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I read this book as a teenager, learning of Lewis from my passion for Tolkien. The book totally fascinated me then, and made me hungry for more. I remember reading a few more of the books in the series, and though I enjoyed them, I never did find the original magic in them that this one inspired. I lost one of the books or two and never completed the series, but years later I returned to it in order to read them to my step-son, and now I'm very glad to have read the whole series in it's entirity.
First off, this and the first book are absolutely the best ones. This time we started with the first book, which I think is named "The Magician's Nephew," and I daresay that as an adult I enjoyed it even MORE than "Wardrobe." The origins of the breach into Narnia and the original sin that freed the witch were fascinating to me.
But returning to "Wardrobe" was a true delight. Now that I can better digest the symbolism and glean more from the story with the added info learned from "Nephew," the book claimed a new tantalizing power over me. My step-son enjoyed it immensely, and couldn't wait to have another chapter read to him each night for bedtime.
As an adult I am now able to better appreciate Lewis's incredible talent for character developement and symbolism, as well as his strong imagination and elegant writing style. The rest of the books were also great, and I'm happy to have finally gotten around to reading them all. Certainly the least in the "Narnia" series is far and above the vast majority of children's chapter books. But for me, the first two are by far the best, approaching the status of even 'The Hobbit," and from me that is saying worlds.
J. Lyon Layden
The Other Side of Yore | 2 | positive | [
"I read this book as a teenager, learning of Lewis from my passion for Tolkien.",
"The book totally fascinated me then, and made me hungry for more.",
"I remember reading a few more of the books in the series, and though I enjoyed them, I never did find the original magic in them that this one inspired.",
"I lost one of the books or two and never completed the series, but years later I returned to it in order to read them to my step-son, and now I'm very glad to have read the whole series in it's entirity.",
"First off, this and the first book are absolutely the best ones.",
"This time we started with the first book, which I think is named \"The Magician's Nephew,\" and I daresay that as an adult I enjoyed it even MORE than \"Wardrobe.",
"\" The origins of the breach into Narnia and the original sin that freed the witch were fascinating to me.",
"But returning to \"Wardrobe\" was a true delight.",
"Now that I can better digest the symbolism and glean more from the story with the added info learned from \"Nephew,\" the book claimed a new tantalizing power over me.",
"My step-son enjoyed it immensely, and couldn't wait to have another chapter read to him each night for bedtime.",
"As an adult I am now able to better appreciate Lewis's incredible talent for character developement and symbolism, as well as his strong imagination and elegant writing style.",
"The rest of the books were also great, and I'm happy to have finally gotten around to reading them all.",
"Certainly the least in the \"Narnia\" series is far and above the vast majority of children's chapter books.",
"But for me, the first two are by far the best, approaching the status of even 'The Hobbit,\" and from me that is saying worlds.",
"J.",
"Lyon Layden\nThe Other Side of Yore"
] |
Chessmaster 10 really is for chess players of all levels. People who have never played chess before can find multiple tutorials designed by different professional chess players that will walk you through (with real recorded voice audio even) not just the basics of the game, but even beginners' strategies. And whether you're new, a pro, or somewhere in between, CMX can help you improve you game from suggesting strategies, catching terrible moves (via the "blunder alert") and even analyze games you finish to tell you what your moves did and how you could have played better. While I haven't tried the online play yet, it appears from the Ubisoft forums that there is a healthy community of CMX players gathering online and competing even 3 years after the game's release.
The game is beautiful too. The 3D pieces and boards are rendered quite nicely (and can look especially good if you have the hardware to support the anti-aliasing, bump-mapping, and other graphical technologies that the game takes advantage of). And since it's 3D, you can change angles and zoom levels on the fly to get the best view of the board when you need it.
Older reviews here (why are the two spotlight reviews from 2004?!) complain about technical issues related to copy-protection in the game. It appears that Ubisoft has fixed all of these problems with their latest patch (if not in an earlier patch) which is free to download. As long as you have an internet connection to download the patch (and a computer that meets the recommended system requirements), you should be able to buy the came with confidence.
CMX is a great chess program. Lots of fun for anyone who enjoys chess, or for people who'd like to start. | 2 | positive | [
"Chessmaster 10 really is for chess players of all levels.",
"People who have never played chess before can find multiple tutorials designed by different professional chess players that will walk you through (with real recorded voice audio even) not just the basics of the game, but even beginners' strategies.",
"And whether you're new, a pro, or somewhere in between, CMX can help you improve you game from suggesting strategies, catching terrible moves (via the \"blunder alert\") and even analyze games you finish to tell you what your moves did and how you could have played better.",
"While I haven't tried the online play yet, it appears from the Ubisoft forums that there is a healthy community of CMX players gathering online and competing even 3 years after the game's release.",
"The game is beautiful too.",
"The 3D pieces and boards are rendered quite nicely (and can look especially good if you have the hardware to support the anti-aliasing, bump-mapping, and other graphical technologies that the game takes advantage of).",
"And since it's 3D, you can change angles and zoom levels on the fly to get the best view of the board when you need it.",
"Older reviews here (why are the two spotlight reviews from 2004?!",
") complain about technical issues related to copy-protection in the game.",
"It appears that Ubisoft has fixed all of these problems with their latest patch (if not in an earlier patch) which is free to download.",
"As long as you have an internet connection to download the patch (and a computer that meets the recommended system requirements), you should be able to buy the came with confidence.",
"CMX is a great chess program.",
"Lots of fun for anyone who enjoys chess, or for people who'd like to start."
] |
My family was having a huge fly problem in the house! Like dozens of flies a day! But let's cut to the chase. This thing does work! We have trapped many flies with this and I am highly satisfied. Here are a few issues with it and the only reasons I didnt give 5 stars. 1) the pads aren't sticky enough if just a fly's legs touch it. Part of their body or their wings need to touch for them to be trapped. 2) Having it on during the day doesn't seem to do much... they prefer the natural daylight by the windows to the trap, so trusty ol fly swatters have to do the trick until nightfall. 3) It is slightly frustrating that the plug doesn't rotate. We have just started using an extension cord so that we can set it up wherever we want. None of this has been a deal breaker (clearly since we still use it) because ever since we have had this, the fly problem has virtually ended! | 2 | positive | [
"My family was having a huge fly problem in the house!",
"Like dozens of flies a day!",
"But let's cut to the chase.",
"This thing does work!",
"We have trapped many flies with this and I am highly satisfied.",
"Here are a few issues with it and the only reasons I didnt give 5 stars.",
"1) the pads aren't sticky enough if just a fly's legs touch it.",
"Part of their body or their wings need to touch for them to be trapped.",
"2) Having it on during the day doesn't seem to do much...",
"they prefer the natural daylight by the windows to the trap, so trusty ol fly swatters have to do the trick until nightfall.",
"3) It is slightly frustrating that the plug doesn't rotate.",
"We have just started using an extension cord so that we can set it up wherever we want.",
"None of this has been a deal breaker (clearly since we still use it) because ever since we have had this, the fly problem has virtually ended!"
] |
Students of the many Bible translations on the market be aware: this is a must have.
(By the way, I never knew that it had an almanac in it!)
The old English spelling of the words takes some getting used to, and it does not have nearly the number of cross references that today's KJV Bibles have.
That aside, it is a beautifully printed reproduction of the Bible. It has not only been ranked with Shakespeare's works as the greatest masterpiece of literature in the English language, but also has been the standard version of the Bible most Christians have read for four hundred years.
In a way, it is sad to see a lot people give up reading the KJV because of the archaic language many claim is a stumbling block to reading the Scriptures. But, as translations of the Bible come on the market (nowadays, there seems to be a new one every year or two), the King James Version is still the standard.
I have never given up on a word or phrase that is confusing or hard to understand. It just makes me dig deeper to find the meaning of the passage. Besides, many of the Bible reference books on the market (Strongs Concordance, Vine's Dictionary of New Testament Words, etc.) are published to help those who are willing understand the KJV better. There is, in my opinion, no reason to put the KJV down.
Own a piece of Christian history...buy one today! | 2 | positive | [
"Students of the many Bible translations on the market be aware: this is a must have.",
"(By the way, I never knew that it had an almanac in it!",
")\nThe old English spelling of the words takes some getting used to, and it does not have nearly the number of cross references that today's KJV Bibles have.",
"That aside, it is a beautifully printed reproduction of the Bible.",
"It has not only been ranked with Shakespeare's works as the greatest masterpiece of literature in the English language, but also has been the standard version of the Bible most Christians have read for four hundred years.",
"In a way, it is sad to see a lot people give up reading the KJV because of the archaic language many claim is a stumbling block to reading the Scriptures.",
"But, as translations of the Bible come on the market (nowadays, there seems to be a new one every year or two), the King James Version is still the standard.",
"I have never given up on a word or phrase that is confusing or hard to understand.",
"It just makes me dig deeper to find the meaning of the passage.",
"Besides, many of the Bible reference books on the market (Strongs Concordance, Vine's Dictionary of New Testament Words, etc.",
") are published to help those who are willing understand the KJV better.",
"There is, in my opinion, no reason to put the KJV down.",
"Own a piece of Christian history...",
"buy one today!"
] |
Those of us old enough to remember the real-life crime spree of Charles Starkweather and his companion Caril Fugate in 1958 watched the tragedy unfolding while wondering what was going through the minds of these two at the time. Were their victims even people to them, or just opportunities along the way to wherever? Terrence Malick's profoundly accomplished and disturbing film "Badlands" based on the Starkweather-Fugate rampage through South Dakota, takes us inside the minds and souls of Kit, a 25 year old ne'er-do-well, and Holly, a 15 year old on the social margins despite her middle-class lifestyle, and we find that while these two may have had intelligence enough, there was a conspicuous absence where their souls should have been.
Holly is a social loner, a wannabe cheerleader, who Kit spies practicing on her lawn. It's love at first sight for him; what is it for her? Love, fascination... we can't tell. There's so much about Holly that's missing. Her mother is dead, her father cares about her but his insensitivity is appalling, and Holly herself doesn't seem connected to anything or anyone. Holly's father knows from the outset that Kit is bad news and he doesn't want him messing with his daughter, so when Kit and Dad go head to head and Dad ends up dead; Holly's reaction shows all the vacuousness of her soulless existence. Is this girl really evil or is she just not there?
On the run across the Badlands of South Dakota, Kit and Holly claim more victims. Holly never does the actual killing, but she never tries to intervene. Kit will shoot down anyone with less trepidation than he would step on a bug, but how does Holly feel about this? Can she feel anything? Even her affection for Kit seems lukewarm. Holly just isn't there.
Malick does a superb job in showing how the badlands inside Kit and Holly match the Badlands of their environment. These two are a study in nothingness. Kit bounces from job to job with nothing to show for it, and Holly... it's tempting to say she just doesn't give a damn, but we never know where she's coming from. There's a very dark night inside Kit's soul but Holly doesn't even seem to have a soul, and in that sense, she's even more disturbing than he is.
