"Yes---- we know that it isn't always pleasant - but how are you ever going to grow spiritually if you don't take the chance?",
"Methinks, one of his very best.",
"Trust Metamorpho.",
"He will not lead you down a false path to sample poison kool-aid.",
"Catch the \"real\" drift.",
"View Metamorphos' other reviews.",
"Courtesy of your local, friendly, Amazon.",
"com reviews!",
"Peace to all.",
"Vision and fun to all - Metamorpho"
] |
This is a great product, it has so many potential uses including repairs, creating paper circuits, grounding and even stained glass products. It comes in sealed plastic so you don't have to worry about oxidation and it is a peel and stick application to make it really easy to use. As a plus, it comes in a roll with quite a bit of copper foil so you will be able to use it for a long time.
Disclaimer:
I received this product for free or at a discounted rate in exchange for product testing and review. I am under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no incentives or rewards for doing so. My aim is to highlight features and drawbacks that I would want to know about as a buyer, not hype the product for the manufacturer to increase sales. My remarks are sincere and true. I work very hard trying to write insightful and thoughtful reviews for each item. My hope is that these reviews are helpful to others. If it did not, please comment with how I can improve; this helps me to be a better reviewer. While it is true that many items are received at discounted rates or complimentary, my reviews are completely unbiased as well as honest and are my personal experiences and opinion of the product. Once again, it is just my own opinion and experience with the product, your own opinion and experience may vary. I received no monetary compensation and not required to give a good review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines on Testimony and Advertising | 2 | positive | [
"This is a great product, it has so many potential uses including repairs, creating paper circuits, grounding and even stained glass products.",
"It comes in sealed plastic so you don't have to worry about oxidation and it is a peel and stick application to make it really easy to use.",
"As a plus, it comes in a roll with quite a bit of copper foil so you will be able to use it for a long time.",
"Disclaimer:\nI received this product for free or at a discounted rate in exchange for product testing and review.",
"I am under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no incentives or rewards for doing so.",
"My aim is to highlight features and drawbacks that I would want to know about as a buyer, not hype the product for the manufacturer to increase sales.",
"My remarks are sincere and true.",
"I work very hard trying to write insightful and thoughtful reviews for each item.",
"My hope is that these reviews are helpful to others.",
"If it did not, please comment with how I can improve; this helps me to be a better reviewer.",
"While it is true that many items are received at discounted rates or complimentary, my reviews are completely unbiased as well as honest and are my personal experiences and opinion of the product.",
"Once again, it is just my own opinion and experience with the product, your own opinion and experience may vary.",
"I received no monetary compensation and not required to give a good review.",
"This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines on Testimony and Advertising"
] |
One of the most important attributes for a headset is comfort. I've tried a few over the years, but always have found them to be a pain (literally!) if they are worn for more than 20 minutes or so. I'm very happy to report that the Moto is a dream when it comes to comfort - had it on for a three+ hour drive, and didn't even know it was there. Plus, it didn't cause a problem with my glasses, unlike other models I've tried.
Set up was very straightforward - basically just follow the prompts and it works. I didn't try out the text-to-voice feature but it sounds interesting. Not really something I would use since I don't text much at all, but if you're text-heavy, that feature would certainly be of value.
Audio quality was excellent. Had no problems hearing callers even with music playing in the car. Range was also very good.
My complaints are two-fold. First a minor one - this comes packed in what I would consider to be wasteful packaging. Looks impressive in a clear, thick plastic box, but the amount of materials used for packing is unnecessary. I did not, however, deduct anything from its rating due to that.
What did cause a loss of one star was the mic pickup. In a quiet environment it was fine. But, in a noisy environment (such as outside, in a crowded restaurant or with moderate-level music playing in the car), it picks up so much background noise that people had problems hearing me. To ensure this was actually the case, I loaned it to a friend and had him call me so I could hear for myself. It seems that the mic is either way too sensitive or not sufficiently directional - it truly is hard to hear the person's voice when they are using the headset should they be in anything other than a pretty quiet environment..
But, that aside, this is the best headset I've used to date. Especially recommended if you have had comfort issues with other headsets or are a glasses wearer. | 2 | positive | [
"One of the most important attributes for a headset is comfort.",
"I've tried a few over the years, but always have found them to be a pain (literally!",
") if they are worn for more than 20 minutes or so.",
"I'm very happy to report that the Moto is a dream when it comes to comfort - had it on for a three+ hour drive, and didn't even know it was there.",
"Plus, it didn't cause a problem with my glasses, unlike other models I've tried.",
"Set up was very straightforward - basically just follow the prompts and it works.",
"I didn't try out the text-to-voice feature but it sounds interesting.",
"Not really something I would use since I don't text much at all, but if you're text-heavy, that feature would certainly be of value.",
"Audio quality was excellent.",
"Had no problems hearing callers even with music playing in the car.",
"Range was also very good.",
"My complaints are two-fold.",
"First a minor one - this comes packed in what I would consider to be wasteful packaging.",
"Looks impressive in a clear, thick plastic box, but the amount of materials used for packing is unnecessary.",
"I did not, however, deduct anything from its rating due to that.",
"What did cause a loss of one star was the mic pickup.",
"In a quiet environment it was fine.",
"But, in a noisy environment (such as outside, in a crowded restaurant or with moderate-level music playing in the car), it picks up so much background noise that people had problems hearing me.",
"To ensure this was actually the case, I loaned it to a friend and had him call me so I could hear for myself.",
"It seems that the mic is either way too sensitive or not sufficiently directional - it truly is hard to hear the person's voice when they are using the headset should they be in anything other than a pretty quiet environment..",
"But, that aside, this is the best headset I've used to date.",
"Especially recommended if you have had comfort issues with other headsets or are a glasses wearer."
] |
Yogi carries a number of teas that are good for something specific. I'm skeptical of most, but I have to say that I always feel a little more calm after a cup of Kava tea. It is difficult to describe how this tea feels in your mouth, but it is something close to the feeling of putting lotion on after a long day. Some teas leave my mouth feeling dry, others make me want to brush my teeth, but this tea winds me down for cozying up in bed. I wouldn't let it steep for too long because it can be very strong and be ready to relax!
Edit, November 2013: Between allergies and a cold making my throat sore, this has been my go-to tea. I have the <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Yogi-Tea-Cold-Season-Tea-Sampler-Herbal-Supplement-Variety-Pack-Tea-Bags-16-ct/dp/B000S80612/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Yogi Tea Cold Season Tea Sampler, Herbal Supplement Variety Pack, Tea Bags, 16 ct</a> and I love the Breathe Deep and Throat Comfort, but I ran out of those quickly and I don't particularly like the taste of the other two, Echinacea Immune Support and Cold Season. I feel my Kava tea has actually helped me get over this sickness faster. That terrible cold, dry feeling that makes you cough and your throat feel sore quickly vanishes with one warm cup of Kava (I've let it steep longer, too). So, it's not just for stress - feel better soon! | 2 | positive | [
"Yogi carries a number of teas that are good for something specific.",
"I'm skeptical of most, but I have to say that I always feel a little more calm after a cup of Kava tea.",
"It is difficult to describe how this tea feels in your mouth, but it is something close to the feeling of putting lotion on after a long day.",
"Some teas leave my mouth feeling dry, others make me want to brush my teeth, but this tea winds me down for cozying up in bed.",
"I wouldn't let it steep for too long because it can be very strong and be ready to relax!",
"Edit, November 2013: Between allergies and a cold making my throat sore, this has been my go-to tea.",
"I have the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Yogi-Tea-Cold-Season-Tea-Sampler-Herbal-Supplement-Variety-Pack-Tea-Bags-16-ct/dp/B000S80612/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Yogi Tea Cold Season Tea Sampler, Herbal Supplement Variety Pack, Tea Bags, 16 ct</a> and I love the Breathe Deep and Throat Comfort, but I ran out of those quickly and I don't particularly like the taste of the other two, Echinacea Immune Support and Cold Season.",
"I feel my Kava tea has actually helped me get over this sickness faster.",
"That terrible cold, dry feeling that makes you cough and your throat feel sore quickly vanishes with one warm cup of Kava (I've let it steep longer, too).",
"So, it's not just for stress - feel better soon!"
] |
Just got it today-4/26/2015!! I love it!! Awesome!! Fantastic!! Amazon is like a Xmas Wonderland!! I will be doing all of my shopping here!! Great music store!! Great!! Amazon has everything you could ever imagine or want!! :o) | 2 | positive | [
"Just got it today-4/26/2015!!",
"I love it!!",
"Awesome!!",
"Fantastic!!",
"Amazon is like a Xmas Wonderland!!",
"I will be doing all of my shopping here!!",
"Great music store!!",
"Great!!",
"Amazon has everything you could ever imagine or want!!",
":o)"
] |
A Playstation 2 exclusive, KUON was quietly released in December 2004. Developed by From Software, the masterminds behind XBOX's OTogi series, Kuon is a beautiful and scary survival horror game that dereves more attention than it has recieved. The North American version states it is the full uncut version which was edited in Japan. The developers obviously were insprired by Tecmo's popular "Fatal Frame" series and Capcom's "Onimusha" franchise. The results are pretty good.
In Kuon you play several characters hut initially start by choosing between two sisters seeking their father in ancient Japan. While getting seperated you pay each sister to learn their story all the while exploring blood soaked shrines and a decaying Fuedal lord's manor. During your explorating you learn magic spells, fights demons and dig through the odd dead body or two, all while being stalked by horrific Japanese demons.
In the second half of the game you play the master Onmyoji (a Shinto exorcist) to learn the truth about Kuon.
Graphically the game is pretty good- the FMVs are particularly nice. Game control is a pretty smooth 3rd person perspective without the annoying "Resident Evil" control scheme which usually pops up in this genre of games. The game does get hard to see in some darker areas and the paths the characters walk on are soemtimes confining but these are minor gripes.
The sound effects and music are used to maximum effect and really add to the creep atmosphere of the game. Developers really seemed to borrow from "Fatal Frame 2" with the Japanese taiko drums, children chanting and crisp footfall sounds all used to add to suspense.
The game does use a vertigo/ system where characters get disoriented if they get scared. I have never been a big fan of this feature(particularly in the Clock Tower series) but here it isn't that annoying and actually adds a touch of believability to the game.
Overall Kuon is a solid release and an absolute must buy for fans of Survival Horror. Those who like their games heavy on non-stop action may need to look else where but for everyone else its a great way spend a few scary hours. | 2 | positive | [
"A Playstation 2 exclusive, KUON was quietly released in December 2004.",
"Developed by From Software, the masterminds behind XBOX's OTogi series, Kuon is a beautiful and scary survival horror game that dereves more attention than it has recieved.",
"The North American version states it is the full uncut version which was edited in Japan.",
"The developers obviously were insprired by Tecmo's popular \"Fatal Frame\" series and Capcom's \"Onimusha\" franchise.",
"The results are pretty good.",
"In Kuon you play several characters hut initially start by choosing between two sisters seeking their father in ancient Japan.",
"While getting seperated you pay each sister to learn their story all the while exploring blood soaked shrines and a decaying Fuedal lord's manor.",
"During your explorating you learn magic spells, fights demons and dig through the odd dead body or two, all while being stalked by horrific Japanese demons.",
"In the second half of the game you play the master Onmyoji (a Shinto exorcist) to learn the truth about Kuon.",
"Graphically the game is pretty good- the FMVs are particularly nice.",
"Game control is a pretty smooth 3rd person perspective without the annoying \"Resident Evil\" control scheme which usually pops up in this genre of games.",
"The game does get hard to see in some darker areas and the paths the characters walk on are soemtimes confining but these are minor gripes.",
"The sound effects and music are used to maximum effect and really add to the creep atmosphere of the game.",
"Developers really seemed to borrow from \"Fatal Frame 2\" with the Japanese taiko drums, children chanting and crisp footfall sounds all used to add to suspense.",
"The game does use a vertigo/ system where characters get disoriented if they get scared.",
"I have never been a big fan of this feature(particularly in the Clock Tower series) but here it isn't that annoying and actually adds a touch of believability to the game.",
"Overall Kuon is a solid release and an absolute must buy for fans of Survival Horror.",
"Those who like their games heavy on non-stop action may need to look else where but for everyone else its a great way spend a few scary hours."
] |
"The Wanderer" marks Donna's switch from the Casablanca label over to David Geffen's newly founded Geffen label, and also showcases a new sound for Donna as the disco era came to its supposed close. Adding right into the mix is the fact that Donna at this time was starting to add a little more of a religious or inspirational tinge to her songwriting.
This album definitely opened the doors for the dance-rock sound of the eighties and paved the road for future dance-rockers such as Irene Cara, Laura Branigan, and maybe even Madonna. The new sound was a fusion of the disco the world was trying so hard to escape from (but others will argue never really left the scene), with a bit of rock, a dash of gospel, and just a touch of electronica. Did it work? Well just judge by the success of the hit title song and its follow up single "Cold Love".
The album, in my opinion, wasn't as successful as it should have been, but stands its ground on what it represented for the future of pop music. Take for example the synth work on "Grand Illusion", or the funk-rocker "Stop Me", these were extreme changes from the usual disco/dance formulas. Or how about the bi-rhythmical "Running For Cover" which is probably one of the album's most intense moments. Those just looking to dance should check out "Looking Up", "Nightlife" or the album's third single "Who Do You Think You're Fooling".
The album wraps up with the gospel ballad "I Believe In Jesus", a song even a sinner can appreciate as it shows off Donna in one of her most endearing performances. It also marks the end of the long term collaboration between Donna and producer Giorgio Moroder as the two would not work together again commercially for nearly ten years. | 2 | positive | [
"\"The Wanderer\" marks Donna's switch from the Casablanca label over to David Geffen's newly founded Geffen label, and also showcases a new sound for Donna as the disco era came to its supposed close.",
"Adding right into the mix is the fact that Donna at this time was starting to add a little more of a religious or inspirational tinge to her songwriting.",
"This album definitely opened the doors for the dance-rock sound of the eighties and paved the road for future dance-rockers such as Irene Cara, Laura Branigan, and maybe even Madonna.",
"The new sound was a fusion of the disco the world was trying so hard to escape from (but others will argue never really left the scene), with a bit of rock, a dash of gospel, and just a touch of electronica.",
"Did it work?",
"Well just judge by the success of the hit title song and its follow up single \"Cold Love\".",
"The album, in my opinion, wasn't as successful as it should have been, but stands its ground on what it represented for the future of pop music.",
"Take for example the synth work on \"Grand Illusion\", or the funk-rocker \"Stop Me\", these were extreme changes from the usual disco/dance formulas.",
"Or how about the bi-rhythmical \"Running For Cover\" which is probably one of the album's most intense moments.",
"Those just looking to dance should check out \"Looking Up\", \"Nightlife\" or the album's third single \"Who Do You Think You're Fooling\".",
"The album wraps up with the gospel ballad \"I Believe In Jesus\", a song even a sinner can appreciate as it shows off Donna in one of her most endearing performances.",
"It also marks the end of the long term collaboration between Donna and producer Giorgio Moroder as the two would not work together again commercially for nearly ten years."
] |
asically, a family member and his GF upgraded phones and got the android Galaxy S Fascinate. He knows I am into gadgets, and I helped him set it up. I had my iPhone next to me when I was doing the set up, and doing a comparison, I'd say this is Verizon's iPhone, however I think that the iPhone is still the best out there for AT&T unless I get a different phone and find out otherwise.
PROS:
The phone has a big screen, and has a swipe text feature, which would be you'd start to type a word, it pops up with the suggestions and you swipe through them.
Social Networking, FB and Twitter are easily used on this phone. Amazing for that. I am just used to the iPhone's FB layout and I'm wondering if the FB layout on this is any different. He doesn't have an FB so I couldn't test.
CONS:
A little big of a phone, def bigger then my Jest and iPhone, but you should get used to the size once using
Battery, goes down fast with touchscreen. Overall 4.5 phone | 2 | positive | [
"asically, a family member and his GF upgraded phones and got the android Galaxy S Fascinate.",
"He knows I am into gadgets, and I helped him set it up.",
"I had my iPhone next to me when I was doing the set up, and doing a comparison, I'd say this is Verizon's iPhone, however I think that the iPhone is still the best out there for AT&T unless I get a different phone and find out otherwise.",
"PROS:\nThe phone has a big screen, and has a swipe text feature, which would be you'd start to type a word, it pops up with the suggestions and you swipe through them.",
"Social Networking, FB and Twitter are easily used on this phone.",
"Amazing for that.",
"I am just used to the iPhone's FB layout and I'm wondering if the FB layout on this is any different.",
"He doesn't have an FB so I couldn't test.",
"CONS:\nA little big of a phone, def bigger then my Jest and iPhone, but you should get used to the size once using\n\nBattery, goes down fast with touchscreen.",
"Overall 4.",
"5 phone"
] |
I just finished playing through the game and I gotta say I really enjoy it. At first, I thought this game was such a pain. I kept dying. I had many moments where I wanted to throw the controller at the screen and yell, "Oh c'mon!" But I kept playing and sure enough I can now play pretty well. Still working on getting those sword combos down, but I'm not too shabby. It just takes a little patience at first and then you will get the hang of it. The game gives you a lot of choices in your gameplay and it becomes pretty addicting too. The game looks really nice as well. As you complete missions you can unlock little tidbits like interviews with the stars behind the game, movie clips, and other extras which makes the game really charming in its own way. I miss when they made games like this :) | 2 | positive | [
"I just finished playing through the game and I gotta say I really enjoy it.",
"At first, I thought this game was such a pain.",
"I kept dying.",
"I had many moments where I wanted to throw the controller at the screen and yell, \"Oh c'mon!",
"\" But I kept playing and sure enough I can now play pretty well.",
"Still working on getting those sword combos down, but I'm not too shabby.",
"It just takes a little patience at first and then you will get the hang of it.",
"The game gives you a lot of choices in your gameplay and it becomes pretty addicting too.",
"The game looks really nice as well.",
"As you complete missions you can unlock little tidbits like interviews with the stars behind the game, movie clips, and other extras which makes the game really charming in its own way.",
"I miss when they made games like this :)"
] |
I'm a pure Solinger Knife fan. That name is synonymous with the town that makes some of the best Chef, pocket and blades of all kind in the world. I Am a J'A Henkles German made fan. My experience includes HERBERTZ(way underarate), Schrade, Gerber(great no rust pocket knife), Wustoff(Reason I got Henkles it was cheaper they are Equal) ,Buck, Victornox( for the price you won't go wrong), and one Chicago Turkey slicer(not bad at all).
Knives are complicated. The first thing is you need to make sure your buying the Original Product made in the country they represent. A lot of Knife company's make there Knives abroad now do to cost. Those company's still make the knives in their own country that's what you need to find. Why? do I say this QUALITY.. Big Q. Example J.A Henkles make Knives abroad but to get the German made ones you have to get the four star Knives with the 2 men engraved on the blade. That's enough from me.
Lets go On the Global G-2 Chef knife. Compared to Henkles and Wustoff.....WOW! That Wow is dependent on who you are. This knife kills me. It is the lightest best gripping knife I ever held. The sharpness of this knife is out of the box. When you pull this knife from your wood block it goes SHINGGGG..What the hell is that? Is this thing hollow?
I swear this knife slices like excaliber. You can feel this knife when you hold it. It slices dices like nothing I've ever had not sharpened. That's the problem I don't think you can sharpen this knife. I'm afraid to try to because I may destroy it. It's different Steel. So It's 4 stars. Would I give up my other knives for it no. Wustoff, Henkles you can sharpen everyday to your preference. Is the engineering there... God or what ever you believe in bless the person who made the Global G-2. This is a top of the line Knife. IT's JUST DIFFERENT. | 2 | positive | [
"I'm a pure Solinger Knife fan.",
"That name is synonymous with the town that makes some of the best Chef, pocket and blades of all kind in the world.",
"I Am a J'A Henkles German made fan.",
"My experience includes HERBERTZ(way underarate), Schrade, Gerber(great no rust pocket knife), Wustoff(Reason I got Henkles it was cheaper they are Equal) ,Buck, Victornox( for the price you won't go wrong), and one Chicago Turkey slicer(not bad at all).",
"Knives are complicated.",
"The first thing is you need to make sure your buying the Original Product made in the country they represent.",
"A lot of Knife company's make there Knives abroad now do to cost.",
"Those company's still make the knives in their own country that's what you need to find.",
"Why?",
"do I say this QUALITY..",
"Big Q.",
"Example J.",
"A Henkles make Knives abroad but to get the German made ones you have to get the four star Knives with the 2 men engraved on the blade.",
"That's enough from me.",
"Lets go On the Global G-2 Chef knife.",
"Compared to Henkles and Wustoff....",
".",
"WOW!",
"That Wow is dependent on who you are.",
"This knife kills me.",
"It is the lightest best gripping knife I ever held.",
"The sharpness of this knife is out of the box.",
"When you pull this knife from your wood block it goes SHINGGGG..",
"What the hell is that?",
"Is this thing hollow?",
"I swear this knife slices like excaliber.",
"You can feel this knife when you hold it.",
"It slices dices like nothing I've ever had not sharpened.",
"That's the problem I don't think you can sharpen this knife.",
"I'm afraid to try to because I may destroy it.",
"It's different Steel.",
"So It's 4 stars.",
"Would I give up my other knives for it no.",
"Wustoff, Henkles you can sharpen everyday to your preference.",
"Is the engineering there...",
"God or what ever you believe in bless the person who made the Global G-2.",
"This is a top of the line Knife.",
"IT's JUST DIFFERENT."
] |
In this taut thriller, rookie police officer Trish Robinson confronts a team of hired killers at an isolated mansion. With her partner murdered and hostages, incuding a fifteen year old girl, in jeopardy, she relies on her training and instincts. Driven by a childhood trauma, she forges a bond with the young girl and risks death in her battle with the ruthless and resourceful killers.
This book is fast paced and exiciting. Trish is a fighter and a worthy opponent. The killers revel in their ruthlessness and I was glad that there was no attempt to mitigate their badness. Even Lillith, child sex victim and adult sadist, is irredeemable. There is no moral equivacation. Even though I figured out who all the bad people were quite early on, it still was a fun read. The Trish/Cain connection was not terribly convincing but there is nothing wrong with a little lsuspension of belief. All in all, a fast paced thriller,well worth the read. | 2 | positive | [
"In this taut thriller, rookie police officer Trish Robinson confronts a team of hired killers at an isolated mansion.",
"With her partner murdered and hostages, incuding a fifteen year old girl, in jeopardy, she relies on her training and instincts.",
"Driven by a childhood trauma, she forges a bond with the young girl and risks death in her battle with the ruthless and resourceful killers.",
"This book is fast paced and exiciting.",
"Trish is a fighter and a worthy opponent.",
"The killers revel in their ruthlessness and I was glad that there was no attempt to mitigate their badness.",
"Even Lillith, child sex victim and adult sadist, is irredeemable.",
"There is no moral equivacation.",
"Even though I figured out who all the bad people were quite early on, it still was a fun read.",
"The Trish/Cain connection was not terribly convincing but there is nothing wrong with a little lsuspension of belief.",
"All in all, a fast paced thriller,well worth the read."
] |
FAR CRY
*****
"A landmark first-person shooter"
While the gaming world is eagerly awaiting HALF-LIFE 2 and DOOM 3, the two guaranteed best-sellers in the coming months, it has just witnessed a landmark first-person action game that is sure to become one of the best games of the year. Made by a German developer called Crytek, FAR CRY offers single-player action that is packed with excitement and ingenuity. Even with the lack of a save-game feature (the game auto-saves for you occasionally), the superb level design, strong AI, the detailed and realistic graphics, and the perfect combination of stealth and action make FAR CRY the best actioner since DEUS EX and HALF-LIFE.
The story is just an obligatory pretext for the gameplay -- mad scientists, ruthless fighters and mercenaries, scientific experiments gone awry, and a tropical paradise becoming a living hell -- the kind of storyline that any casual sci-fi fan should be intimately familiar with, right down to the surprising villain at the end. Much of the action takes place in a sunny tropical archipelago. You play an ordinary guy named Jack Carver who is trapped on the islands and must fight his way out, with occasional help from two people, a scientist working on the islands and your female companion, Val, who is abducted at the start of the game.
The first striking thing about FAR CRY is its immensely large exterior locations. Each map spans up to 1.2 km (3/4 mile), according to the designer, and much of it is accessible, from underwater to mountain tops, from one end of the map to the other. The large exterior is also highly detailed, notably the jungle, the foliage, the tall grass, right down to the insects and birds. And the water is the most realistic-looking I've ever seen. There are many indoor locations as well. Sometimes interior and exterior locations coexist on the same level -- you enter a huge exterior location, then go inside a building, then come back out to the same huge exterior. FAR CRY has the most realistic and detailed game world I've ever seen.
To be sure, you need the latest and fastest PC and video card to see all the details. With my P4 2.4 GHz and aging GeForce4 Ti4200, I have to set graphic details to medium to allow a playable frame rate of 20-40 fps, and that eliminates much of the environmental details, such as grass and insects. Note that FAR CRY is only compatible with GeForce and Radeon video cards (it states so on the box). One can download the playable demo from various sites, such as gamesdomain.com, to test your PC's ability. The demo contains the entire second level of the game. While FAR CRY is a game that is definitely worth upgrading your video card for, those who consider buying a GeForce4 FX or Radeon 9800 may want to wait a few weeks for a new batch of video cards, the NV40 from NVidia and the R420 from ATI.
The game also sounds terrific. It supports quadraphonic (4 speakers), surround (5 speakers), and Dolby 5.1 (6 speakers) setup. EAX (environmental audio effects) is also supported for Creative Audigy sound cards. Basically, EAX is way of making remote audio sounds realistic. For instance, when you eavesdrop someone in another room, his voice sounds a little farther away and also a little muffled or echo-y, depending on the distance and the acoustics of that room. When you are underwater, you hear muffled sound from above the water. Such audio realism helps you determine where the sound comes from.
The single-player portion of the game has one of the best AI I've ever seen. In many ways the enemies are almost as smart as I am. They can sneak up behind you, ambush you, snipe you, hide from you, run for cover, and alert others. I detected no scripted AI, which means enemies don't behave the same way every time. They can spot you from REALLY long distance, the same way you can. Enemies range from the weak mercenaries, the sharp-shooting elite force with shields, to the tough, mutated animals called trigens. Occasionally, you have to shoot down helicopters and other vehicles as well.
Given the strength of the AI, it is often best to surprise your enemies, and the game provides many means for stealthy gameplay. You can use the surroundings to conceal yourself, such as crouching or lying prone behind bushes or tall grass. You can use binoculars to spot enemies from hundreds of meters away. You can use heat-sensing night-vision goggles to spot enemies (some of them invisible) in dark places. Not to mention, you can engage in long-distance sniping -- and three of the weapons, thankfully, have telescopic view. Refreshingly, the game only allows you to carry four weapons at a time. So, be sure to keep one for sniping.
Of course, you can use brute force as well, especially in the later levels, when you are being hunted and have to engage your enemies head-on. Two of the weapons can fire very damaging rockets and grenades, and they come in handy. Not too surprisingly, these levels are the least interesting, and are unlike the earlier levels where stealth plays a bigger part. With the lack of a save-game feature and a scarcity of health medikits and armor, you have often to die and replay the same level over and over. The last level, in particular, is ridiculously difficult. Interestingly, there are cheat codes available on the Internet that let you freely save your game. That means the save-game feature is there in the game, but the designer chose to not let you use it.
But in spite of it all, the superb design of FAR CRY makes it a strong contender for action game of the year. | 2 | positive | [
"FAR CRY\n*****\n\"A landmark first-person shooter\"\nWhile the gaming world is eagerly awaiting HALF-LIFE 2 and DOOM 3, the two guaranteed best-sellers in the coming months, it has just witnessed a landmark first-person action game that is sure to become one of the best games of the year.",
"Made by a German developer called Crytek, FAR CRY offers single-player action that is packed with excitement and ingenuity.",
"Even with the lack of a save-game feature (the game auto-saves for you occasionally), the superb level design, strong AI, the detailed and realistic graphics, and the perfect combination of stealth and action make FAR CRY the best actioner since DEUS EX and HALF-LIFE.",
"The story is just an obligatory pretext for the gameplay -- mad scientists, ruthless fighters and mercenaries, scientific experiments gone awry, and a tropical paradise becoming a living hell -- the kind of storyline that any casual sci-fi fan should be intimately familiar with, right down to the surprising villain at the end.",
"Much of the action takes place in a sunny tropical archipelago.",
"You play an ordinary guy named Jack Carver who is trapped on the islands and must fight his way out, with occasional help from two people, a scientist working on the islands and your female companion, Val, who is abducted at the start of the game.",
"The first striking thing about FAR CRY is its immensely large exterior locations.",
"Each map spans up to 1.",
"2 km (3/4 mile), according to the designer, and much of it is accessible, from underwater to mountain tops, from one end of the map to the other.",
"The large exterior is also highly detailed, notably the jungle, the foliage, the tall grass, right down to the insects and birds.",
"And the water is the most realistic-looking I've ever seen.",
"There are many indoor locations as well.",
"Sometimes interior and exterior locations coexist on the same level -- you enter a huge exterior location, then go inside a building, then come back out to the same huge exterior.",
"FAR CRY has the most realistic and detailed game world I've ever seen.",
"To be sure, you need the latest and fastest PC and video card to see all the details.",
"With my P4 2.",
"4 GHz and aging GeForce4 Ti4200, I have to set graphic details to medium to allow a playable frame rate of 20-40 fps, and that eliminates much of the environmental details, such as grass and insects.",
"Note that FAR CRY is only compatible with GeForce and Radeon video cards (it states so on the box).",
"One can download the playable demo from various sites, such as gamesdomain.",
"com, to test your PC's ability.",
"The demo contains the entire second level of the game.",
"While FAR CRY is a game that is definitely worth upgrading your video card for, those who consider buying a GeForce4 FX or Radeon 9800 may want to wait a few weeks for a new batch of video cards, the NV40 from NVidia and the R420 from ATI.",
"The game also sounds terrific.",
"It supports quadraphonic (4 speakers), surround (5 speakers), and Dolby 5.",
"1 (6 speakers) setup.",
"EAX (environmental audio effects) is also supported for Creative Audigy sound cards.",
"Basically, EAX is way of making remote audio sounds realistic.",
"For instance, when you eavesdrop someone in another room, his voice sounds a little farther away and also a little muffled or echo-y, depending on the distance and the acoustics of that room.",
"When you are underwater, you hear muffled sound from above the water.",
"Such audio realism helps you determine where the sound comes from.",
"The single-player portion of the game has one of the best AI I've ever seen.",
"In many ways the enemies are almost as smart as I am.",
"They can sneak up behind you, ambush you, snipe you, hide from you, run for cover, and alert others.",
"I detected no scripted AI, which means enemies don't behave the same way every time.",
"They can spot you from REALLY long distance, the same way you can.",
"Enemies range from the weak mercenaries, the sharp-shooting elite force with shields, to the tough, mutated animals called trigens.",
"Occasionally, you have to shoot down helicopters and other vehicles as well.",
"Given the strength of the AI, it is often best to surprise your enemies, and the game provides many means for stealthy gameplay.",
"You can use the surroundings to conceal yourself, such as crouching or lying prone behind bushes or tall grass.",
"You can use binoculars to spot enemies from hundreds of meters away.",
"You can use heat-sensing night-vision goggles to spot enemies (some of them invisible) in dark places.",
"Not to mention, you can engage in long-distance sniping -- and three of the weapons, thankfully, have telescopic view.",
"Refreshingly, the game only allows you to carry four weapons at a time.",
"So, be sure to keep one for sniping.",
"Of course, you can use brute force as well, especially in the later levels, when you are being hunted and have to engage your enemies head-on.",
"Two of the weapons can fire very damaging rockets and grenades, and they come in handy.",
"Not too surprisingly, these levels are the least interesting, and are unlike the earlier levels where stealth plays a bigger part.",
"With the lack of a save-game feature and a scarcity of health medikits and armor, you have often to die and replay the same level over and over.",
"The last level, in particular, is ridiculously difficult.",
"Interestingly, there are cheat codes available on the Internet that let you freely save your game.",
"That means the save-game feature is there in the game, but the designer chose to not let you use it.",
"But in spite of it all, the superb design of FAR CRY makes it a strong contender for action game of the year."