The actors are superb. Martin Sheen makes Kit sensual, likeable and at the same time totally amoral; Sissy Spacek is eerily convincing as Holly, and Warren Oates is excellent as her loutish father and the lesser actors. At the end of "Badlands" we realize the futility of the lives of these two young people, and an emptiness inside them that is matches the stark barrenness of the world they live in. | 2 | positive | [
"Those of us old enough to remember the real-life crime spree of Charles Starkweather and his companion Caril Fugate in 1958 watched the tragedy unfolding while wondering what was going through the minds of these two at the time.",
"Were their victims even people to them, or just opportunities along the way to wherever?",
"Terrence Malick's profoundly accomplished and disturbing film \"Badlands\" based on the Starkweather-Fugate rampage through South Dakota, takes us inside the minds and souls of Kit, a 25 year old ne'er-do-well, and Holly, a 15 year old on the social margins despite her middle-class lifestyle, and we find that while these two may have had intelligence enough, there was a conspicuous absence where their souls should have been.",
"Holly is a social loner, a wannabe cheerleader, who Kit spies practicing on her lawn.",
"It's love at first sight for him; what is it for her?",
"Love, fascination...",
"we can't tell.",
"There's so much about Holly that's missing.",
"Her mother is dead, her father cares about her but his insensitivity is appalling, and Holly herself doesn't seem connected to anything or anyone.",
"Holly's father knows from the outset that Kit is bad news and he doesn't want him messing with his daughter, so when Kit and Dad go head to head and Dad ends up dead; Holly's reaction shows all the vacuousness of her soulless existence.",
"Is this girl really evil or is she just not there?",
"On the run across the Badlands of South Dakota, Kit and Holly claim more victims.",
"Holly never does the actual killing, but she never tries to intervene.",
"Kit will shoot down anyone with less trepidation than he would step on a bug, but how does Holly feel about this?",
"Can she feel anything?",
"Even her affection for Kit seems lukewarm.",
"Holly just isn't there.",
"Malick does a superb job in showing how the badlands inside Kit and Holly match the Badlands of their environment.",
"These two are a study in nothingness.",
"Kit bounces from job to job with nothing to show for it, and Holly...",
"it's tempting to say she just doesn't give a damn, but we never know where she's coming from.",
"There's a very dark night inside Kit's soul but Holly doesn't even seem to have a soul, and in that sense, she's even more disturbing than he is.",
"The actors are superb.",
"Martin Sheen makes Kit sensual, likeable and at the same time totally amoral; Sissy Spacek is eerily convincing as Holly, and Warren Oates is excellent as her loutish father and the lesser actors.",
"At the end of \"Badlands\" we realize the futility of the lives of these two young people, and an emptiness inside them that is matches the stark barrenness of the world they live in."
] |
Fits very nicely. Personally, I wish it had more (or any) frontal protection. But I understand that the iPhone 4S's screen area is not that large to begin with. I don't want to argue with iPhone peeps. Spare me, please.
For parents searching for a robust case (i.e., a case that will prevent damage to their child's iPhone), I would suggest investing in a so-called "LifeProof" case instead. LifeProof offers superior shock protection and something that no other iPhone case even considers -- water proof protection. To me, $45 for a LifeProof case (protecting an iPhone 4S) is a wise investment.
Nevertheless, if you're a fairly careful person, or if you believe your kids are (good luck on that), the Otterbox will offer a fair amount of protection from shock. But, if it gets wet, or if they strike the frontal area of the iPhone, then as they say, "have a nice day."
LifeProof for kids. | 2 | positive | [
"Fits very nicely.",
"Personally, I wish it had more (or any) frontal protection.",
"But I understand that the iPhone 4S's screen area is not that large to begin with.",
"I don't want to argue with iPhone peeps.",
"Spare me, please.",
"For parents searching for a robust case (i.",
"e., a case that will prevent damage to their child's iPhone), I would suggest investing in a so-called \"LifeProof\" case instead.",
"LifeProof offers superior shock protection and something that no other iPhone case even considers -- water proof protection.",
"To me, $45 for a LifeProof case (protecting an iPhone 4S) is a wise investment.",
"Nevertheless, if you're a fairly careful person, or if you believe your kids are (good luck on that), the Otterbox will offer a fair amount of protection from shock.",
"But, if it gets wet, or if they strike the frontal area of the iPhone, then as they say, \"have a nice day.",
"\"\n\nLifeProof for kids."
] |
I am a licensed child care provider, and I have mostly boys. Ages 2-7 have all enjoyed this toy! My kids play with cars all day long, and I knew that they would enjoy this toy and I was hoping it'd provide hours of entertainment. Today is the first day playing with it, and they LOVE it but I should've went ahead and purchased more trians when I ordered it. They fought over the 3 trains so much that I had to take them away until the trains that I just ordered today arrive. They can still use cars, but that was a little disappointing that I didn't forsee that issue! :P My own fault! So be warned... get more trains so they kids aren't fighting over taking turns with the only 3 trains that it comes with! :) | 2 | positive | [
"I am a licensed child care provider, and I have mostly boys.",
"Ages 2-7 have all enjoyed this toy!",
"My kids play with cars all day long, and I knew that they would enjoy this toy and I was hoping it'd provide hours of entertainment.",
"Today is the first day playing with it, and they LOVE it but I should've went ahead and purchased more trians when I ordered it.",
"They fought over the 3 trains so much that I had to take them away until the trains that I just ordered today arrive.",
"They can still use cars, but that was a little disappointing that I didn't forsee that issue!",
":P My own fault!",
"So be warned...",
"get more trains so they kids aren't fighting over taking turns with the only 3 trains that it comes with!",
":)"
] |
Well, its been a year... These balls were a Christmas gift last year and I can say that over the year, they really held up. We bought them for a pop up tent (loved the tent... you know, the hexagon one) and we used the balls in the basement.
In general...
PROS...
- they are lightweight, so when the kids throw them, no one gets hurt
- they are not crushproof. I can easily crush the with my hands...BUT... they do return to shape easily.
- they don't seem to break at the seems (we didn't get any broken ones either).
- the colors are bright and pretty cheery
- great carrying case... that thing has been used over and over this year and it still works... I wasn't expecting that.
- nice size... these are pretty big, so they cover a good deal of area. Be careful of the cheaper balls that are sometimes smaller... it will take more balls to fill a space if you get the smaller balls....
CONS
- they aren't the same quality as the ones you find in commercial facilities. They are just a bit too thin to be that durable. If your kids are older or bigger, you may want to get balls that are a bit more sturdy.
- 100 balls isn't enough. No really... whatever you want to do with these balls, you probably need more... one bag is just never enough. | 2 | positive | [
"Well, its been a year...",
"These balls were a Christmas gift last year and I can say that over the year, they really held up.",
"We bought them for a pop up tent (loved the tent...",
"you know, the hexagon one) and we used the balls in the basement.",
"In general...",
"PROS...",
"- they are lightweight, so when the kids throw them, no one gets hurt\n- they are not crushproof.",
"I can easily crush the with my hands...",
"BUT...",
"they do return to shape easily.",
"- they don't seem to break at the seems (we didn't get any broken ones either).",
"- the colors are bright and pretty cheery\n- great carrying case...",
"that thing has been used over and over this year and it still works...",
"I wasn't expecting that.",
"- nice size...",
"these are pretty big, so they cover a good deal of area.",
"Be careful of the cheaper balls that are sometimes smaller...",
"it will take more balls to fill a space if you get the smaller balls....",
"CONS\n- they aren't the same quality as the ones you find in commercial facilities.",
"They are just a bit too thin to be that durable.",
"If your kids are older or bigger, you may want to get balls that are a bit more sturdy.",
"- 100 balls isn't enough.",
"No really...",
"whatever you want to do with these balls, you probably need more...",
"one bag is just never enough."
] |
The Cornish Mystery - Perhaps not the most complex mystery ever concieved, but the character interaction in this episode more than makes up for that! There are great bits about an Indian restaurant, a man in a scarlet kneeband, a yellow-haired hussie, and Japp once again losing a case to Poirot. The actors really shine in this one! Also the background music is great! - 4.5 stars
Double Sin - This one combines great character interaction as well as a great mystery. The solution is great, and even the background music is good! If this episode has any flaws it's that the Miss Lemon side-plot seems out-of-place, but that doesn't really detract from the episode at all - 4.5 stars
The Adventure of the Cheap Flat - Another great mystery with a tad of a plot stretch. There are some enjoyable side-characters in this one like an American FBI agent and a club-owner who never picks up his phone. Just as good as the first two, rounding out this set rather nicely! - 4.5 stars
Box Set Overall score (Not an Average) - 5 stars | 2 | positive | [
"The Cornish Mystery - Perhaps not the most complex mystery ever concieved, but the character interaction in this episode more than makes up for that!",
"There are great bits about an Indian restaurant, a man in a scarlet kneeband, a yellow-haired hussie, and Japp once again losing a case to Poirot.",
"The actors really shine in this one!",
"Also the background music is great!",
"- 4.",
"5 stars\nDouble Sin - This one combines great character interaction as well as a great mystery.",
"The solution is great, and even the background music is good!",
"If this episode has any flaws it's that the Miss Lemon side-plot seems out-of-place, but that doesn't really detract from the episode at all - 4.",
"5 stars\nThe Adventure of the Cheap Flat - Another great mystery with a tad of a plot stretch.",
"There are some enjoyable side-characters in this one like an American FBI agent and a club-owner who never picks up his phone.",
"Just as good as the first two, rounding out this set rather nicely!",
"- 4.",
"5 stars\nBox Set Overall score (Not an Average) - 5 stars"
] |
"...instead of having sweet dreams about you." Jessica Lange stars as the unforgettable Patsy Cline in this very entertaining, rags-to-riches bio pic. The story opens in the fifties, and Patsy is singing in small-time honky tonks in Virginia. There, she meets charming Charlie Dick (Ed Harris) who woos her and they soon marry. The marriage is rocky and intense, Patsy's career takes off, and her songs go national.
Patsy's original recordings are heard throughout the movie and, if you're a fan, you'll absolutely love hearing them again. Lange gives a very good performance as the spirited Patsy and was nominated for Best Actress, but for me, Ed Harris steals the show. He plays Charlie as a rough and rowdy, uncouth but lovable man and is totally charismatic. Look closely and spot a thin John Goodman in a small part.
Though the story is equal parts fact and fiction, it is very enjoyable with a fast-paced script and, most of all, Patsy's memorable songs. Highly recommended. | 2 | positive | [
"\"...",
"instead of having sweet dreams about you.",
"\" Jessica Lange stars as the unforgettable Patsy Cline in this very entertaining, rags-to-riches bio pic.",
"The story opens in the fifties, and Patsy is singing in small-time honky tonks in Virginia.",
"There, she meets charming Charlie Dick (Ed Harris) who woos her and they soon marry.",
"The marriage is rocky and intense, Patsy's career takes off, and her songs go national.",
"Patsy's original recordings are heard throughout the movie and, if you're a fan, you'll absolutely love hearing them again.",
"Lange gives a very good performance as the spirited Patsy and was nominated for Best Actress, but for me, Ed Harris steals the show.",
"He plays Charlie as a rough and rowdy, uncouth but lovable man and is totally charismatic.",
"Look closely and spot a thin John Goodman in a small part.",
"Though the story is equal parts fact and fiction, it is very enjoyable with a fast-paced script and, most of all, Patsy's memorable songs.",
"Highly recommended."
] |
These are exactly what I needed to fill out what nature took away after breastfeeding two sons for two years each. I have very little fullness in the upper breast. Truth be told, there is only a deflated B cup left of what were once full C's. These are great in most scenarios. They fit nicely in most bras and can be pushed into the pockets of sports bras as well. Some sports bras distort the shape, but most look very nice. These would be too wide for a triangle bikini top. You are not supposed to wash them, but I accidentally did, and they are still OK. Most importantly, they are not hard, so hugging someone is not stiff and uncomfortable!
I will probably buy more. | 2 | positive | [
"These are exactly what I needed to fill out what nature took away after breastfeeding two sons for two years each.",
"I have very little fullness in the upper breast.",
"Truth be told, there is only a deflated B cup left of what were once full C's.",
"These are great in most scenarios.",
"They fit nicely in most bras and can be pushed into the pockets of sports bras as well.",
"Some sports bras distort the shape, but most look very nice.",
"These would be too wide for a triangle bikini top.",
"You are not supposed to wash them, but I accidentally did, and they are still OK.",
"Most importantly, they are not hard, so hugging someone is not stiff and uncomfortable!",
"I will probably buy more."