] |
OK. I admit that I am a pretty big Phillip K. Dick fan.
But while "Blade Runner" is not exactly what was written in the book (L.A. versus San Francisco), Ridley Scott's vision is just as fantastic as <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Do-Androids-Dream-of-Electric-Sheep-Millennium-SF-Masterworks-S/dp/1857988132/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Millennium SF Masterworks S)</a>
And this Ultimate Collector's Edition is just too cool! I've already watched the Final Cut version three times since I got it in January '08. And I feel I must watch it again soon... (OK, I'm a little nerdy, but I don't go to Star Trek conventions... yet.)
I've gone through some of the extra stuff, (interviews, deleted scenes, etc.) which was created with the same attention to detail as the movie, including the cool "Deckard" brief case and collector's items, like the "silver" origami swan that Edward James Olmos' character leaves for Deckard, and I really like it. I've never purchased a "collector's set" like this before; it's very impressive.
Hardcore fans of "Blade Runner" will really love this set! | 2 | positive | [
"OK.",
"I admit that I am a pretty big Phillip K.",
"Dick fan.",
"But while \"Blade Runner\" is not exactly what was written in the book (L.",
"A. versus San Francisco), Ridley Scott's vision is just as fantastic as <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Do-Androids-Dream-of-Electric-Sheep-Millennium-SF-Masterworks-S/dp/1857988132/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?",
"(Millennium SF Masterworks S)</a>\n\nAnd this Ultimate Collector's Edition is just too cool!",
"I've already watched the Final Cut version three times since I got it in January '08.",
"And I feel I must watch it again soon...",
"(OK, I'm a little nerdy, but I don't go to Star Trek conventions...",
"yet.",
")\n\nI've gone through some of the extra stuff, (interviews, deleted scenes, etc.",
") which was created with the same attention to detail as the movie, including the cool \"Deckard\" brief case and collector's items, like the \"silver\" origami swan that Edward James Olmos' character leaves for Deckard, and I really like it.",
"I've never purchased a \"collector's set\" like this before; it's very impressive.",
"Hardcore fans of \"Blade Runner\" will really love this set!"
] |
There are lengthy biographies of Solzhenitsyn by Scammell and Thomas, and specialized studies (e.g. Ericson's). Pearce's book meets the need of public and undergraduate libraries for a very readable, concise, and up-to-date biography of this controversial Nobel Prize winner. Pearce's book includes some otherwise unavailable recent material by Solzhenitsyn -- the prose poems at the end of the book -- so graduate libraries ought to have it, also.
Individuals who have read Solzhenitsyn's own autobiographical works and open letters might not need this book, but for most readers it will be a good introduction. It has the salutary effect of prompting one to go and (re)read works such as The First Circle. Pearce doesn't go into depth in discussion of Solzhenitsyn's books, but says enough to quicken interest in them.
Pearce shows affinity between Solzhenitsyn's positive ideas and those of people such as E. F. Schumacher (Small Is Beautiful). The critique of Enlightenment progressivism and positivism isn't detailed, but there's enough to remind me of writers as otherwise diverse as Phillip Sherrard (The Eclipse of Man and Nature), Russell Kirk, and the author of Ideas Have Consequences. I was also reminded a little of C. S. Lewis's prophetic novel That Hideous Strength, where Lewis presents a distinction between Britain and Logres, as I read Solzhenitsyn as quoted by Pearce, on the souls of nations. Familiarity with these writers -- who are often not known, or well known, to persons who presume to speak of their ideas -- can help one to understand where Solzhenitsyn is coming from. | 2 | positive | [
"There are lengthy biographies of Solzhenitsyn by Scammell and Thomas, and specialized studies (e.",
"g. Ericson's).",
"Pearce's book meets the need of public and undergraduate libraries for a very readable, concise, and up-to-date biography of this controversial Nobel Prize winner.",
"Pearce's book includes some otherwise unavailable recent material by Solzhenitsyn -- the prose poems at the end of the book -- so graduate libraries ought to have it, also.",
"Individuals who have read Solzhenitsyn's own autobiographical works and open letters might not need this book, but for most readers it will be a good introduction.",
"It has the salutary effect of prompting one to go and (re)read works such as The First Circle.",
"Pearce doesn't go into depth in discussion of Solzhenitsyn's books, but says enough to quicken interest in them.",
"Pearce shows affinity between Solzhenitsyn's positive ideas and those of people such as E.",
"F.",
"Schumacher (Small Is Beautiful).",
"The critique of Enlightenment progressivism and positivism isn't detailed, but there's enough to remind me of writers as otherwise diverse as Phillip Sherrard (The Eclipse of Man and Nature), Russell Kirk, and the author of Ideas Have Consequences.",
"I was also reminded a little of C.",
"S.",
"Lewis's prophetic novel That Hideous Strength, where Lewis presents a distinction between Britain and Logres, as I read Solzhenitsyn as quoted by Pearce, on the souls of nations.",
"Familiarity with these writers -- who are often not known, or well known, to persons who presume to speak of their ideas -- can help one to understand where Solzhenitsyn is coming from."
] |
the second album of roland orzabal, curt smith, ian stanley and manny elias originally released in 1985 and remastered in 1999 by mercury records could be termed as one the "greatest albums ever recorded."
the digital remastering of the album brought out the real sonic beauty of each song: crisp, crystal clear productions of perfect pop!
SHOUT: their 8th single, and definitely one their best if not the best!
THE WORKING HOUR: a cross between jazz, pop and new wave!
EVERBODY WANTS...: the simple song that became their classic gargantuan hit all over the world!
MOTHERS TALK: a song that's worth pages of psychoanalysis. listen to the instrmental at the end of the song - it's incomparable!
I BELIEVE: a song about endings and new beginnings....
BROKEN: recent releases showed the many incarnations of this song, which was actually a spin-off of "head over heels."
HEAD OVER HEELS: the "ballad version" of broken! LOL. the four-leaf clover of the album.
LISTEN: a post-apocalyptic theme running seven minutes with only four lines! truly a genius composition.
this reissue also includes remastered b-side tracks and remixes of mothers talk and shout. truly a must-have for any kid of the 80's! | 2 | positive | [
"the second album of roland orzabal, curt smith, ian stanley and manny elias originally released in 1985 and remastered in 1999 by mercury records could be termed as one the \"greatest albums ever recorded.",
"\"\n\nthe digital remastering of the album brought out the real sonic beauty of each song: crisp, crystal clear productions of perfect pop!",
"SHOUT: their 8th single, and definitely one their best if not the best!",
"THE WORKING HOUR: a cross between jazz, pop and new wave!",
"EVERBODY WANTS...",
": the simple song that became their classic gargantuan hit all over the world!",
"MOTHERS TALK: a song that's worth pages of psychoanalysis.",
"listen to the instrmental at the end of the song - it's incomparable!",
"I BELIEVE: a song about endings and new beginnings....",
"BROKEN: recent releases showed the many incarnations of this song, which was actually a spin-off of \"head over heels.",
"\"\nHEAD OVER HEELS: the \"ballad version\" of broken!",
"LOL.",
"the four-leaf clover of the album.",
"LISTEN: a post-apocalyptic theme running seven minutes with only four lines!",
"truly a genius composition.",
"this reissue also includes remastered b-side tracks and remixes of mothers talk and shout.",
"truly a must-have for any kid of the 80's!"
] |
This was so not what I was expecting from Mercy Celeste. All the other books of hers, that I've read, were nice angsty contemporary romances. Boy meets boy. Boy acts the fool. Boy forgives Boy. Boys live happily ever after.
In From the Cold was that and so much more. The suspense of this novel was pretty intense and there were several scenes, near the end, that were amazingly horrific. If lifetime ever gets a clue and starts making LGBT moves, this would make a great movie.
"If you loved it so much, why not rate it a 5?" Well, now that Mercy has opened the door to romantic suspense, I want more. I want to see the evil in the bad guy, the fear in the good guys. There's a taste of that in In From the Cold, but I want more...sue me, I'm greedy.
There are 2 more books planned for this series and I look forward to seeing if Mercy can do it again. I think she can. Buy the book, read the book...then you decide. Highly recommend!! | 2 | positive | [
"This was so not what I was expecting from Mercy Celeste.",
"All the other books of hers, that I've read, were nice angsty contemporary romances.",
"Boy meets boy.",
"Boy acts the fool.",
"Boy forgives Boy.",
"Boys live happily ever after.",
"In From the Cold was that and so much more.",
"The suspense of this novel was pretty intense and there were several scenes, near the end, that were amazingly horrific.",
"If lifetime ever gets a clue and starts making LGBT moves, this would make a great movie.",
"\"If you loved it so much, why not rate it a 5?",
"\" Well, now that Mercy has opened the door to romantic suspense, I want more.",
"I want to see the evil in the bad guy, the fear in the good guys.",
"There's a taste of that in In From the Cold, but I want more...",
"sue me, I'm greedy.",
"There are 2 more books planned for this series and I look forward to seeing if Mercy can do it again.",
"I think she can.",
"Buy the book, read the book...",
"then you decide.",
"Highly recommend!!"
] |
There are so many great reviews here that spell out in detail what this film covers that I will not take that approach. Instead, I wish to say that I never thought I would particularly care for this film; thought it was probably just another excuse for nudity and would be in poor taste. This is definitely a misconception...This film is absolutely beautiful. I was never offended in any way about anything that was depicted in it and believe every scene necessary to show the pattern of the times they portray and the characters as the individuals they were supposed to be. I did find the sequence of the two women posing for each other a little strange. The camera shots of the constant eye movement reminded me of the movie "Once Upon A Time In The West". But the use of real film footage, especially that of the Soviet invasion, is excellent and I love the extra feature offered of the film portrayed with commentary. You learn so much about the history and the desire of those producing the film and what they are trying to convey as well as what they went through to be able to offer this film to us. You will notice that many of the reviews here are pretty lengthy. That is because this is truly a very thought-provoking film. I feel silly at this point to mention it, but there are several reviews here that question (out of all that is presented here) the hair under the armpit. I was told this was a very common practice in the European countries. I don't know if it still is or not, but many Europeans found it very natural and quite arousing as part of their sexual foreplay. They thought it ridiculous that we Americans felt the need to shave it. On my first visit to Europe, I was very young, but noticed this feature about women many times and thought it "icky". Then I questoned it and was informed as I mentioned above. However, I still find this unattractive but can't totally figure out why.
If you think you are a little prudish and won't like this film, think again. Please do yourself a favor and watch this fantastic, erotic film. It is about so much more than just sex. I love this cast. Their talent is phenomenal. The women are beautiful of course, but Day-Lewis exudes a sensuality that makes his character a believably charming womanizer who, nevertheless, adores his wife. I'm so glad I bought this film. I've watched it many times and will continue to do so. It's hard to imagine that a young, brilliant brain surgeon should be reduced to washing windows because he would not sign statements condoning the communistic philosophy. We are so fortunate to live in this country even with all the faults we are told about every day. Thank God for our Freedom and our wonderful men and women who have fought to keep it for us. | 2 | positive | [
"There are so many great reviews here that spell out in detail what this film covers that I will not take that approach.",
"Instead, I wish to say that I never thought I would particularly care for this film; thought it was probably just another excuse for nudity and would be in poor taste.",
"This is definitely a misconception...",
"This film is absolutely beautiful.",
"I was never offended in any way about anything that was depicted in it and believe every scene necessary to show the pattern of the times they portray and the characters as the individuals they were supposed to be.",
"I did find the sequence of the two women posing for each other a little strange.",
"The camera shots of the constant eye movement reminded me of the movie \"Once Upon A Time In The West\".",
"But the use of real film footage, especially that of the Soviet invasion, is excellent and I love the extra feature offered of the film portrayed with commentary.",
"You learn so much about the history and the desire of those producing the film and what they are trying to convey as well as what they went through to be able to offer this film to us.",
"You will notice that many of the reviews here are pretty lengthy.",
"That is because this is truly a very thought-provoking film.",
"I feel silly at this point to mention it, but there are several reviews here that question (out of all that is presented here) the hair under the armpit.",
"I was told this was a very common practice in the European countries.",
"I don't know if it still is or not, but many Europeans found it very natural and quite arousing as part of their sexual foreplay.",
"They thought it ridiculous that we Americans felt the need to shave it.",
"On my first visit to Europe, I was very young, but noticed this feature about women many times and thought it \"icky\".",
"Then I questoned it and was informed as I mentioned above.",
"However, I still find this unattractive but can't totally figure out why.",
"If you think you are a little prudish and won't like this film, think again.",
"Please do yourself a favor and watch this fantastic, erotic film.",
"It is about so much more than just sex.",
"I love this cast.",
"Their talent is phenomenal.",
"The women are beautiful of course, but Day-Lewis exudes a sensuality that makes his character a believably charming womanizer who, nevertheless, adores his wife.",
"I'm so glad I bought this film.",
"I've watched it many times and will continue to do so.",
"It's hard to imagine that a young, brilliant brain surgeon should be reduced to washing windows because he would not sign statements condoning the communistic philosophy.",
"We are so fortunate to live in this country even with all the faults we are told about every day.",
"Thank God for our Freedom and our wonderful men and women who have fought to keep it for us."
] |
Great quality and huge load handling. I am using an MPCNC build driven by a RAMPS 1.4. The RAMPS board simply cannot handle large amperage loads (melts the connectors). It is easy as pie to connect this to your RAMPS (or other bed output) This works very simply, it is essentially a big solid state relay thats allowing your controller to use very little amperage, and offloading the true high amp load onto itself and the power supply. This keeps things safe and allows full power to reach your bed heater.
NOTES:
1. Use the largest gauge stranded cable you can fit into the connectors for the bed and power supply connections. Too small and the wires may overheat.
2. Use the absolute shortest length of wire you can get away with. High amperage DC loads are best over short wire lengths.
3. Avoid unnecessary splices or connectors in line, thee add resistance and are possible overheating issues.
4. use 24 volt power and bed if possible to lower the overall amperage required.
5. you must electrically insulate the board from touching any metal surfaces, it will short out! of course you have a 3d printer so make a base or box!
For me this board improved warm up times by at least 50% and much more stable.
I've noted some users have had to use different connections. IN MY CASE... I connected like this: Please note this may differ from your unique setup.... | 2 | positive | [
"Great quality and huge load handling.",
"I am using an MPCNC build driven by a RAMPS 1.",
"4. The RAMPS board simply cannot handle large amperage loads (melts the connectors).",
"It is easy as pie to connect this to your RAMPS (or other bed output) This works very simply, it is essentially a big solid state relay thats allowing your controller to use very little amperage, and offloading the true high amp load onto itself and the power supply.",
"This keeps things safe and allows full power to reach your bed heater.",
"NOTES:\n1.",
"Use the largest gauge stranded cable you can fit into the connectors for the bed and power supply connections.",
"Too small and the wires may overheat.",
"2.",
"Use the absolute shortest length of wire you can get away with.",
"High amperage DC loads are best over short wire lengths.",
"3.",
"Avoid unnecessary splices or connectors in line, thee add resistance and are possible overheating issues.",
"4.",
"use 24 volt power and bed if possible to lower the overall amperage required.",
"5.",
"you must electrically insulate the board from touching any metal surfaces, it will short out!",
"of course you have a 3d printer so make a base or box!",
"For me this board improved warm up times by at least 50% and much more stable.",
"I've noted some users have had to use different connections.",
"IN MY CASE...",
"I connected like this: Please note this may differ from your unique setup...."
] |
Rallisport challenge is easily the best looking driving game on any system to date. It may be the best looking game on any system to date, period. The environmental draw distance is tremendous, the car models are superbly detailed. The sense of speed you get from the game is amazing, and the tracks are both varied and fun.
The game contains four modes of play: Rally, Ice Racing, Hill Climb, and Rallycross. Rallycross and Ice Racing are similar, in that they're both races against three other opponents, around circuit tracks. Rally and Hill Climb modes are both linear affairs, in which you traverse a section of track a single time, with no visible opponents, trying to best your opponents' times.
There is a multiplayer split screen mode, but no system link mode - this is probably the most serious omission, but the split screen mode is quite fun, on its own terms. The damage models are simplified, as is some of the lighting, but it still clips along at 60 FPS, or thereabouts, and even in its somewhat scaled-back presentation, it's *still* the best looking game on the market.
The driving model in the game is a little hard to get used to - at first, the cars feel a touch too slippery. But after an hour or so, you'll get used to needing to gas through the later parts of the turns, to regain traction, and you'll be powersliding through corners like it was second nature.
Rallisport has some stiff competition in Project Gotham, Gran Turismo, and the other driving games out today. It's not a direct competitor, as rally racing is pretty different than street racing. But the fundamental aspect of driving cars around courses, really fast, is *best* exemplified in Rallisport - a fantastic combination of challenging, fun, and downright beautiful. | 2 | positive | [
"Rallisport challenge is easily the best looking driving game on any system to date.",
"It may be the best looking game on any system to date, period.",
"The environmental draw distance is tremendous, the car models are superbly detailed.",
"The sense of speed you get from the game is amazing, and the tracks are both varied and fun.",
"The game contains four modes of play: Rally, Ice Racing, Hill Climb, and Rallycross.",
"Rallycross and Ice Racing are similar, in that they're both races against three other opponents, around circuit tracks.",
"Rally and Hill Climb modes are both linear affairs, in which you traverse a section of track a single time, with no visible opponents, trying to best your opponents' times.",
"There is a multiplayer split screen mode, but no system link mode - this is probably the most serious omission, but the split screen mode is quite fun, on its own terms.",
"The damage models are simplified, as is some of the lighting, but it still clips along at 60 FPS, or thereabouts, and even in its somewhat scaled-back presentation, it's *still* the best looking game on the market.",
"The driving model in the game is a little hard to get used to - at first, the cars feel a touch too slippery.",
"But after an hour or so, you'll get used to needing to gas through the later parts of the turns, to regain traction, and you'll be powersliding through corners like it was second nature.",
"Rallisport has some stiff competition in Project Gotham, Gran Turismo, and the other driving games out today.",
"It's not a direct competitor, as rally racing is pretty different than street racing.",
"But the fundamental aspect of driving cars around courses, really fast, is *best* exemplified in Rallisport - a fantastic combination of challenging, fun, and downright beautiful."
] |
To be honest, despite the fact that Mario is probably THE most well-known and popular character in Nintendo's repertoire and probably in gamedom period, I always had an inkling towards stuff like Legend of Zelda or Final Fantasy. Like many game franchises, there's enough familiarity and basic gameplay that anyone can pick up but in the end you want to feel like "that was one of the best Marios ever". In that regard, New Super Mario Bros is enjoyable in a way but it's also a bit too familiar and certain things are kind of all over the place.
Story: Oh, do I have to say this? Okay fine, here goes: Princess got kidnapped and Mario has to go save her and in order to do so he has to keep travelling to different worlds to get there. I mean, Mario plots have never been about this so if you're thinking something even remotely in-depth as far as Mario is concerned like its Paper series, check your head.
Graphics: This is where the game shines. While it's still 2D graphics, they're pretty attractive, well-animated and incredibly colorful. The overworld graphics resemble the board game look of Mario Party which gives it a better immersive quality rather than a yellow circle(Super Mario World) or a black square(Mario 3).
Sound/Music: Surprisingly it's kind of forgettable. The music fits the world but it feels somewhat detached as if playing the game makes you tune out what you're hearing. Despite the fact that it's fine in the game,I call this a "stereo" game: I just put on a cd rather than listen to the game itself.
Gameplay: Same as always: jump button, special button such as getting a flower you can shoot fireballs. The one problem is that the special button also acts as a sort of "run" but strangely Mario just feels sluggish which I've never had a problem with in a Mario game. There were times that I died simply because Mario didn't run fast enough to leap a ledge or simply he would just...slip off. I named it "Butterfingers syndrome" when I was young.
The main selling point I guess is that Mario can nab a Large Mushroom and he essentially becomes "Mariozilla" where he just rampages through the level with a meter showing his escalading destruction. It's a neat idea but it either doesn't last long enough or it's just something that's not as fundamental to the gameplay. Think back to when Leafs and Feathers brought about new level exits and secrets but here it's just fun in a "destroy! destroy!" kinda way.
Is it challenging for the young ones? It can be. Couple stages bugged me but whether that was my bad abilities(doubt it) or the game itself(maybe) but it's still one of the better DS games you can find but it's probably not its best. | 2 | positive | [
"To be honest, despite the fact that Mario is probably THE most well-known and popular character in Nintendo's repertoire and probably in gamedom period, I always had an inkling towards stuff like Legend of Zelda or Final Fantasy.",
"Like many game franchises, there's enough familiarity and basic gameplay that anyone can pick up but in the end you want to feel like \"that was one of the best Marios ever\".",
"In that regard, New Super Mario Bros is enjoyable in a way but it's also a bit too familiar and certain things are kind of all over the place.",
"Story: Oh, do I have to say this?",
"Okay fine, here goes: Princess got kidnapped and Mario has to go save her and in order to do so he has to keep travelling to different worlds to get there.",
"I mean, Mario plots have never been about this so if you're thinking something even remotely in-depth as far as Mario is concerned like its Paper series, check your head.",
"Graphics: This is where the game shines.",
"While it's still 2D graphics, they're pretty attractive, well-animated and incredibly colorful.",
"The overworld graphics resemble the board game look of Mario Party which gives it a better immersive quality rather than a yellow circle(Super Mario World) or a black square(Mario 3).",
"Sound/Music: Surprisingly it's kind of forgettable.",
"The music fits the world but it feels somewhat detached as if playing the game makes you tune out what you're hearing.",
"Despite the fact that it's fine in the game,I call this a \"stereo\" game: I just put on a cd rather than listen to the game itself.",
"Gameplay: Same as always: jump button, special button such as getting a flower you can shoot fireballs.",
"The one problem is that the special button also acts as a sort of \"run\" but strangely Mario just feels sluggish which I've never had a problem with in a Mario game.",
"There were times that I died simply because Mario didn't run fast enough to leap a ledge or simply he would just...",
"slip off.",
"I named it \"Butterfingers syndrome\" when I was young.",
"The main selling point I guess is that Mario can nab a Large Mushroom and he essentially becomes \"Mariozilla\" where he just rampages through the level with a meter showing his escalading destruction.",
"It's a neat idea but it either doesn't last long enough or it's just something that's not as fundamental to the gameplay.",
"Think back to when Leafs and Feathers brought about new level exits and secrets but here it's just fun in a \"destroy!",
"destroy!",
"\" kinda way.",
"Is it challenging for the young ones?",
"It can be.",
"Couple stages bugged me but whether that was my bad abilities(doubt it) or the game itself(maybe) but it's still one of the better DS games you can find but it's probably not its best."
] |
I've loved mysteries, ever since starting out as a girl with Nancy Drew. I eventually moved on to Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Dorothy L. Sayers. I also love to read historical romance, especially Regency and Victorian.
So how could I help loving the Lady Julia Grey books? Simple. I couldn't. The three books in this very nicely priced ebook bundle were much more mystery than romance, but that's okay. They were engaging and well constructed. The underlying romance -- which in these three books take Julia and Brisbane from first meeting to marriage -- is subtle but gripping. Brisbane is such a delicious, deeply layered character. | 2 | positive | [
"I've loved mysteries, ever since starting out as a girl with Nancy Drew.",
"I eventually moved on to Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Dorothy L.",
"Sayers.",
"I also love to read historical romance, especially Regency and Victorian.",
"So how could I help loving the Lady Julia Grey books?",
"Simple.",
"I couldn't.",
"The three books in this very nicely priced ebook bundle were much more mystery than romance, but that's okay.",
"They were engaging and well constructed.",
"The underlying romance -- which in these three books take Julia and Brisbane from first meeting to marriage -- is subtle but gripping.",
"Brisbane is such a delicious, deeply layered character."
] |
This is Teena's 1st & best 'post-Motown' performance. She is a rare multi-talented musician, and she displays her many skills here. As usual, Teena wrote, produced, and performed most of the music by herself. Motown was crazy to let her go!! She is a master of Pop, R&B,and Jazz, which are all performed so well. 'Lovergirl', 'Midnight Magnet', 'Stop The World', 'Ask Yo Momma', 'Shadow Boxing', and the classic 'Cassanova Brown' (inspired by Rick James!!) are all on Teena's 'Robbery'. The recent edition of 'Robbery' includes a few rare extended remixes, and I'd also recommend the new remaster (only if it doesn't have that dreaded copy protection embeded in the disc, which can harm your PC!!).
Peace, SD
(of 'Chaka's World') | 2 | positive | [
"This is Teena's 1st & best 'post-Motown' performance.",
"She is a rare multi-talented musician, and she displays her many skills here.",
"As usual, Teena wrote, produced, and performed most of the music by herself.",
"Motown was crazy to let her go!!",
"She is a master of Pop, R&B,and Jazz, which are all performed so well.",
"'Lovergirl', 'Midnight Magnet', 'Stop The World', 'Ask Yo Momma', 'Shadow Boxing', and the classic 'Cassanova Brown' (inspired by Rick James!!",
") are all on Teena's 'Robbery'.",
"The recent edition of 'Robbery' includes a few rare extended remixes, and I'd also recommend the new remaster (only if it doesn't have that dreaded copy protection embeded in the disc, which can harm your PC!!",
").",
"Peace, SD\n(of 'Chaka's World')"
] |
I have to add my voice to the chorus of great reviews for this set. I must send big thanks to the great Maestro, arranger-producer Vincent Montana, Jr., the heart and soul behind The Salsoul Orchestra, for creating this seasonal masterpiece. This is music that I have enjoyed for many years, music that has added joy and a festive spirit to many Holiday seasons, and music that I will continue to cherish during that special time of year.
Mr. Montana collected some of the absolute, all-time Holiday favorites, both secular and religious, arranged most of them with a prominent '70's (yet timeless) dance feel, and dropped them into an awesome, continuous medley. Features excellent vocals by the "Sweethearts of Sigma," Barbara Ingram, Yvette Benton and Carla Benson, and that phenomenal Philly/MFSB backing band with full horns and strings.
For me, the biggest standout is "Sleigh Ride," which is a stand-alone selection, not part of the big Christmas Medley, and features the greatest, loveliest harmonies.
Not to shortchange that Medley, which is just incredible, and incredibly joy-enducing.
Also very, very strong, rocking and moving, is Mr. Montana's incredible and inventive arrangement of "The Little Drummer Boy," another stand-alone cut. The vocal is particularly strong. You'll love these rum-pum-pums, for sure!
The New Year's Medley is real good, too, and even features a Mummers' Strut-like segment. (That's pretty special to us Philly natives.)
The stunningly arranged and performed "Silent Night" is mellow and dynamic at the same time...Mantovani would be proud.
The RIGHT STUFF label/group did a great job on the cd version, with a bonus "Sumphonic Medley," which is pretty much the New Year's Suite without percussion, which affords a chance to hear the wonderful playing without focusing on "the beat."
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS COLLECTION AT YOUR HOME, YOU ARE MISSING A GREAT CHUNK OF CHRISTMAS SPIRIT! | 2 | positive | [
"I have to add my voice to the chorus of great reviews for this set.",
"I must send big thanks to the great Maestro, arranger-producer Vincent Montana, Jr.",
", the heart and soul behind The Salsoul Orchestra, for creating this seasonal masterpiece.",
"This is music that I have enjoyed for many years, music that has added joy and a festive spirit to many Holiday seasons, and music that I will continue to cherish during that special time of year.",
"Mr.",
"Montana collected some of the absolute, all-time Holiday favorites, both secular and religious, arranged most of them with a prominent '70's (yet timeless) dance feel, and dropped them into an awesome, continuous medley.",
"Features excellent vocals by the \"Sweethearts of Sigma,\" Barbara Ingram, Yvette Benton and Carla Benson, and that phenomenal Philly/MFSB backing band with full horns and strings.",
"For me, the biggest standout is \"Sleigh Ride,\" which is a stand-alone selection, not part of the big Christmas Medley, and features the greatest, loveliest harmonies.",
"Not to shortchange that Medley, which is just incredible, and incredibly joy-enducing.",
"Also very, very strong, rocking and moving, is Mr.",
"Montana's incredible and inventive arrangement of \"The Little Drummer Boy,\" another stand-alone cut.",
"The vocal is particularly strong.",
"You'll love these rum-pum-pums, for sure!",
"The New Year's Medley is real good, too, and even features a Mummers' Strut-like segment.",
"(That's pretty special to us Philly natives.",
")\n\nThe stunningly arranged and performed \"Silent Night\" is mellow and dynamic at the same time...",
"Mantovani would be proud.",
"The RIGHT STUFF label/group did a great job on the cd version, with a bonus \"Sumphonic Medley,\" which is pretty much the New Year's Suite without percussion, which affords a chance to hear the wonderful playing without focusing on \"the beat.",
"\"\n\nIF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS COLLECTION AT YOUR HOME, YOU ARE MISSING A GREAT CHUNK OF CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!"
] |
I loved the game, beat it twice with my friend Nic. but there was one thing that really stank...the weapon selection was thin, as was the vehical selection. And I think the master chief had just a little to much ability to resist enemy fire. I was hoping for more of a battle filled game with more veriaty of weapons and power ups. but I did like the grenades. In other FPS's you have to hav ethe grenade as a weapon. in halo you can shoot then throw a grenade when needed. This game also only has four main enemies with one other type. the flood. but each type of allian race has about two or three different levels of it.