] |
Bioshock looks incredible on the 360. I stopped several times just to watch the lighting and transparency effects. I am continually impressed by the 360's ability to process such complex effects while delivering an action packed game at a smooth frame rate, no drop-offs or lock ups.
I do, however, have some complaints. Bioshock makes it way to easy to win. A directional arrow shows you exactly where to go, which is nice, but in the same breath, you will focus more on the arrow pointer than on the gorgeous levels. Often you will complete gopher missions: pick up object A and drop at point B. Your enemy is not varied much. You fight basically a variation of a humanoid/mutant and the wet-suit dude on the box cover. I also wish the game would have put me outside of Rapture because I became bored seeing the same neon color scheme. In all, Bioshock rocks. Don't mind my whining. It's a great game, so take it for a ride. | 2 | positive | [
"Bioshock looks incredible on the 360.",
"I stopped several times just to watch the lighting and transparency effects.",
"I am continually impressed by the 360's ability to process such complex effects while delivering an action packed game at a smooth frame rate, no drop-offs or lock ups.",
"I do, however, have some complaints.",
"Bioshock makes it way to easy to win.",
"A directional arrow shows you exactly where to go, which is nice, but in the same breath, you will focus more on the arrow pointer than on the gorgeous levels.",
"Often you will complete gopher missions: pick up object A and drop at point B.",
"Your enemy is not varied much.",
"You fight basically a variation of a humanoid/mutant and the wet-suit dude on the box cover.",
"I also wish the game would have put me outside of Rapture because I became bored seeing the same neon color scheme.",
"In all, Bioshock rocks.",
"Don't mind my whining.",
"It's a great game, so take it for a ride."
] |
I read this entire book with a smile on my face, punctuated by frequent outbursts of laughter. George MacDonald Fraser's memories of his WWII service with the British Commonwealth Army in the Burma campaign was the first of his non-Flashman works I've read. Although it's impossible to really compare two completely different literary genres, I'll just say that "Quartered Safe Out Here" was-in its own unique way- as hilarious, if not more so, than the best of the Flashman novels. The difference is that in the Flashman novels, Fraser's obvious respect for the sacrifices and achievements of the British soldier had to be viewed as a backdrop to the foreground humor while the opposite is true in this work, where the humor plays a supporting role to his tribute, which is explicit.
Unlike his Flashman creation, Fraser was an honest-to-goodness war hero- courageous, honorable, and immensely proud of his country, regiment and platoon section. Like old Flashie though, Fraser cuts through the B.S. and shows no tolerance for armchair generals, civilian second guessing, and the nattering classes' politically correct sympathizing for Britain's enemies, so long as they were black, brown or yellow. It was amusing how Fraser's account of his argument with a bleeding-heart over the atomic bombing of Japan exactly echoes Flashman's dustup with a supercilious academic at the beginning of "Flashman and the Redskins". The alert reader will notice other such episodes in this memoir that seem to have found life in that series, but as Fraser noted, sometimes real life in Burma was so bizarre that he would have been laughed out of town if he had tried to slip some of those stories or dialogue into his fictional novels or screenplays. That's why I'm glad he finally got around to writing this book. It would have been a real shame if this story had not been told.
Fraser details his time as a 19 year old soldier in Burma during the last months of the war. His writing is brilliant, as usual, his stories engrossing, his attention to detail is fascinating, and the characters we meet, from the lovably obscene Cumbrians to the unbelievable Captain Grief, are unforgettable, the more so for being real. Apart from the entertainment value, which is considerable, Fraser's insights into the nature of war and the warrior are poignant and valuable as a historical record of, and paean to, a lost Britain. He bemoans the fact that that Britain (not to mention America) has been replaced by a therapeutic society of hypersensitive p.c. twits who have been severed from the warrior tradition and stoic ethos which made their existence possible in the first place. As with most of Fraser's books, it's not for someone who thinks that the world has improved much in the last 50 years. What else is there to say? This is simply a great book. Read it and love it. | 2 | positive | [
"I read this entire book with a smile on my face, punctuated by frequent outbursts of laughter.",
"George MacDonald Fraser's memories of his WWII service with the British Commonwealth Army in the Burma campaign was the first of his non-Flashman works I've read.",
"Although it's impossible to really compare two completely different literary genres, I'll just say that \"Quartered Safe Out Here\" was-in its own unique way- as hilarious, if not more so, than the best of the Flashman novels.",
"The difference is that in the Flashman novels, Fraser's obvious respect for the sacrifices and achievements of the British soldier had to be viewed as a backdrop to the foreground humor while the opposite is true in this work, where the humor plays a supporting role to his tribute, which is explicit.",
"Unlike his Flashman creation, Fraser was an honest-to-goodness war hero- courageous, honorable, and immensely proud of his country, regiment and platoon section.",
"Like old Flashie though, Fraser cuts through the B.",
"S. and shows no tolerance for armchair generals, civilian second guessing, and the nattering classes' politically correct sympathizing for Britain's enemies, so long as they were black, brown or yellow.",
"It was amusing how Fraser's account of his argument with a bleeding-heart over the atomic bombing of Japan exactly echoes Flashman's dustup with a supercilious academic at the beginning of \"Flashman and the Redskins\".",
"The alert reader will notice other such episodes in this memoir that seem to have found life in that series, but as Fraser noted, sometimes real life in Burma was so bizarre that he would have been laughed out of town if he had tried to slip some of those stories or dialogue into his fictional novels or screenplays.",
"That's why I'm glad he finally got around to writing this book.",
"It would have been a real shame if this story had not been told.",
"Fraser details his time as a 19 year old soldier in Burma during the last months of the war.",
"His writing is brilliant, as usual, his stories engrossing, his attention to detail is fascinating, and the characters we meet, from the lovably obscene Cumbrians to the unbelievable Captain Grief, are unforgettable, the more so for being real.",
"Apart from the entertainment value, which is considerable, Fraser's insights into the nature of war and the warrior are poignant and valuable as a historical record of, and paean to, a lost Britain.",
"He bemoans the fact that that Britain (not to mention America) has been replaced by a therapeutic society of hypersensitive p.",
"c. twits who have been severed from the warrior tradition and stoic ethos which made their existence possible in the first place.",
"As with most of Fraser's books, it's not for someone who thinks that the world has improved much in the last 50 years.",
"What else is there to say?",
"This is simply a great book.",
"Read it and love it."
] |
It's probably to a degree because of albums such as this that compilations of famous 70's funk/R&B acts ARE NOT the be-all and end-all of their creative vision. Often in my reviews I've discussed "united funk",a subgenre of the music that delivered on it's promise of iron clad grooves,top notch instrumentation and big commercial payoffs. Well HERE IT IS! United funk in all it's glory. Kool & The Gang,EWF,Rufus & Chaka Khan and The Bar Kays were all hitting this HUGE stride around this time. Jazz,rock and blues were coming into funk in the mid 70's in more involved ways. And how fitting that was too since Ohio Players were making a bold move too. They key member for the first part of the 70's Junie Morrison,who would first begin a solo career than head straight for P-Funk and go on innovating there. But they also had the bigger label support of Mercury and,so I just learned this clever financial arrangement that allowed them all to be equally....wealthy. Whatever it was,nothing was lost in the music and EVERYTHING was gained!
The title track got the ball rolling. With it's crisp production,heavy reverb/echo and well Satch,Merv and Pee Wee's tight,melodic horn parts along with Jones' famous opening bassline and Billy Beck's strong rhodes accent. If this funk opus encompassed the first side alone it would be a triumph. But it only grows from there. "Streaki' Cheek To Cheek" strips down the basic sound of the title song for a mildly more jazzier flavor (fitting considering the Players' heavy jazz and blues backround) and of course "Jive Turkey" throws in the slow crawling Sly Stone style funk for what ammounts up to the "other" hit on this album. There are two 7-8 minute ballads here as well-both of which are spacious,cosmically percussive and romantic on "It's Your Night/Words Of Love" and the most famous "Heaven Must Be Like This". That song itself shows how much blues and deep 60's soul is still a part of their sound with the bluesy twang in Sugarfoot's riffs and often highly drawling vocal licks.
On the final track "Is Anybody Gonna Be Saved" we get a treat: a strong but easily stated message song set to a pumping gospel/funk rhythm. Yet it all goes deeper than easy when Sugarfoot comes out with a very relevent line about "how can my my mind be free if I'm a slave?",all the while musing about humankind's seemingly impending doom. It's a rather deep concern even for a funk message song but they come at it totally from the "people music" blues styled perspective. So for six longish tracks this album reverberates with strong,jazzy funk grooves and melodies from fast to slow. It has just about anything one could ask out of a funk album and some to boot as well. One thing it also does is emphasize the importance of the music as an album oriented style that developes well over the full lengh course. A positive opinion on the music often comes from the understanding of funk in that setting. And for that,this could be an ideal example. | 2 | positive | [
"It's probably to a degree because of albums such as this that compilations of famous 70's funk/R&B acts ARE NOT the be-all and end-all of their creative vision.",
"Often in my reviews I've discussed \"united funk\",a subgenre of the music that delivered on it's promise of iron clad grooves,top notch instrumentation and big commercial payoffs.",
"Well HERE IT IS!",
"United funk in all it's glory.",
"Kool & The Gang,EWF,Rufus & Chaka Khan and The Bar Kays were all hitting this HUGE stride around this time.",
"Jazz,rock and blues were coming into funk in the mid 70's in more involved ways.",
"And how fitting that was too since Ohio Players were making a bold move too.",
"They key member for the first part of the 70's Junie Morrison,who would first begin a solo career than head straight for P-Funk and go on innovating there.",
"But they also had the bigger label support of Mercury and,so I just learned this clever financial arrangement that allowed them all to be equally....",
"wealthy.",
"Whatever it was,nothing was lost in the music and EVERYTHING was gained!",
"The title track got the ball rolling.",
"With it's crisp production,heavy reverb/echo and well Satch,Merv and Pee Wee's tight,melodic horn parts along with Jones' famous opening bassline and Billy Beck's strong rhodes accent.",
"If this funk opus encompassed the first side alone it would be a triumph.",
"But it only grows from there.",
"\"Streaki' Cheek To Cheek\" strips down the basic sound of the title song for a mildly more jazzier flavor (fitting considering the Players' heavy jazz and blues backround) and of course \"Jive Turkey\" throws in the slow crawling Sly Stone style funk for what ammounts up to the \"other\" hit on this album.",
"There are two 7-8 minute ballads here as well-both of which are spacious,cosmically percussive and romantic on \"It's Your Night/Words Of Love\" and the most famous \"Heaven Must Be Like This\".",
"That song itself shows how much blues and deep 60's soul is still a part of their sound with the bluesy twang in Sugarfoot's riffs and often highly drawling vocal licks.",
"On the final track \"Is Anybody Gonna Be Saved\" we get a treat: a strong but easily stated message song set to a pumping gospel/funk rhythm.",
"Yet it all goes deeper than easy when Sugarfoot comes out with a very relevent line about \"how can my my mind be free if I'm a slave?",
"\",all the while musing about humankind's seemingly impending doom.",
"It's a rather deep concern even for a funk message song but they come at it totally from the \"people music\" blues styled perspective.",
"So for six longish tracks this album reverberates with strong,jazzy funk grooves and melodies from fast to slow.",
"It has just about anything one could ask out of a funk album and some to boot as well.",
"One thing it also does is emphasize the importance of the music as an album oriented style that developes well over the full lengh course.",
"A positive opinion on the music often comes from the understanding of funk in that setting.",
"And for that,this could be an ideal example."