DO NOT BUY THIS GAME, WAIT FOR THE SECOND ONE!!! | 2 | positive | [
"I loved the game, beat it twice with my friend Nic.",
"but there was one thing that really stank...",
"the weapon selection was thin, as was the vehical selection.",
"And I think the master chief had just a little to much ability to resist enemy fire.",
"I was hoping for more of a battle filled game with more veriaty of weapons and power ups.",
"but I did like the grenades.",
"In other FPS's you have to hav ethe grenade as a weapon.",
"in halo you can shoot then throw a grenade when needed.",
"This game also only has four main enemies with one other type.",
"the flood.",
"but each type of allian race has about two or three different levels of it.",
"DO NOT BUY THIS GAME, WAIT FOR THE SECOND ONE!!!"
] |
This filter is designed for a much bigger aquarium but it works beautifully. I ended up looking at the box and on the web to assemble it correctly. The directions are awful. The water is crystal clear in my tank which is great and it's super silent. I'm using the ceramic link tube things as my bottom filtration. The only issue, you have to set this up just right! Once you lock the tubes in with the screw thingies...you may never undo them! I ended up making my tube lengths a little too long and managed to shorten it a bit by cutting the tubing that connects to my tank shorter. Don't make my mistake!
The design is wonderful. Great product!
Oh, the first time you clean it, make sure you drain (open all the levers) into a bucket. Afterwards, slowly dump onto a towel each section (the sponge at the bottom will keep it all from descending into a nightmarish pile which is great (it's thick and big). I found two kuhli loaches and two babies at the bottom of my bucket! They can easily get sucked into the filter. I would recommend doing your maintenance once a month and making sure you cut the tubing so that the strainer is higher up on the glass wall if you're planning on kuhli loaches. Oh, this is a typical problem for ALL filters (didn't want you guys to this this was a design error - not - a kuhli issue). Anyway, it does a beautiful job! I got the 2215. I would recommend going up in filtration (bigger tank - more filtration).
The only issue I had, I have to order the sponges for the filter online. I'm thinking of buying sponge stuff that I can cut since they seem to be really expensive. The bottom sponge is super tough but the white one after you wash it feels like it's going to disintegrate it. I'll be amazed if I can wash it more than once (doubt it). | 2 | positive | [
"This filter is designed for a much bigger aquarium but it works beautifully.",
"I ended up looking at the box and on the web to assemble it correctly.",
"The directions are awful.",
"The water is crystal clear in my tank which is great and it's super silent.",
"I'm using the ceramic link tube things as my bottom filtration.",
"The only issue, you have to set this up just right!",
"Once you lock the tubes in with the screw thingies...",
"you may never undo them!",
"I ended up making my tube lengths a little too long and managed to shorten it a bit by cutting the tubing that connects to my tank shorter.",
"Don't make my mistake!",
"The design is wonderful.",
"Great product!",
"Oh, the first time you clean it, make sure you drain (open all the levers) into a bucket.",
"Afterwards, slowly dump onto a towel each section (the sponge at the bottom will keep it all from descending into a nightmarish pile which is great (it's thick and big).",
"I found two kuhli loaches and two babies at the bottom of my bucket!",
"They can easily get sucked into the filter.",
"I would recommend doing your maintenance once a month and making sure you cut the tubing so that the strainer is higher up on the glass wall if you're planning on kuhli loaches.",
"Oh, this is a typical problem for ALL filters (didn't want you guys to this this was a design error - not - a kuhli issue).",
"Anyway, it does a beautiful job!",
"I got the 2215.",
"I would recommend going up in filtration (bigger tank - more filtration).",
"The only issue I had, I have to order the sponges for the filter online.",
"I'm thinking of buying sponge stuff that I can cut since they seem to be really expensive.",
"The bottom sponge is super tough but the white one after you wash it feels like it's going to disintegrate it.",
"I'll be amazed if I can wash it more than once (doubt it)."
] |
Well, this game certainly has it's shares of ups and downs. When I first started playing, I was simply in love with it. The first day I played for 7 hours in one sitting, the next day 10 hours, and another 5-6 the day after. I had a wonderful time but the more I played, the more I realized things were somewhat falling apart. I wanted to give this a 3, but anything less than a 4 just seems unfair. I almost love to hate it.
Where FF7 succeeds with a huge multi-layered story, FFX keeps a quite simple plot. And where FF7 has enough well written dialog to fill a novel, FFX throws it all out the window in place of a few lines of voice acting. However, FFX does a great job with the battle system, and almost every single character is extremely useful. The level system is unique, but good. The battles are fun, quick, and a huge improvement over FF8 and FF9. FFX truly brings some great things to the table while keeping the best of the old school Final Fantasy.
Sadly though, the story can't really hold up to the gameplay. It has it's bright spots, but overall it's rather flawed. Tidus and Yuna may just be the most pathetic lead characters in FF history, except maybe FF9. In battle, they're both incredible and so is nearly every other character. The rest of the time however is a very different story. Tidus is an overgrown toddler who hates his daddy for no good reason. His voice acting is atrocious with non stop whining. Yuna seems almost like a poorly done Aeris with the energy of Hyatt from Excel Saga. Both in voice acting and story Yuna is simply so withdrawn it's not even funny. She sounds and acts like she's on life support or some kind of pain killer.
The rest of the characters don't fare much better, but at least they have fairly good to great voices. Kimari seems like a bad SNL skit. Then we have Wakka, at times a complete retard and redneck. Rikku is the picture of nubile cuteness and my personal favorite, but she's often given airheaded lines. Lulu fares the best of the girls with a mysterious story and lovely dark attitude. Leaving Auron with the best story and a level of cool that's unmatched.
All together, you get a game with a mild story at best but a top notch battle system and quite enjoyable gameplay. So long as you can stomach the most bland of voice acting from the most unlikable of couple you'll have a good time playing. The game is fun, fast paced, and graphically stunning under the junk. It's by far the best Final Fantasy since FF7, making it the second best to date in my book and bumping FF8 to a distant third.
- Rirath_com | 2 | positive | [
"Well, this game certainly has it's shares of ups and downs.",
"When I first started playing, I was simply in love with it.",
"The first day I played for 7 hours in one sitting, the next day 10 hours, and another 5-6 the day after.",
"I had a wonderful time but the more I played, the more I realized things were somewhat falling apart.",
"I wanted to give this a 3, but anything less than a 4 just seems unfair.",
"I almost love to hate it.",
"Where FF7 succeeds with a huge multi-layered story, FFX keeps a quite simple plot.",
"And where FF7 has enough well written dialog to fill a novel, FFX throws it all out the window in place of a few lines of voice acting.",
"However, FFX does a great job with the battle system, and almost every single character is extremely useful.",
"The level system is unique, but good.",
"The battles are fun, quick, and a huge improvement over FF8 and FF9.",
"FFX truly brings some great things to the table while keeping the best of the old school Final Fantasy.",
"Sadly though, the story can't really hold up to the gameplay.",
"It has it's bright spots, but overall it's rather flawed.",
"Tidus and Yuna may just be the most pathetic lead characters in FF history, except maybe FF9.",
"In battle, they're both incredible and so is nearly every other character.",
"The rest of the time however is a very different story.",
"Tidus is an overgrown toddler who hates his daddy for no good reason.",
"His voice acting is atrocious with non stop whining.",
"Yuna seems almost like a poorly done Aeris with the energy of Hyatt from Excel Saga.",
"Both in voice acting and story Yuna is simply so withdrawn it's not even funny.",
"She sounds and acts like she's on life support or some kind of pain killer.",
"The rest of the characters don't fare much better, but at least they have fairly good to great voices.",
"Kimari seems like a bad SNL skit.",
"Then we have Wakka, at times a complete retard and redneck.",
"Rikku is the picture of nubile cuteness and my personal favorite, but she's often given airheaded lines.",
"Lulu fares the best of the girls with a mysterious story and lovely dark attitude.",
"Leaving Auron with the best story and a level of cool that's unmatched.",
"All together, you get a game with a mild story at best but a top notch battle system and quite enjoyable gameplay.",
"So long as you can stomach the most bland of voice acting from the most unlikable of couple you'll have a good time playing.",
"The game is fun, fast paced, and graphically stunning under the junk.",
"It's by far the best Final Fantasy since FF7, making it the second best to date in my book and bumping FF8 to a distant third.",
"- Rirath_com"
] |
I love how comfy these are. VERY adjustable. I also have the wrists weights. I do NOT use these for swimming. I use them in the jacuzzi because they hold me in place over the jets. The jets in our backyard jacuzzi were strong and I would float all over the place. Having the ankle weights and wrists weights on allows me to stay slightly anchored so I can enjoy the massaging jets without floating around. They are actually fairly lightweight under the water so it's very easily move around in them, but it is enough weight to keep you in place better. They are also an incentive to go ahead and do some leg lifts and arm lifts for exercize while I'm enjoying the jacuzzi. Very happy with this purchase. I don't have a pool, but I think they would be fabulous for doing pool aerobics! If you have very tiny ankles, buy the wrist weights for your ankles. The weights are easy to make lighter by taking out some of the slide-in weights. I don't know why you would want to do that unless you were using them for aquatic-based physical therapy and needed very low weight. Either way, these are very versatile and comfortable. | 2 | positive | [
"I love how comfy these are.",
"VERY adjustable.",
"I also have the wrists weights.",
"I do NOT use these for swimming.",
"I use them in the jacuzzi because they hold me in place over the jets.",
"The jets in our backyard jacuzzi were strong and I would float all over the place.",
"Having the ankle weights and wrists weights on allows me to stay slightly anchored so I can enjoy the massaging jets without floating around.",
"They are actually fairly lightweight under the water so it's very easily move around in them, but it is enough weight to keep you in place better.",
"They are also an incentive to go ahead and do some leg lifts and arm lifts for exercize while I'm enjoying the jacuzzi.",
"Very happy with this purchase.",
"I don't have a pool, but I think they would be fabulous for doing pool aerobics!",
"If you have very tiny ankles, buy the wrist weights for your ankles.",
"The weights are easy to make lighter by taking out some of the slide-in weights.",
"I don't know why you would want to do that unless you were using them for aquatic-based physical therapy and needed very low weight.",
"Either way, these are very versatile and comfortable."
] |
This is YA done right. Sure there is the occasional rogue grammar error and minor inconsistency, but the overall flow and style keeps the reader engaged and anticipatory over the course of the entire story.
The story is engaging and well put together. There is an excellent blend of the normal teenage angst with supernatural teenage angst and the balance is great.
The way young vampires are depicted in this tale is a refreshing way to fluff up a common story and make it fresh for the reader. There are enough similarities to make vampire fans happy and the differences are enough to spruce up the way we think of the common vampire without resorting to a generous coating of stripper dust.
The maturity level of dialogue in the story is relatable to the target audience along with the everyday problems of a socially awkward teenager that doesn't quite fit in. The frank underlying message of finding your inner strength lends a respectable quality to this book that is a rare find in the Young Adult genre. The language and descriptions were reasonable and realistic and the settings are well described and easy to visualize.
As with most initial books of a series this story does end on a serious cliffhanger that all but forces you to run out and grab the next book of the series, but I see no reason why it wouldn't be worth it. | 2 | positive | [
"This is YA done right.",
"Sure there is the occasional rogue grammar error and minor inconsistency, but the overall flow and style keeps the reader engaged and anticipatory over the course of the entire story.",
"The story is engaging and well put together.",
"There is an excellent blend of the normal teenage angst with supernatural teenage angst and the balance is great.",
"The way young vampires are depicted in this tale is a refreshing way to fluff up a common story and make it fresh for the reader.",
"There are enough similarities to make vampire fans happy and the differences are enough to spruce up the way we think of the common vampire without resorting to a generous coating of stripper dust.",
"The maturity level of dialogue in the story is relatable to the target audience along with the everyday problems of a socially awkward teenager that doesn't quite fit in.",
"The frank underlying message of finding your inner strength lends a respectable quality to this book that is a rare find in the Young Adult genre.",
"The language and descriptions were reasonable and realistic and the settings are well described and easy to visualize.",
"As with most initial books of a series this story does end on a serious cliffhanger that all but forces you to run out and grab the next book of the series, but I see no reason why it wouldn't be worth it."
] |
So I decided to wait nearly a year to write a review on this toy. We got it for our 4 year old son for Christmas 2014. Almost a full year later it is still working good as new! Our boy has put it through some tough and heavy play and the toy works as it did when it was fresh out of the package. We have rechargeable batteries which is a god-send for these toys. Don't have more than one, as the radio waves do not work well together. Dont' worry about the antennae coming out, that is how they do, and it's not hard to push it back in. Until we got him trained not to carry it around by the antennae, he was and it still held up good! This is a must toy for little ones' first remote control car. They can even go through small puddles and be okay! | 2 | positive | [
"So I decided to wait nearly a year to write a review on this toy.",
"We got it for our 4 year old son for Christmas 2014.",
"Almost a full year later it is still working good as new!",
"Our boy has put it through some tough and heavy play and the toy works as it did when it was fresh out of the package.",
"We have rechargeable batteries which is a god-send for these toys.",
"Don't have more than one, as the radio waves do not work well together.",
"Dont' worry about the antennae coming out, that is how they do, and it's not hard to push it back in.",
"Until we got him trained not to carry it around by the antennae, he was and it still held up good!",
"This is a must toy for little ones' first remote control car.",
"They can even go through small puddles and be okay!"
] |
I am on a budget like everyone else this holiday season so when looking to purchase this mixer I searched long and hard over the net to find the best price. I bought it on December 4 from Appliances.com for two hundred eighteen dollars and ninety five cents plus twenty two dollars and sixty five cents for shipping for a total of two hundred forty one dollars and sixty cents. I found it today, Dec 8 on Amazon for one hundred ninety nine dollars and ninety nine cents. I have not recieved my mixer yet from Appliances.com. I called them and told them about Amazon's price and they said they do not honor price matching and gave me the TOUGH LUCK attitude. I wish I would have paid more from Amazon initially because I know that they would have refunded the difference in price. In customer service, amazon is always great. My own choice to save eight dollars cost me forty one dollars and sixty one cents. Customer Service makes a big difference. Do not purchase anything from Appliances.com. They are not honorable. SO as far as me never spending my hard earned cash at Appliances.com , TOUGH LUCK! | 2 | positive | [
"I am on a budget like everyone else this holiday season so when looking to purchase this mixer I searched long and hard over the net to find the best price.",
"I bought it on December 4 from Appliances.",
"com for two hundred eighteen dollars and ninety five cents plus twenty two dollars and sixty five cents for shipping for a total of two hundred forty one dollars and sixty cents.",
"I found it today, Dec 8 on Amazon for one hundred ninety nine dollars and ninety nine cents.",
"I have not recieved my mixer yet from Appliances.",
"com.",
"I called them and told them about Amazon's price and they said they do not honor price matching and gave me the TOUGH LUCK attitude.",
"I wish I would have paid more from Amazon initially because I know that they would have refunded the difference in price.",
"In customer service, amazon is always great.",
"My own choice to save eight dollars cost me forty one dollars and sixty one cents.",
"Customer Service makes a big difference.",
"Do not purchase anything from Appliances.",
"com.",
"They are not honorable.",
"SO as far as me never spending my hard earned cash at Appliances.",
"com , TOUGH LUCK!"
] |
These are AWESOME! We can bat them, fling them, roll them and slide them around on the floors. We can pick them up and carry them to another room and play with them there. We can even carry them to the bathtub and play with them in there at 4 o'clock in the morning! When we lose them under the sofa, the closet door, or under the fridge we can cry and cry until one of our dumb humans rescues our toy. We can leave them in front of the bathroom doorway in the middle of the night, and watch the barefoot human dance like a fool when he finds them! These are the best toys. Ever! Except for shoelaces. And squeaky mice. And ping pong balls, on the hardwood floors under the bed, at night, in the dark. | 2 | positive | [
"These are AWESOME!",
"We can bat them, fling them, roll them and slide them around on the floors.",
"We can pick them up and carry them to another room and play with them there.",
"We can even carry them to the bathtub and play with them in there at 4 o'clock in the morning!",
"When we lose them under the sofa, the closet door, or under the fridge we can cry and cry until one of our dumb humans rescues our toy.",
"We can leave them in front of the bathroom doorway in the middle of the night, and watch the barefoot human dance like a fool when he finds them!",
"These are the best toys.",
"Ever!",
"Except for shoelaces.",
"And squeaky mice.",
"And ping pong balls, on the hardwood floors under the bed, at night, in the dark."
] |
The quality of music in this dvd is some of the best in rock history & a classic example of what made the Who such an exciting live act. Keith Moon, while not the most technically proficient player, seems inexhaustable in a constant whirl of energy and always hilarious; the consumate showman. The interplay between he & Townshend is quite funny & Townshend is in his prime, an energetic dynamo himself with the classic windmill always generating excitement. "Young Man Blues" in particular from this show is worth the price alone. Let us not forget the incredible Entwisle & Daltrey. The only reason I didn't give this five stars is that Rhino put this together quite sloppily. The song playing many times isn't in sync with what we see on the screen as other reviewers have mentioned, but it is a valuable historical document of one of rock's greatest of all time. I don't see anyone replacing them or the Stones in the current "changing of the guard". The Who haven't seemed to have held their place in history the way the Stones have & I guess it's because they never put anything new out, but after Face Dances & It's Hard, you might say they could've done better, eh? The Wolf | 2 | positive | [
"The quality of music in this dvd is some of the best in rock history & a classic example of what made the Who such an exciting live act.",
"Keith Moon, while not the most technically proficient player, seems inexhaustable in a constant whirl of energy and always hilarious; the consumate showman.",
"The interplay between he & Townshend is quite funny & Townshend is in his prime, an energetic dynamo himself with the classic windmill always generating excitement.",
"\"Young Man Blues\" in particular from this show is worth the price alone.",
"Let us not forget the incredible Entwisle & Daltrey.",
"The only reason I didn't give this five stars is that Rhino put this together quite sloppily.",
"The song playing many times isn't in sync with what we see on the screen as other reviewers have mentioned, but it is a valuable historical document of one of rock's greatest of all time.",
"I don't see anyone replacing them or the Stones in the current \"changing of the guard\".",
"The Who haven't seemed to have held their place in history the way the Stones have & I guess it's because they never put anything new out, but after Face Dances & It's Hard, you might say they could've done better, eh?",
"The Wolf"
] |
My husband and I are popcorn lovers who decided to forsake microwave corn because of chemical additives and cost. In the past, we've used hot-air poppers that sent popcorn flying all over the kitchen. With Stir Crazy, the popcorn is confined to an upturned-dish-like cover. When popping is complete, you just unplug the popper and turn in over. You could eat the popcorn right out of the dish/cover.
We have had our popper about two months. We make popcorn 2-3 times a week. We get perfect popcorn every time, with few, if any, unpopped kernels or old maids, as they used to be called.
We tried the butter melting compartment the first time or two, but we've gone back to melting butter in our microwave. The popcorn seemed a bit tougher and denser when we used this function, which allows steam to escape (this melts the butter). The popcorn is airier when you leave the cover over the butter melting compartment.
The only gripe I have is that to turn the popper off, you have to unplug it, at least on my model.
Other than that, I love this popper! The top does indeed clean very well in the top rack of the dishwasher.
I recommend this popper! | 2 | positive | [
"My husband and I are popcorn lovers who decided to forsake microwave corn because of chemical additives and cost.",
"In the past, we've used hot-air poppers that sent popcorn flying all over the kitchen.",
"With Stir Crazy, the popcorn is confined to an upturned-dish-like cover.",
"When popping is complete, you just unplug the popper and turn in over.",
"You could eat the popcorn right out of the dish/cover.",
"We have had our popper about two months.",
"We make popcorn 2-3 times a week.",
"We get perfect popcorn every time, with few, if any, unpopped kernels or old maids, as they used to be called.",
"We tried the butter melting compartment the first time or two, but we've gone back to melting butter in our microwave.",
"The popcorn seemed a bit tougher and denser when we used this function, which allows steam to escape (this melts the butter).",
"The popcorn is airier when you leave the cover over the butter melting compartment.",
"The only gripe I have is that to turn the popper off, you have to unplug it, at least on my model.",
"Other than that, I love this popper!",
"The top does indeed clean very well in the top rack of the dishwasher.",
"I recommend this popper!"
] |
This device is absolutely great for the price. Any negative reviews are coming from people expecting $300 worth of options and performance from a $50 device. You're not going to be using this in a multi-million dollar recording studio, but it is priceless in a small home setup. This thing has gone above and beyond my expectations and I have been recording bass tracks all day. I haven't recorded through a hardware interface in a very long time, so it's weird to plug my bass straight into it un-amped and then have what plays back sound incredible. If you are currently doing any kind of amp to microphone recording and have never used a hardware interface, buy this and it will change the way you look at home recording. The most important part for me is that it works with Linux in the simplest plug and play manner. You just plug it in, fire up Audacity or Ardour or whatever and you will find it available as an interface. Disclaimer: I have only tried it on Ubuntu 14.04 and 15.01 including Ubuntu Studio. | 2 | positive | [
"This device is absolutely great for the price.",
"Any negative reviews are coming from people expecting $300 worth of options and performance from a $50 device.",
"You're not going to be using this in a multi-million dollar recording studio, but it is priceless in a small home setup.",
"This thing has gone above and beyond my expectations and I have been recording bass tracks all day.",
"I haven't recorded through a hardware interface in a very long time, so it's weird to plug my bass straight into it un-amped and then have what plays back sound incredible.",
"If you are currently doing any kind of amp to microphone recording and have never used a hardware interface, buy this and it will change the way you look at home recording.",
"The most important part for me is that it works with Linux in the simplest plug and play manner.",
"You just plug it in, fire up Audacity or Ardour or whatever and you will find it available as an interface.",
"Disclaimer: I have only tried it on Ubuntu 14.",
"04 and 15.",
"01 including Ubuntu Studio."
] |
Years ago, when I was listening to K-LOVE a lot I heard Kari Jobe and immediately loved her music. At the time, the song "Steady My Heart" from her album "Where I Find You" was the newest single and I couldn't stop listening to it! I was going through some tough times and that song always helped soothe me. The last few years I've been busy raising my twins so I haven't consistently listened to music and only recently have I started listening to more music. I love to sing and listening to music that I both love and that's easy to sing along with is perfect for me because I always feel more relaxed, uplifted and happier afterwards. For the last several weeks, I've been listening to Kari Jobe's music nonstop because she is one of my favorite Christian artists and her music is beautiful. I'm very grateful to Amazon Prime for allowing me to listen to this album!
"Kari Jobe" is Jobe's debut album and it is absolutely wonderful! There are 12 songs and the album lasts about 54 minutes in length. The product description states this album is considered Christian Contemporary and I agree with that because all of the songs are filled with praising God with a contemporary feel, using many musical instruments. Every song is so full of meaning and I can't help but sing along. I enjoy every song but would say my favorites are "Healer" (I could listen to this song over and over!), "Beautiful," "Singing Over Me," "Sweep Me Away," and "Revelation Song," the latter of which has been sung by many artists.
I LOVE this album, along with the album "Where I Find You" and I am eager for her newest album "The Garden" to come out soon! I've been listening to her music for several hours a day and it fills me with such joy and peacefulness. I love listening to her beautiful voice and find myself singing along with her at times. The other reason I love her music so much, and most Christian music, is that it's safe for my four-year-old twins to listen to and I don't have to worry about them hearing anything they shouldn't. If you enjoy any of Kari Jobe's music, I highly recommend this album! | 2 | positive | [
"Years ago, when I was listening to K-LOVE a lot I heard Kari Jobe and immediately loved her music.",
"At the time, the song \"Steady My Heart\" from her album \"Where I Find You\" was the newest single and I couldn't stop listening to it!",
"I was going through some tough times and that song always helped soothe me.",
"The last few years I've been busy raising my twins so I haven't consistently listened to music and only recently have I started listening to more music.",
"I love to sing and listening to music that I both love and that's easy to sing along with is perfect for me because I always feel more relaxed, uplifted and happier afterwards.",
"For the last several weeks, I've been listening to Kari Jobe's music nonstop because she is one of my favorite Christian artists and her music is beautiful.",
"I'm very grateful to Amazon Prime for allowing me to listen to this album!",
"\"Kari Jobe\" is Jobe's debut album and it is absolutely wonderful!",
"There are 12 songs and the album lasts about 54 minutes in length.",
"The product description states this album is considered Christian Contemporary and I agree with that because all of the songs are filled with praising God with a contemporary feel, using many musical instruments.",
"Every song is so full of meaning and I can't help but sing along.",
"I enjoy every song but would say my favorites are \"Healer\" (I could listen to this song over and over!",
"), \"Beautiful,\" \"Singing Over Me,\" \"Sweep Me Away,\" and \"Revelation Song,\" the latter of which has been sung by many artists.",
"I LOVE this album, along with the album \"Where I Find You\" and I am eager for her newest album \"The Garden\" to come out soon!",
"I've been listening to her music for several hours a day and it fills me with such joy and peacefulness.",
"I love listening to her beautiful voice and find myself singing along with her at times.",
"The other reason I love her music so much, and most Christian music, is that it's safe for my four-year-old twins to listen to and I don't have to worry about them hearing anything they shouldn't.",
"If you enjoy any of Kari Jobe's music, I highly recommend this album!"
] |
I love these Expo Low Odor Fine Tip Dry Erase markers, they work great as expected and without the overwhelming odor that many dry erase markers have. I like the fine tip, it is a nice switch from the chunkier tips and I am able to write smaller yet quite legibly with these finer tips. The (ink) is consistently deep and exactly right. As long as the cap is securely replaced, these last a very long time without drying out.
The surface that I most often use these markers on is our master bathroom's mirror, which is not frequented by others. I still use sticky notes in other areas of our home, but for things that I am especially worried I may forget -(I have residual memory issues from a previous illness)- I use these primarily for the mirror that I use most often, where I am sure to see it. I keep one of these markers handy in this bathroom, where I can quickly make myself a little note right when I am thinking of it.
I have never had any problems with staining or residue left behind on my mirror (or on my dry erase board) after wiping away (with a dry cloth, tissue or paper towel). I have left these "mirror notes" up as long as 3 weeks at a time, and every time the ink wipes away cleanly with no trace of my writing or any sort of mirror staining/damage whatsoever, even in the bathroom's steamy environment.
As far as what most people use these for, dry erase boards, this is the only brand I trust not to stain my board and it has never let me down with ink quality or erasability, and I happily recommend these markers. | 2 | positive | [
"I love these Expo Low Odor Fine Tip Dry Erase markers, they work great as expected and without the overwhelming odor that many dry erase markers have.",
"I like the fine tip, it is a nice switch from the chunkier tips and I am able to write smaller yet quite legibly with these finer tips.",
"The (ink) is consistently deep and exactly right.",
"As long as the cap is securely replaced, these last a very long time without drying out.",
"The surface that I most often use these markers on is our master bathroom's mirror, which is not frequented by others.",
"I still use sticky notes in other areas of our home, but for things that I am especially worried I may forget -(I have residual memory issues from a previous illness)- I use these primarily for the mirror that I use most often, where I am sure to see it.",
"I keep one of these markers handy in this bathroom, where I can quickly make myself a little note right when I am thinking of it.",
"I have never had any problems with staining or residue left behind on my mirror (or on my dry erase board) after wiping away (with a dry cloth, tissue or paper towel).",
"I have left these \"mirror notes\" up as long as 3 weeks at a time, and every time the ink wipes away cleanly with no trace of my writing or any sort of mirror staining/damage whatsoever, even in the bathroom's steamy environment.",
"As far as what most people use these for, dry erase boards, this is the only brand I trust not to stain my board and it has never let me down with ink quality or erasability, and I happily recommend these markers."
] |
Martin Scorsese, the writer/director of the Taxi Driver, has admitted that this film is the cathartic result of a bevy of dark thoughts that surrounded his mind during a very low period of his life. By the time the credits finally make their merciful way on screen, we can see exactly what Scorsese saw during those days and the residual effect it has on us, the viewers, will likely stay hauntingly familiar long after we have watched the conclusion of this film.
PLOT:
Tavis Bickle, a taxi driver and volunteer for a New York City political campaign, has tried it all. He's attempted doing things the right way, treating people with kindness and women with respect. Nevertheless, he is ignored and his chivalrous advances continually stepped upon or altogether discarded by one person after another. It is when Tavis realizes that he will forever be average and overlooked that he decides to make drastic changes in his world. Almost at once he begins driving the most dangerous portions of New York in his taxi, scouring the nighttime landscape with his mind cultivating a solution to his own personal, dark problems. Soon, his decision becomes conclusive: he will become a vigilante, and his first offering to the world will be in aiding a young teenaged prostitute by providing her a way out, no matter what it may cost Tavis personally in the process.
Perhaps Scorsese's most poignant film, The Taxi Driver offers a bleak, but somehow refreshing, alternative to the concept of "taking it lying down." Here, in his vision, there is another solution, and one in which while many of us fantasize about, almost all of us refuse to make a reality.
4.5 out of 5 | 2 | positive | [
"Martin Scorsese, the writer/director of the Taxi Driver, has admitted that this film is the cathartic result of a bevy of dark thoughts that surrounded his mind during a very low period of his life.",
"By the time the credits finally make their merciful way on screen, we can see exactly what Scorsese saw during those days and the residual effect it has on us, the viewers, will likely stay hauntingly familiar long after we have watched the conclusion of this film.",
"PLOT:\n\nTavis Bickle, a taxi driver and volunteer for a New York City political campaign, has tried it all.",
"He's attempted doing things the right way, treating people with kindness and women with respect.",
"Nevertheless, he is ignored and his chivalrous advances continually stepped upon or altogether discarded by one person after another.",
"It is when Tavis realizes that he will forever be average and overlooked that he decides to make drastic changes in his world.",
"Almost at once he begins driving the most dangerous portions of New York in his taxi, scouring the nighttime landscape with his mind cultivating a solution to his own personal, dark problems.",
"Soon, his decision becomes conclusive: he will become a vigilante, and his first offering to the world will be in aiding a young teenaged prostitute by providing her a way out, no matter what it may cost Tavis personally in the process.",
"Perhaps Scorsese's most poignant film, The Taxi Driver offers a bleak, but somehow refreshing, alternative to the concept of \"taking it lying down.",
"\" Here, in his vision, there is another solution, and one in which while many of us fantasize about, almost all of us refuse to make a reality.",
"4.",
"5 out of 5"
] |
I love BlackBerry and haven't had one that I didn't love. This model is no different. It's a great phone with nice features, easy to use and pretty too. I bought a 'very good' condition phone from Teczilla. It's in gorgeous condition, cost a lot less than a brand new one, and arrived 2 days early. I'm veryyy happy with my purchase, and my phone!! Giving the BlackBerry Curve 8310 5 stars.
Revised Review- I've had to change my review as the phone will rarely send a picture, either one I've taken, or one I've received, without causing its appearance to be completely impossible to view or only partially viewable. Newer phones work fine. I think it's only because its such an older version phone. But disappointing because my previous phone didn't have a camera, and that's why I purchased this one. This has no reflection on Amazon. Just an FYI for future purchasers of older model phones. | 2 | positive | [
"I love BlackBerry and haven't had one that I didn't love.",
"This model is no different.",
"It's a great phone with nice features, easy to use and pretty too.",
"I bought a 'very good' condition phone from Teczilla.",
"It's in gorgeous condition, cost a lot less than a brand new one, and arrived 2 days early.",
"I'm veryyy happy with my purchase, and my phone!!",
"Giving the BlackBerry Curve 8310 5 stars.",
"Revised Review- I've had to change my review as the phone will rarely send a picture, either one I've taken, or one I've received, without causing its appearance to be completely impossible to view or only partially viewable.",
"Newer phones work fine.",
"I think it's only because its such an older version phone.",
"But disappointing because my previous phone didn't have a camera, and that's why I purchased this one.",
"This has no reflection on Amazon.",
"Just an FYI for future purchasers of older model phones."
] |
I first encountered the Firesign Theatre by accident late, very, very late, one winter's evening on the the legendary but sadly lamented KPPC-FM. Recently returned from an all-expenses-paid tour of South VietNam, courtesy of my favorite Uncle, I was well-acquainted with absurdity-in-reality, but I wasn't yet accustomed to the then-burgeoning FMradio scene. I had found KPPC quite by accident, spinning the dial to get away from the stations that were trying to treat FM as an adjunct to their powerful AM broadcast base. I loved the unprofessional approach by the DJ's and the programming fit my all-encompassing tastes, and the ads were definitely off the wall, at times bordering on not really achieving the goal of convincing the listener to actually purchase the products of the advertiser. It was all very loopy and spacey, with an appropriate sense of the absurd and irreverence, particularly since the station was broadcasting from the basement of a church! Just the antidote to a season in the insane asylum that was VIetNam in 1968, if not for the country itself, after a year in which Bobby and Martin Luther were murdered and a sinister character nicknamed Tricky had just been elevated from dog-to-be-kicked-around to president of the good old US of A!
One of the loonier ads on KPPC was for a local car dealer, well known in the LA area for his hard-sell approach (he was succeeded by an equally TV-zany type, still selling cars today). The commercials bordered on turning off buyers, with a nasally monotone voice delivering the "facts'" about various cars, along with glib references to financing and silly puns that made the whole presentation just wacky enough to keep the listener's attention. At times they ran on and on, and I was used to hearing them, then tuning them out. One night the commercial just ran on and on and on.....and on! I realized, finally, (I HAD been in VietNam for a year, after all!) that it wasn't a commercial. but was a recording by the very group of zanies who had done the commercials, now "recording artists" for Columbia Records. I was howling as the jokes, puns and pratfalls fell about my ears! I finally found out who was responsible for this madness, and ran out to buy their SECOND album (the one I was listening to, as it turned out), and the 1st a few days later. From that time on I followed their recording careers faithfully, devouring whole Don't Crush That Dwarf, the 3rd LP, and Dear Friends, a compilation of their early stuff, including the afore-described commercial and other zaniness. When they released Everything You Know Is Wrong, I terrorized my friends with lengthy recitations of parts of what I felt was their masterpiece (and still do!). If you haven't treated yourself to the wide dimensions the English language can be stretched to, you have done yourself an immense disservice! The Firesign Theatre's works require multiple listenings, and are not for the mentally challenged, nor for those whose vocabulary can be measured in 3-letter words or word-counts less than 4 digits! This is rich stuff, as fully challenging as Shakespeare, or Dylan, for that matter, and as rewarding, on repeated listenings. Run, do NOT walk, to your keyboard to order these CD's and dive in head-first. The word soup is invigorating! | 2 | positive | [
"I first encountered the Firesign Theatre by accident late, very, very late, one winter's evening on the the legendary but sadly lamented KPPC-FM.",
"Recently returned from an all-expenses-paid tour of South VietNam, courtesy of my favorite Uncle, I was well-acquainted with absurdity-in-reality, but I wasn't yet accustomed to the then-burgeoning FMradio scene.",
"I had found KPPC quite by accident, spinning the dial to get away from the stations that were trying to treat FM as an adjunct to their powerful AM broadcast base.",
"I loved the unprofessional approach by the DJ's and the programming fit my all-encompassing tastes, and the ads were definitely off the wall, at times bordering on not really achieving the goal of convincing the listener to actually purchase the products of the advertiser.",
"It was all very loopy and spacey, with an appropriate sense of the absurd and irreverence, particularly since the station was broadcasting from the basement of a church!",
"Just the antidote to a season in the insane asylum that was VIetNam in 1968, if not for the country itself, after a year in which Bobby and Martin Luther were murdered and a sinister character nicknamed Tricky had just been elevated from dog-to-be-kicked-around to president of the good old US of A!",
"One of the loonier ads on KPPC was for a local car dealer, well known in the LA area for his hard-sell approach (he was succeeded by an equally TV-zany type, still selling cars today).",
"The commercials bordered on turning off buyers, with a nasally monotone voice delivering the \"facts'\" about various cars, along with glib references to financing and silly puns that made the whole presentation just wacky enough to keep the listener's attention.",
"At times they ran on and on, and I was used to hearing them, then tuning them out.",
"One night the commercial just ran on and on and on....",
".",
"and on!",
"I realized, finally, (I HAD been in VietNam for a year, after all!",
") that it wasn't a commercial.",
"but was a recording by the very group of zanies who had done the commercials, now \"recording artists\" for Columbia Records.",
"I was howling as the jokes, puns and pratfalls fell about my ears!",
"I finally found out who was responsible for this madness, and ran out to buy their SECOND album (the one I was listening to, as it turned out), and the 1st a few days later.",
"From that time on I followed their recording careers faithfully, devouring whole Don't Crush That Dwarf, the 3rd LP, and Dear Friends, a compilation of their early stuff, including the afore-described commercial and other zaniness.",
"When they released Everything You Know Is Wrong, I terrorized my friends with lengthy recitations of parts of what I felt was their masterpiece (and still do!",
").",
"If you haven't treated yourself to the wide dimensions the English language can be stretched to, you have done yourself an immense disservice!",
"The Firesign Theatre's works require multiple listenings, and are not for the mentally challenged, nor for those whose vocabulary can be measured in 3-letter words or word-counts less than 4 digits!",
"This is rich stuff, as fully challenging as Shakespeare, or Dylan, for that matter, and as rewarding, on repeated listenings.",
"Run, do NOT walk, to your keyboard to order these CD's and dive in head-first.",
"The word soup is invigorating!"
] |
I've been using this kit to monitor water parameters for the last several weeks, and it has worked well for that purpose. Included are four test tubes with caps as well as the necessary reagents to monitor pH (both "normal" and "high" range), ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. I haven't verified the measurements with this kit using a secondary kit, but the results I've been getting seem reasonable. Some of the measurements are difficult to discern - i.e., the resolution of some of the tests is low - but this is an inherent difficulty in color-based chemical testing, so I don't fault the manufacturer for that.
The only thing I wished this kit included is a KH/GH test. KH/GH is a pretty basic parameter and, for a purportedly "all-in-one" kit, it seems like not including this was a big oversight. Granted, a KH/GH kit is available for less than $10 on Amazon, so it's not a big deal. But it would have been nice for it to have been included.
Apart from that, I'm happy with the kit. I expect that even with frequent testing this kit will last at least several months. For the new aquarium owner, this is a must-have for your supplies. | 2 | positive | [
"I've been using this kit to monitor water parameters for the last several weeks, and it has worked well for that purpose.",
"Included are four test tubes with caps as well as the necessary reagents to monitor pH (both \"normal\" and \"high\" range), ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.",
"I haven't verified the measurements with this kit using a secondary kit, but the results I've been getting seem reasonable.",
"Some of the measurements are difficult to discern - i.",
"e., the resolution of some of the tests is low - but this is an inherent difficulty in color-based chemical testing, so I don't fault the manufacturer for that.",
"The only thing I wished this kit included is a KH/GH test.",
"KH/GH is a pretty basic parameter and, for a purportedly \"all-in-one\" kit, it seems like not including this was a big oversight.",
"Granted, a KH/GH kit is available for less than $10 on Amazon, so it's not a big deal.",
"But it would have been nice for it to have been included.",
"Apart from that, I'm happy with the kit.",
"I expect that even with frequent testing this kit will last at least several months.",
"For the new aquarium owner, this is a must-have for your supplies."
] |
I think its a great pocket knife. I never really gave Victorinox a chance until recently but I end up using this knife a lot more than a folder for obvious reasons. The steel is fine for my needs and really sharpens up fast and easy even if you never sharpened a blade before you wouldn't have much trouble with the flat ground blade on this knife. So even if you suck at it you can get this fairly sharp with poor skill. I have sharpened for a long time and I can get this knife hair shaving sharp in literally 3 minutes compared to some of my knives which could take a whole hour+ if I neglect and fail to hone and maintain the edge properly. I don't whittle so i cant say it would be good for that I have read a few people using it but that's not my hobby if I did though I would probably use a carbon steel anyway. I do cut some sticks to size for marshmallows, Open packages, open mail, I have cut my nails a couple times to with it, Tighten loose screws if their easy to get to and not to critical I they are i will go get a real screw driver to really tighten that gut down. I do use the can opener a lot though. I prefer a leather-man style can opener compared to this. When I use the Swiss can opener I have to work a tad bit harder for the few final cuts but it does work fine. I Have used the awl to punch holes in cans and I recently sharpened the big flat head screw driver to be a chisel not just a screwdriver. Have yet to use the Parcel Hook....
The scissors are great they are so smooth and feel nice they cut very well I was actually surprise how good they work. The blades are sharp I haven't used the Small one though. The steel is fine for me i strop it on my jeans a lot though, but I do that to all my blades out of habit. I have yet to sharpen the thing really I hit it on a ceramic about 8 times on each side but that's about it and that was when I first received it. The saw is cool works great for the size of the thing. I randomly end up in the woods when I hang out with my cousin he likes to off road so its nice to have. I suspect this to last me a really long time and if I do lose it I will buy another. I don't mind that it's not a locking blade I have yet to cut myself I have learned to use a knife properly and if I need to abuse a blade I would use a full tang one. I don't try and abuse my blades though and I don't need to thrust it into someones tire or skull a piece of steel or wall. So there is very little reasons or scenarios where I needed something with a locking blade, though there has been a couple times. If I need a locking blade ill wait or figure something else out there really is no need to ever force anything with a bladed object.
This is a great pocket knife its not big at all if your used to carrying a folder give this a try. Though it won't replace a big folders self defense ability's it will enhance all your others. The great thing about it is its normally publicly acceptable almost every where. No one gives you weird looks like when you pull out a 3,4,5 inch folder out of your pocket to open or cut something
. I would recommend a Swiss army knife and I have. I plan on buying another. | 2 | positive | [
"I think its a great pocket knife.",
"I never really gave Victorinox a chance until recently but I end up using this knife a lot more than a folder for obvious reasons.",
"The steel is fine for my needs and really sharpens up fast and easy even if you never sharpened a blade before you wouldn't have much trouble with the flat ground blade on this knife.",
"So even if you suck at it you can get this fairly sharp with poor skill.",
"I have sharpened for a long time and I can get this knife hair shaving sharp in literally 3 minutes compared to some of my knives which could take a whole hour+ if I neglect and fail to hone and maintain the edge properly.",
"I don't whittle so i cant say it would be good for that I have read a few people using it but that's not my hobby if I did though I would probably use a carbon steel anyway.",
"I do cut some sticks to size for marshmallows, Open packages, open mail, I have cut my nails a couple times to with it, Tighten loose screws if their easy to get to and not to critical I they are i will go get a real screw driver to really tighten that gut down.",
"I do use the can opener a lot though.",
"I prefer a leather-man style can opener compared to this.",
"When I use the Swiss can opener I have to work a tad bit harder for the few final cuts but it does work fine.",
"I Have used the awl to punch holes in cans and I recently sharpened the big flat head screw driver to be a chisel not just a screwdriver.",
"Have yet to use the Parcel Hook....",
"The scissors are great they are so smooth and feel nice they cut very well I was actually surprise how good they work.",
"The blades are sharp I haven't used the Small one though.",
"The steel is fine for me i strop it on my jeans a lot though, but I do that to all my blades out of habit.",
"I have yet to sharpen the thing really I hit it on a ceramic about 8 times on each side but that's about it and that was when I first received it.",
"The saw is cool works great for the size of the thing.",
"I randomly end up in the woods when I hang out with my cousin he likes to off road so its nice to have.",
"I suspect this to last me a really long time and if I do lose it I will buy another.",
"I don't mind that it's not a locking blade I have yet to cut myself I have learned to use a knife properly and if I need to abuse a blade I would use a full tang one.",
"I don't try and abuse my blades though and I don't need to thrust it into someones tire or skull a piece of steel or wall.",
"So there is very little reasons or scenarios where I needed something with a locking blade, though there has been a couple times.",
"If I need a locking blade ill wait or figure something else out there really is no need to ever force anything with a bladed object.",
"This is a great pocket knife its not big at all if your used to carrying a folder give this a try.",
"Though it won't replace a big folders self defense ability's it will enhance all your others.",
"The great thing about it is its normally publicly acceptable almost every where.",
"No one gives you weird looks like when you pull out a 3,4,5 inch folder out of your pocket to open or cut something.",
"I would recommend a Swiss army knife and I have.",
"I plan on buying another."
] |
3.5 Stars. This just goes to show you that a good performance can saved the most implausible, hole-ridden script imaginable. The hijackers kills our heroine's husband somehow knowing that the wife would have to transfer the body back to America-she could have just cremated him. Then know which plane that she would use-maybe she received some kind of discount for flying the plane she helped build and then hijack the plane by taking her little girl-huh? Not only that-but bank on that her little girl isn't as loud and worrisome on the plane like MOST children and wouldn't be noticed by ANYONE. No one saw them take her carry on bags either and how do thay manage to take the other boarding pass from her pocket? They even get the morgue director in on it? And get this--it's not a terrorist group it's just some sky Bonnie and Clyde team. Right. I mean, the plot is totally laughable...but the actors are amazing. Jodie Foster is an actress that earns her big price tag because I can't think of anyone else pulling this off. Recommeded | 2 | positive | [
"3.",
"5 Stars.",
"This just goes to show you that a good performance can saved the most implausible, hole-ridden script imaginable.",
"The hijackers kills our heroine's husband somehow knowing that the wife would have to transfer the body back to America-she could have just cremated him.",
"Then know which plane that she would use-maybe she received some kind of discount for flying the plane she helped build and then hijack the plane by taking her little girl-huh?",
"Not only that-but bank on that her little girl isn't as loud and worrisome on the plane like MOST children and wouldn't be noticed by ANYONE.",
"No one saw them take her carry on bags either and how do thay manage to take the other boarding pass from her pocket?",
"They even get the morgue director in on it?",
"And get this--it's not a terrorist group it's just some sky Bonnie and Clyde team.",
"Right.",
"I mean, the plot is totally laughable...",
"but the actors are amazing.",
"Jodie Foster is an actress that earns her big price tag because I can't think of anyone else pulling this off.",
"Recommeded"
] |
I have used frontline for years on many different types, and sizes of dogs. (doberman, german shephard, chihuahua, australian shepherd, lab, pit bull, bassett hound, rat terrier) Other topical brands had mixed reviews and reactions so I have always stuck to frontline. My small sensitive chihuahuas especially seem to do well on frontline with no reaction. I make sure to give dogs a bath prior to their monthly application. I give them another bath half way through the month, and I don't have any problem with this "washing" off.
I have used on flea & tick infested dogs, and used as a preventative on dogs who did not have any pests on them. This works great even on the most sensitive dogs. Only one case after 10+ years of use have I had to re-apply. I gave this to a 7lb chihuahua with fleas, mom washed the dog hours later, not knowing I had given her frontline earlier! I did have to re-apply. I went to the vet to make sure I could give a 2nd dose on a small chihuahua in such short time, and they okayed it. She had no problems, and is the most sensitive of all the chihuahuas I have worked with! Love frontline. If your pet ever has a reaction make sure to keep some liquid benadryl on hand for them! (its dog safe!)
I am switching to Trifexis (a flea/tick treatment & heart worm preventative in one) because of cost of buying flea treatment & heart worm preventative for 4 dogs with different weights. However, I will continue to keep frontline on hand for my strays, and will always have a love for this product! Never used the cat version, only the dog one* | 2 | positive | [
"I have used frontline for years on many different types, and sizes of dogs.",
"(doberman, german shephard, chihuahua, australian shepherd, lab, pit bull, bassett hound, rat terrier) Other topical brands had mixed reviews and reactions so I have always stuck to frontline.",
"My small sensitive chihuahuas especially seem to do well on frontline with no reaction.",
"I make sure to give dogs a bath prior to their monthly application.",
"I give them another bath half way through the month, and I don't have any problem with this \"washing\" off.",
"I have used on flea & tick infested dogs, and used as a preventative on dogs who did not have any pests on them.",
"This works great even on the most sensitive dogs.",
"Only one case after 10+ years of use have I had to re-apply.",
"I gave this to a 7lb chihuahua with fleas, mom washed the dog hours later, not knowing I had given her frontline earlier!",
"I did have to re-apply.",
"I went to the vet to make sure I could give a 2nd dose on a small chihuahua in such short time, and they okayed it.",
"She had no problems, and is the most sensitive of all the chihuahuas I have worked with!",
"Love frontline.",
"If your pet ever has a reaction make sure to keep some liquid benadryl on hand for them!",
"(its dog safe!",
")\n\nI am switching to Trifexis (a flea/tick treatment & heart worm preventative in one) because of cost of buying flea treatment & heart worm preventative for 4 dogs with different weights.",
"However, I will continue to keep frontline on hand for my strays, and will always have a love for this product!",
"Never used the cat version, only the dog one*"
] |
I mostly burst into flames at the beach, so when my girlfriend suggested we get something like this for the upcoming family beach day, I was relieved and immediately ordered it from Amazon. It arrived on time (as usual), and we did a dry run in the back yard. I figured that was better than breaking up in front of her family at the beach if it were really hard to put together. One pass over the instructions - which are cleverly attached to the case so they can't be lost - and I was on my way. It probably too me ten minutes the first time, but it wasn't that difficult at all. The most difficult part was putting it back in the case. But we all know that these things never go back in there the way they were.
Beach day came a couple of days later and it was time for the true test. I was worried about the stakes not staying in the beach sand, but they performed fine. It was a little tougher to assemble on the beach than it had been in the back yard due to the wind and sand, but I had experience on my side and it was up in no time. We convinced the kids that filling the included sand bags was a game, so that pretty much took care of itself. I did end up spilling one of the sand bags inside of the shade. I wish the drawstrings had some kind of tension closure. I think next time I'll bring Ziploc bags to put inside of the sandbags. Or I could just be more careful. There were other variants of this nearby on the beach, so I got to watch their experience. They mostly went up faster, but seemed to not store as compactly. They also either did not offer as much coverage, or didn't have the complete zip up feature like the Coleman did. I ended up changing inside of this one which was a neat feature. The kids enjoyed getting inside and zipping it up also. Though, out in the sun it got very hot very quickly with the zipper closed.
I can see how the wind could be an issue, .but if you open the back window it seems to pass through. Overall the shade was awesome and just what I needed. Almost everyone ended up in it at some point. One of the kids took a nap in it (when the others weren't using it as a beach fort). My girlfriend took a nap in it, I spent much of my time avoiding spontaneous combustion in there. It did fill up with sand pretty easily, but it's the beach... what are ya gonna do?
I have four improvements that it could use:
1. Two more stakes to hold the front flap down - I'll probably end up buying some because i didn't like that it was just loose.
2. The lack of side windows made it a little isolating when inside the shade
3. The guides for the poles are mesh which makes them hard to thread the poles through (though I can see some benefit of mesh)
4. Sandbags that seal better
All of these are minor, and this is an awesome product. | 2 | positive | [
"I mostly burst into flames at the beach, so when my girlfriend suggested we get something like this for the upcoming family beach day, I was relieved and immediately ordered it from Amazon.",
"It arrived on time (as usual), and we did a dry run in the back yard.",
"I figured that was better than breaking up in front of her family at the beach if it were really hard to put together.",
"One pass over the instructions - which are cleverly attached to the case so they can't be lost - and I was on my way.",
"It probably too me ten minutes the first time, but it wasn't that difficult at all.",
"The most difficult part was putting it back in the case.",
"But we all know that these things never go back in there the way they were.",
"Beach day came a couple of days later and it was time for the true test.",
"I was worried about the stakes not staying in the beach sand, but they performed fine.",
"It was a little tougher to assemble on the beach than it had been in the back yard due to the wind and sand, but I had experience on my side and it was up in no time.",
"We convinced the kids that filling the included sand bags was a game, so that pretty much took care of itself.",
"I did end up spilling one of the sand bags inside of the shade.",
"I wish the drawstrings had some kind of tension closure.",
"I think next time I'll bring Ziploc bags to put inside of the sandbags.",
"Or I could just be more careful.",
"There were other variants of this nearby on the beach, so I got to watch their experience.",
"They mostly went up faster, but seemed to not store as compactly.",
"They also either did not offer as much coverage, or didn't have the complete zip up feature like the Coleman did.",
"I ended up changing inside of this one which was a neat feature.",
"The kids enjoyed getting inside and zipping it up also.",
"Though, out in the sun it got very hot very quickly with the zipper closed.",
"I can see how the wind could be an issue,.",
"but if you open the back window it seems to pass through.",
"Overall the shade was awesome and just what I needed.",
"Almost everyone ended up in it at some point.",
"One of the kids took a nap in it (when the others weren't using it as a beach fort).",
"My girlfriend took a nap in it, I spent much of my time avoiding spontaneous combustion in there.",
"It did fill up with sand pretty easily, but it's the beach...",
"what are ya gonna do?",
"I have four improvements that it could use:\n1.",
"Two more stakes to hold the front flap down - I'll probably end up buying some because i didn't like that it was just loose.",
"2.",
"The lack of side windows made it a little isolating when inside the shade\n3.",
"The guides for the poles are mesh which makes them hard to thread the poles through (though I can see some benefit of mesh)\n4.",
"Sandbags that seal better\n\nAll of these are minor, and this is an awesome product."
] |
If you want an excellent bluetooth headset for calls this one is terrific. After trying one for my wife I went and bought 4 more for myself and 3 kids. What I love is that it is hard to tell that you are on a bluetooth headset. I have asked everyone I call how it sounds and usually they say "I can't believe it is a bluetooth". I also like the way the mic extends. It picks up your voice easily and it is comfortable. Comes with several sizes of ear plug attachments that makes it easy to find one that fits your ear. I use mine with an LG Versa cell. I have downloaded music and listening on my cell it sounds OK but it is not as good as a wired headset or earphones. With the terrific price on Amazon and free shipping I am extremely happy with this buy. | 2 | positive | [
"If you want an excellent bluetooth headset for calls this one is terrific.",
"After trying one for my wife I went and bought 4 more for myself and 3 kids.",
"What I love is that it is hard to tell that you are on a bluetooth headset.",
"I have asked everyone I call how it sounds and usually they say \"I can't believe it is a bluetooth\".",
"I also like the way the mic extends.",
"It picks up your voice easily and it is comfortable.",
"Comes with several sizes of ear plug attachments that makes it easy to find one that fits your ear.",
"I use mine with an LG Versa cell.",
"I have downloaded music and listening on my cell it sounds OK but it is not as good as a wired headset or earphones.",
"With the terrific price on Amazon and free shipping I am extremely happy with this buy."
] |
My friend gave me the following recipe. You can use shrimp or chicken. In a flat baking pan lay raw shrimp or pounded raw chicken cutlets (as many as you want). Melt 1/2 stick of unsalted butter for say 4 cutlets or a pound of shrimp. Add more butter if you need it. Drizzle the butter on and then shake the packet (more or less depending on how much you're cooking) all over the chicken or shrimp. Bake at 350 til done. Shrimp won't take long and the average cutlet takes 30-35 minutes. Delicious over rice. Easy peasy. | 2 | positive | [
"My friend gave me the following recipe.",
"You can use shrimp or chicken.",
"In a flat baking pan lay raw shrimp or pounded raw chicken cutlets (as many as you want).",
"Melt 1/2 stick of unsalted butter for say 4 cutlets or a pound of shrimp.",
"Add more butter if you need it.",
"Drizzle the butter on and then shake the packet (more or less depending on how much you're cooking) all over the chicken or shrimp.",
"Bake at 350 til done.",
"Shrimp won't take long and the average cutlet takes 30-35 minutes.",
"Delicious over rice.",
"Easy peasy."
] |
Hard to say much that hasn't already been said. I too really enjoyed this game. It takes off where the first one left off with a couple of quick enhancements for game-play (rolling up over things) and a slightly different story. The gist of this game is simple - the tiny Prince has a ball and must roll up things to make it bigger so they may be turned into stars, satellites, constellations, etc.
What I love about this and the first Katamary Damacy was that you can put the game in, relax, and just play. After learning how to work the controls and grasping the logic of it, you end up (or at least I did) playing the game for hours. No complications, no heavy plots - just an easy, nice, light game with bits of off humor and several challenges, whether you try to make the katamari (the ball) as big as you can in as little time, trying to find that one object that's been eluding you for ages, or trying to beat your last time on the race track. The sequel does have a few differences in that there are a few challenges or *restrictions* to different levels, such as making the katamari as big as possible by using as few objects as possible, or the challenge of rolling a katamari underwater among several other things. But the general feel of the game remains unchanged and the "King" is... the King.
I recommend this game. It's fun for people of all ages. Admittedly there is some content on there that is adult oriented... and I still say that deep down this game is a stoners delight (anyone see the way they manipulated the **Hollywood** sign in the later stages?) but in general it's just great and not particularly violent. I'd shy away from the game if you're looking for a meaty plot or state-of-the-art graphics and game-play. But for someone that just wants to turn on their system, and disappear into hours of mindless yet oddly addictive challenges, by all means pick this up.
**The music on these games was always a plus too - in Japan they actually have soundtracks! But... an obscure fact, the music played in the 'items collected' menu is I believe a song called "Giraffe in Green" by Jun Miyaki.. at least Jun Miyaki did a rendition of it a few years ago (2002). You can hear it on a compilation titled 'Post Modern Bossa" - it's actually quite beautiful, but slower than this one. | 2 | positive | [
"Hard to say much that hasn't already been said.",
"I too really enjoyed this game.",
"It takes off where the first one left off with a couple of quick enhancements for game-play (rolling up over things) and a slightly different story.",
"The gist of this game is simple - the tiny Prince has a ball and must roll up things to make it bigger so they may be turned into stars, satellites, constellations, etc.",
"What I love about this and the first Katamary Damacy was that you can put the game in, relax, and just play.",
"After learning how to work the controls and grasping the logic of it, you end up (or at least I did) playing the game for hours.",
"No complications, no heavy plots - just an easy, nice, light game with bits of off humor and several challenges, whether you try to make the katamari (the ball) as big as you can in as little time, trying to find that one object that's been eluding you for ages, or trying to beat your last time on the race track.",
"The sequel does have a few differences in that there are a few challenges or *restrictions* to different levels, such as making the katamari as big as possible by using as few objects as possible, or the challenge of rolling a katamari underwater among several other things.",
"But the general feel of the game remains unchanged and the \"King\" is...",
"the King.",
"I recommend this game.",
"It's fun for people of all ages.",
"Admittedly there is some content on there that is adult oriented...",
"and I still say that deep down this game is a stoners delight (anyone see the way they manipulated the **Hollywood** sign in the later stages?",
") but in general it's just great and not particularly violent.",
"I'd shy away from the game if you're looking for a meaty plot or state-of-the-art graphics and game-play.",
"But for someone that just wants to turn on their system, and disappear into hours of mindless yet oddly addictive challenges, by all means pick this up.",
"**The music on these games was always a plus too - in Japan they actually have soundtracks!",
"But...",
"an obscure fact, the music played in the 'items collected' menu is I believe a song called \"Giraffe in Green\" by Jun Miyaki..",
"at least Jun Miyaki did a rendition of it a few years ago (2002).",
"You can hear it on a compilation titled 'Post Modern Bossa\" - it's actually quite beautiful, but slower than this one."
] |
I don't know what Vangelis could possibly say in words that he hasn't said in music in this album. For a reputed recluse, this compilitation is very revealing, it's his statement to us, "Here I am". I don't think it coincidental that he begins with 'To the unknown man' and after he has taken us on a musical exploration of his life, he sends us on our way with a casual 'So long ago, so clear'.
In 'Portraits' the recordings are not organised chronologically. It's more like a developmental process beginning with his early work in sythesizers and electronic orchestration (see 'Pulstar' and 'Alpha'). There are selections hinting at personal growth also such as the childlike sounds of 'Italian Song' and the innocence of 'La Petite Fille De La Mer'. Collaborative works with Jon Anderson, who could be called the voice of Vangelis come next, and then we are treated to the grand and epic orchestral pieces. Tracks such as 'I'll find my way home' and 'State of Independence' no longer hint at personal development, they speak directly to self discovery, spiritual quests and growth. These themes are also woven into 'Conquest of Paradise' and 'Chariots of Fire' and tell me that 'Hymn' and 'Antarctica' don't make you contemplative.
I agree with the other reviewers who say that it is awkward to play individual songs out of sequence because of the bridging technique, but I think it's deliberate. To me the real enjoyment of this collection comes from listening to it in one sitting. Let Vangelis tell the story of his life in music without interruption. It's a beatiful story. | 2 | positive | [
"I don't know what Vangelis could possibly say in words that he hasn't said in music in this album.",
"For a reputed recluse, this compilitation is very revealing, it's his statement to us, \"Here I am\".",
"I don't think it coincidental that he begins with 'To the unknown man' and after he has taken us on a musical exploration of his life, he sends us on our way with a casual 'So long ago, so clear'.",
"In 'Portraits' the recordings are not organised chronologically.",
"It's more like a developmental process beginning with his early work in sythesizers and electronic orchestration (see 'Pulstar' and 'Alpha').",
"There are selections hinting at personal growth also such as the childlike sounds of 'Italian Song' and the innocence of 'La Petite Fille De La Mer'.",
"Collaborative works with Jon Anderson, who could be called the voice of Vangelis come next, and then we are treated to the grand and epic orchestral pieces.",
"Tracks such as 'I'll find my way home' and 'State of Independence' no longer hint at personal development, they speak directly to self discovery, spiritual quests and growth.",
"These themes are also woven into 'Conquest of Paradise' and 'Chariots of Fire' and tell me that 'Hymn' and 'Antarctica' don't make you contemplative.",
"I agree with the other reviewers who say that it is awkward to play individual songs out of sequence because of the bridging technique, but I think it's deliberate.",
"To me the real enjoyment of this collection comes from listening to it in one sitting.",
"Let Vangelis tell the story of his life in music without interruption.",
"It's a beatiful story."
] |
I have always wanted a KitchenAid stand mixer and this year I finally to get myself one for Christmas because I bake a lot of Christmas cookies. The unit is beautiful and heavy duty. I washed the SS bowl well before I used it but I still got a black film on the first batch of cookie dough I made in the mixer. You cannot see the black film in the new bowl so it must be imbedded in the surface of the bowl which has a slight grain to it. The raw dough acts like a sponge to pull the black film off the surface of the bowl. I washed it again and had no problems after that.