] |
Although I didn't order this from Amazon, I highly highly highly recommend this product. I get mine from my local pet store (when I get a coupon) but spent a lot of time here reading reviews. I did months of research on different supplements, allergy relief, and all in one solution for my dogs health. I wanted him on Vitamin C to prevent hip problems later on, wanted something to give a healthy coat (not salmon oil) and wanted something natural and made in the USA. I can understand the ingredients and the product has been around for years. I am very pleased with it, my dogs allergies are under control, his coat his healthy and shiny, and he has never ending amounts of energy. He feels great, looks great, and acts great. When you add water it makes a great gravy for their food and he spends a lot of time licking the bowl CLEAN. Don't waste time/money/effort looking at other products, getting crap you see at Petsmart, buy NuPro and let it work. You won't be disappointed. | 2 | positive | [
"Although I didn't order this from Amazon, I highly highly highly recommend this product.",
"I get mine from my local pet store (when I get a coupon) but spent a lot of time here reading reviews.",
"I did months of research on different supplements, allergy relief, and all in one solution for my dogs health.",
"I wanted him on Vitamin C to prevent hip problems later on, wanted something to give a healthy coat (not salmon oil) and wanted something natural and made in the USA.",
"I can understand the ingredients and the product has been around for years.",
"I am very pleased with it, my dogs allergies are under control, his coat his healthy and shiny, and he has never ending amounts of energy.",
"He feels great, looks great, and acts great.",
"When you add water it makes a great gravy for their food and he spends a lot of time licking the bowl CLEAN.",
"Don't waste time/money/effort looking at other products, getting crap you see at Petsmart, buy NuPro and let it work.",
"You won't be disappointed."
] |
I will admit that I was somewhat skeptical of this title at first. Now I'm hopelessly in love with it. It started as a taboo interest (I used to be a devout Virtua Fighter fan, any other fighter was blasphemous in my eyes) that blossomed into devout loyalty. This game was a very pleasant surprise and definetely surpassed my low expectations.
The fighting system in MK:DA is a lot more complex than previous MKs, with 3 different, unique stances for each of 21 characters. Still, it doesn't have the deep, intricate fighting system that Virua Fighter has, instead it has projectiles and weapon stances. If that sounds like a digression from the sublime heights of Virtua Fighter's stardom than you've probably interpreted it correctly; but that's not necessarily a bad thing. MK:DA doesn't try to improve on the best names in the fighting series; it's merely trying to create a new name for itself and offer something a little more different. The fighting is more direct and straightforward; you don't have to completely understand every punch to get the job done (though knowing does help).
Unlike previous installments, the controls for each fighter really do vary, and that's not just considering their special moves. Almost every character has unique stances and moves; no more crouching uppercuts and foot-sweeps across the board. You'll actually have to learn to fight with each character individually to be effective; a somewhat novel concept in the MK univers.
The new gameplay and the loads of new content to unlock (hidden characters, stages, storylines, etc.) gives the game high playability for the solo player and is even more addicting with friends, expecially once you've gotten all the characters unlocked for kombating.
The only reason I would recommend against getting this title is if you dont' like gore (which you can turn off); MK:DA definetely entails the amount of blood and guts that Mortal Kombat is legendary for. However, if you're like me and you were initially dissuaded from this title because of the blasphemous, unsophisticated gameplay from previous MK titles, then worry not, because that's all been improved here. The controls are many times more sophisticated. Definetely give this one a shot if you're not faint of heart. | 2 | positive | [
"I will admit that I was somewhat skeptical of this title at first.",
"Now I'm hopelessly in love with it.",
"It started as a taboo interest (I used to be a devout Virtua Fighter fan, any other fighter was blasphemous in my eyes) that blossomed into devout loyalty.",
"This game was a very pleasant surprise and definetely surpassed my low expectations.",
"The fighting system in MK:DA is a lot more complex than previous MKs, with 3 different, unique stances for each of 21 characters.",
"Still, it doesn't have the deep, intricate fighting system that Virua Fighter has, instead it has projectiles and weapon stances.",
"If that sounds like a digression from the sublime heights of Virtua Fighter's stardom than you've probably interpreted it correctly; but that's not necessarily a bad thing.",
"MK:DA doesn't try to improve on the best names in the fighting series; it's merely trying to create a new name for itself and offer something a little more different.",
"The fighting is more direct and straightforward; you don't have to completely understand every punch to get the job done (though knowing does help).",
"Unlike previous installments, the controls for each fighter really do vary, and that's not just considering their special moves.",
"Almost every character has unique stances and moves; no more crouching uppercuts and foot-sweeps across the board.",
"You'll actually have to learn to fight with each character individually to be effective; a somewhat novel concept in the MK univers.",
"The new gameplay and the loads of new content to unlock (hidden characters, stages, storylines, etc.",
") gives the game high playability for the solo player and is even more addicting with friends, expecially once you've gotten all the characters unlocked for kombating.",
"The only reason I would recommend against getting this title is if you dont' like gore (which you can turn off); MK:DA definetely entails the amount of blood and guts that Mortal Kombat is legendary for.",
"However, if you're like me and you were initially dissuaded from this title because of the blasphemous, unsophisticated gameplay from previous MK titles, then worry not, because that's all been improved here.",
"The controls are many times more sophisticated.",
"Definetely give this one a shot if you're not faint of heart."
] |
I've long preferred the taste of French press coffee to that produced by drip machines. Although I've had a Bodum Chambord press at home for over a decade, two problems limited my use of the press: 1) If more than one mug of coffee is made, the coffee cools down very quickly through the glass walls of the Chambord; 2) I have broken three Chambord FRAMES (plastic) yet the glass beaker survived...pointing to a weakness in the plastic frame. Maybe expansion of the glass when filled with hot water--or in the dishwasher-- stretched the plastic. I bought the Chambord from Starbucks back when they made colored plastic frames. Bodum replaced the frame once. I now have a complete but unsafe Chambord (with cracked frame AGAIN) and a spare beaker from an earlier plastic Chambord, which was a gift (that makes three cracked plastic frames in all, and no broken beakers).
Two years ago, I gave a steel Friesling press to friends who own a boat and whose owner is a daily coffee drinker. They were pleased with it. At the time, the thermal properties were less important than having it be unbreakable for marine use.
My year old Bosch drip machine is flimsy, makes so-so coffee, and takes up a lot of space on the counter. Setting it up and cleaning it after use takes as much time as using a French press. Browsing through Amazon for a sturdier Chambord with a metal frame, I ran across the Columbia by Bodum. I don't know when it was introduced, but I don't remember it being an option when I bought the Friesling two years ago. I was attracted to the unbreakable steel design, the modest price ($40, not much more than a Chambord of similar size), and the potential to keep coffee warm, though earlier reviewers warned that it doesn't function like a true thermos.
That said, it makes delicious coffee. I preheat the container with hot water, which helps retain heat. The Columbia will keep unused coffee drinkably hot for an hour, and warm for about two hours. The top is not insulated, it is only single wall plastic, so one should not think of this as an insulated double wall steel thermos with a French press inside. The plastic chrome top is subject to fingerprint smudging, far more so than the steel container itself. Because the top is of lower quality than the body of the press, I gave it only four stars. All parts are dishwasher safe.
Like all French press devices, the coffee uses should be of a coarse grind. Using fine drip ground coffee will result in clogging of the filter, or the filter will not sequester all of the grounds below the coffee when you press the ground to the bottom. Buy a grinder, or use a grinder at the store to grind your whole beans, using the coarse setting. Many of the burr grinders for home use have a dial to adjust the coarseness. If you use a blade grinder, achieving a uniform coarse grind is more difficult and is somewhat of an art; these grinders are better for producing a fine drip grind. I use a an electric Bodum Ibis kettle which boils water in a few minutes.
Preparation is the same as for any French press device: pour hot water over coarsely ground coffee, stir with non-metallic utensil, cover, wait five minutes, press grounds to bottom and pour out the coffee.
If you want a French press device that can keep your coffee hot for hours, buy this product and pour the coffee into a double wall thermos as soon as the coffee is ready. Or, if you only need the coffee hot for an hour or two, use this device without a thermos.
Pro's: beautiful, unbreakable design; makes delicious coffee; when filled to capacity, can make four big mugs or 5-6 small cups of coffee for a small crowd; all parts dishwasher safe; uses far less counter space than a drip machine.
Con's: need to use thermos if you want coffee hot beyond 1-2 hours (but much better heat retention than a glass Bodum press); cheap-looking plastic cover whose chrome lid doesn't match the brushed steel and which is subject to fingerprints; you still need a big drip coffee maker or urn if you are serving a big crowd.
With respect to the last "con", there are now two drip coffee makers sitting on racks in the garage, used only when there is a crowd. The rest of the time, a stylish steel press sits on the counter in the kitchen, occupying far less space than it's predecessor drip machine ever did. Since there are no plugs, the press can be moved around the kitchen if more counter room is needed for say a baking project. Much easier than unplugging a drip machine and moving it elsewhere without breaking the carafe. Bodum also makes a matching sugar-creamer set for those interested in a complete look. | 2 | positive | [
"I've long preferred the taste of French press coffee to that produced by drip machines.",
"Although I've had a Bodum Chambord press at home for over a decade, two problems limited my use of the press: 1) If more than one mug of coffee is made, the coffee cools down very quickly through the glass walls of the Chambord; 2) I have broken three Chambord FRAMES (plastic) yet the glass beaker survived...",
"pointing to a weakness in the plastic frame.",
"Maybe expansion of the glass when filled with hot water--or in the dishwasher-- stretched the plastic.",
"I bought the Chambord from Starbucks back when they made colored plastic frames.",
"Bodum replaced the frame once.",
"I now have a complete but unsafe Chambord (with cracked frame AGAIN) and a spare beaker from an earlier plastic Chambord, which was a gift (that makes three cracked plastic frames in all, and no broken beakers).",
"Two years ago, I gave a steel Friesling press to friends who own a boat and whose owner is a daily coffee drinker.",
"They were pleased with it.",
"At the time, the thermal properties were less important than having it be unbreakable for marine use.",
"My year old Bosch drip machine is flimsy, makes so-so coffee, and takes up a lot of space on the counter.",
"Setting it up and cleaning it after use takes as much time as using a French press.",
"Browsing through Amazon for a sturdier Chambord with a metal frame, I ran across the Columbia by Bodum.",
"I don't know when it was introduced, but I don't remember it being an option when I bought the Friesling two years ago.",
"I was attracted to the unbreakable steel design, the modest price ($40, not much more than a Chambord of similar size), and the potential to keep coffee warm, though earlier reviewers warned that it doesn't function like a true thermos.",
"That said, it makes delicious coffee.",
"I preheat the container with hot water, which helps retain heat.",
"The Columbia will keep unused coffee drinkably hot for an hour, and warm for about two hours.",
"The top is not insulated, it is only single wall plastic, so one should not think of this as an insulated double wall steel thermos with a French press inside.",
"The plastic chrome top is subject to fingerprint smudging, far more so than the steel container itself.",
"Because the top is of lower quality than the body of the press, I gave it only four stars.",
"All parts are dishwasher safe.",
"Like all French press devices, the coffee uses should be of a coarse grind.",
"Using fine drip ground coffee will result in clogging of the filter, or the filter will not sequester all of the grounds below the coffee when you press the ground to the bottom.",
"Buy a grinder, or use a grinder at the store to grind your whole beans, using the coarse setting.",
"Many of the burr grinders for home use have a dial to adjust the coarseness.",
"If you use a blade grinder, achieving a uniform coarse grind is more difficult and is somewhat of an art; these grinders are better for producing a fine drip grind.",
"I use a an electric Bodum Ibis kettle which boils water in a few minutes.",
"Preparation is the same as for any French press device: pour hot water over coarsely ground coffee, stir with non-metallic utensil, cover, wait five minutes, press grounds to bottom and pour out the coffee.",
"If you want a French press device that can keep your coffee hot for hours, buy this product and pour the coffee into a double wall thermos as soon as the coffee is ready.",
"Or, if you only need the coffee hot for an hour or two, use this device without a thermos.",
"Pro's: beautiful, unbreakable design; makes delicious coffee; when filled to capacity, can make four big mugs or 5-6 small cups of coffee for a small crowd; all parts dishwasher safe; uses far less counter space than a drip machine.",
"Con's: need to use thermos if you want coffee hot beyond 1-2 hours (but much better heat retention than a glass Bodum press); cheap-looking plastic cover whose chrome lid doesn't match the brushed steel and which is subject to fingerprints; you still need a big drip coffee maker or urn if you are serving a big crowd.",
"With respect to the last \"con\", there are now two drip coffee makers sitting on racks in the garage, used only when there is a crowd.",
"The rest of the time, a stylish steel press sits on the counter in the kitchen, occupying far less space than it's predecessor drip machine ever did.",
"Since there are no plugs, the press can be moved around the kitchen if more counter room is needed for say a baking project.",
"Much easier than unplugging a drip machine and moving it elsewhere without breaking the carafe.",
"Bodum also makes a matching sugar-creamer set for those interested in a complete look."