I have only used the mixer a hand full of times and it functions as expected. But I was surprised at how little space there is between the beater and the side of the bowl making it awkward to add new ingredients. I did use the pour shield that came with the mixer, but it does not fit tight on the bowl and it was also a bit awkward to use.
In my opinion, the mixer is best for mixing stiff doughs saving the operator from strenuous stirring or mixing. I think it will be great for mixing bread dough. But for everyday small mixing jobs, I find it is more convenient to use my portable hand mixer. In addition, when baking some of the Italian cookies, sometimes I will use the "old time" method of making a well of flour (and dry ingredients) on a board and adding the wet ingredients into the well. Then you literally mix all the ingredients by hand. This "hands on" method really gives you feel for the dough (too wet or dry) you don't get when used an electric mixer. There is something very rewarding and pleasing about really getting your hands on the dough with this method.
So in my opinion, electric mixers have their place, but there is something magical and satisfying about going back to the old fashion way of baking that gives you a "feel" for the dough and the love is transmitted into the dough with your hands.
The artisan mixer is beautiful and functional, but in my kitchen it will not be the only tool I use for mixing. | 2 | positive | [
"I have always wanted a KitchenAid stand mixer and this year I finally to get myself one for Christmas because I bake a lot of Christmas cookies.",
"The unit is beautiful and heavy duty.",
"I washed the SS bowl well before I used it but I still got a black film on the first batch of cookie dough I made in the mixer.",
"You cannot see the black film in the new bowl so it must be imbedded in the surface of the bowl which has a slight grain to it.",
"The raw dough acts like a sponge to pull the black film off the surface of the bowl.",
"I washed it again and had no problems after that.",
"I have only used the mixer a hand full of times and it functions as expected.",
"But I was surprised at how little space there is between the beater and the side of the bowl making it awkward to add new ingredients.",
"I did use the pour shield that came with the mixer, but it does not fit tight on the bowl and it was also a bit awkward to use.",
"In my opinion, the mixer is best for mixing stiff doughs saving the operator from strenuous stirring or mixing.",
"I think it will be great for mixing bread dough.",
"But for everyday small mixing jobs, I find it is more convenient to use my portable hand mixer.",
"In addition, when baking some of the Italian cookies, sometimes I will use the \"old time\" method of making a well of flour (and dry ingredients) on a board and adding the wet ingredients into the well.",
"Then you literally mix all the ingredients by hand.",
"This \"hands on\" method really gives you feel for the dough (too wet or dry) you don't get when used an electric mixer.",
"There is something very rewarding and pleasing about really getting your hands on the dough with this method.",
"So in my opinion, electric mixers have their place, but there is something magical and satisfying about going back to the old fashion way of baking that gives you a \"feel\" for the dough and the love is transmitted into the dough with your hands.",
"The artisan mixer is beautiful and functional, but in my kitchen it will not be the only tool I use for mixing."
] |
I am a big multiplayer person. Every time I go to a used game store i always look for a game that either I've heard of or has multiplayer. Once I found on YouTube that this game had 4-player co-op (obviously locally because this isn't a PC or Xbox 360), I had to pick this game up. Once I found this for a decent price of 5 bucks, I immediately clicked buy, and boy am I glad I did. Now I have never tried out 4-player co-op completely, but I have actually plugged in 4 controllers and it looks amazing. Now I know some people have said never to try this because of "Blurred graphics and limited view," but I don't care! All I care about in a game is gameplay, sound, controls, multiplayer, and music. The controls I had to get used to, but it wasn't horrible or impossible. The sound effects are awesome and the music is also better than the PC version. The game does have difficult puzzles but they are not impossible and the enemies are really awesome. I have played co-op and deathmatch with 2 players and I can say that the game has amazing multiplayer. If you are a really big multiplayer fan and would like to play a game that has co-op and deathmatch and also is good by yourself, I recommend buying this game. | 2 | positive | [
"I am a big multiplayer person.",
"Every time I go to a used game store i always look for a game that either I've heard of or has multiplayer.",
"Once I found on YouTube that this game had 4-player co-op (obviously locally because this isn't a PC or Xbox 360), I had to pick this game up.",
"Once I found this for a decent price of 5 bucks, I immediately clicked buy, and boy am I glad I did.",
"Now I have never tried out 4-player co-op completely, but I have actually plugged in 4 controllers and it looks amazing.",
"Now I know some people have said never to try this because of \"Blurred graphics and limited view,\" but I don't care!",
"All I care about in a game is gameplay, sound, controls, multiplayer, and music.",
"The controls I had to get used to, but it wasn't horrible or impossible.",
"The sound effects are awesome and the music is also better than the PC version.",
"The game does have difficult puzzles but they are not impossible and the enemies are really awesome.",
"I have played co-op and deathmatch with 2 players and I can say that the game has amazing multiplayer.",
"If you are a really big multiplayer fan and would like to play a game that has co-op and deathmatch and also is good by yourself, I recommend buying this game."
] |
This series is so amazingly captivating, I'm glad I never had the time to see it before. For one thing, I'd never have been able to get through nursing school taking time to watch TV, and for another I'd never have lived through waiting for the next episode. I'm way too much of an immediate needs gratification sort of person!!
The setting is a period to which I have become more and more attracted, the two decades between World War I and World War II. Times are changing, but not necessarily for the better, or at least not for everyone. The old guard is losing its hold over society, but those newly rising to power are not necessarily better than those who wielded it before. If anything the old guard, based as it was on a landed aristocracy with a vested interest in England as a property, had reasons to keep things from falling totally apart for the middle and lower classes. Their pride of place came as much from their perceived obligations as from their assets. The rising nouveaux riche are vested in money alone, a portable commodity that can be invested wherever there is profit to be had. Their focus is on who has the most of it; without ties to anything, they take no responsibility for the society that makes their fortunes. Theirs were the ideals upon which our present world and its predicaments are based.
The characters of the series are reflections of the changing times. The Upstairs family sees the pater familias, an aristocratic man of conservative principles, losing ground to the younger members of the family who are going through the emotional ravages of World War I. They question everything and challenge many of the basic principles of social behavior, including the roles of women, political power and who should wield it, and the behavior of society during war. Below stairs, too, there is disruption. The younger generation questions the reasons for the demand for "gratitude" for their position of servitude and see the efforts of the butler to prevent their adopting new ideals as repressive and patronizing. They question the need to ask the family they serve for permission to marry, to hold a war job, to question their additional work load without commensurate compensation.
Upstairs Downstairs is a world in flux, much like our own, and the efforts of the extended family to adjust to it are absolutely mesmerizing. | 2 | positive | [
"This series is so amazingly captivating, I'm glad I never had the time to see it before.",
"For one thing, I'd never have been able to get through nursing school taking time to watch TV, and for another I'd never have lived through waiting for the next episode.",
"I'm way too much of an immediate needs gratification sort of person!!",
"The setting is a period to which I have become more and more attracted, the two decades between World War I and World War II.",
"Times are changing, but not necessarily for the better, or at least not for everyone.",
"The old guard is losing its hold over society, but those newly rising to power are not necessarily better than those who wielded it before.",
"If anything the old guard, based as it was on a landed aristocracy with a vested interest in England as a property, had reasons to keep things from falling totally apart for the middle and lower classes.",
"Their pride of place came as much from their perceived obligations as from their assets.",
"The rising nouveaux riche are vested in money alone, a portable commodity that can be invested wherever there is profit to be had.",
"Their focus is on who has the most of it; without ties to anything, they take no responsibility for the society that makes their fortunes.",
"Theirs were the ideals upon which our present world and its predicaments are based.",
"The characters of the series are reflections of the changing times.",
"The Upstairs family sees the pater familias, an aristocratic man of conservative principles, losing ground to the younger members of the family who are going through the emotional ravages of World War I.",
"They question everything and challenge many of the basic principles of social behavior, including the roles of women, political power and who should wield it, and the behavior of society during war.",
"Below stairs, too, there is disruption.",
"The younger generation questions the reasons for the demand for \"gratitude\" for their position of servitude and see the efforts of the butler to prevent their adopting new ideals as repressive and patronizing.",
"They question the need to ask the family they serve for permission to marry, to hold a war job, to question their additional work load without commensurate compensation.",
"Upstairs Downstairs is a world in flux, much like our own, and the efforts of the extended family to adjust to it are absolutely mesmerizing."
] |
I received the wireless charger mat for my model 3 and proceeded to inspect the box and contents. The presentation of the box was OK, and maybe it could have been a little bit more special, perhaps with black cardboard with a nice logo. Opening the box reveals the carefully wrapped charging mat and the USB splitter cables with some double-sided tape and instructions. The instructions are clear, indicating that the map must be installed a certain way, and if using the Y cables, noting the Y cables have different thicknesses, one for data and one for power. Using the supplied Y cables, I am able to charge my devices and use the dash cam and USB for data transfer. Although obvious, the instructions do not spell out how to use the provided double-sided tape. The wireless charging pad is made of high-quality plastic with no sharp edges and is properly put together. It seems to match the quality decor of the Tesla Model 3. The only thing I would change would be the quality of the light indicators. I would probably choose to have the lights of solid color white when charging, and then turn solid green when the charging is complete; with red as error. The selection of the color orange for the light seems like it is less fancy than it could be. I connected the cables to the car from the mat and proceeded to place my phone on the mat to make sure that both charging pads worked. They worked well. My phone was properly accepting power and charging at a reasonable rate. In general, I would recommend charging with a wire as it is always going to be much faster, but the convenience of using a wireless charging mat is evident if you are taking a long trip and do not need to hold your phone. The charging mat sat well replacing the rubber mat provided by Tesla and the only negative aspect to this is that the wireless charging mat has to be fixed in place with double-sided tape, which I am not a fan of. I would have liked some other mechanism, such as taking advantage of the four slots that are used by the rubber mat provided by Tesla. After installation, the console opened correctly without any issue and the only thing to note is that you lose the ability of routing cables to charge phones via wire, as you could do before. It would have been nice to keep that feature in case you have a passenger which wants to charge their phone via the wired dock, but I guess we can't have it all. Small note: If Tesla ever implemented Apple carplay, albeit unlikely, this wireless mat may be an issue because most Carplay systems require that the phone be wire-connected to the car to get power and data. In general, this is an excellent product with good design and craftsmanship, and I would recommend it if you are really needing this type of feature which Tesla left out of their premium sedan. On a side note, with apple recently canceling their wireless home charging mat, this move might spell the end of wireless charging for Apple phones in the future; which may limit the market for this wireless charging mat, unless you use Android. | 2 | positive | [
"I received the wireless charger mat for my model 3 and proceeded to inspect the box and contents.",
"The presentation of the box was OK, and maybe it could have been a little bit more special, perhaps with black cardboard with a nice logo.",
"Opening the box reveals the carefully wrapped charging mat and the USB splitter cables with some double-sided tape and instructions.",
"The instructions are clear, indicating that the map must be installed a certain way, and if using the Y cables, noting the Y cables have different thicknesses, one for data and one for power.",
"Using the supplied Y cables, I am able to charge my devices and use the dash cam and USB for data transfer.",
"Although obvious, the instructions do not spell out how to use the provided double-sided tape.",
"The wireless charging pad is made of high-quality plastic with no sharp edges and is properly put together.",
"It seems to match the quality decor of the Tesla Model 3.",
"The only thing I would change would be the quality of the light indicators.",
"I would probably choose to have the lights of solid color white when charging, and then turn solid green when the charging is complete; with red as error.",
"The selection of the color orange for the light seems like it is less fancy than it could be.",
"I connected the cables to the car from the mat and proceeded to place my phone on the mat to make sure that both charging pads worked.",
"They worked well.",
"My phone was properly accepting power and charging at a reasonable rate.",
"In general, I would recommend charging with a wire as it is always going to be much faster, but the convenience of using a wireless charging mat is evident if you are taking a long trip and do not need to hold your phone.",
"The charging mat sat well replacing the rubber mat provided by Tesla and the only negative aspect to this is that the wireless charging mat has to be fixed in place with double-sided tape, which I am not a fan of.",
"I would have liked some other mechanism, such as taking advantage of the four slots that are used by the rubber mat provided by Tesla.",
"After installation, the console opened correctly without any issue and the only thing to note is that you lose the ability of routing cables to charge phones via wire, as you could do before.",
"It would have been nice to keep that feature in case you have a passenger which wants to charge their phone via the wired dock, but I guess we can't have it all.",
"Small note: If Tesla ever implemented Apple carplay, albeit unlikely, this wireless mat may be an issue because most Carplay systems require that the phone be wire-connected to the car to get power and data.",
"In general, this is an excellent product with good design and craftsmanship, and I would recommend it if you are really needing this type of feature which Tesla left out of their premium sedan.",
"On a side note, with apple recently canceling their wireless home charging mat, this move might spell the end of wireless charging for Apple phones in the future; which may limit the market for this wireless charging mat, unless you use Android."
] |
I waited a while and was very hesitant to buy this because of all of the negative reviews about the screen problems. I have a lot of Nook books which I have been reading on the Ipad Mini but I do a lot of my reading at night and the backlight is too harsh for my eyes after working at a computer all day. I finally decided to take the chance and purchased the Nook Glowlight. I've had it for three weeks now and so far so good - though there is a little tiny pin hole on the screen. I had asked the customer service person at BN about the problem and she said it was just a bad batch early on and the problem was fixed. We'll see. I did purchase the extended warranty just in case and figured if the screen does fail I'll just give up and use a clip on light. I like the Nook. I like the size, the feel and the page turn buttons. I really hope this device holds up. It deserves to have a good following - but BN needs to step up and commit to solving whatever is wrong. If their devices are not selling well it's because they are lagging behind in the solutions and they are only hurting themselves. | 2 | positive | [
"I waited a while and was very hesitant to buy this because of all of the negative reviews about the screen problems.",
"I have a lot of Nook books which I have been reading on the Ipad Mini but I do a lot of my reading at night and the backlight is too harsh for my eyes after working at a computer all day.",
"I finally decided to take the chance and purchased the Nook Glowlight.",
"I've had it for three weeks now and so far so good - though there is a little tiny pin hole on the screen.",
"I had asked the customer service person at BN about the problem and she said it was just a bad batch early on and the problem was fixed.",
"We'll see.",
"I did purchase the extended warranty just in case and figured if the screen does fail I'll just give up and use a clip on light.",
"I like the Nook.",
"I like the size, the feel and the page turn buttons.",
"I really hope this device holds up.",
"It deserves to have a good following - but BN needs to step up and commit to solving whatever is wrong.",
"If their devices are not selling well it's because they are lagging behind in the solutions and they are only hurting themselves."
] |
High quality sound -- with comfort. Very impressed.
Comfort will definitely be an issue for some people (as it was with me) but there was a simple fix for me: I simply removed those small black clips which rest on the top of your ears -- these were bizarre, unnecessary additions that (for me) were completely unnecessary and are most likely the source of the discomfort issues expressed by others. When you remove these small clips (which simply pop off with a small amount of force, so you can easily clip them back on if you want) the smooth black plastic band is allowed to rest comfortably on the top of your ears. I discovered this remedy by looking at my other new headphones, the Sennheiser PMX60's -- these are similar in functional design but are without those awful Sony ear clips.
Since I tried out both headphones I'd be remiss to not offer a comparison:
-The Sony MDR-G57's sound is clearly superior than the Sennheiser PMX 60's -- more bass without muddiness, and captures tremendous audio detail at the upper ranges. It's very impressive!
-The Sennheiser's are a bit lighter -- the Sony's appear to be made with more durable plastics (though not too heavy, they stay in place on your head).
-The Sennheisers leak much more sound than the Sony's. Big issue for me.
-The Sony's fit a bit more snug (that's a positive), so that translates into a better "seal" around the ears and thus more bass.
-The slick black styling of the Sennheiser's trumps the Sony's odd mix of white and reflectors. Otherwise I'd give these a 5 star rating.
3/17/2006 11:09 PM - Update: I just posted a review of the competing Sennheiser PMX 200's. The Sennheiser's have a clearer, crisper sound, though a bit weak on bass right out of the box. The PMX 200's leak very little sound, and have decent comfort, and sport a much better looking industrial design. Of these two, I'd give the top prize to the PMX 200's. | 2 | positive | [
"High quality sound -- with comfort.",
"Very impressed.",
"Comfort will definitely be an issue for some people (as it was with me) but there was a simple fix for me: I simply removed those small black clips which rest on the top of your ears -- these were bizarre, unnecessary additions that (for me) were completely unnecessary and are most likely the source of the discomfort issues expressed by others.",
"When you remove these small clips (which simply pop off with a small amount of force, so you can easily clip them back on if you want) the smooth black plastic band is allowed to rest comfortably on the top of your ears.",
"I discovered this remedy by looking at my other new headphones, the Sennheiser PMX60's -- these are similar in functional design but are without those awful Sony ear clips.",
"Since I tried out both headphones I'd be remiss to not offer a comparison:\n-The Sony MDR-G57's sound is clearly superior than the Sennheiser PMX 60's -- more bass without muddiness, and captures tremendous audio detail at the upper ranges.",
"It's very impressive!",
"-The Sennheiser's are a bit lighter -- the Sony's appear to be made with more durable plastics (though not too heavy, they stay in place on your head).",
"-The Sennheisers leak much more sound than the Sony's.",
"Big issue for me.",
"-The Sony's fit a bit more snug (that's a positive), so that translates into a better \"seal\" around the ears and thus more bass.",
"-The slick black styling of the Sennheiser's trumps the Sony's odd mix of white and reflectors.",
"Otherwise I'd give these a 5 star rating.",
"3/17/2006 11:09 PM - Update: I just posted a review of the competing Sennheiser PMX 200's.",
"The Sennheiser's have a clearer, crisper sound, though a bit weak on bass right out of the box.",
"The PMX 200's leak very little sound, and have decent comfort, and sport a much better looking industrial design.",
"Of these two, I'd give the top prize to the PMX 200's."
] |
i enjoy old time hollywood actors like wayne, douglas, meredith and fonda. one of few movies with jill haworth. good shootum up and lots of fringe hollywood stars (even archie bunker). some say this film is over-long. in the context of war, this film is very short. douglas is a love him/hate him charater in this film and does a fine job of it. see his sinister looking face when he stares at haworth just before he is about to ... (can't give away film), yet, douglas can't for the life of him key a microphone when using a two way radio. that's a huge flaw in a film depicting combat reality. if u love war movies, this will do fine but it is not a "private ryan". you will find the special effects wanting. for its time, it does hold up. over- all, this is typical hollywood glossy. | 2 | positive | [
"i enjoy old time hollywood actors like wayne, douglas, meredith and fonda.",
"one of few movies with jill haworth.",
"good shootum up and lots of fringe hollywood stars (even archie bunker).",
"some say this film is over-long.",
"in the context of war, this film is very short.",
"douglas is a love him/hate him charater in this film and does a fine job of it.",
"see his sinister looking face when he stares at haworth just before he is about to...",
"(can't give away film), yet, douglas can't for the life of him key a microphone when using a two way radio.",
"that's a huge flaw in a film depicting combat reality.",
"if u love war movies, this will do fine but it is not a \"private ryan\".",
"you will find the special effects wanting.",
"for its time, it does hold up.",
"over- all, this is typical hollywood glossy."
] |
My daughter, 5 years old, received this game as a Christmas gift. I also have a 2.5 year old. The girls love to play this game! My 5 year old loves to help her little sister find the letters and figure out how to sstttrrreeetttccchhh to reach all the spots.
At the end of the game, the "winner" is who ever had the letter found on the super secret letter card. We have quite competitive children so we have made this game one that does not have a winner, but the person with the "lucky letter." Who ever had the "lucky letter" gets to choose if they are the caller or the stretcher on the next round.
If my 5yo has a friend over, they often ask to play this game. After a round of instruction, they can play this game with parent support but not necessarily parent involvement. Sometimes it takes a little parent support to figure out how to reach all the letters but they are able to spin the "tornado," call out the letters and help each other stretch to reach. It's fun to watch them play! | 2 | positive | [
"My daughter, 5 years old, received this game as a Christmas gift.",
"I also have a 2.",
"5 year old.",
"The girls love to play this game!",
"My 5 year old loves to help her little sister find the letters and figure out how to sstttrrreeetttccchhh to reach all the spots.",
"At the end of the game, the \"winner\" is who ever had the letter found on the super secret letter card.",
"We have quite competitive children so we have made this game one that does not have a winner, but the person with the \"lucky letter.",
"\" Who ever had the \"lucky letter\" gets to choose if they are the caller or the stretcher on the next round.",
"If my 5yo has a friend over, they often ask to play this game.",
"After a round of instruction, they can play this game with parent support but not necessarily parent involvement.",
"Sometimes it takes a little parent support to figure out how to reach all the letters but they are able to spin the \"tornado,\" call out the letters and help each other stretch to reach.",
"It's fun to watch them play!"
] |
I have used the Dunlop Straploks ever since I bought a Tobias bass back in the 1990's, which came with the strap-button version. I first used the flush-mount version was when they came on a Warwick Streamer Stage I bass. I really liked the look, and I changed all my instruments over to the flush-mount version. I have replaced the strap portion of the Straplok on a few on the instruments, but I have yet to change the recessed piece on any instrument, some over 20 years old!
I will agree with some comments I found that caution to take care when tightening the screws. The Phillips slot can easily strip if you do not use the proper pitched screwdriver, and once it is stripped it is quite a job getting the screw out of the instrument. I strongly recommend drilling a pilot hole at least as long as the mounting screw to make assembly easier, and be very careful to keep strong pressure on the screw if you are using a screw gun.
These can be mounted with the 'lip' sitting outside the instrument or completely flush. In the first case, the depth of the recess hole is less critical as long as it is at least as deep as the fitment is long. If you are completely flush-mounting, drill a little at a time and use the fitment to check the depth. Having the fitment recessed past the edge of the instrument body does not allow the locks to engage properly. Also, remember to drill a hole that is as wide at the top lip, not the fitment body width, if you are completely flush mounting. Lastly, it is better to drill a slightly undersize hole rather than a slightly oversize hole. You can use a small hammer and flat piece of wood positioned on top of the fitment to tap the piece in for a very clean look. If you cannot start it with a strong push from your thumb the hole is too small and should be enlarged. I use a drill-bit gauge to drop the fitment through to determine the proper drill size in the first place because enlarging the hole just a little bit is not easy once an undersized hole is drilled. The fitments sometimes vary in diameter a few thousandths of an inch, so check each one before installation.
Lastly, you may need to enlarge your strap's mounting hole to get the locks to fit. I use a cheap leather punch to 'nip' the hole evenly until the lock fits.
This may seem like a lot of work, but I can say I have never dropped an instrument after I started using this product. I will always install them in every instrument I buy. I just hope they don't stop making them! | 2 | positive | [
"I have used the Dunlop Straploks ever since I bought a Tobias bass back in the 1990's, which came with the strap-button version.",
"I first used the flush-mount version was when they came on a Warwick Streamer Stage I bass.",
"I really liked the look, and I changed all my instruments over to the flush-mount version.",
"I have replaced the strap portion of the Straplok on a few on the instruments, but I have yet to change the recessed piece on any instrument, some over 20 years old!",
"I will agree with some comments I found that caution to take care when tightening the screws.",
"The Phillips slot can easily strip if you do not use the proper pitched screwdriver, and once it is stripped it is quite a job getting the screw out of the instrument.",
"I strongly recommend drilling a pilot hole at least as long as the mounting screw to make assembly easier, and be very careful to keep strong pressure on the screw if you are using a screw gun.",
"These can be mounted with the 'lip' sitting outside the instrument or completely flush.",
"In the first case, the depth of the recess hole is less critical as long as it is at least as deep as the fitment is long.",
"If you are completely flush-mounting, drill a little at a time and use the fitment to check the depth.",
"Having the fitment recessed past the edge of the instrument body does not allow the locks to engage properly.",
"Also, remember to drill a hole that is as wide at the top lip, not the fitment body width, if you are completely flush mounting.",
"Lastly, it is better to drill a slightly undersize hole rather than a slightly oversize hole.",
"You can use a small hammer and flat piece of wood positioned on top of the fitment to tap the piece in for a very clean look.",
"If you cannot start it with a strong push from your thumb the hole is too small and should be enlarged.",
"I use a drill-bit gauge to drop the fitment through to determine the proper drill size in the first place because enlarging the hole just a little bit is not easy once an undersized hole is drilled.",
"The fitments sometimes vary in diameter a few thousandths of an inch, so check each one before installation.",
"Lastly, you may need to enlarge your strap's mounting hole to get the locks to fit.",
"I use a cheap leather punch to 'nip' the hole evenly until the lock fits.",
"This may seem like a lot of work, but I can say I have never dropped an instrument after I started using this product.",
"I will always install them in every instrument I buy.",
"I just hope they don't stop making them!"
] |
I've used this product for close to a year and have not been disappointed by how well it protects the weapons from moisture, but also from dings, dents, scratches, cracks and scares. The sock are really well made, thick, yet stretch out to accommodate any size and or type of weapon, including scopes, picatinny rails and or red dot sights as well. This item proves further uses for silicone other than just for (. )( .)'s....lol. Btw, we could've used this in the Marine Corps. years agao, especially in the Infantry units that I was in(B-1/7 &F-2/7 Wpns Plt, 90-94, Gulf War-I & Somalia). It would have saved us alot of CLP and damage to our weapons, i.e. sctatches, cracked handguards & blueing damage. | 2 | positive | [
"I've used this product for close to a year and have not been disappointed by how well it protects the weapons from moisture, but also from dings, dents, scratches, cracks and scares.",
"The sock are really well made, thick, yet stretch out to accommodate any size and or type of weapon, including scopes, picatinny rails and or red dot sights as well.",
"This item proves further uses for silicone other than just for (.",
")(.",
")'s....",
"lol.",
"Btw, we could've used this in the Marine Corps.",
"years agao, especially in the Infantry units that I was in(B-1/7 &F-2/7 Wpns Plt, 90-94, Gulf War-I & Somalia).",
"It would have saved us alot of CLP and damage to our weapons, i.",
"e. sctatches, cracked handguards & blueing damage."
] |
I've tried, like so many others, MANY camera bags. I've had the Lowepro Compact AW, the Lowepro Magnum AW, the Lowepro MiniTrekker, and the Lowepro Photo Trekker AW II just to name some of the many I've tried. But for an easy way to carry the camera and extra lens and/or flash while hiking around in Europe, the zoo, a park etc. this bag just cannot be beat!
The construction is very good and it is ideally sized to carry a small amount of equipment for a daily shoot. And it does so comfortably and inobtrusively.
The backpack solutions, for me, were mostly overkill, were uncomfortable to boot, and it was difficult to access my equipment. The shoulder bags are great to transport your gear, but very uncomfortable for carrying it around on a day trek. I believe in travelling light and keeping is simple and this bag allows you to do both.
Incidentally, the bag can be slung comfortably across your shoulder in addition to strapping it on your waist. While on your waist it is a simple matter to loosten the belt slightly and bring the gear arount to the front of you where you can easily remove it.
Do remember that the bag IS limited in size and it will force you to carefully consider your gear choices for the day. The advantages of "travelling light" far outweigh the disadvantages of not having all of your equipment at the tip of your fingers.
Honestly, I have not found a better solution for day treks and would, at this point, only consider other lumbar bags when considering an alternative for daily treks. Everyone I've recommended this bag to has been pleased. | 2 | positive | [
"I've tried, like so many others, MANY camera bags.",
"I've had the Lowepro Compact AW, the Lowepro Magnum AW, the Lowepro MiniTrekker, and the Lowepro Photo Trekker AW II just to name some of the many I've tried.",
"But for an easy way to carry the camera and extra lens and/or flash while hiking around in Europe, the zoo, a park etc.",
"this bag just cannot be beat!",
"The construction is very good and it is ideally sized to carry a small amount of equipment for a daily shoot.",
"And it does so comfortably and inobtrusively.",
"The backpack solutions, for me, were mostly overkill, were uncomfortable to boot, and it was difficult to access my equipment.",
"The shoulder bags are great to transport your gear, but very uncomfortable for carrying it around on a day trek.",
"I believe in travelling light and keeping is simple and this bag allows you to do both.",
"Incidentally, the bag can be slung comfortably across your shoulder in addition to strapping it on your waist.",
"While on your waist it is a simple matter to loosten the belt slightly and bring the gear arount to the front of you where you can easily remove it.",
"Do remember that the bag IS limited in size and it will force you to carefully consider your gear choices for the day.",
"The advantages of \"travelling light\" far outweigh the disadvantages of not having all of your equipment at the tip of your fingers.",
"Honestly, I have not found a better solution for day treks and would, at this point, only consider other lumbar bags when considering an alternative for daily treks.",
"Everyone I've recommended this bag to has been pleased."
] |
Bought this blade to cut lots of 12 ga. sheet metal. Strips, squares, etc. Put it in a Rigid worm drive circular saw. Of course you have to watch the direction of rotation when mounting the blade. Worked fine, clean cuts and after cutting many feet of metal, still cuts fine. Remember that this is a blade for thin metal, so you have to set the blade depth way down so that the blade teeth are cutting up into thin metal. If you set it so that the blade is only sticking out the bottom of the metal a little bit, the blade is actually cutting a long trough through the steel. It will take a lot more power and dull the blade quicker. I think that may be what has happened to some of the reviewers who had problems. Cuts steel like butter. Now we will see how long it lasts, but I suspect it will be quite a while. When it needs sharpening, the Diablo web site lists approved sharpening centers. | 2 | positive | [
"Bought this blade to cut lots of 12 ga.",
"sheet metal.",
"Strips, squares, etc.",
"Put it in a Rigid worm drive circular saw.",
"Of course you have to watch the direction of rotation when mounting the blade.",
"Worked fine, clean cuts and after cutting many feet of metal, still cuts fine.",
"Remember that this is a blade for thin metal, so you have to set the blade depth way down so that the blade teeth are cutting up into thin metal.",
"If you set it so that the blade is only sticking out the bottom of the metal a little bit, the blade is actually cutting a long trough through the steel.",
"It will take a lot more power and dull the blade quicker.",
"I think that may be what has happened to some of the reviewers who had problems.",
"Cuts steel like butter.",
"Now we will see how long it lasts, but I suspect it will be quite a while.",
"When it needs sharpening, the Diablo web site lists approved sharpening centers."
] |
This is one rental that actually turned into a purchase. I'm usually not a fan of hack and slash type games, but this one has turned out to be quite entertaining.
Like other games in this genre, Dark Alliance is a third person perspective game (kinda 2.5D) in which you venture through cellars, mines, dungeons and even outdoor environments like mountain and villages. Levels typically end with a "boss" of varying difficulty and combat style. Gameplay is mixed with first person cut scenes in which you converse with other characters in a multi-choice format.
Interestingly, you can only save your game at certain points. At first this seems annoying, but there are enough save points around the game so it isn't too bad. Another big plus is that saving is really quick. If you've played games like Morrowind, where saving and loading are good opportunites to grab a drink, then you're in for a treat. Unfortunately you can only save about 25 games at once and there is no way to describe the saved game. A bit annoying, but oh well.
I'm not too much of a D&D fan, so I can't comment on how true this game is to the ruleset. However, as you move through the game you'll acquire better goods and have to manage your inventory and make decisions about how to develop your powers as you advance levels. Who knows if these mechanisms are authentic enough, but they are fun.. :)
Finally, one of the best aspects of the game (and why I ended up purchasing it) is the two player option. This put two players on the screen at the same time, working together to battle through the game. I find this style of multiplayer play to be much more enjoyable than split screen, and this is one of the few games that offers it. | 2 | positive | [
"This is one rental that actually turned into a purchase.",
"I'm usually not a fan of hack and slash type games, but this one has turned out to be quite entertaining.",
"Like other games in this genre, Dark Alliance is a third person perspective game (kinda 2.",
"5D) in which you venture through cellars, mines, dungeons and even outdoor environments like mountain and villages.",
"Levels typically end with a \"boss\" of varying difficulty and combat style.",
"Gameplay is mixed with first person cut scenes in which you converse with other characters in a multi-choice format.",
"Interestingly, you can only save your game at certain points.",
"At first this seems annoying, but there are enough save points around the game so it isn't too bad.",
"Another big plus is that saving is really quick.",
"If you've played games like Morrowind, where saving and loading are good opportunites to grab a drink, then you're in for a treat.",
"Unfortunately you can only save about 25 games at once and there is no way to describe the saved game.",
"A bit annoying, but oh well.",
"I'm not too much of a D&D fan, so I can't comment on how true this game is to the ruleset.",
"However, as you move through the game you'll acquire better goods and have to manage your inventory and make decisions about how to develop your powers as you advance levels.",
"Who knows if these mechanisms are authentic enough, but they are fun..",
":)\nFinally, one of the best aspects of the game (and why I ended up purchasing it) is the two player option.",
"This put two players on the screen at the same time, working together to battle through the game.",
"I find this style of multiplayer play to be much more enjoyable than split screen, and this is one of the few games that offers it."
] |
If you lost everything but your life, what would it take to give meaning to your existence...or break you completely? Thomas Covenant finds himself transported to a world of heart-breaking beauty and strangeness, where his hurts are eased and the white gold ring which is all that remains of his marriage holds the magic to save the world from Lord Foul's Bane. Beauty and terror; the promise of love and acceptance and a place of honor in a world more vivid and real than Earth. It can't be real. It's too good to be true. Nerves don't regenerate, as Covenant knows only too well: he is a leper, and his wife has taken their son and fled from him, just as everyone he meets recoils in horror. His last memory is of a car running him down, and he suspects that his wretched body is dying while his mind wanders this fantasy world. As images of wonder and horror assault his mind, he fights to free himself from the fantasy...or is it reality? Do you have a moral responsibility to a figment of your mind? Is he a fool, a criminal, or a good man pushed beyond the breaking point? Heroic fantasy has never been the same since Donaldson began holding up his mirror to the genre. | 2 | positive | [
"If you lost everything but your life, what would it take to give meaning to your existence...",
"or break you completely?",
"Thomas Covenant finds himself transported to a world of heart-breaking beauty and strangeness, where his hurts are eased and the white gold ring which is all that remains of his marriage holds the magic to save the world from Lord Foul's Bane.",
"Beauty and terror; the promise of love and acceptance and a place of honor in a world more vivid and real than Earth.",
"It can't be real.",
"It's too good to be true.",
"Nerves don't regenerate, as Covenant knows only too well: he is a leper, and his wife has taken their son and fled from him, just as everyone he meets recoils in horror.",
"His last memory is of a car running him down, and he suspects that his wretched body is dying while his mind wanders this fantasy world.",
"As images of wonder and horror assault his mind, he fights to free himself from the fantasy...",
"or is it reality?",
"Do you have a moral responsibility to a figment of your mind?",
"Is he a fool, a criminal, or a good man pushed beyond the breaking point?",
"Heroic fantasy has never been the same since Donaldson began holding up his mirror to the genre."
] |
Posted on Romancing the Books blog
Reviewed by Shyla
Review Copy from the Publisher
This book was brilliant. I was intrigued from the moment I read the title. I mean, Love with a Chance of Zombies sends your brain to all sorts of places. Then I read the blurb, and I was hooked. I'm happy to say Ms. Dryden delivered. The details, plot, and characterization were done so well I felt like I was watching a Sci-fi Movie in my head. Here's the skinny, a zombie apocalypse has decimated the earth and the few of us left are gathered together in compounds, trying to outlast, and find a cure.
Now that the scene is set I can talk about the crack shot, smart mouthed, harder than nails heroine, Lena. She was amazing! Any girl who uses a rifle painted pink with flowers to pick of zombies is a winner in my book. Raised by survivalist , but shunned for her big brains he was pretty much tailor made for surviving the zombie hordes. This refreshing gal made the dark times she lived in light hearted, and was the perfect candidate for a top secret mission.
Whiz kid turned savior scientist, Lucas Nye, is closing in on the cure to the zombie virus when he's attacked in an ambush and bitten. Now he's got two to six weeks to figure things out before he' s put down by his guardian, Lena. More than Bunsen burners hear up in the lab, and faster than you can say boo Lena and Luke are engaged in some steamy extracurricular activities.
Don't be off put by the mention of zombie in the title. This sexy, smart, action packed story would please any romance reader. | 2 | positive | [
"Posted on Romancing the Books blog\nReviewed by Shyla\nReview Copy from the Publisher\n\nThis book was brilliant.",
"I was intrigued from the moment I read the title.",
"I mean, Love with a Chance of Zombies sends your brain to all sorts of places.",
"Then I read the blurb, and I was hooked.",
"I'm happy to say Ms.",
"Dryden delivered.",
"The details, plot, and characterization were done so well I felt like I was watching a Sci-fi Movie in my head.",
"Here's the skinny, a zombie apocalypse has decimated the earth and the few of us left are gathered together in compounds, trying to outlast, and find a cure.",
"Now that the scene is set I can talk about the crack shot, smart mouthed, harder than nails heroine, Lena.",
"She was amazing!",
"Any girl who uses a rifle painted pink with flowers to pick of zombies is a winner in my book.",
"Raised by survivalist , but shunned for her big brains he was pretty much tailor made for surviving the zombie hordes.",
"This refreshing gal made the dark times she lived in light hearted, and was the perfect candidate for a top secret mission.",
"Whiz kid turned savior scientist, Lucas Nye, is closing in on the cure to the zombie virus when he's attacked in an ambush and bitten.",
"Now he's got two to six weeks to figure things out before he' s put down by his guardian, Lena.",
"More than Bunsen burners hear up in the lab, and faster than you can say boo Lena and Luke are engaged in some steamy extracurricular activities.",
"Don't be off put by the mention of zombie in the title.",
"This sexy, smart, action packed story would please any romance reader."
] |
Great fun and inspirational classic. as always the book is far greater than the movie. read it and you'll be a fan, too. CS Lewis is a favorite author in our family. As our kids were growing up, we would sit together after dinner and read a chapter or two a night from the Narnia series. This is the first book that was written by Lewis for this series, although it is not the first book chronologically. I can remember reading this when I was in high school and thinking what a great book it is. And the allegory in the book is fantastic. Works well for a children's story or the underlying meaning behind it. Would highly recommend this book for family -- children and adults will both love it. | 2 | positive | [
"Great fun and inspirational classic.",
"as always the book is far greater than the movie.",
"read it and you'll be a fan, too.",
"CS Lewis is a favorite author in our family.",
"As our kids were growing up, we would sit together after dinner and read a chapter or two a night from the Narnia series.",
"This is the first book that was written by Lewis for this series, although it is not the first book chronologically.",
"I can remember reading this when I was in high school and thinking what a great book it is.",
"And the allegory in the book is fantastic.",
"Works well for a children's story or the underlying meaning behind it.",
"Would highly recommend this book for family -- children and adults will both love it."
] |
The search for the best chocolate chip cookie recipe is over
Victoria Harris along with celebrity baker Warren Brown and lifelong cook Anna Leis founded DC Taste Buds a company specializing in sweet and savory foods laced with cannabis. Harris âs dream chocolate chip cookie is âsoft with chocolate chips that are melted throughout â and it often includes cannabis butter. For obvious reasons our recipes did not.
Our judges said: Dysart: âItâs a cross between a chocolate chip cookie and shortbread. It has more of a snap.â Harris : âWhy would they do this to a chocolate chip cookie? It needs a tan. I am not a fan.â Jindal: âItâs a little more blond. Itâs super-crunchy. I prefer mine on the chewier side.â
Our judges said: Dysart: âItâs kind of heavy and a little more dense. The salt is good but thereâs something off about the flavor.â Harris : âNot my favorite. It looks sad. Itâs like a paperweight. I canât put my finger on it but something isnât right.â Jindal: âItâs super-thick. I like that you have a thicker bite so thereâs more [cookie] in every bite.â
Our judges said: Dysart: âItâs a little smaller and thinner with more spread. It looks like it was bought at a supermarket. It has good dunk-ability in a cup of milk.â Harris : âMeh. Donât think Iâm going to love this one. I think itâs too hard. Itâs just got no pizazz.â Jindal: âItâs a little more on the savory side. It has a little more salt which I like.â
Our judges said: Dysart: âItâs nice and plump. It has the thickness Iâm going for. It has even color all-around and not too much caramelization on the side.â Harris : âItâs not terrible. Itâs a decent cookie. Nothing blows my mind about it. Itâs your standard average chocolate chip cookie.â Jindal: âItâs really chewy.â
Our judges said: Dysart: âItâs light on the inside but has a good crust on the bottom. I like the balance of crispy and salty. Iâm torn about having such big chunks [of chocolate] because my first bite was all chocolate.â Harris : âItâd be a lot to eat this entire thing. It has a great exterior slightly crunchy. Itâs got some personality. Itâs a little ragged and jagged.â Jindal: âItâs ginormous. Itâs really really good. I like that itâs not overpowered by the chocolate.â
Our judges said: Dysart: âThereâs a lot of chocolate in there. I like the size of the chocolate. The salt is pronounced I really like that.â Harris : âItâs fancy looking. It breaks apart nicely. I like it a little less gooey. I love the way the salt plays with the sugar.â Jindal: âOh this oneâs chewy. Itâs really salty. The salt gives it a little more flavor than the usual chocolate chip cookie.â | 2 | positive | [
"The search for the best chocolate chip cookie recipe is over\nVictoria Harris along with celebrity baker Warren Brown and lifelong cook Anna Leis founded DC Taste Buds a company specializing in sweet and savory foods laced with cannabis.",
"Harris âs dream chocolate chip cookie is âsoft with chocolate chips that are melted throughout â and it often includes cannabis butter.",
"For obvious reasons our recipes did not.",
"Our judges said: Dysart: âItâs a cross between a chocolate chip cookie and shortbread.",
"It has more of a snap.",
"â Harris : âWhy would they do this to a chocolate chip cookie?",
"It needs a tan.",
"I am not a fan.",
"â Jindal: âItâs a little more blond.",
"Itâs super-crunchy.",
"I prefer mine on the chewier side.",
"â\nOur judges said: Dysart: âItâs kind of heavy and a little more dense.",
"The salt is good but thereâs something off about the flavor.",
"â Harris : âNot my favorite.",
"It looks sad.",
"Itâs like a paperweight.",
"I canât put my finger on it but something isnât right.",
"â Jindal: âItâs super-thick.",
"I like that you have a thicker bite so thereâs more [cookie] in every bite.",
"â\nOur judges said: Dysart: âItâs a little smaller and thinner with more spread.",
"It looks like it was bought at a supermarket.",
"It has good dunk-ability in a cup of milk.",
"â Harris : âMeh.",
"Donât think Iâm going to love this one.",
"I think itâs too hard.",
"Itâs just got no pizazz.",
"â Jindal: âItâs a little more on the savory side.",
"It has a little more salt which I like.",
"â\nOur judges said: Dysart: âItâs nice and plump.",
"It has the thickness Iâm going for.",
"It has even color all-around and not too much caramelization on the side.",
"â Harris : âItâs not terrible.",
"Itâs a decent cookie.",
"Nothing blows my mind about it.",
"Itâs your standard average chocolate chip cookie.",
"â Jindal: âItâs really chewy.",
"â\nOur judges said: Dysart: âItâs light on the inside but has a good crust on the bottom.",
"I like the balance of crispy and salty.",
"Iâm torn about having such big chunks [of chocolate] because my first bite was all chocolate.",
"â Harris : âItâd be a lot to eat this entire thing.",
"It has a great exterior slightly crunchy.",
"Itâs got some personality.",
"Itâs a little ragged and jagged.",
"â Jindal: âItâs ginormous.",
"Itâs really really good.",
"I like that itâs not overpowered by the chocolate.",
"â\nOur judges said: Dysart: âThereâs a lot of chocolate in there.",
"I like the size of the chocolate.",
"The salt is pronounced I really like that.",
"â Harris : âItâs fancy looking.",
"It breaks apart nicely.",
"I like it a little less gooey.",
"I love the way the salt plays with the sugar.",
"â Jindal: âOh this oneâs chewy.",
"Itâs really salty.",
"The salt gives it a little more flavor than the usual chocolate chip cookie.",
"â"
] |
Many years ago I had a pair of Levis chukka boots that lasted longer than any other shoes I've had. I needed some new shoes and couldn't find anything I wanted where I live now, overseas. I bought these shoes based on the size of other shoes I recently purchased, Bass Weejuns and Allen-Edmonds. I've always worn an 8D in Weejuns Logan, and to be on the safe side I purchased an 8.5D in Allen-Edmonds Wilbert. Both of these shoes fit fine, although the A-E shoes were just a bit long. These Dockers shoes seem well made, the oiled leather works well when out in the rain or with spills, and I think they will wear well. The problem is that I ordered an 8.5M, and while the width is perfect the shoes are not long enough; my toes are right at the end of the shoe and jam into the end when I walk. I need at least a 9 maybe 9.5M for these shoes to fit well. My other complaint is that the material on the inside of the shoe at the back on the heel, to keep the heel from slipping, rubs my heel raw; much worse than any other shoe I've had. Maybe that will improve as one wears the shoes, but I'm going to have to purchase another pair because even though I like the shoe they are one size too short for me.
As an additional note the Amazon size chart is useless from a buyers perspective. The sizing is off quite a bit. According to my measurements I'd need a size 10 shoe (I've never worn anything longer than a 9.5 in any shoe size). This sizing may be done to ensure that the shoe is not too short, as you may be more willing to return shoes that are too short rather than too long. | 2 | positive | [
"Many years ago I had a pair of Levis chukka boots that lasted longer than any other shoes I've had.",
"I needed some new shoes and couldn't find anything I wanted where I live now, overseas.",
"I bought these shoes based on the size of other shoes I recently purchased, Bass Weejuns and Allen-Edmonds.",
"I've always worn an 8D in Weejuns Logan, and to be on the safe side I purchased an 8.",
"5D in Allen-Edmonds Wilbert.",
"Both of these shoes fit fine, although the A-E shoes were just a bit long.",
"These Dockers shoes seem well made, the oiled leather works well when out in the rain or with spills, and I think they will wear well.",
"The problem is that I ordered an 8.",
"5M, and while the width is perfect the shoes are not long enough; my toes are right at the end of the shoe and jam into the end when I walk.",
"I need at least a 9 maybe 9.",
"5M for these shoes to fit well.",
"My other complaint is that the material on the inside of the shoe at the back on the heel, to keep the heel from slipping, rubs my heel raw; much worse than any other shoe I've had.",
"Maybe that will improve as one wears the shoes, but I'm going to have to purchase another pair because even though I like the shoe they are one size too short for me.",
"As an additional note the Amazon size chart is useless from a buyers perspective.",
"The sizing is off quite a bit.",
"According to my measurements I'd need a size 10 shoe (I've never worn anything longer than a 9.",
"5 in any shoe size).",
"This sizing may be done to ensure that the shoe is not too short, as you may be more willing to return shoes that are too short rather than too long."
] |
I bought these to replace a set of inexpensive Sony MDR-V150 Monitor Series Headphones. The Sony set was only $17, but they did not last long. I broke them when I rested my head to one side and he thin plastic connection between the ear cup and the headband snapped. These 202's are of much better overall construction. The headband is sturdier, more adjustable and much more comfortable to wear. Sound is better than the Sony set too.
The ear cups on the 202's are oval shaped and fit over and around my ears, like true circumaural headphones, but I have very small ears. If you have normal or large ears, they will not fit entirely within the earcup caivaty. The pads will contact the penna of your ears. This is known as supra-aural or "on ear" pad headphones. It will still give good sound isolation, but if you are sensitive to pressure on your ear cartilage, you may find these uncomfortable. The Sony MDR V-150's are an even smaller round shaped cup. Neither of these sets are going to be true circumaural headphones for most people.
I recommend that you spend the extra $7 to buy the 202's rather than the Sony MDR-V150 set. If you want a decent but inexpensive set of this type, the few extra dollars are very worth the cost. The Sony MDR-V150 were a waste, for me they were uncomfortable and far too fragile. | 2 | positive | [
"I bought these to replace a set of inexpensive Sony MDR-V150 Monitor Series Headphones.",
"The Sony set was only $17, but they did not last long.",
"I broke them when I rested my head to one side and he thin plastic connection between the ear cup and the headband snapped.",
"These 202's are of much better overall construction.",
"The headband is sturdier, more adjustable and much more comfortable to wear.",
"Sound is better than the Sony set too.",
"The ear cups on the 202's are oval shaped and fit over and around my ears, like true circumaural headphones, but I have very small ears.",
"If you have normal or large ears, they will not fit entirely within the earcup caivaty.",
"The pads will contact the penna of your ears.",
"This is known as supra-aural or \"on ear\" pad headphones.",
"It will still give good sound isolation, but if you are sensitive to pressure on your ear cartilage, you may find these uncomfortable.",
"The Sony MDR V-150's are an even smaller round shaped cup.",
"Neither of these sets are going to be true circumaural headphones for most people.",
"I recommend that you spend the extra $7 to buy the 202's rather than the Sony MDR-V150 set.",
"If you want a decent but inexpensive set of this type, the few extra dollars are very worth the cost.",
"The Sony MDR-V150 were a waste, for me they were uncomfortable and far too fragile."
] |
I am a veteran of gaming. I have played RPGs since Wizardry came out 26 years ago. This is one of the best portable RPGs available. Amazing graphics for a hand held game, deep story line, full voice over cut scenes with the many of the original cast members, complete ability to customize your super heroes and great replay value make this a must have for any RPG fan that owns the PSP. Where does the replay value come from? Playing the game through with different super heroes changes the game. It took three times through the game for me to have a chance to unlock all the characters and bonuses and I thought I looked everywhere. Make sure you play the side missions to get all the bonuses unlocked (don't cheat, what fun is that!), stick with one team through the entire game to really get them leveled up and make sure to take a flyer in your group!
One down side is the load times and occasional pauses in play. This is a result of the UMD format and the massive amount of information that must be loaded into memory. Without that one issue I would have given the game a 5. Definitely a must buy for RPG fans! | 2 | positive | [
"I am a veteran of gaming.",
"I have played RPGs since Wizardry came out 26 years ago.",
"This is one of the best portable RPGs available.",
"Amazing graphics for a hand held game, deep story line, full voice over cut scenes with the many of the original cast members, complete ability to customize your super heroes and great replay value make this a must have for any RPG fan that owns the PSP.",
"Where does the replay value come from?",
"Playing the game through with different super heroes changes the game.",
"It took three times through the game for me to have a chance to unlock all the characters and bonuses and I thought I looked everywhere.",
"Make sure you play the side missions to get all the bonuses unlocked (don't cheat, what fun is that!",
"), stick with one team through the entire game to really get them leveled up and make sure to take a flyer in your group!",
"One down side is the load times and occasional pauses in play.",
"This is a result of the UMD format and the massive amount of information that must be loaded into memory.",
"Without that one issue I would have given the game a 5.",
"Definitely a must buy for RPG fans!"
] |
The only reason why this doesn't get the last star, in my book, is because of its somewhat limited usefulness. However, if you live in an apartment or otherwise anywhere where grilling is impossible, this is the next best thing....like all other Le Creuset products this heats evenly and wonderfully and takes abuse. I got mine as part of a 6-piece set (along with a Dutch Oven, Baking Pan, and Casserole) and sorta at first saw this as a "filler" piece. However, to it's credit, this pan can do even easilly-burned items like tofu dogs and fake bacon WONDERFULLY, which shocked me--I was convinced that nothing could give a "grilled" effect to those items. I even got adventerous the first time I used it and grilled some apple rings. I panicked when some sugar seemed to be burnt on for good despite a good soaking, but after the pot had been dried and put away for 48 hours it flaked right off. Forget what you know about nonstick surfaces, btw, and banish those bad memories of cruddy, flaking Teflon from the 70's. Just treat this well (I only use wooden utensils on it) and it will treat you well. Follow the instructions and enjoy! Just be sure to use a potholder and realize that once this thing gets hot it STAYS hot for a LONG time. | 2 | positive | [
"The only reason why this doesn't get the last star, in my book, is because of its somewhat limited usefulness.",
"However, if you live in an apartment or otherwise anywhere where grilling is impossible, this is the next best thing....",
"like all other Le Creuset products this heats evenly and wonderfully and takes abuse.",
"I got mine as part of a 6-piece set (along with a Dutch Oven, Baking Pan, and Casserole) and sorta at first saw this as a \"filler\" piece.",
"However, to it's credit, this pan can do even easilly-burned items like tofu dogs and fake bacon WONDERFULLY, which shocked me--I was convinced that nothing could give a \"grilled\" effect to those items.",
"I even got adventerous the first time I used it and grilled some apple rings.",
"I panicked when some sugar seemed to be burnt on for good despite a good soaking, but after the pot had been dried and put away for 48 hours it flaked right off.",
"Forget what you know about nonstick surfaces, btw, and banish those bad memories of cruddy, flaking Teflon from the 70's.",
"Just treat this well (I only use wooden utensils on it) and it will treat you well.",
"Follow the instructions and enjoy!",
"Just be sure to use a potholder and realize that once this thing gets hot it STAYS hot for a LONG time."
] |
There have been many movies and television shows that have tried to replicate the premise of 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit, yet even the most recent attempts have, for the most part, failed (although Greg the Bunny came pretty close). In the world of WFRR, cartoons, or just toons for short, are real. They live among us, and act in their own movies and cartoons. They just happen to be animated. For the most part, the whole point of being a toon is to make people laugh, and many of them excel at it.
Dateline: Hollywood, 1947. Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) is a down-and-out private investigator who has become a drunk grouch ever since the death of his brother and partner, Teddy. The pair specialized in toon cases (they cleared Goofy of espionnage charges), and frequented Toontown, an animated city that was home to the toons. That is until a deranged toon killed Teddy and left Eddie for dead. Now, Eddie can barely find work, and spends most of his time drinking. Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleisher) is an up-and-coming toon, the new star of Maroon Cartoons shorts. Although lately, he has been having trouble with his lines. Studio boss R.K. Maroon (Alan Tilvern) believes that it is the fault of Roger's wife Jessica (Kathleen Turner/Amy Irving), a stunning redhead whom Maroon believes is cheating on her husband. Maroon hires Eddie to trail Jessica and take pictures incriminating her. It turns out that Jessica is doing something outside of her marriage (though not what you'd think) with Maroon's buddy Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye), the CEO of the company that makes all of those gadgets that Wile E. Coyote tries to use against the Road Runner. When Roger finds out, he is heartbroken, and the next day, Acme is found murdered. Immediately, Roger is blamed, and the man with jurisdiction over Toontown, Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd) is set to execute Roger without even a trial. His new invention, dip (comprised of turpentine, acetone, and benzene), is the only proven way to actually kill a toon, and he has no qualms about using it on Roger.
Roger claims that he is innocent, and begs Eddie to help him out. He originally declines, but he is eventually drawn into the case. And what seems like a simple frame job continues to unfold as more and more clues point in new directions.
For what may be seen as a kids' movie (which it definitely isn't), there is a complex story, interesting character development, and good dialogue. Also, the special effects are superb, espcecially considering that this movie was made in 1988. The toons are integrated nearly seamlessly into the real world and vice versa. Also, this is probably the ONLY time anyone will ever see Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny interacting with each other. There were probably loads of conditions that had to be met by both Disney and Warner Bros. to make that happen, and due to studio politics, will probably never happen again.
Overall, this is a great movie that is a testament to the talents of director Robert Zemeckis (who also directed Back to the Future and Castaway) as well as the effects team. We will probably never get another movie like this. | 2 | positive | [
"There have been many movies and television shows that have tried to replicate the premise of 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit, yet even the most recent attempts have, for the most part, failed (although Greg the Bunny came pretty close).",
"In the world of WFRR, cartoons, or just toons for short, are real.",
"They live among us, and act in their own movies and cartoons.",
"They just happen to be animated.",
"For the most part, the whole point of being a toon is to make people laugh, and many of them excel at it.",
"Dateline: Hollywood, 1947.",
"Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) is a down-and-out private investigator who has become a drunk grouch ever since the death of his brother and partner, Teddy.",
"The pair specialized in toon cases (they cleared Goofy of espionnage charges), and frequented Toontown, an animated city that was home to the toons.",
"That is until a deranged toon killed Teddy and left Eddie for dead.",
"Now, Eddie can barely find work, and spends most of his time drinking.",
"Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleisher) is an up-and-coming toon, the new star of Maroon Cartoons shorts.",
"Although lately, he has been having trouble with his lines.",
"Studio boss R.",
"K. Maroon (Alan Tilvern) believes that it is the fault of Roger's wife Jessica (Kathleen Turner/Amy Irving), a stunning redhead whom Maroon believes is cheating on her husband.",
"Maroon hires Eddie to trail Jessica and take pictures incriminating her.",
"It turns out that Jessica is doing something outside of her marriage (though not what you'd think) with Maroon's buddy Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye), the CEO of the company that makes all of those gadgets that Wile E.",
"Coyote tries to use against the Road Runner.",
"When Roger finds out, he is heartbroken, and the next day, Acme is found murdered.",
"Immediately, Roger is blamed, and the man with jurisdiction over Toontown, Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd) is set to execute Roger without even a trial.",
"His new invention, dip (comprised of turpentine, acetone, and benzene), is the only proven way to actually kill a toon, and he has no qualms about using it on Roger.",
"Roger claims that he is innocent, and begs Eddie to help him out.",
"He originally declines, but he is eventually drawn into the case.",
"And what seems like a simple frame job continues to unfold as more and more clues point in new directions.",
"For what may be seen as a kids' movie (which it definitely isn't), there is a complex story, interesting character development, and good dialogue.",
"Also, the special effects are superb, espcecially considering that this movie was made in 1988.",
"The toons are integrated nearly seamlessly into the real world and vice versa.",
"Also, this is probably the ONLY time anyone will ever see Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny interacting with each other.",
"There were probably loads of conditions that had to be met by both Disney and Warner Bros.",
"to make that happen, and due to studio politics, will probably never happen again.",
"Overall, this is a great movie that is a testament to the talents of director Robert Zemeckis (who also directed Back to the Future and Castaway) as well as the effects team.",
"We will probably never get another movie like this."
] |
Hmm there seems to be a common theme with this short story and the novella <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Last-Single-Girl/dp/B00AQXSPZ8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Last Single Girl</a>. The plain jane with the beautiful, yet ugly on the inside friend, coming out on top for once.
Once again Quinn demonstrates her ability to mix humour, warmth and a bit of spicy underlying good ol' animalistic attraction.
The main character is a YA author doing research for her novel and the initial conversation with her agent is Quinn having a little fun and poke at authors in general.
As a reader you feel like pushing the main character and cheering her on. That is also something I have noticed about this author and her particular flair. She draws you in and it feels as if you are there watching events unfold from, the sidelines.
A feel good story for some stolen moments in between.
AVP-UK | 2 | positive | [
"Hmm there seems to be a common theme with this short story and the novella <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/The-Last-Single-Girl/dp/B00AQXSPZ8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">The Last Single Girl</a>.",
"The plain jane with the beautiful, yet ugly on the inside friend, coming out on top for once.",
"Once again Quinn demonstrates her ability to mix humour, warmth and a bit of spicy underlying good ol' animalistic attraction.",
"The main character is a YA author doing research for her novel and the initial conversation with her agent is Quinn having a little fun and poke at authors in general.",
"As a reader you feel like pushing the main character and cheering her on.",
"That is also something I have noticed about this author and her particular flair.",
"She draws you in and it feels as if you are there watching events unfold from, the sidelines.",
"A feel good story for some stolen moments in between.",
"AVP-UK"
] |
I told myself I was only going to write a review of this game after having completed it, to be as fair in my judgement as possible. 55 game-hours (about 2 1/2 weeks) later here I am, very excited to give you my impression of this marathonically exciting quest.
I've had experience with all previous Zelda games on the older consoles, including the Gameboy versions. I expected this one to have more or less the same winning formula of these past classics with the obvious variations and additions that make everyone come back for more, and I wasn't dissapointed. Most of you will recall that the game was supposed to be released in 2005 for the GameCube, but it was held up due to the imminent release of the Wii (formerly known as the Revolution) and Nintendo's plan to make this game part of it's new console release in November 2006.
This adventure is, without question, the longest and deepest of any Zelda series so far.
The main game plot follows a more dramatic course than in previous games, you could probably tell that there is a darker/gloomy side to it, however, most of the adventure follows a positive, lighter tone with fun side-quests and mini-games.
The Zelda series are not classified as RPGs (role playing games). You don't have to collect and summon magic spells or fight monsters in a turn-based method using different characters. You only control a single character (in his two forms), a hero who ultimately carries the burden of saving the entire town. You will find allies that'll help you in your quest (your horse Epona, Midna, etc.), but ultimately it will be Link who must complete the main tasks.
As a player, you will have the chance to control Link's character, and obtain different items and weaponry that will help him defeat the enemies and also open new pathways to progress further into the adventure and ultimately unfold the plot.
Link's main weapons are the sword and shield, however, the adventure can not be completed simply by hacking and slashing away. Most of the enemies require a certain weapon combination/technique to be defeated. Link will also acquire a number of special sword skills, necessary in later stages for his survival.
One of the most rewarding moments during the adventure is obtaining new special weapons or items. These special weapons/items are either used to defeat the most difficult enemies in battle or to unlock or open up new rooms or areas. These special items are found well hidden within temples and ultimately require fighting a boss, to grab them. Once they are in your possession, you'll most probably use them to defeat a stronger boss later on in the same temple.
The game's strength, however, are the puzzles. To get a special weapon, to find a character, to complete a task or to simply continue further in the adventure, you'll have to figure out quite a few well-thought-out puzzles. A puzzle could be something as simple as eliminating all enemies inside a room or as complex as having to manipulate items in multiple rooms in a temple to finally unlock a secret.
Be prepared to spend many hours trying to complete this adventure, but I assure you that you'll not find a single idle minute. There is always something interesting to do, even when you find yourself stuck. I didn't use a guide at all to complete the adventure, although I could probably recommend people to get one if you are new to Zelda or to any adventure game.