] |
As far as controllers go, the Playstation 2 controller is by far my favorite. I've played countless consoles (Atari, NES, SNES, Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, N64, PS1, Xbox, PS2, PS3, DS, Gameboy, Gameboy pocket, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Advance, PSP, et cetera, I've even used PC controllers such as the sidewinder, rumblepad, and countless others) and I can wholeheartedly say that the Playstation 2 controller is superior to all of them. The biggest problem with most controllers, especially PC controllers, are the horrendous directional pads. There's also the button height, a lot of controllers are way too high or don't feel solid when you press them. Which is why this product exists, to enjoy the most perfect controller on the PC. While many would argue with me, chances are, if you're looking at this product you probably agree with me to some extent.
On to the actual product. I don't like Windows or Mac so I don't have anything to say about setting it up or how the software which is included works (the cardboard insert/cover is folded over and a mini cd can be found there.) I use Arch Linux (x86_64) and installed xf86-input-joystick, plugged in the controller adapter, plugged in the controller, tested it by opening up a terminal and entering 'cat /dev/input/js0' pressed some buttons and it was registering events (gibberish looking characters.) If you don't see any output, you might either want to check js1 (the second port) or simply connect it to the other port. That's really it for the installation, just a few seconds and you have a controller working in linux. All of the buttons work, including the analog sticks, and L3/R3 buttons as soon as you install the drivers. All that's left is to configure the controller in your favorite programs. A lot of programs have an option to change a controller between digital (rendering analog sticks mostly useless) and analog, so make sure to change it accordingly. I don't know if the vibration functionality works, since it's not an option that I care about and I'm not sure if the pcsxr controller plugin supports it.
That last paragraph was really OS specific so I'll describe the device itself. The usb adapter works wonderfully. The cord, not counting the part that is in your usb port, is 1 foot 4 inches (about 40cm.) Mine came in transparent blue, which is the same color, transparent blue, as my official (late model?) PS2 controller ^-^ It has a small, very small, and dim red LED inside, just so you know that it's receiving power (it won't impact your gaming experience negatively, at all, or kill your night vision, like some other ultra-bright blue LEDs in other products.) The ports on the adapter are unique, one is player one, the other is player two (or port one and port two.) So the port you connect the controller into matters, at least it does on Arch Linux.
Why would you want to play old PS1 games when you can play them on your PS3? Well, honestly? They look terrible, worse in fact, on the PS3 than they did on the original console. If you have a decent computer, you could raise the internal resolution and make the games look much better, not to mention all the other games that you can play on the PC. I have only one regret with this product and it's not purchasing it sooner. | 2 | positive | [
"As far as controllers go, the Playstation 2 controller is by far my favorite.",
"I've played countless consoles (Atari, NES, SNES, Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, N64, PS1, Xbox, PS2, PS3, DS, Gameboy, Gameboy pocket, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Advance, PSP, et cetera, I've even used PC controllers such as the sidewinder, rumblepad, and countless others) and I can wholeheartedly say that the Playstation 2 controller is superior to all of them.",
"The biggest problem with most controllers, especially PC controllers, are the horrendous directional pads.",
"There's also the button height, a lot of controllers are way too high or don't feel solid when you press them.",
"Which is why this product exists, to enjoy the most perfect controller on the PC.",
"While many would argue with me, chances are, if you're looking at this product you probably agree with me to some extent.",
"On to the actual product.",
"I don't like Windows or Mac so I don't have anything to say about setting it up or how the software which is included works (the cardboard insert/cover is folded over and a mini cd can be found there.",
") I use Arch Linux (x86_64) and installed xf86-input-joystick, plugged in the controller adapter, plugged in the controller, tested it by opening up a terminal and entering 'cat /dev/input/js0' pressed some buttons and it was registering events (gibberish looking characters.",
") If you don't see any output, you might either want to check js1 (the second port) or simply connect it to the other port.",
"That's really it for the installation, just a few seconds and you have a controller working in linux.",
"All of the buttons work, including the analog sticks, and L3/R3 buttons as soon as you install the drivers.",
"All that's left is to configure the controller in your favorite programs.",
"A lot of programs have an option to change a controller between digital (rendering analog sticks mostly useless) and analog, so make sure to change it accordingly.",
"I don't know if the vibration functionality works, since it's not an option that I care about and I'm not sure if the pcsxr controller plugin supports it.",
"That last paragraph was really OS specific so I'll describe the device itself.",
"The usb adapter works wonderfully.",
"The cord, not counting the part that is in your usb port, is 1 foot 4 inches (about 40cm.",
") Mine came in transparent blue, which is the same color, transparent blue, as my official (late model?",
") PS2 controller ^-^ It has a small, very small, and dim red LED inside, just so you know that it's receiving power (it won't impact your gaming experience negatively, at all, or kill your night vision, like some other ultra-bright blue LEDs in other products.",
") The ports on the adapter are unique, one is player one, the other is player two (or port one and port two.",
") So the port you connect the controller into matters, at least it does on Arch Linux.",
"Why would you want to play old PS1 games when you can play them on your PS3?",
"Well, honestly?",
"They look terrible, worse in fact, on the PS3 than they did on the original console.",
"If you have a decent computer, you could raise the internal resolution and make the games look much better, not to mention all the other games that you can play on the PC.",
"I have only one regret with this product and it's not purchasing it sooner."
] |
The SGP screen protector is the absolute best!! Hands Down!! The only flaw I have found is that I am a technician that works outside in the Texas heat in the summer, I leave my phone in my work truck most of the day, the heat made one corner of my SGP "raise" but.......that was sitting in 100+ degree heat all day, for a month or so, the SGP was applied over 7 months ago. Me & my girlfriend have em and love em! I also ordered one for my Ipad2...great product. As one reviewer stated the install is not difficult, but getting lint under the SGP can happen. If you see the lint BEFORE you apply it, remove the lint with the lint removing stickers that come with the SGP. Problem solved. Ive noticed you can see the lint better if you install it with a darker background so the lint is more visible. Hope this helps... | 2 | positive | [
"The SGP screen protector is the absolute best!!",
"Hands Down!!",
"The only flaw I have found is that I am a technician that works outside in the Texas heat in the summer, I leave my phone in my work truck most of the day, the heat made one corner of my SGP \"raise\" but....",
"...",
"that was sitting in 100+ degree heat all day, for a month or so, the SGP was applied over 7 months ago.",
"Me & my girlfriend have em and love em!",
"I also ordered one for my Ipad2...",
"great product.",
"As one reviewer stated the install is not difficult, but getting lint under the SGP can happen.",
"If you see the lint BEFORE you apply it, remove the lint with the lint removing stickers that come with the SGP.",
"Problem solved.",
"Ive noticed you can see the lint better if you install it with a darker background so the lint is more visible.",
"Hope this helps..."
] |
Raw and unrelenting, Nebraska is a shock to the casual Bruce fan's system. Alike nothing he had created before, it was a true testament of Bruce's artistry. He rarely gets enough credit for the chances he took musically through the years--Nebraska being probably his biggest one. This album could have been awful. It could have cemented the notion that Bruce could never be anything close to "Dylanesque." This could have done to him what going electric did to Dylan. But...it didn't. Not only does Nebraska prove Bruce's lyrical talent, but it also proves that he is not just the electric guitar wielding, theatric stage performer that we all know and love.
Recorded on his own tape recorder, in his bedroom, it's just Bruce and his acoustic guitar yearning for redemption, deliverance, and a reason to believe. The lyrics on this album will get inside you immediately, within the first few lines of the title track. They will pull you into the desolate world of his disparaged and lonely characters. Bruce is a master at painting portraits of life in his words by creating characters you can feel, see, and love. On `Nebraska', he creates antiheroes for the common man. In "Johnny 99" you start to empathize with the main character as he descends toward madness after losing his job at the plant in Mahwah late last month. In "Highway Patrolman" Bruce displays the moral ambiguity of an honest man torn between his duty as a law officer and his own flesh and blood. Others like "Used Car" and "Mansion on the Hill" are Bruce's retelling of his childhood memories. They will leave you feeling lost in time, like you are looking into the soul of an old black and white portrait.
"State Trooper" is a song like no other. Bruce himself wasn't sure if it could be even called a song, but he threw it on the record anyway. I wouldn't recommend listening to it while driving alone, especially after midnight, because it might scare the s*** out of you. Either that, or you will go mad and drive endlessly trying to escape from nowhere.
`Nebraska' is one of those albums that takes on a whole new persona depending on when you listen to it. In the daytime, it is a realistic journey into the past, a walk with each character down the street of hopelessness towards a meaningful existence. At night, however, it turns into a descent into loneliness, desperation and uncertain fear. Listening to this record will definitely take you somewhere. It may be somewhere unpleasant, somewhere to close for comfort, to real to discern. It may take you to a place where everything you've ever known in life fails you. And it may strike you kind of funny...but at the end you'll somehow be left with more of a reason to believe. | 2 | positive | [
"Raw and unrelenting, Nebraska is a shock to the casual Bruce fan's system.",
"Alike nothing he had created before, it was a true testament of Bruce's artistry.",
"He rarely gets enough credit for the chances he took musically through the years--Nebraska being probably his biggest one.",
"This album could have been awful.",
"It could have cemented the notion that Bruce could never be anything close to \"Dylanesque.",
"\" This could have done to him what going electric did to Dylan.",
"But...",
"it didn't.",
"Not only does Nebraska prove Bruce's lyrical talent, but it also proves that he is not just the electric guitar wielding, theatric stage performer that we all know and love.",
"Recorded on his own tape recorder, in his bedroom, it's just Bruce and his acoustic guitar yearning for redemption, deliverance, and a reason to believe.",
"The lyrics on this album will get inside you immediately, within the first few lines of the title track.",
"They will pull you into the desolate world of his disparaged and lonely characters.",
"Bruce is a master at painting portraits of life in his words by creating characters you can feel, see, and love.",
"On `Nebraska', he creates antiheroes for the common man.",
"In \"Johnny 99\" you start to empathize with the main character as he descends toward madness after losing his job at the plant in Mahwah late last month.",
"In \"Highway Patrolman\" Bruce displays the moral ambiguity of an honest man torn between his duty as a law officer and his own flesh and blood.",
"Others like \"Used Car\" and \"Mansion on the Hill\" are Bruce's retelling of his childhood memories.",
"They will leave you feeling lost in time, like you are looking into the soul of an old black and white portrait.",
"\"State Trooper\" is a song like no other.",
"Bruce himself wasn't sure if it could be even called a song, but he threw it on the record anyway.",
"I wouldn't recommend listening to it while driving alone, especially after midnight, because it might scare the s*** out of you.",
"Either that, or you will go mad and drive endlessly trying to escape from nowhere.",
"`Nebraska' is one of those albums that takes on a whole new persona depending on when you listen to it.",
"In the daytime, it is a realistic journey into the past, a walk with each character down the street of hopelessness towards a meaningful existence.",
"At night, however, it turns into a descent into loneliness, desperation and uncertain fear.",
"Listening to this record will definitely take you somewhere.",
"It may be somewhere unpleasant, somewhere to close for comfort, to real to discern.",
"It may take you to a place where everything you've ever known in life fails you.",
"And it may strike you kind of funny...",
"but at the end you'll somehow be left with more of a reason to believe."