This game is one of the best in the Legend of Zelda series, with beautiful graphics, smooth play mechanics, deep plot, exciting game-play, a fantastic music score and a beautiful ending, all well worth the wait. | 2 | positive | [
"I told myself I was only going to write a review of this game after having completed it, to be as fair in my judgement as possible.",
"55 game-hours (about 2 1/2 weeks) later here I am, very excited to give you my impression of this marathonically exciting quest.",
"I've had experience with all previous Zelda games on the older consoles, including the Gameboy versions.",
"I expected this one to have more or less the same winning formula of these past classics with the obvious variations and additions that make everyone come back for more, and I wasn't dissapointed.",
"Most of you will recall that the game was supposed to be released in 2005 for the GameCube, but it was held up due to the imminent release of the Wii (formerly known as the Revolution) and Nintendo's plan to make this game part of it's new console release in November 2006.",
"This adventure is, without question, the longest and deepest of any Zelda series so far.",
"The main game plot follows a more dramatic course than in previous games, you could probably tell that there is a darker/gloomy side to it, however, most of the adventure follows a positive, lighter tone with fun side-quests and mini-games.",
"The Zelda series are not classified as RPGs (role playing games).",
"You don't have to collect and summon magic spells or fight monsters in a turn-based method using different characters.",
"You only control a single character (in his two forms), a hero who ultimately carries the burden of saving the entire town.",
"You will find allies that'll help you in your quest (your horse Epona, Midna, etc.",
"), but ultimately it will be Link who must complete the main tasks.",
"As a player, you will have the chance to control Link's character, and obtain different items and weaponry that will help him defeat the enemies and also open new pathways to progress further into the adventure and ultimately unfold the plot.",
"Link's main weapons are the sword and shield, however, the adventure can not be completed simply by hacking and slashing away.",
"Most of the enemies require a certain weapon combination/technique to be defeated.",
"Link will also acquire a number of special sword skills, necessary in later stages for his survival.",
"One of the most rewarding moments during the adventure is obtaining new special weapons or items.",
"These special weapons/items are either used to defeat the most difficult enemies in battle or to unlock or open up new rooms or areas.",
"These special items are found well hidden within temples and ultimately require fighting a boss, to grab them.",
"Once they are in your possession, you'll most probably use them to defeat a stronger boss later on in the same temple.",
"The game's strength, however, are the puzzles.",
"To get a special weapon, to find a character, to complete a task or to simply continue further in the adventure, you'll have to figure out quite a few well-thought-out puzzles.",
"A puzzle could be something as simple as eliminating all enemies inside a room or as complex as having to manipulate items in multiple rooms in a temple to finally unlock a secret.",
"Be prepared to spend many hours trying to complete this adventure, but I assure you that you'll not find a single idle minute.",
"There is always something interesting to do, even when you find yourself stuck.",
"I didn't use a guide at all to complete the adventure, although I could probably recommend people to get one if you are new to Zelda or to any adventure game.",
"This game is one of the best in the Legend of Zelda series, with beautiful graphics, smooth play mechanics, deep plot, exciting game-play, a fantastic music score and a beautiful ending, all well worth the wait."
] |
UPDATED 1/14/13: This is a great pedal. HOWEVER it uses a special 9.6V 200ma power supply and does not use an internal battery, despite the fact that "9V" is printed on the top of the pedal itself. You should use caution if you plan to power it using a 9V pedalboard power brick. I have had occasional/intermittent problems at certain locations, where I believe there may have been very slightly low house voltage -- at which point the pedal exhibited its (well-discussed) problems (cutting in and out). I did not notice this unusual power requirement when I bought the pedal. Some people run it successfully with good-quality power supplies like the Pedal Power 2+; but you may need to run a separate power connection just for this pedal, and a 100ma connection definitely won't work. The pedal itself is great. Just be alert to power supply issues and be prepared to run a separate power source for this pedal (which is what I now do). I have upgraded my review to 4 stars since this situation has proven quite workable. The pedal is worth 5 stars but you need to be alert. | 2 | positive | [
"UPDATED 1/14/13: This is a great pedal.",
"HOWEVER it uses a special 9.",
"6V 200ma power supply and does not use an internal battery, despite the fact that \"9V\" is printed on the top of the pedal itself.",
"You should use caution if you plan to power it using a 9V pedalboard power brick.",
"I have had occasional/intermittent problems at certain locations, where I believe there may have been very slightly low house voltage -- at which point the pedal exhibited its (well-discussed) problems (cutting in and out).",
"I did not notice this unusual power requirement when I bought the pedal.",
"Some people run it successfully with good-quality power supplies like the Pedal Power 2+; but you may need to run a separate power connection just for this pedal, and a 100ma connection definitely won't work.",
"The pedal itself is great.",
"Just be alert to power supply issues and be prepared to run a separate power source for this pedal (which is what I now do).",
"I have upgraded my review to 4 stars since this situation has proven quite workable.",
"The pedal is worth 5 stars but you need to be alert."
] |
I bought this tea from a store - so I am only reviewing the product/taste. It's incredible and amazing. Absolutely incredible. It is very "sweet". The spices make this actually taste very sweet (but not overly sweet). It truly tastes like chai (sweetened chai). I Love a really creamy chai tea so I use either half and half or whipping cream (1-2 tbsp) with a 8 oz of this tea (1 bag, 8 oz hot water, 5-7 min seep). I love how I don't need to add sweetener/sugar. It's great by itself as well. I'm doing this intermittent fasting and I crave food and sweet food at night. I just bought a box of this yesterday and between my mother and I, we've already finished half the box. I can drink this and sleep with no issue because it's caffeine free. I'm so incredibly happy with this tea, I cannot even describe. The store I got it from was a bit cheaper than here - I will probably be buying 2 boxes of this tea a week. It's literally my favorite tea right now. | 2 | positive | [
"I bought this tea from a store - so I am only reviewing the product/taste.",
"It's incredible and amazing.",
"Absolutely incredible.",
"It is very \"sweet\".",
"The spices make this actually taste very sweet (but not overly sweet).",
"It truly tastes like chai (sweetened chai).",
"I Love a really creamy chai tea so I use either half and half or whipping cream (1-2 tbsp) with a 8 oz of this tea (1 bag, 8 oz hot water, 5-7 min seep).",
"I love how I don't need to add sweetener/sugar.",
"It's great by itself as well.",
"I'm doing this intermittent fasting and I crave food and sweet food at night.",
"I just bought a box of this yesterday and between my mother and I, we've already finished half the box.",
"I can drink this and sleep with no issue because it's caffeine free.",
"I'm so incredibly happy with this tea, I cannot even describe.",
"The store I got it from was a bit cheaper than here - I will probably be buying 2 boxes of this tea a week.",
"It's literally my favorite tea right now."
] |
I enjoy the low smell. I hate strong smells especially in markers as they give me a headache, making me want to not use and put the cap right back on. I don't feel the need to put the cap on right away. I can use them just fine. I like the tips, not chunky and not super thin. My children use them as well, they haven't gotten weird and smooshed like children can sometimes do. I'd say they are pretty durable! The color is classic black, we usually use them to write but sometimes draw. Haven't dried out even after a year. They have worked nicely in all areas of our needs. | 2 | positive | [
"I enjoy the low smell.",
"I hate strong smells especially in markers as they give me a headache, making me want to not use and put the cap right back on.",
"I don't feel the need to put the cap on right away.",
"I can use them just fine.",
"I like the tips, not chunky and not super thin.",
"My children use them as well, they haven't gotten weird and smooshed like children can sometimes do.",
"I'd say they are pretty durable!",
"The color is classic black, we usually use them to write but sometimes draw.",
"Haven't dried out even after a year.",
"They have worked nicely in all areas of our needs."
] |
This is, for the price I paid for it here on Amazon (far less than what it is currently selling for) a very good buy. At the current price of almost 30 bucks, I would pass or look at other options but that is just me. The leather is attractive, thick enough, soft enough for the price, and I found the length to be more than long enough for me personally. I almost have it on the shortest possible setting and there is far more room to let out. Only really tall people, big people, or "low players" will be disappointed perhaps. I only have a few very MINOR complaints and of course my complaints are subjective so YMMV. One, the back side of the strap is not black. It's a blue/grey color and I didn't realize that. You can see a tiny bit of the greyish color in the photo but not enough to really get an idea of what the backside looks like. I assumed incorrectly that both sides were black. Two, the embossed design is a little feminine for my tastes. All that said, it is nice and some will love it. Quality at the right price. Easy to adjust. Looks like it will last. Solid four stars despite me personal opinion. | 2 | positive | [
"This is, for the price I paid for it here on Amazon (far less than what it is currently selling for) a very good buy.",
"At the current price of almost 30 bucks, I would pass or look at other options but that is just me.",
"The leather is attractive, thick enough, soft enough for the price, and I found the length to be more than long enough for me personally.",
"I almost have it on the shortest possible setting and there is far more room to let out.",
"Only really tall people, big people, or \"low players\" will be disappointed perhaps.",
"I only have a few very MINOR complaints and of course my complaints are subjective so YMMV.",
"One, the back side of the strap is not black.",
"It's a blue/grey color and I didn't realize that.",
"You can see a tiny bit of the greyish color in the photo but not enough to really get an idea of what the backside looks like.",
"I assumed incorrectly that both sides were black.",
"Two, the embossed design is a little feminine for my tastes.",
"All that said, it is nice and some will love it.",
"Quality at the right price.",
"Easy to adjust.",
"Looks like it will last.",
"Solid four stars despite me personal opinion."
] |
....but I'm start thinking that bad religion is the greatest punk band on earth....they rule dude....maybe their sound changes in lil' bits but is great....this album deserves everything......just you're(govt...) deserves everything.....so buy it sucka!.... | 2 | positive | [
"....",
"but I'm start thinking that bad religion is the greatest punk band on earth....",
"they rule dude....",
"maybe their sound changes in lil' bits but is great....",
"this album deserves everything....",
"..",
"just you're(govt...",
") deserves everything....",
".",
"so buy it sucka!...",
"."
] |
Hugh Grant's role as Travel Book Shop employee William Thacker reprises the same shy, humble, lovable, but lonely character with a small group of friends that made him a star in Four Weddings And A Funeral. That may be because Notting Hill, like FW&AF, was written by Richard Curtis. "And so it was another hopeless Wednesday when I walked a thousand yards to work, not suspecting that this was going to be the day my life would be changed forever." In two words, that catalyst is Anna Scott, currently one of Hollywood's biggest stars, who is promoting her latest film Helix, a sci-fi film whose costume design and one interior setting owes a nod to Kubrick's 2001. She happens in his bookshop, but that first meeting sets off a series of meetings where they spend time with each other.
Eccentric barely describes Spike, his Welsh roommate with a shock of wild blond hair. Never have I seen a more comical opposites since Felix and Oscar of the Odd Couple. Spike is clearly the Oscar of the pair, but then again, I doubt if Oscar would have worn a T-shirt saying, "Get It Here", with an arrow pointing downwards, or unwittingly mistake mayonnaise for yogurt.
In the course of meeting Anna, he in turn introduces her to his small group, including a married couple, Max and Belle, the latter in a wheelchair, a stockbroker named Bernie, and William's wild-looking sister Honey, whose bulging eyes and feathery hair makes her nevertheless lovable in a different sort of way.
However, they live in two different worlds. As William puts it, "I live in Notting Hill, you live in Beverly Hills." Both have different schedules, lifestyles, and perspectives on things. Yet his inner smile lights up whenever she pops in and spends some time with him. And applying a metaphor used, Anna is a goddess. "You know what happens to mortals who get involved with the gods?" That's terrible for William, who confides in Spike that it's like "taking love heroin and I couldn't have it again. I've opened Pandora's Box and there's trouble inside."
Anna is a typical box-office draw who has to put up with the tail side of the fame coin. The many boyfriends, the laying out of her private life in the tabloids, but also how she's unable to live an ordinary life and how she has to put up with unkind words, as when she overhears a group of businessmen saying how actresses are equal to prostitutes and that she is the definitive actress. Ouch! But despite the fame, in the end, she's "just a girl asking a boy to love her."
The one pullback aerial shot that has the couple approaching the bench dedicated to a loved one, while Ronan Keating sings Keith Whitley's "When You Say Nothing At All" was a perfect combination of great camera work enhanced by a haunting love song.
Hugh Grant has another winning role and seems to have the knack of starring opposite great female leads and being compatible. Be it Andie McDowell (Four Weddings) or Emma Thompson (Sense And Sensibility), he does himself and Julia Roberts great credit. After seeing this at the theatre when it first came out, I sighed with relief that I finally found the most charming movie with Julia Roberts since Pretty Woman. All the actors portraying Williams' small circle also lend great support, but Rhys Ifan steals the show as the outlandish Spike. Those who liked Four Weddings will definitely go for Notting Hill, which has a tad more sweetness, like apricot and honey. | 2 | positive | [
"Hugh Grant's role as Travel Book Shop employee William Thacker reprises the same shy, humble, lovable, but lonely character with a small group of friends that made him a star in Four Weddings And A Funeral.",
"That may be because Notting Hill, like FW&AF, was written by Richard Curtis.",
"\"And so it was another hopeless Wednesday when I walked a thousand yards to work, not suspecting that this was going to be the day my life would be changed forever.",
"\" In two words, that catalyst is Anna Scott, currently one of Hollywood's biggest stars, who is promoting her latest film Helix, a sci-fi film whose costume design and one interior setting owes a nod to Kubrick's 2001.",
"She happens in his bookshop, but that first meeting sets off a series of meetings where they spend time with each other.",
"Eccentric barely describes Spike, his Welsh roommate with a shock of wild blond hair.",
"Never have I seen a more comical opposites since Felix and Oscar of the Odd Couple.",
"Spike is clearly the Oscar of the pair, but then again, I doubt if Oscar would have worn a T-shirt saying, \"Get It Here\", with an arrow pointing downwards, or unwittingly mistake mayonnaise for yogurt.",
"In the course of meeting Anna, he in turn introduces her to his small group, including a married couple, Max and Belle, the latter in a wheelchair, a stockbroker named Bernie, and William's wild-looking sister Honey, whose bulging eyes and feathery hair makes her nevertheless lovable in a different sort of way.",
"However, they live in two different worlds.",
"As William puts it, \"I live in Notting Hill, you live in Beverly Hills.",
"\" Both have different schedules, lifestyles, and perspectives on things.",
"Yet his inner smile lights up whenever she pops in and spends some time with him.",
"And applying a metaphor used, Anna is a goddess.",
"\"You know what happens to mortals who get involved with the gods?",
"\" That's terrible for William, who confides in Spike that it's like \"taking love heroin and I couldn't have it again.",
"I've opened Pandora's Box and there's trouble inside.",
"\"\nAnna is a typical box-office draw who has to put up with the tail side of the fame coin.",
"The many boyfriends, the laying out of her private life in the tabloids, but also how she's unable to live an ordinary life and how she has to put up with unkind words, as when she overhears a group of businessmen saying how actresses are equal to prostitutes and that she is the definitive actress.",
"Ouch!",
"But despite the fame, in the end, she's \"just a girl asking a boy to love her.",
"\"\nThe one pullback aerial shot that has the couple approaching the bench dedicated to a loved one, while Ronan Keating sings Keith Whitley's \"When You Say Nothing At All\" was a perfect combination of great camera work enhanced by a haunting love song.",
"Hugh Grant has another winning role and seems to have the knack of starring opposite great female leads and being compatible.",
"Be it Andie McDowell (Four Weddings) or Emma Thompson (Sense And Sensibility), he does himself and Julia Roberts great credit.",
"After seeing this at the theatre when it first came out, I sighed with relief that I finally found the most charming movie with Julia Roberts since Pretty Woman.",
"All the actors portraying Williams' small circle also lend great support, but Rhys Ifan steals the show as the outlandish Spike.",
"Those who liked Four Weddings will definitely go for Notting Hill, which has a tad more sweetness, like apricot and honey."
] |
The GameCube controller is excellent; it fits and feels perfect in almost any pair of hands. The button layout may seem slightly untraditional, but this is a good thing, believe me. Nintendo realized that there's almost always one main button in games, so they made the A button larger. The B, X and Y buttons are laid out strategically around the A button, providing quick and easy access. They also have slightly different shapes, which makes them easily distinguishable from each other (without having to look). The top two shoulder buttons (L & R buttons) are analog, so the harder you press the more they react, which proves very useful in many games. Also, the shape of the L & R buttons are terrific, they are curved inward to fit your fingers perfectly. The Z button is located in front of the R button. It makes sense that they didn't put a counterpart on the left side- since you're using the analog stick or d-pad it really would be difficult to use another shoulder button effectively on the left side. Although it probably wouldn't have hurt to include it, but there are more than enough buttons anyways.
The main complaint I have heard about the GameCube controller is the smaller D-pad. Personally, I barely noticed that it was smaller and find absolutely no difference or extra challenge in using it. In fact I think I can actually complete moves faster in Tony Hawk 3 because it's slightly smaller, so there! The analog control stick is very strong and will stay precise for many years, which is much better than the N64 analog stick (which always got very loose and became unusable) Also, the C-stick will be used mainly as a camera button or simply another analog controller when necessary, it hasn't been utilized much yet. The analog joystick and C joystick both have rubber tops that provide excellent grip. There's also the obligatory built-in rumble feature (an element that Nintendo brought to controllers first with the N64).
There is absolutely no question in my mind that this controller is much better than either the PS2 or Xbox controller (I've used them all enough to judge). Sony's controller isn't bad, but it definitely doesn't feel nearly as nice and takes longer to get accustomed to (PS2 owners may think their controller is the best, but they are just more used to it). And Microsoft's controller is awful in my opinion; it's like an inflated dreamcast controller, maybe even worse than that. I believe that the GameCube controller is really the most intuitive and most comfortable design ever! When I first saw it I thought it would be good, when I actually held it I knew it could be great, and when I finally played games with it I realized that it's the best controller ever created! It's obvious that Nintendo designs their controllers with great care, and unlike other companies they seem to have a knack for innovating, rather than just copying. | 2 | positive | [
"The GameCube controller is excellent; it fits and feels perfect in almost any pair of hands.",
"The button layout may seem slightly untraditional, but this is a good thing, believe me.",
"Nintendo realized that there's almost always one main button in games, so they made the A button larger.",
"The B, X and Y buttons are laid out strategically around the A button, providing quick and easy access.",
"They also have slightly different shapes, which makes them easily distinguishable from each other (without having to look).",
"The top two shoulder buttons (L & R buttons) are analog, so the harder you press the more they react, which proves very useful in many games.",
"Also, the shape of the L & R buttons are terrific, they are curved inward to fit your fingers perfectly.",
"The Z button is located in front of the R button.",
"It makes sense that they didn't put a counterpart on the left side- since you're using the analog stick or d-pad it really would be difficult to use another shoulder button effectively on the left side.",
"Although it probably wouldn't have hurt to include it, but there are more than enough buttons anyways.",
"The main complaint I have heard about the GameCube controller is the smaller D-pad.",
"Personally, I barely noticed that it was smaller and find absolutely no difference or extra challenge in using it.",
"In fact I think I can actually complete moves faster in Tony Hawk 3 because it's slightly smaller, so there!",
"The analog control stick is very strong and will stay precise for many years, which is much better than the N64 analog stick (which always got very loose and became unusable) Also, the C-stick will be used mainly as a camera button or simply another analog controller when necessary, it hasn't been utilized much yet.",
"The analog joystick and C joystick both have rubber tops that provide excellent grip.",
"There's also the obligatory built-in rumble feature (an element that Nintendo brought to controllers first with the N64).",
"There is absolutely no question in my mind that this controller is much better than either the PS2 or Xbox controller (I've used them all enough to judge).",
"Sony's controller isn't bad, but it definitely doesn't feel nearly as nice and takes longer to get accustomed to (PS2 owners may think their controller is the best, but they are just more used to it).",
"And Microsoft's controller is awful in my opinion; it's like an inflated dreamcast controller, maybe even worse than that.",
"I believe that the GameCube controller is really the most intuitive and most comfortable design ever!",
"When I first saw it I thought it would be good, when I actually held it I knew it could be great, and when I finally played games with it I realized that it's the best controller ever created!",
"It's obvious that Nintendo designs their controllers with great care, and unlike other companies they seem to have a knack for innovating, rather than just copying."
] |
There are not enough words to tell you how much I LOVE this product!!!! When I can save money I will be purchasing another. The first night, like others, I was like----uhhhh it isn't working! But the second night the mosquitoes came in droves and the zapping fun began! :) You definitely will want to put this away from your seating area. It's a blood bath. (Pun intended). Also the zapping sounds can get a lil obnoxious but to be able to sit on my back patio of several acres and NOT be eaten alive..........HEAVEN! | 2 | positive | [
"There are not enough words to tell you how much I LOVE this product!!!!",
"When I can save money I will be purchasing another.",
"The first night, like others, I was like----uhhhh it isn't working!",
"But the second night the mosquitoes came in droves and the zapping fun began!",
":) You definitely will want to put this away from your seating area.",
"It's a blood bath.",
"(Pun intended).",
"Also the zapping sounds can get a lil obnoxious but to be able to sit on my back patio of several acres and NOT be eaten alive....",
"....",
"..",
"HEAVEN!"
] |
First Blood is a straight-forward, well-written action flick that keeps the audiences attention and ends on an emotional note that serves to expose the plight of our veterans of vietnam. John Rambo's treatment by the local sheriff is not unlike that which some of our less fortunate citizens experience when law enforcement gets carried away. For an action film, First Blood didn't stray too far away from reality like many of today's hyper-violent films do. For that reason, the film succeeded and has a loyal fanclub. If there's anyone left who hasn't seen First Blood, I think you'll be glad you did.
A spotlight reviewer stated she didn't like Stallone's acting because his voice is annoying and his mouth is squinted to one side, like a stroke victim. Well, you nearly guessed it. For the record, Stallone had a complicated birth that left one side of his face paralyzed, hence his speech impediment and asymetrical facial features. The guy is a lot smarter than he sounds. I applaud him for overcoming what in today's acting world would be a career-limiting featural flaw.
Stallone has had his share of flops (Judge Dread, etc) but he can act with the best of them when the film is well written and directed. He's also a talented writer, as evidenced by his writing credit for Rocky.
I can't say enough good things about Brian Dennehy as Sheriff Wil Teasle. He really nailed the part. I especially liked his squaring off with Colonel Samuel Trautman. Dennehy brings a wealth of acting ability to any film he's in. If Stallone is the brick, Dennehy is the mortar in First Blood. Well done. | 2 | positive | [
"First Blood is a straight-forward, well-written action flick that keeps the audiences attention and ends on an emotional note that serves to expose the plight of our veterans of vietnam.",
"John Rambo's treatment by the local sheriff is not unlike that which some of our less fortunate citizens experience when law enforcement gets carried away.",
"For an action film, First Blood didn't stray too far away from reality like many of today's hyper-violent films do.",
"For that reason, the film succeeded and has a loyal fanclub.",
"If there's anyone left who hasn't seen First Blood, I think you'll be glad you did.",
"A spotlight reviewer stated she didn't like Stallone's acting because his voice is annoying and his mouth is squinted to one side, like a stroke victim.",
"Well, you nearly guessed it.",
"For the record, Stallone had a complicated birth that left one side of his face paralyzed, hence his speech impediment and asymetrical facial features.",
"The guy is a lot smarter than he sounds.",
"I applaud him for overcoming what in today's acting world would be a career-limiting featural flaw.",
"Stallone has had his share of flops (Judge Dread, etc) but he can act with the best of them when the film is well written and directed.",
"He's also a talented writer, as evidenced by his writing credit for Rocky.",
"I can't say enough good things about Brian Dennehy as Sheriff Wil Teasle.",
"He really nailed the part.",
"I especially liked his squaring off with Colonel Samuel Trautman.",
"Dennehy brings a wealth of acting ability to any film he's in.",
"If Stallone is the brick, Dennehy is the mortar in First Blood.",
"Well done."
] |
Ran this cable down a 24' pole from 2 large antennas that were ganged together pointed 90 degrees apart. The run was then 60 feet underground. We opted to put the cable in 1/2" gray plastic conduit for protection. The connectors were well attached and had small o-rings in them for a weather seal. We encased the connection on the mast in silicon caulk anyway. The jacket on this cable felt much better than cheap big-box cable.
When we finally got the two antennas pointed in the best directions the picture on our 40" HDTV was INCREDIBLE. We don't have a rotator due to a constant high wind load and often bad ice loads. The most common ones available last about 18 months and are useless. A pair of antennas pulls in a lot of signal. I credit the picture quality in part to the quality of this cable. This cable also seemed to have better reviews than some other "dedicated", direct burial or quad-shielded cable.....GOOD CHOICE FOR US. | 2 | positive | [
"Ran this cable down a 24' pole from 2 large antennas that were ganged together pointed 90 degrees apart.",
"The run was then 60 feet underground.",
"We opted to put the cable in 1/2\" gray plastic conduit for protection.",
"The connectors were well attached and had small o-rings in them for a weather seal.",
"We encased the connection on the mast in silicon caulk anyway.",
"The jacket on this cable felt much better than cheap big-box cable.",
"When we finally got the two antennas pointed in the best directions the picture on our 40\" HDTV was INCREDIBLE.",
"We don't have a rotator due to a constant high wind load and often bad ice loads.",
"The most common ones available last about 18 months and are useless.",
"A pair of antennas pulls in a lot of signal.",
"I credit the picture quality in part to the quality of this cable.",
"This cable also seemed to have better reviews than some other \"dedicated\", direct burial or quad-shielded cable....",
".",
"GOOD CHOICE FOR US."
] |
While cruising for free books by indie authors i stumbled upon this book. Initially, honestly, i passed over the title a few times. I couldn't imagine a book with a title like this one would be interesting, plus the generic stock photo book cover? i thought ok this is some horoscope type thing.
you know what they say about judging a book by its cover? dont. and don't judge this one by that standard because..... you will miss out.
I was in love quickly. I am so grateful that i went ahead and try it. I am so excited that by 10% i knew that i'd scarcely be able to put my kindle down.
I saw other reviews that complained of slight typos, and i mean slight. i have a knack for finding the wrong word that was spell checked right (for instance instead of rain the typo read ran) but it was a weird random error. the complaint of inappropriate italics lead me to think that they were really bad. yup they are used a lot but it fit.
indeed it is a novel divided into 3 bits. individual sections do not stand alone. I got lucky in getting book 2 free. i wouldnt have bought book 2 on just book one, but i have an exceedingly tight budget. i did buy book 3 since i was drawn to the story and i was 2/3 the way thru. this is the only reason it lost a star, $2.99 a section is steep.
I was actually quite surprised with the level of detail in the new modern world. its a stretch to believe that in less than 60 years the world would make these sort of tech breakthrus but look at the 1950's and what we have now. that hurdle was passed. I find the dramatic restructuring of the US cool. its an odd coincidence that the US in the book was a post bankruptcy US given the latest dramatics in our government and its fiscal matters. I adore the making the main character a history teacher because it gave a plausible reason for explaining the restructuring that was done in the past.
Most of all I love love love that this was just an epidemic story. viruses that kill people then turn them into mindless zombies are a dime a dozen. this story is fathomable and just enough reality to have fun with it. its not just common. i love the way they describe individuals and their personalities after the end of the world. the survivors are real. some are poaching jerks, some are trying to do the best they can to live right.
so, ya, jump in | 2 | positive | [
"While cruising for free books by indie authors i stumbled upon this book.",
"Initially, honestly, i passed over the title a few times.",
"I couldn't imagine a book with a title like this one would be interesting, plus the generic stock photo book cover?",
"i thought ok this is some horoscope type thing.",
"you know what they say about judging a book by its cover?",
"dont.",
"and don't judge this one by that standard because....",
".",
"you will miss out.",
"I was in love quickly.",
"I am so grateful that i went ahead and try it.",
"I am so excited that by 10% i knew that i'd scarcely be able to put my kindle down.",
"I saw other reviews that complained of slight typos, and i mean slight.",
"i have a knack for finding the wrong word that was spell checked right (for instance instead of rain the typo read ran) but it was a weird random error.",
"the complaint of inappropriate italics lead me to think that they were really bad.",
"yup they are used a lot but it fit.",
"indeed it is a novel divided into 3 bits.",
"individual sections do not stand alone.",
"I got lucky in getting book 2 free.",
"i wouldnt have bought book 2 on just book one, but i have an exceedingly tight budget.",
"i did buy book 3 since i was drawn to the story and i was 2/3 the way thru.",
"this is the only reason it lost a star, $2.",
"99 a section is steep.",
"I was actually quite surprised with the level of detail in the new modern world.",
"its a stretch to believe that in less than 60 years the world would make these sort of tech breakthrus but look at the 1950's and what we have now.",
"that hurdle was passed.",
"I find the dramatic restructuring of the US cool.",
"its an odd coincidence that the US in the book was a post bankruptcy US given the latest dramatics in our government and its fiscal matters.",
"I adore the making the main character a history teacher because it gave a plausible reason for explaining the restructuring that was done in the past.",
"Most of all I love love love that this was just an epidemic story.",
"viruses that kill people then turn them into mindless zombies are a dime a dozen.",
"this story is fathomable and just enough reality to have fun with it.",
"its not just common.",
"i love the way they describe individuals and their personalities after the end of the world.",
"the survivors are real.",
"some are poaching jerks, some are trying to do the best they can to live right.",
"so, ya, jump in"
] |
Like most low and middle priced chisels, they're shipped dull and need to be sharpened before they can be used, a lot like how most fountain pens are sold without ink in them and shoes come unlaced - it's a little annoying but it's simply how it's done. Just consider the first time you sharpen these to be practice because chisels get dull as you use them and you will be sharpening them again.
My set included: 1 straight edge chisel, 1 skew chisel, 1 round gouge, 1 v-gouge, 1 round gouge with a moderate spoon-bend, and 1 round gouge with more severe spoon-bend. The metal was coated with a rust protectant which is very difficult to get off so the shafts on mine are still rust protected - no shame in that! The set came in a cardboard box with slots for each chisel that works very well at keeping the chisels from knocking around and getting damaged, so that's what I still store them in.
It took me about 10 - 20 minutes to sharpen each one. It was fairly easy and I got them hair-splitting sharp using a medium grit wet stone, a fine wet stone, and a strop. I''m sad to say the spoon-bent ones took the longest because I'm just not very good at sharpening that style of chisel. The skew chisel's bevel hadn't been ground at all leaving the edge far to acute so I had to grind it before I could sharpen it, taking a lot of extra time. Very annoying but fixable.
The handles are made out of a light-weight but sturdy wood, good for hand-push work but I wouldn't recommend taking a mallet to them. They're nicely rounded and fit comfortably in my hands but they are on the small side so if you have big beefy hands you might need to wrap them or change them out for larger ones.