] |
Not sure why purists froth at the mouth over this little fellow. It's meant to be an entry-level instrument...if you want a $500 Gibson this isn't for you. But for beginners or someone who wants a cheap mandolin to try it's ideal. Sound is pretty good, intonation is proper at the 12th fret and the stain and lacquer finish are high-quality, almost embarassing at this price.
The tall bridge is the only caveat, which makes the action way too high. So I sanded the bridge much lower as well as the back of the nut on the neck, with great results to the action. I also used a file across the frets to level everything out. I had never done this before but read how to do it online. So along with spending so little on it I learned how to be a mandolin luthier(!) Very satisfying. | 2 | positive | [
"Not sure why purists froth at the mouth over this little fellow.",
"It's meant to be an entry-level instrument...",
"if you want a $500 Gibson this isn't for you.",
"But for beginners or someone who wants a cheap mandolin to try it's ideal.",
"Sound is pretty good, intonation is proper at the 12th fret and the stain and lacquer finish are high-quality, almost embarassing at this price.",
"The tall bridge is the only caveat, which makes the action way too high.",
"So I sanded the bridge much lower as well as the back of the nut on the neck, with great results to the action.",
"I also used a file across the frets to level everything out.",
"I had never done this before but read how to do it online.",
"So along with spending so little on it I learned how to be a mandolin luthier(!",
") Very satisfying."
] |
Not only is this a great (if a bit derivative) post-apocalyptic book, it's a celebration of life itself, and a reminder of how we all should live it. Nice job Mr. Wightman - I'm now looking for more of your books.
If the plot begins a little too much in the "Earth Abides" genre (here, it's not a young man isolated by a rattlesnake bite, but by a science experiment; we have a grand loss-of-electricity scene; there's an identified child prodigy to carry on human civilization; and the story takes place in the same geographic area)...I can forgive because of the realistic characters, engrossing plot lines and charming ending.
Martin Lake, the main protagonist, is an all-too-typical lost soul of the early 21st Century. He's grown up, been to college, done what he thought he needed to do, loved and lost a girl. In a fit of "is this all there is?" ennui, he submits to an isolation experiment that keeps him away from all interaction and communication...while the world above him succumbs to a supervirus, killing 99.9% of the population.
As an everyman hero, it's nice to see Martin written to react to situations not with movie-star moves or long soliloquies, but with basic survival instincts that morph into protection instincts as he begins to collect the shreds of humanity remaining.
There are some minor flaws that distract: Evidently Mr. Wightman has never heard of the miracle gas additive Sta-Bil, which would be almost as ubiquitous in a depopulated world as gas itself. But to advance the plot in months rather than decades, the author takes liberties with the projected shelf life of canned goods, cars and fuel, and gets the characters on horseback much more quickly than a "real" PA world would require.
That's how nitpicky I have to go to find fault in this excellent example of the genre. Wightman may borrow from Earth Abides and The Forge of God, but everything comes out clean. This book isn't really a description of mass death and survival after catastrophe; it's a celebration of life and love. Highly recommended. | 2 | positive | [
"Not only is this a great (if a bit derivative) post-apocalyptic book, it's a celebration of life itself, and a reminder of how we all should live it.",
"Nice job Mr.",
"Wightman - I'm now looking for more of your books.",
"If the plot begins a little too much in the \"Earth Abides\" genre (here, it's not a young man isolated by a rattlesnake bite, but by a science experiment; we have a grand loss-of-electricity scene; there's an identified child prodigy to carry on human civilization; and the story takes place in the same geographic area)...",
"I can forgive because of the realistic characters, engrossing plot lines and charming ending.",
"Martin Lake, the main protagonist, is an all-too-typical lost soul of the early 21st Century.",
"He's grown up, been to college, done what he thought he needed to do, loved and lost a girl.",
"In a fit of \"is this all there is?",
"\" ennui, he submits to an isolation experiment that keeps him away from all interaction and communication...",
"while the world above him succumbs to a supervirus, killing 99.",
"9% of the population.",
"As an everyman hero, it's nice to see Martin written to react to situations not with movie-star moves or long soliloquies, but with basic survival instincts that morph into protection instincts as he begins to collect the shreds of humanity remaining.",
"There are some minor flaws that distract: Evidently Mr.",
"Wightman has never heard of the miracle gas additive Sta-Bil, which would be almost as ubiquitous in a depopulated world as gas itself.",
"But to advance the plot in months rather than decades, the author takes liberties with the projected shelf life of canned goods, cars and fuel, and gets the characters on horseback much more quickly than a \"real\" PA world would require.",
"That's how nitpicky I have to go to find fault in this excellent example of the genre.",
"Wightman may borrow from Earth Abides and The Forge of God, but everything comes out clean.",
"This book isn't really a description of mass death and survival after catastrophe; it's a celebration of life and love.",
"Highly recommended."
] |
I remember about 4 or 5 years ago I played this game for the first time at a friend's house on Dreamcast. After playing this game I was stunned. I HAD to HAVE this game!! So when I got paid I called my local gamestop and asked if they had it. They had ONE copy used with no case or manual. Disc only. So I rushed down there to pick it up. The disc was in fabulous condition and it was only $39.99 used. I thought that the price was steep, but at the time didn't realize how rare the game was. I am SO glad I picked it up now. Not only did I have an extreme amount of fun playing this game, I now own one of the rarest PS2 games out there. Just look at the prices!! | 2 | positive | [
"I remember about 4 or 5 years ago I played this game for the first time at a friend's house on Dreamcast.",
"After playing this game I was stunned.",
"I HAD to HAVE this game!!",
"So when I got paid I called my local gamestop and asked if they had it.",
"They had ONE copy used with no case or manual.",
"Disc only.",
"So I rushed down there to pick it up.",
"The disc was in fabulous condition and it was only $39.",
"99 used.",
"I thought that the price was steep, but at the time didn't realize how rare the game was.",
"I am SO glad I picked it up now.",
"Not only did I have an extreme amount of fun playing this game, I now own one of the rarest PS2 games out there.",
"Just look at the prices!!"
] |
I've been using Martin Lifespan SP for quite some time and after reading reviews regarding TI Plectrums, I thought of giving it a try and strung my Taylor K10 with Plectrum 113. At first I really didn't noticed anything out of the ordinary, it sounded good but nothing much. But a few days later, I have never heard such a sweet, mellow sound with such clarity on the highs and a deep bass with a right amount of volume. Either I fingerpick or strum it, my guitar sounded so good I couldn't let go of it. I finally heard the sound I've been looking for in a guitar. Furthermore, intonation was perfect, feel is amazing..at long last my search is over! True it is pricy! But great tones doesn't come from cheap materials. Then again, pls don't take my word for it..I suggest you try it! Maybe it'll work for you.. | 2 | positive | [
"I've been using Martin Lifespan SP for quite some time and after reading reviews regarding TI Plectrums, I thought of giving it a try and strung my Taylor K10 with Plectrum 113.",
"At first I really didn't noticed anything out of the ordinary, it sounded good but nothing much.",
"But a few days later, I have never heard such a sweet, mellow sound with such clarity on the highs and a deep bass with a right amount of volume.",
"Either I fingerpick or strum it, my guitar sounded so good I couldn't let go of it.",
"I finally heard the sound I've been looking for in a guitar.",
"Furthermore, intonation was perfect, feel is amazing..",
"at long last my search is over!",
"True it is pricy!",
"But great tones doesn't come from cheap materials.",
"Then again, pls don't take my word for it..",
"I suggest you try it!",
"Maybe it'll work for you.."
] |
I picked up a copy of this CD around 18 years ago at a used record store. Ever since, it has remained one of my most cherished CD's. It's one of those albums that I have excitedly told friends about as I was starting out on my funk odyssey. This collection contains all of their essential early classics before they caved in to the slick polished, synth-driven, soul crushin' letdown that was the 1980's music industry. These are some of the most recognizable funk classics of all time. These guys were pioneers, jamming regularly with some of the greatest jazz musicians that have ever graced the planet. Their profound effect in the 70's in the jazz world is unmistakeable. Just listen to Grant Green, one of jazz's funkiest guitarist's ever. There is a timeless quality about this music as it sounds every bit as fresh today as it did 40 years ago. Funk is food for the soul, and as long as people have souls funk will stay alive and well. I cannot recommend this collection of old gems highly enough. | 2 | positive | [
"I picked up a copy of this CD around 18 years ago at a used record store.",
"Ever since, it has remained one of my most cherished CD's.",
"It's one of those albums that I have excitedly told friends about as I was starting out on my funk odyssey.",
"This collection contains all of their essential early classics before they caved in to the slick polished, synth-driven, soul crushin' letdown that was the 1980's music industry.",
"These are some of the most recognizable funk classics of all time.",
"These guys were pioneers, jamming regularly with some of the greatest jazz musicians that have ever graced the planet.",
"Their profound effect in the 70's in the jazz world is unmistakeable.",
"Just listen to Grant Green, one of jazz's funkiest guitarist's ever.",
"There is a timeless quality about this music as it sounds every bit as fresh today as it did 40 years ago.",
"Funk is food for the soul, and as long as people have souls funk will stay alive and well.",
"I cannot recommend this collection of old gems highly enough."
] |
I got my recorder about 3-4 months ago. So far, so good. I have used it for voice recording with good results. I also like the fact it has jacks for ac adapter, external microphone and earphones. It takes standard cassette tapes. To me that is a plus.
I purchased an AC adapter from Radio Shack to keep battery purchases down. I also had to buy an additional plug since it takes a very small plug and the adapter did not come with that size.
I do handle it with reasonable care. It is plastic, so take care of it and you will probably get good service.
I had purchased 2 of these recorders and for a while both were working great. One is still working fine as of July 2, 2010 and one cannot record reliably. The tape just twitches instead of moving. That unit is still capable of playing so far at either standard speed or 1/3x speed. | 2 | positive | [
"I got my recorder about 3-4 months ago.",
"So far, so good.",
"I have used it for voice recording with good results.",
"I also like the fact it has jacks for ac adapter, external microphone and earphones.",
"It takes standard cassette tapes.",
"To me that is a plus.",
"I purchased an AC adapter from Radio Shack to keep battery purchases down.",
"I also had to buy an additional plug since it takes a very small plug and the adapter did not come with that size.",
"I do handle it with reasonable care.",
"It is plastic, so take care of it and you will probably get good service.",
"I had purchased 2 of these recorders and for a while both were working great.",
"One is still working fine as of July 2, 2010 and one cannot record reliably.",
"The tape just twitches instead of moving.",
"That unit is still capable of playing so far at either standard speed or 1/3x speed."
] |
This is truly an excellent set and a great value but several of the blades are not marked at all. Also, the back of the package (not the box, but the package the whole thing comes in) is just a tiny bit misleading.
Let me see if I can explain this. On the back, there is an illustration explaining what each blade and handle does. As you can see in the product photo, there is a blade attached to each handle. On the back, it tells you what blades those are on each handle (which are #1, #2 and #5 blades). To the right of that, there is a list of the additional blades in the top portion of the product photo. There it lists the #2 blade again, but not #1 nor #5. At first glance, this makes you think that there are two #2 blades to be found, but instead there are two #11 blades, which it doesn't mention at all. That's a minor thing, but for newbs may be slightly confusing.
One thing I wish it had, was a "map" insert of what each blade is. You know, kind of like what a box of Valentine's Day chocolates has, that describes what each chocolate is. If the blade and knife holders had been white, it would have been easy to simply write it somewhere, but it's black. Only paint can be used on black.