I've mostly carved pine with them and the cutting edges stay sharp for many hours of work. My boyfriend borrowed them and kept commenting on how very sharp they where, and that was after I'd used them for several hours. I cannot say how well they'd hold up on hard woods but as long as you wheren't rough with them they should work well. Just keep in mind they are for detail type carving and not for blasting though large amounts of wood. This set is well sized and shaped for smaller carving work.
My only real complaint is the skew chisel not being ground properly. That's just sloppy manufacturing especially when it would only take another 5 or 10 seconds in the factory to grind it at least close to 15 degrees on each side. It was a very fixable problem though, and considering the price I don't think it's a deal-breaker. Just be sure to have a grinding stone on hand.
Many many reviews rate these very low because they're shipped dull. Please don't let that keep you from buying this set. If you can't sharpen chisels or hate doing it, wood carving probably isn't for you. These are not top of the line tools with hickory handles and the best steel shipped perfectly sharp and ready for 300 years of hard use. Those cost $75 each. These are cheap but good tools that will last for dozens of years or longer with careful use. An hour or two of grinding and sharpening and you're in business for very little money! | 2 | positive | [
"Like most low and middle priced chisels, they're shipped dull and need to be sharpened before they can be used, a lot like how most fountain pens are sold without ink in them and shoes come unlaced - it's a little annoying but it's simply how it's done.",
"Just consider the first time you sharpen these to be practice because chisels get dull as you use them and you will be sharpening them again.",
"My set included: 1 straight edge chisel, 1 skew chisel, 1 round gouge, 1 v-gouge, 1 round gouge with a moderate spoon-bend, and 1 round gouge with more severe spoon-bend.",
"The metal was coated with a rust protectant which is very difficult to get off so the shafts on mine are still rust protected - no shame in that!",
"The set came in a cardboard box with slots for each chisel that works very well at keeping the chisels from knocking around and getting damaged, so that's what I still store them in.",
"It took me about 10 - 20 minutes to sharpen each one.",
"It was fairly easy and I got them hair-splitting sharp using a medium grit wet stone, a fine wet stone, and a strop.",
"I''m sad to say the spoon-bent ones took the longest because I'm just not very good at sharpening that style of chisel.",
"The skew chisel's bevel hadn't been ground at all leaving the edge far to acute so I had to grind it before I could sharpen it, taking a lot of extra time.",
"Very annoying but fixable.",
"The handles are made out of a light-weight but sturdy wood, good for hand-push work but I wouldn't recommend taking a mallet to them.",
"They're nicely rounded and fit comfortably in my hands but they are on the small side so if you have big beefy hands you might need to wrap them or change them out for larger ones.",
"I've mostly carved pine with them and the cutting edges stay sharp for many hours of work.",
"My boyfriend borrowed them and kept commenting on how very sharp they where, and that was after I'd used them for several hours.",
"I cannot say how well they'd hold up on hard woods but as long as you wheren't rough with them they should work well.",
"Just keep in mind they are for detail type carving and not for blasting though large amounts of wood.",
"This set is well sized and shaped for smaller carving work.",
"My only real complaint is the skew chisel not being ground properly.",
"That's just sloppy manufacturing especially when it would only take another 5 or 10 seconds in the factory to grind it at least close to 15 degrees on each side.",
"It was a very fixable problem though, and considering the price I don't think it's a deal-breaker.",
"Just be sure to have a grinding stone on hand.",
"Many many reviews rate these very low because they're shipped dull.",
"Please don't let that keep you from buying this set.",
"If you can't sharpen chisels or hate doing it, wood carving probably isn't for you.",
"These are not top of the line tools with hickory handles and the best steel shipped perfectly sharp and ready for 300 years of hard use.",
"Those cost $75 each.",
"These are cheap but good tools that will last for dozens of years or longer with careful use.",
"An hour or two of grinding and sharpening and you're in business for very little money!"
] |
SO glad I bought this spinner. Beats the ones in the store ANYDAY! Don't waste your money at Wal-Mart.....theirs is JUNK! The bowl is nice and thick so you won't have to worry about it flexing. Basket is thick and tough so I don't see it breaking anytime in the near or far future. Lid is nice and snug as well so it will keep your salad fresher longer.
UPDATE: 2/2/15
This thing is still as nice as the day I bought it! Gets used A LOT too. No problems at all. We LOVE it! | 2 | positive | [
"SO glad I bought this spinner.",
"Beats the ones in the store ANYDAY!",
"Don't waste your money at Wal-Mart....",
".",
"theirs is JUNK!",
"The bowl is nice and thick so you won't have to worry about it flexing.",
"Basket is thick and tough so I don't see it breaking anytime in the near or far future.",
"Lid is nice and snug as well so it will keep your salad fresher longer.",
"UPDATE: 2/2/15\nThis thing is still as nice as the day I bought it!",
"Gets used A LOT too.",
"No problems at all.",
"We LOVE it!"
] |
How many times have you read reviews about this book that said, "...this story is not at all what I was expecting..."? Well, there's a reason for that! I think this cover is slightly misleading. Oh, yeah, that classic girl-in-the-big-beautiful-dress is perfect! The crows flying up and the reference to the time of day being twilight all fit the story. So okay, you got me. The cover fits... but I swear I had absolutely no clue what I was in for when I started this book. Here's what I got...
Setting / World Building and all the Characters
Ms. Dark starts our journey in present day New York City. Yes, this is an urban fantasy / paranormal romance; I'd say about 50/50. I wasn't expecting that! The title screams love story to me. I really enjoyed sitting back and getting settled into the small town of Fairwick and the big huge old house Callie moves into. She's ordering new furniture online (wish I could order my bed from Anthropologie *sigh*) and shopping the local antique stops to furnish it. She's meeting her eclectic neighbors preparing for her first day of work at the college. And she's having crazy hot dreams just about every night (not that she's really complaining about them). More about those in a moment. But it's a whole "world" Ms. Dark is building here, not just a love story.
During all this world building / setting up of the story, we are introduced to a ton of characters who will become a part of Callie's new life in Fairwick. We're meeting neighbors, co-workers, not to mention the old best friend from New York City, and a cold, distant grandmother you want to throw sticks at to get her to feel anything like a grandmother to Callie. You would think this would be overwhelming and hard to keep track of but it really wasn't for me. Maybe it was because almost all the new characters were some really cool species of supernatural being and had such fun, endearing personalities. Ms. Dark went in absolutely every direction to pull in characters and quirks. I was happily surprised and completely not expecting to enjoy this whole world being built for me.
My only complaint? It took until about 53% into the book for the story to start moving away from world building and into full-on plot. But with the originality and sheer enjoyment of the characters in the book, the story was well worth the wait.
Story / Tempo
You may be noticing that I'm not mentioning anything about "the demon lover" himself or anything about the romance in the book. I'm sooooo doing that on purpose because the story surrounding that is so cool I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. I felt a little like this book was spoiled for me because I had inadvertently read the synopsis for the second book in the series, The Water Witch. If you did the same thing I did, just know that The Water Witch`s synopsis doesn't really spoil the first book for you. Just keep an open mind. And be prepared for an unconventional love story with love scenes the likes I've never read before! Very cool...
There are multiple sub story lines occurring throughout the story and they all wrap up nicely into each other at the end. The reason why I gave this book 4 stars and not 5 stars is because I saw the story and all it's twists coming a mile away. The story and it's base plot was just a bit too predictable for me. I think I've become a tad bit too cynical or something - I'm starting to think like the bad guys, apparently.
But it was the strength of the cast of characters and the crazy awesome (I have no other words to describe it and I've looked for 15 minutes!) love story that really had me hooked after 54% and all the way to the end. This series has a ton of potential if not for just Callie's story but for any of the other character's tale. | 2 | positive | [
"How many times have you read reviews about this book that said, \"...",
"this story is not at all what I was expecting...",
"\"?",
"Well, there's a reason for that!",
"I think this cover is slightly misleading.",
"Oh, yeah, that classic girl-in-the-big-beautiful-dress is perfect!",
"The crows flying up and the reference to the time of day being twilight all fit the story.",
"So okay, you got me.",
"The cover fits...",
"but I swear I had absolutely no clue what I was in for when I started this book.",
"Here's what I got...",
"Setting / World Building and all the Characters\n\nMs.",
"Dark starts our journey in present day New York City.",
"Yes, this is an urban fantasy / paranormal romance; I'd say about 50/50.",
"I wasn't expecting that!",
"The title screams love story to me.",
"I really enjoyed sitting back and getting settled into the small town of Fairwick and the big huge old house Callie moves into.",
"She's ordering new furniture online (wish I could order my bed from Anthropologie *sigh*) and shopping the local antique stops to furnish it.",
"She's meeting her eclectic neighbors preparing for her first day of work at the college.",
"And she's having crazy hot dreams just about every night (not that she's really complaining about them).",
"More about those in a moment.",
"But it's a whole \"world\" Ms.",
"Dark is building here, not just a love story.",
"During all this world building / setting up of the story, we are introduced to a ton of characters who will become a part of Callie's new life in Fairwick.",
"We're meeting neighbors, co-workers, not to mention the old best friend from New York City, and a cold, distant grandmother you want to throw sticks at to get her to feel anything like a grandmother to Callie.",
"You would think this would be overwhelming and hard to keep track of but it really wasn't for me.",
"Maybe it was because almost all the new characters were some really cool species of supernatural being and had such fun, endearing personalities.",
"Ms.",
"Dark went in absolutely every direction to pull in characters and quirks.",
"I was happily surprised and completely not expecting to enjoy this whole world being built for me.",
"My only complaint?",
"It took until about 53% into the book for the story to start moving away from world building and into full-on plot.",
"But with the originality and sheer enjoyment of the characters in the book, the story was well worth the wait.",
"Story / Tempo\n\nYou may be noticing that I'm not mentioning anything about \"the demon lover\" himself or anything about the romance in the book.",
"I'm sooooo doing that on purpose because the story surrounding that is so cool I don't want to spoil anything for anyone.",
"I felt a little like this book was spoiled for me because I had inadvertently read the synopsis for the second book in the series, The Water Witch.",
"If you did the same thing I did, just know that The Water Witch`s synopsis doesn't really spoil the first book for you.",
"Just keep an open mind.",
"And be prepared for an unconventional love story with love scenes the likes I've never read before!",
"Very cool...",
"There are multiple sub story lines occurring throughout the story and they all wrap up nicely into each other at the end.",
"The reason why I gave this book 4 stars and not 5 stars is because I saw the story and all it's twists coming a mile away.",
"The story and it's base plot was just a bit too predictable for me.",
"I think I've become a tad bit too cynical or something - I'm starting to think like the bad guys, apparently.",
"But it was the strength of the cast of characters and the crazy awesome (I have no other words to describe it and I've looked for 15 minutes!",
") love story that really had me hooked after 54% and all the way to the end.",
"This series has a ton of potential if not for just Callie's story but for any of the other character's tale."
] |
Vegan. Organic. Kosher. Low fat. Classic bean chili style. Full of delicious black beans. Not strongly spiced, but very flavorful. Great with organic rice or pasta or with your favorite crackers. Can be used like 'dal' in South Asian cuisine. No GMO ingredients. Another vegan wonder from Amy's kitchen! This review is out there for those for whom this makes a difference. See all of my reviews for more great choices. Check out "Vegan Grocery Favorites" and "Vegan Grocery Top Ten" in Listmania. Your "helpful" votes count and will be greatly appreciated to benefit the search of others. Thank you. | 2 | positive | [
"Vegan.",
"Organic.",
"Kosher.",
"Low fat.",
"Classic bean chili style.",
"Full of delicious black beans.",
"Not strongly spiced, but very flavorful.",
"Great with organic rice or pasta or with your favorite crackers.",
"Can be used like 'dal' in South Asian cuisine.",
"No GMO ingredients.",
"Another vegan wonder from Amy's kitchen!",
"This review is out there for those for whom this makes a difference.",
"See all of my reviews for more great choices.",
"Check out \"Vegan Grocery Favorites\" and \"Vegan Grocery Top Ten\" in Listmania.",
"Your \"helpful\" votes count and will be greatly appreciated to benefit the search of others.",
"Thank you."
] |
Ol ELO by Electric Light Orchestra is one of those albums you own because you have everything else or you don't own because you've never heard of it. Released in '76, this is their second compilation/Best of albums. It features 12 songs, three on Side 1 and the remainder on Side 2. Personally, I like it. It's a good album to put on when you're in the mood for their better songs without hearing the ones you'd rather skip over.
Side 1's three songs are 5:25, 11:10 and 8:02 in duration. That makes for a good side to put on, do things, hear music but not really have to pay attention to too much. I know you do that, I do.
Ol ELO was originally a promotional album for radio stations. Given the airplay it received, it was subsequently issued to appease the fans. | 2 | positive | [
"Ol ELO by Electric Light Orchestra is one of those albums you own because you have everything else or you don't own because you've never heard of it.",
"Released in '76, this is their second compilation/Best of albums.",
"It features 12 songs, three on Side 1 and the remainder on Side 2.",
"Personally, I like it.",
"It's a good album to put on when you're in the mood for their better songs without hearing the ones you'd rather skip over.",
"Side 1's three songs are 5:25, 11:10 and 8:02 in duration.",
"That makes for a good side to put on, do things, hear music but not really have to pay attention to too much.",
"I know you do that, I do.",
"Ol ELO was originally a promotional album for radio stations.",
"Given the airplay it received, it was subsequently issued to appease the fans."
] |
An engaging and original story, superb voice acting and fun music are just some of the things I can say about this game. Everyone I haved talked with that has played this game has loved it. Its one of the games you don't forget and know its a classic as soon as you finish it.
Runs on my WindowsXP box with no trouble, so grab this game and enjoy a great piece of work.
Just an update to my review. Grim Fandango runs fine on XP if you don't have more than one cpu. Since the Pentium 4 processors with hyperthreading emulate multiple processors this applies to single processor machines with these Pentiums as well. (Designated with a c)
There is a way to get around this. Setting the game to run with a cpu affinity for one cpu. Yes, scary technical jargon. It just means forcing the game to run on a specific processor.
Running the game in compatibility mode starts the game with an affinity for one cpu but wrecks the sound support. As a dev I was able to write a simple 3 line program to start the game with an affinity for one cpu without making it run in compatibility mode, thus getting it to play and not give up on sound.
If you have a multiprocessor machine or a hyperthreading cpu and you really want to play this game you'll want to search the web for a program that lets you start applications with a specific cpu affinity. There was one called exemode a while back. | 2 | positive | [
"An engaging and original story, superb voice acting and fun music are just some of the things I can say about this game.",
"Everyone I haved talked with that has played this game has loved it.",
"Its one of the games you don't forget and know its a classic as soon as you finish it.",
"Runs on my WindowsXP box with no trouble, so grab this game and enjoy a great piece of work.",
"Just an update to my review.",
"Grim Fandango runs fine on XP if you don't have more than one cpu.",
"Since the Pentium 4 processors with hyperthreading emulate multiple processors this applies to single processor machines with these Pentiums as well.",
"(Designated with a c)\nThere is a way to get around this.",
"Setting the game to run with a cpu affinity for one cpu.",
"Yes, scary technical jargon.",
"It just means forcing the game to run on a specific processor.",
"Running the game in compatibility mode starts the game with an affinity for one cpu but wrecks the sound support.",
"As a dev I was able to write a simple 3 line program to start the game with an affinity for one cpu without making it run in compatibility mode, thus getting it to play and not give up on sound.",
"If you have a multiprocessor machine or a hyperthreading cpu and you really want to play this game you'll want to search the web for a program that lets you start applications with a specific cpu affinity.",
"There was one called exemode a while back."
] |
I'm new to figure drawing, and have tried many (most?) of the options for drawing. I hate graphite, shiny and bland. I love charcoal, dark or light or gray or black, but finding the right one for what I am doing has been a challenge. But so many options are ultra messy, or they are square so are hard to get a point I like, or they aren't black enough, or the paper is too hard to rip down to new charcoal, or the break when you look at them.... First: A note to people who complain that they dropped them and they broke. Yes, and so do eggs. Do you give eggs a thumbs down, or one star for breaking when you drop them? Just curious. Back to topic: They can be tough/challenging to sharpen, but when you do you do get them pointy, you can soon apply very wide shading, or narrow. Your fingers don't turn black (nor does the cat get black streaks when he gets pet without thinking about the state of your pinkies) If it has a pretty sharp point, you can use it until the point is flat on one side, but still sharp, so by rotating it, you can get wider or very fine marks. I love that. They will break if you drop them, but I find them satisfactorily robust unless it rolls off my desk, which happened. They are round after all.... As some have mentioned, there is very little difference between the 3 grades, but they are all fine with me. And as far as I'm concerned, they are as black as most of the other options I have experimented with, so I'm happy. The one downside is that it is not black black. It's dark, blackish, but not soft-compressed, or vine black. But I'm happy to practice/learn with these, and splash a little real black on when needed. I may stop using them when I am much more experienced, but for now, they are a good compromise for me. Back to my practice! | 2 | positive | [
"I'm new to figure drawing, and have tried many (most?",
") of the options for drawing.",
"I hate graphite, shiny and bland.",
"I love charcoal, dark or light or gray or black, but finding the right one for what I am doing has been a challenge.",
"But so many options are ultra messy, or they are square so are hard to get a point I like, or they aren't black enough, or the paper is too hard to rip down to new charcoal, or the break when you look at them....",
"First: A note to people who complain that they dropped them and they broke.",
"Yes, and so do eggs.",
"Do you give eggs a thumbs down, or one star for breaking when you drop them?",
"Just curious.",
"Back to topic: They can be tough/challenging to sharpen, but when you do you do get them pointy, you can soon apply very wide shading, or narrow.",
"Your fingers don't turn black (nor does the cat get black streaks when he gets pet without thinking about the state of your pinkies) If it has a pretty sharp point, you can use it until the point is flat on one side, but still sharp, so by rotating it, you can get wider or very fine marks.",
"I love that.",
"They will break if you drop them, but I find them satisfactorily robust unless it rolls off my desk, which happened.",
"They are round after all....",
"As some have mentioned, there is very little difference between the 3 grades, but they are all fine with me.",
"And as far as I'm concerned, they are as black as most of the other options I have experimented with, so I'm happy.",
"The one downside is that it is not black black.",
"It's dark, blackish, but not soft-compressed, or vine black.",
"But I'm happy to practice/learn with these, and splash a little real black on when needed.",
"I may stop using them when I am much more experienced, but for now, they are a good compromise for me.",
"Back to my practice!"
] |
I bought a decent looking bow saw from Ace Hardware several years ago, and have always hated it. We lost several small and medium trees in a drought last summer, and I've been dreading cutting them up. After a lot of research, I decided to buy the best bow saw I could find, rather than rent/borrow/buy a chainsaw. This 30" Bahco with a #51 blade was well reviewed on several sites, so I ordered and recieved it yesterday. Last night I cut down 3 trees, each about 3" diameter and 20' tall with it. It only took me 1 hour to cut the trunk into logs, and the branches into small pieces my 5-year-old could drag. I was completely amazed at how much nicer it cuts than the cheap saw I had before.
The tensioner on this saw really sets it apart from others. It's easy to keep it tight with the large handle on the nut. The other feature that really set this saw apart is the pegged tooth blade for dry wood. Each tooth is hardened and is literally as sharp as a razor. Without rakers to slow it down, the saw cuts smooth and fast through dry wood. If you need to prune green wood, pick up the #23 blade to go with this saw, or buy that package if you don't have dry wood to cut.
My old cheapie bow saw was given away this morning, with a warning to the next guy that I hated it. I'll consider giving these as gifts in the future. It's a lifetime tool that works better than anything I can find locally. | 2 | positive | [
"I bought a decent looking bow saw from Ace Hardware several years ago, and have always hated it.",
"We lost several small and medium trees in a drought last summer, and I've been dreading cutting them up.",
"After a lot of research, I decided to buy the best bow saw I could find, rather than rent/borrow/buy a chainsaw.",
"This 30\" Bahco with a #51 blade was well reviewed on several sites, so I ordered and recieved it yesterday.",
"Last night I cut down 3 trees, each about 3\" diameter and 20' tall with it.",
"It only took me 1 hour to cut the trunk into logs, and the branches into small pieces my 5-year-old could drag.",
"I was completely amazed at how much nicer it cuts than the cheap saw I had before.",
"The tensioner on this saw really sets it apart from others.",
"It's easy to keep it tight with the large handle on the nut.",
"The other feature that really set this saw apart is the pegged tooth blade for dry wood.",
"Each tooth is hardened and is literally as sharp as a razor.",
"Without rakers to slow it down, the saw cuts smooth and fast through dry wood.",
"If you need to prune green wood, pick up the #23 blade to go with this saw, or buy that package if you don't have dry wood to cut.",
"My old cheapie bow saw was given away this morning, with a warning to the next guy that I hated it.",
"I'll consider giving these as gifts in the future.",
"It's a lifetime tool that works better than anything I can find locally."
] |
This is a novel, so first and foremost, it is meant to entertain. I felt that Robinson accomplished that goal very well. I read the paperback, which was about 750 pages, but they went by quickly. It's an entertaining story, covering "Hornet Squadron" in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. There are some very intriguing characters in the book. Pilots unlike any you've encountered in non-fiction books. In addition to being entertained, you'll learn a lot about problems with tactics, equipment, claims, and leadership encountered during the battle. I can't say I'm an expert in the Battle of Britain, but the details of the story rang true to me. I do not recall any glaring mistakes. If you have an interest in the Battle of Britain, or air combat in general, I think you will enjoy the book. | 2 | positive | [
"This is a novel, so first and foremost, it is meant to entertain.",
"I felt that Robinson accomplished that goal very well.",
"I read the paperback, which was about 750 pages, but they went by quickly.",
"It's an entertaining story, covering \"Hornet Squadron\" in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain.",
"There are some very intriguing characters in the book.",
"Pilots unlike any you've encountered in non-fiction books.",
"In addition to being entertained, you'll learn a lot about problems with tactics, equipment, claims, and leadership encountered during the battle.",
"I can't say I'm an expert in the Battle of Britain, but the details of the story rang true to me.",
"I do not recall any glaring mistakes.",
"If you have an interest in the Battle of Britain, or air combat in general, I think you will enjoy the book."
] |
100% Silicone is one of the best types of sealants, and this may just be the best I've used. But be warned, it is extremely difficult to get a nice perfect bead, even if you're good at caulking. Basically you can only touch it once- as soon as you lift your finger for any reason (to wipe away excess caulk, or continue the bead), it's nearly impossible to continue from where you left off without messing up the bead. And if you try to go over the bead again to fix it(big mistake!), you'll make it much worse- so for minor imperfections, it's better to just leave it.
For this reason, I recommend using transparent caulk when possible, since these minor imperfections will be less obvious. I also recommend cutting the caulk nozzle smaller than you think you'll need. The next time I use this caulk, I'm going to try using 'CAULK-EZ' brand tooling aid (http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00ILFLH2Q). I haven't used it yet, but if it works half as well as they claim, it will save a lot of time and frustration, and be well worth the cost. And as always, use a good dripless caulk gun (I use 'Dripless Inc. ETS2000 Ergo', best one on the market imo, http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0002CKG1O), and if your poker isn't long enough, just cut up a wire hanger to make a poking tool.
This sealant cures extremely quickly- nearly instantly, in the hot & humid conditions I used it in. It also had very little odor when I applied it, and that didn't last long.
Note: There are several extremely similar versions of this product. I bought these locally at Lowes to guarantee a fresh product, so it may not be exactly the same one. I'm reviewing GE Silicone II, non-paintable, both white and clear. The white version says '30 min rain-ready', the clear might have been 3 hour, and one of the clear tubes I used said kitchen & bathroom on it. As far as I can tell they're all pretty much the same (obviously the white has a much different appearance). | 2 | positive | [
"100% Silicone is one of the best types of sealants, and this may just be the best I've used.",
"But be warned, it is extremely difficult to get a nice perfect bead, even if you're good at caulking.",
"Basically you can only touch it once- as soon as you lift your finger for any reason (to wipe away excess caulk, or continue the bead), it's nearly impossible to continue from where you left off without messing up the bead.",
"And if you try to go over the bead again to fix it(big mistake!",
"), you'll make it much worse- so for minor imperfections, it's better to just leave it.",
"For this reason, I recommend using transparent caulk when possible, since these minor imperfections will be less obvious.",
"I also recommend cutting the caulk nozzle smaller than you think you'll need.",
"The next time I use this caulk, I'm going to try using 'CAULK-EZ' brand tooling aid (http://smile.",
"amazon.",
"com/dp/B00ILFLH2Q).",
"I haven't used it yet, but if it works half as well as they claim, it will save a lot of time and frustration, and be well worth the cost.",
"And as always, use a good dripless caulk gun (I use 'Dripless Inc.",
"ETS2000 Ergo', best one on the market imo, http://smile.",
"amazon.",
"com/dp/B0002CKG1O), and if your poker isn't long enough, just cut up a wire hanger to make a poking tool.",
"This sealant cures extremely quickly- nearly instantly, in the hot & humid conditions I used it in.",
"It also had very little odor when I applied it, and that didn't last long.",
"Note: There are several extremely similar versions of this product.",
"I bought these locally at Lowes to guarantee a fresh product, so it may not be exactly the same one.",
"I'm reviewing GE Silicone II, non-paintable, both white and clear.",
"The white version says '30 min rain-ready', the clear might have been 3 hour, and one of the clear tubes I used said kitchen & bathroom on it.",
"As far as I can tell they're all pretty much the same (obviously the white has a much different appearance)."
] |
Daughter of Deception is the first book in the Family Lies series. In a lot of ways, it is a paranormal Romeo and Juliet. Duke is the regional head of the Network, an organization of people with special abilities dedicated to hunting demons. Viola is the daughter of a man possessed by a powerful demon and from a family with a long, dark, and mysterious past. Against his better judgment, Duke takes her back into the Network and walks right into the demon hunt of his life.
I was hooked from the moment I started reading the story. Duke and Viola are charismatic, interesting characters and the dynamic created between them was fascinating. The story was exciting, with a ton of twists and turns. It had magic and intrigue, betrayal and loyalty from unexpected places. There was pain and there was humor. Aggie, Duke's grandmother, is one of my favorite characters in the book, being everything to Viola that her own family was not. This was one of those books that you fell into and felt as if you were a part of the story. I definately recommend clicking one of those "buy it" links above and picking it up! | 2 | positive | [
"Daughter of Deception is the first book in the Family Lies series.",
"In a lot of ways, it is a paranormal Romeo and Juliet.",
"Duke is the regional head of the Network, an organization of people with special abilities dedicated to hunting demons.",
"Viola is the daughter of a man possessed by a powerful demon and from a family with a long, dark, and mysterious past.",
"Against his better judgment, Duke takes her back into the Network and walks right into the demon hunt of his life.",
"I was hooked from the moment I started reading the story.",
"Duke and Viola are charismatic, interesting characters and the dynamic created between them was fascinating.",
"The story was exciting, with a ton of twists and turns.",
"It had magic and intrigue, betrayal and loyalty from unexpected places.",
"There was pain and there was humor.",
"Aggie, Duke's grandmother, is one of my favorite characters in the book, being everything to Viola that her own family was not.",
"This was one of those books that you fell into and felt as if you were a part of the story.",
"I definately recommend clicking one of those \"buy it\" links above and picking it up!"
] |
The author is a skilled writer. He tells you what things mean and don't mean in many different ways. He really knows how to zero in on difficult concepts using common language. He gives you, based on your own experience, an insight into what the idea of Heaven is all about.
But on page 165 Mr. Lewis was not as complete in his explanation as he normally is. He writes, "We cannot compete in simplicity with people who are inventing religions. How could we? We are dealing with Facts. Of course anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about." And he ends without an explanation of exactly what are the Facts he is thinking of here. A brief list would have been very helpful. The doctrine taught in many mainline churches states, that reason and faith must not contradict and that faith is a supernatural gift. Is he drifting away from this doctrine here or is he just too brief? A clarification or a reference to previous pages (since there is no index) where the Facts may have been already dealt with would have yielded the fifth star. | 2 | positive | [
"The author is a skilled writer.",
"He tells you what things mean and don't mean in many different ways.",
"He really knows how to zero in on difficult concepts using common language.",
"He gives you, based on your own experience, an insight into what the idea of Heaven is all about.",
"But on page 165 Mr.",
"Lewis was not as complete in his explanation as he normally is.",
"He writes, \"We cannot compete in simplicity with people who are inventing religions.",
"How could we?",
"We are dealing with Facts.",
"Of course anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about.",
"\" And he ends without an explanation of exactly what are the Facts he is thinking of here.",
"A brief list would have been very helpful.",
"The doctrine taught in many mainline churches states, that reason and faith must not contradict and that faith is a supernatural gift.",
"Is he drifting away from this doctrine here or is he just too brief?",
"A clarification or a reference to previous pages (since there is no index) where the Facts may have been already dealt with would have yielded the fifth star."
] |
This is a necessary album, and I'm very thankful that Ry Cooder has recorded it and released it in time for the US elections this year. I fear, however, that he is preaching to the choir, so to speak. Obviously, what he's saying in these songs is going to annoy or anger a great many conservatives. Thus, I'm not surprised that so many of the right-wing loony faction have taken offense to Ry's political views and given this album only 1 star. Typical of such dull-witted, myopic hate-mongers. Ah, I know, I shouldn't lower myself to their level and resort to juvenile name calling, but these folks are such easy targets, it's so hard to resist! But back to the album at hand: no, it's not Ry's best. I'd give it only 3 to 4 stars for musical composition and originality, but I bump up the rating for the brilliant lyrical content and Ry's very heartfelt effort to wake up the nation and make people realize that the US is in trouble ... but not for the reasons that so many of the right wing believe. It's the spirit of musicians like Ry Cooder (and also Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, and Steve Earle) that once made America great, and made people proud to be Americans. I hope we never lose that voice. And I hope Ry Cooder keeps making music, however flawed or cliched, as long as it's packed with this much emotion and honesty. | 2 | positive | [
"This is a necessary album, and I'm very thankful that Ry Cooder has recorded it and released it in time for the US elections this year.",
"I fear, however, that he is preaching to the choir, so to speak.",
"Obviously, what he's saying in these songs is going to annoy or anger a great many conservatives.",
"Thus, I'm not surprised that so many of the right-wing loony faction have taken offense to Ry's political views and given this album only 1 star.",
"Typical of such dull-witted, myopic hate-mongers.",
"Ah, I know, I shouldn't lower myself to their level and resort to juvenile name calling, but these folks are such easy targets, it's so hard to resist!",
"But back to the album at hand: no, it's not Ry's best.",
"I'd give it only 3 to 4 stars for musical composition and originality, but I bump up the rating for the brilliant lyrical content and Ry's very heartfelt effort to wake up the nation and make people realize that the US is in trouble...",
"but not for the reasons that so many of the right wing believe.",
"It's the spirit of musicians like Ry Cooder (and also Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, and Steve Earle) that once made America great, and made people proud to be Americans.",
"I hope we never lose that voice.",
"And I hope Ry Cooder keeps making music, however flawed or cliched, as long as it's packed with this much emotion and honesty."
] |
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