I ended up writing the blade number on the wood on the inside of the box, along the edge, just below each blade and to the left of the knives. I used a fine point Sharpie.
The box is fantastic! It's wood and quite durable looking. It has a closure that is way tight. It took me a few tries to get it to close fully. That bad boy is NOT going to open accidentally... EVER. lol!
All in all I'm very pleased with it and expect them to last for many years. | 2 | positive | [
"This is truly an excellent set and a great value but several of the blades are not marked at all.",
"Also, the back of the package (not the box, but the package the whole thing comes in) is just a tiny bit misleading.",
"Let me see if I can explain this.",
"On the back, there is an illustration explaining what each blade and handle does.",
"As you can see in the product photo, there is a blade attached to each handle.",
"On the back, it tells you what blades those are on each handle (which are #1, #2 and #5 blades).",
"To the right of that, there is a list of the additional blades in the top portion of the product photo.",
"There it lists the #2 blade again, but not #1 nor #5.",
"At first glance, this makes you think that there are two #2 blades to be found, but instead there are two #11 blades, which it doesn't mention at all.",
"That's a minor thing, but for newbs may be slightly confusing.",
"One thing I wish it had, was a \"map\" insert of what each blade is.",
"You know, kind of like what a box of Valentine's Day chocolates has, that describes what each chocolate is.",
"If the blade and knife holders had been white, it would have been easy to simply write it somewhere, but it's black.",
"Only paint can be used on black.",
"I ended up writing the blade number on the wood on the inside of the box, along the edge, just below each blade and to the left of the knives.",
"I used a fine point Sharpie.",
"The box is fantastic!",
"It's wood and quite durable looking.",
"It has a closure that is way tight.",
"It took me a few tries to get it to close fully.",
"That bad boy is NOT going to open accidentally...",
"EVER.",
"lol!",
"All in all I'm very pleased with it and expect them to last for many years."
] |
This is actually a truly exceptional game. Well-designed environments and actually intelligent patrols make this game a treasure for the XBox. The environments are spectacular and actually convey the intensity of the environments. LIke several of other Tom Clancy's games, STEALTH is the operative word. True, you do have some freedom in blasting away any moving thing. but the freedom is not to be utilised in every and any situation. The details of Sam Fisher is absolutely fantastic, down to the circuit for his wetsuit. I have yet to describe the environments. In the first mission, Sam encounters a burning apartment complex, and exploring it is quite fantastic with the glows and embers of the fire flying every which way. The patrols are much more realistic than in Metal Gear Solid, and they actually wear different suits and have different statures and facial features.
Now about Sam Fisher. He does a split jump to keep above enemies, able to hang, zip, and dangle and has some of the coolest gear out there. The fiber optic camera for use beneath doors is awesome. He has the abillity to interrogate captured persons and utilise them as body shields when necessary. Also, the voiceover for Sam Fisher is great.
My one and only criticism regarding the game is that Sam should have a first-person view for much better head-shots, particularly in intense situations.
Other than that, the game is exceptional for the XBox, and it is must-buy. | 2 | positive | [
"This is actually a truly exceptional game.",
"Well-designed environments and actually intelligent patrols make this game a treasure for the XBox.",
"The environments are spectacular and actually convey the intensity of the environments.",
"LIke several of other Tom Clancy's games, STEALTH is the operative word.",
"True, you do have some freedom in blasting away any moving thing.",
"but the freedom is not to be utilised in every and any situation.",
"The details of Sam Fisher is absolutely fantastic, down to the circuit for his wetsuit.",
"I have yet to describe the environments.",
"In the first mission, Sam encounters a burning apartment complex, and exploring it is quite fantastic with the glows and embers of the fire flying every which way.",
"The patrols are much more realistic than in Metal Gear Solid, and they actually wear different suits and have different statures and facial features.",
"Now about Sam Fisher.",
"He does a split jump to keep above enemies, able to hang, zip, and dangle and has some of the coolest gear out there.",
"The fiber optic camera for use beneath doors is awesome.",
"He has the abillity to interrogate captured persons and utilise them as body shields when necessary.",
"Also, the voiceover for Sam Fisher is great.",
"My one and only criticism regarding the game is that Sam should have a first-person view for much better head-shots, particularly in intense situations.",
"Other than that, the game is exceptional for the XBox, and it is must-buy."
] |
I still rank Guilty Gear X2 with high marks but I lack the appreciation of execution this game has except for the music-- the music I'll admit is damn good and the graphics are a huge boost from what Guilty Gear (the original) was but I'm disappointed in the change GG has gone through, becoming the X Series. In a way, I don't even consider the X series a part of the whole Guilty Gear deal but that it was a different direction for Ishiwatari Daisuke's projecto move around in-- it all became a part of the whole pop culture deal rather than the underground swagger it had going on back in the late 90's and seemed to have appealed more to a market sense of things than just the pure gaming aspect of a good challenging game (I mean for crying out loud, they made it HARDER to execute the Instant Kill 'Destroyed' move).
I only play the X-series of GG to compensate for a more eye-candy gesture of gaming as well as enhanced sound quality and music but GG is still my most highly regarded jewel than what X or X2 (XX: Midnight Carnival if you will) could ever be.
If you're a GG fan, get the game I suppose but it really doesn't have that same appeal regardless of what you may think; the whole spiel just doesn't quite fit for me, but that's me. This may seem like I'm putting this game down more than I should be praising it but again, in design the game is great, outstanding even, but the concept runs short and 'sold out' as far as a good game goes.
When Guilty Gear first came out, I was stoked and hoping for a sequel that could turn GG over as a world-class hit in the gaming scene... The X-series came out and ... that's all it just about it, come out but it didn't turn anything over as I thought it would-- so I'm still waiting for that TRUE Guilty Gear sequel despite the cashcowing to whoever's selling the game out now... was Atlus? Now Sammy? Now it's someone else I believe right? Times change but I still hold hope for that one moment when GG will make a true return to its roots-- if Daisuke Ishiwatari is reading this and can read English, I hope you read them intently because a diehard fan is still waiting for a raging comeback to what I acclaim as one of the greatest fighting game franchises of all time. Period. | 2 | positive | [
"I still rank Guilty Gear X2 with high marks but I lack the appreciation of execution this game has except for the music-- the music I'll admit is damn good and the graphics are a huge boost from what Guilty Gear (the original) was but I'm disappointed in the change GG has gone through, becoming the X Series.",
"In a way, I don't even consider the X series a part of the whole Guilty Gear deal but that it was a different direction for Ishiwatari Daisuke's projecto move around in-- it all became a part of the whole pop culture deal rather than the underground swagger it had going on back in the late 90's and seemed to have appealed more to a market sense of things than just the pure gaming aspect of a good challenging game (I mean for crying out loud, they made it HARDER to execute the Instant Kill 'Destroyed' move).",
"I only play the X-series of GG to compensate for a more eye-candy gesture of gaming as well as enhanced sound quality and music but GG is still my most highly regarded jewel than what X or X2 (XX: Midnight Carnival if you will) could ever be.",
"If you're a GG fan, get the game I suppose but it really doesn't have that same appeal regardless of what you may think; the whole spiel just doesn't quite fit for me, but that's me.",
"This may seem like I'm putting this game down more than I should be praising it but again, in design the game is great, outstanding even, but the concept runs short and 'sold out' as far as a good game goes.",
"When Guilty Gear first came out, I was stoked and hoping for a sequel that could turn GG over as a world-class hit in the gaming scene...",
"The X-series came out and...",
"that's all it just about it, come out but it didn't turn anything over as I thought it would-- so I'm still waiting for that TRUE Guilty Gear sequel despite the cashcowing to whoever's selling the game out now...",
"was Atlus?",
"Now Sammy?",
"Now it's someone else I believe right?",
"Times change but I still hold hope for that one moment when GG will make a true return to its roots-- if Daisuke Ishiwatari is reading this and can read English, I hope you read them intently because a diehard fan is still waiting for a raging comeback to what I acclaim as one of the greatest fighting game franchises of all time.",
"Period."
] |
This will protect your phone well. It fits great. It looks nice. It is well made.
Now for more in depth review.
The Sedio feels like it could be dropped every day without issue and it would keep protecting your phone.
The case adds a decent amount of bulk (I do not seem to mind) and weight (I do mind) Also, the case retains heat from the phone, which does have a negative impact on battery life.
The Sedio is easy to get off the phone, which is important if you switch batteries a lot as I do. The issue with the sedio is if you take the case off and a lot, as I do - maybe 3-5 times per week, the soft rubber inside starts to get stretched out and cases an issue on putting it back on.
UPDATE
I have recently bought the Case-Mate white case for the tBolt and prefer it. Same bulk, but much less weight. I am not sure the Case-mate would last through as many drops as the outside is more a hard plastic. I think it will protect, but I think the case itself might break if it were dropped enough. | 2 | positive | [
"This will protect your phone well.",
"It fits great.",
"It looks nice.",
"It is well made.",
"Now for more in depth review.",
"The Sedio feels like it could be dropped every day without issue and it would keep protecting your phone.",
"The case adds a decent amount of bulk (I do not seem to mind) and weight (I do mind) Also, the case retains heat from the phone, which does have a negative impact on battery life.",
"The Sedio is easy to get off the phone, which is important if you switch batteries a lot as I do.",
"The issue with the sedio is if you take the case off and a lot, as I do - maybe 3-5 times per week, the soft rubber inside starts to get stretched out and cases an issue on putting it back on.",
"UPDATE\n\nI have recently bought the Case-Mate white case for the tBolt and prefer it.",
"Same bulk, but much less weight.",
"I am not sure the Case-mate would last through as many drops as the outside is more a hard plastic.",
"I think it will protect, but I think the case itself might break if it were dropped enough."
] |
I've been using this coffee maker for several weeks, and I really like it. My husband rarely drinks coffee, so one cup is perfect. I also like that it doesn't take up much counter space. I don't like plastic cups, so I use my own large ceramic mug. A full-to-the-brim mug of water poured into the device makes a cup of coffee with room for milk or cream. I like the coffee better using a paper filter (and I've read that a paper filter makes coffee even healthier). I also (thanks to a review here), place half a paper filter on top of the ground coffee in the basket so that coffee grounds don't get on the top portion. This makes cleaning a breeze, one of the other benefits of this little coffee maker. I like Life Extension's Rich Rewards Coffee, which has more antioxidents than most coffee while being easier on the stomach. http://www.amazon.com/Rewards-Breakfast-Ground-Coffee-Ounces/dp/B006L6XMAM/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1339449260&sr=1-1&keywords=rich+rewards+coffee | 2 | positive | [
"I've been using this coffee maker for several weeks, and I really like it.",
"My husband rarely drinks coffee, so one cup is perfect.",
"I also like that it doesn't take up much counter space.",
"I don't like plastic cups, so I use my own large ceramic mug.",
"A full-to-the-brim mug of water poured into the device makes a cup of coffee with room for milk or cream.",
"I like the coffee better using a paper filter (and I've read that a paper filter makes coffee even healthier).",
"I also (thanks to a review here), place half a paper filter on top of the ground coffee in the basket so that coffee grounds don't get on the top portion.",
"This makes cleaning a breeze, one of the other benefits of this little coffee maker.",
"I like Life Extension's Rich Rewards Coffee, which has more antioxidents than most coffee while being easier on the stomach.",
"http://www.",
"amazon.",
"com/Rewards-Breakfast-Ground-Coffee-Ounces/dp/B006L6XMAM/ref=sr_1_1?",
"s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1339449260&sr=1-1&keywords=rich+rewards+coffee"
] |
Build quality on this strap is pretty low, but not terrible. It's similar to what you'd get on the cheap strap rack at your local music store. It's fine, though - it'll probably last for years (I've never had a strap break on me or anything). You may want to invest in straplocks, though.
The good news: it does pretty much what it says it does, and it I think it is well-designed. I had no trouble whatsoever getting it adjusted to fit my needs, and am curious as to why other reviewers reported problems on this. The weight is now evenly distributed over both of my shoulders, and it makes a real difference! Shoulder discomfort was distracting to me before, but now I don't notice it any more. This strap also puts my bass in a slightly different position than a regular strap in a way I like. It encourages your top strap button (on the upper horn of your guitar) to be closer to the middle of your chest (where the two shoulder straps meet) as opposed to more over on the left side of your body. For the way I like to play, this is an improvement over a regular strap.
This product gets four stars because of the cheap construction. If there were a more rugged, plusher version of this strap (with a little padding, maybe), I'd grab it in a heartbeat. As it stands, I will not go back to regular straps (even nicer ones). The price is right, so try it out! | 2 | positive | [
"Build quality on this strap is pretty low, but not terrible.",
"It's similar to what you'd get on the cheap strap rack at your local music store.",
"It's fine, though - it'll probably last for years (I've never had a strap break on me or anything).",
"You may want to invest in straplocks, though.",
"The good news: it does pretty much what it says it does, and it I think it is well-designed.",
"I had no trouble whatsoever getting it adjusted to fit my needs, and am curious as to why other reviewers reported problems on this.",
"The weight is now evenly distributed over both of my shoulders, and it makes a real difference!",
"Shoulder discomfort was distracting to me before, but now I don't notice it any more.",
"This strap also puts my bass in a slightly different position than a regular strap in a way I like.",
"It encourages your top strap button (on the upper horn of your guitar) to be closer to the middle of your chest (where the two shoulder straps meet) as opposed to more over on the left side of your body.",
"For the way I like to play, this is an improvement over a regular strap.",
"This product gets four stars because of the cheap construction.",
"If there were a more rugged, plusher version of this strap (with a little padding, maybe), I'd grab it in a heartbeat.",
"As it stands, I will not go back to regular straps (even nicer ones).",
"The price is right, so try it out!"
] |
I'll start by saying this is one of the best games I have ever played. From the opening scene in the game, I was hooked.
Story: Set in an alternate reality, Andrew Ryan builds an underwater city called Rapture. He wanted a city to be free from the laws of the land and to push the scientific boundaries without ethical interference, so he builds the city on the ocean floor in the Atlantic using geothermal power from underwater volcanoes. One scientist discovers stem cells from a slug could be used to create "Adam," a plasmid that alters DNA and grants the user special power. All of the citizens of Rapture become crazy and hooked on Adam and the plasmids and want more. In order to create enough Adam, these slugs were injected into the stomachs of little girls (called little sisters) to produce large quantities of Adam. A plasmid industry was then created to sell plasmids to citizens. Soon a war broke out between Andrew Ryan and a gangster named Frank Fontaine who wanted control of Rapture. Andrew Ryan appears to defeat Fontaine and seizes control of the plasmid industry. Fontaine's soldiers (called Splicers) continue to attack the little sisters so Ryan creates plasmid-enhanced super soldiers called Big Daddies in order to protect the little sisters.
Gameplay: First-person shooter. You are Jack, a plane crash survivor in the ocean, and you seek shelter in a lighthouse. You find out the lighthouse is actually a bathysphere that transports you down to the underwater city of Rapture. You are guided through the city by Radio from a guy named Atlas. He teaches you how to survive and instructs you to inject a plasmid into yourself. You then battle through Rapture killing the Splicers along the way to your goals. You have multiple weapons to use including a wrench, pistol, machine gun, shotgun, grenade launcher, etc. and multiple plasmids that let you use fire, ice, electricity, telekinesis, insects, etc. to damage opponents. As you make your way through Rapture, there are multiple vending machines used to purchase ammunition, health and equipment, create items, adjust plasmids, etc. There are cameras in some areas that scan and try and spot you. If you are spotted, bots are released that can shoot bullets at you. In order to get past cameras, you can hack them or destroy them. Hacking is a big part of the game. Every electronic in the game can be hacked such as the vending machines, health stations, safes, cameras, bots, and automated turrets. Hacking cameras, bots and automated turrets changes them to your side where they will attack enemies for you. Hacking health stations and vending machines lowers the price of items and add new ones. When you hack something, you play a short mini game similar to Pipe Mania, where you try and get the flow of the liquid from the start point to the end point without setting off alarms. Several items make hacking easier, such as slowing the liquid, less alarm tiles, etc. As you make your way through Rapture, you will need to acquire more Adam in order to buy more plasmids or upgrade them. You get Adam via the little sisters but you have to kill their big daddy first. Big daddies are tougher to kill than Splicers. Once they are gone, you can harvest Adam from the little sisters. You have the option to be good and save the little sisters (keep them alive and free them from the slug) or kill them and harvest every bit of Adam from them down to the slug. Your ending depends on your choices with the little sisters. You get more Adam by killing them but you get bonus presents from the little sisters for every 3 that you save. It adds up to be about the same either way. Another item in the game is the research camera and film. You can take photos of each enemy, exposing weak points. Once you take enough photos of each enemy type, you will get the maximum benefit and they will be easier to kill. It takes several of each enemy to get enough photos. This works on big daddies, cameras, bots, turrets, etc.
Graphics: Amazing views of the ocean and ocean life. The details are incredible and the animations look very vivid and life-like.
Sound: The game is set in the 60's so you often hear 60's music and sound. The voice acting is good and the sound effects are realistic for every weapon and plasmid.
Conclusion: All of the game play aspects add up to an amazing experience. I have played through the game multiple times and it is still a blast to play. Definitely one of the most defining games of the seventh generation of video game consoles and one of my favorite games of all times. | 2 | positive | [
"I'll start by saying this is one of the best games I have ever played.",
"From the opening scene in the game, I was hooked.",
"Story: Set in an alternate reality, Andrew Ryan builds an underwater city called Rapture.",
"He wanted a city to be free from the laws of the land and to push the scientific boundaries without ethical interference, so he builds the city on the ocean floor in the Atlantic using geothermal power from underwater volcanoes.",
"One scientist discovers stem cells from a slug could be used to create \"Adam,\" a plasmid that alters DNA and grants the user special power.",
"All of the citizens of Rapture become crazy and hooked on Adam and the plasmids and want more.",
"In order to create enough Adam, these slugs were injected into the stomachs of little girls (called little sisters) to produce large quantities of Adam.",
"A plasmid industry was then created to sell plasmids to citizens.",
"Soon a war broke out between Andrew Ryan and a gangster named Frank Fontaine who wanted control of Rapture.",
"Andrew Ryan appears to defeat Fontaine and seizes control of the plasmid industry.",
"Fontaine's soldiers (called Splicers) continue to attack the little sisters so Ryan creates plasmid-enhanced super soldiers called Big Daddies in order to protect the little sisters.",
"Gameplay: First-person shooter.",
"You are Jack, a plane crash survivor in the ocean, and you seek shelter in a lighthouse.",
"You find out the lighthouse is actually a bathysphere that transports you down to the underwater city of Rapture.",
"You are guided through the city by Radio from a guy named Atlas.",
"He teaches you how to survive and instructs you to inject a plasmid into yourself.",
"You then battle through Rapture killing the Splicers along the way to your goals.",
"You have multiple weapons to use including a wrench, pistol, machine gun, shotgun, grenade launcher, etc.",
"and multiple plasmids that let you use fire, ice, electricity, telekinesis, insects, etc.",
"to damage opponents.",
"As you make your way through Rapture, there are multiple vending machines used to purchase ammunition, health and equipment, create items, adjust plasmids, etc.",
"There are cameras in some areas that scan and try and spot you.",
"If you are spotted, bots are released that can shoot bullets at you.",
"In order to get past cameras, you can hack them or destroy them.",
"Hacking is a big part of the game.",
"Every electronic in the game can be hacked such as the vending machines, health stations, safes, cameras, bots, and automated turrets.",
"Hacking cameras, bots and automated turrets changes them to your side where they will attack enemies for you.",
"Hacking health stations and vending machines lowers the price of items and add new ones.",
"When you hack something, you play a short mini game similar to Pipe Mania, where you try and get the flow of the liquid from the start point to the end point without setting off alarms.",
"Several items make hacking easier, such as slowing the liquid, less alarm tiles, etc.",
"As you make your way through Rapture, you will need to acquire more Adam in order to buy more plasmids or upgrade them.",
"You get Adam via the little sisters but you have to kill their big daddy first.",
"Big daddies are tougher to kill than Splicers.",
"Once they are gone, you can harvest Adam from the little sisters.",
"You have the option to be good and save the little sisters (keep them alive and free them from the slug) or kill them and harvest every bit of Adam from them down to the slug.",
"Your ending depends on your choices with the little sisters.",
"You get more Adam by killing them but you get bonus presents from the little sisters for every 3 that you save.",
"It adds up to be about the same either way.",
"Another item in the game is the research camera and film.",
"You can take photos of each enemy, exposing weak points.",
"Once you take enough photos of each enemy type, you will get the maximum benefit and they will be easier to kill.",
"It takes several of each enemy to get enough photos.",
"This works on big daddies, cameras, bots, turrets, etc.",
"Graphics: Amazing views of the ocean and ocean life.",
"The details are incredible and the animations look very vivid and life-like.",
"Sound: The game is set in the 60's so you often hear 60's music and sound.",
"The voice acting is good and the sound effects are realistic for every weapon and plasmid.",
"Conclusion: All of the game play aspects add up to an amazing experience.",
"I have played through the game multiple times and it is still a blast to play.",
"Definitely one of the most defining games of the seventh generation of video game consoles and one of my favorite games of all times."
] |
I am more than pleased with the book. Started with the TV series. Liked it. The book fleshes out familiar characters, shows the combinations of stories for the TV series. Mr. Cornwell writes to the reader. He brings you in without much ado and puts you right in the story. Exceptional Author. I am so enjoying his books (yes have gone mad and ordered a bunch of them!) | 2 | positive | [
"I am more than pleased with the book.",
"Started with the TV series.",
"Liked it.",
"The book fleshes out familiar characters, shows the combinations of stories for the TV series.",
"Mr.",
"Cornwell writes to the reader.",
"He brings you in without much ado and puts you right in the story.",
"Exceptional Author.",
"I am so enjoying his books (yes have gone mad and ordered a bunch of them!",
")"
] |
This is the second Crash game I've ever owned and my second favorite in the series after Warped! I absolutely love this game and how it stays true to the old classic Crash Bandicoot games.
As explained in my Warped review Crash Bandicoot is a platformer game series dating back to the PS1 days (definately a 90's mascot). Its also got a place in my heart as one of the first PS1 games I ever played as well as one of the hardest game franchises I ever played. I think it might have been one of the first games to come out on the PS1 period. The first game involved you playing a mutated Bandicoot that escaped the lab of the evil genious Dr. Neo Cortex. Saddly his girlfriend Tawnya wasn't so lucky so you have to travel through many hard as hell levels to rescue her. I never actually finished the first game, because theres one castle level near the end I just got stuck on (them damn bats!!XD). I want to play it again some day though and finally beat that level! One thing I remember fondly is the game had great level designs and actually looked pretty good for its time. It was fun, challenging, funny, and it never got old.
In Wrath of Cortex Uka Uka, the evil brother of the witch doctor mask Aku Aku, releases five elemental mask that set out to destroy the world with the help of Cortex's new super weapon Crunch Bandicoot who is powered by the mask during boss battles. Crash has to find crystals and put the elementals as well as Crunch in thier place.
All Crash games up to Warped were developed by Naughty Dog, the first to be exact. Wrath of Cortex has the same publishers, but is developed by Travellers Tales (pretty decent games) who I think did a really good job in making this game. It really catches the fun of the early games. For one the gameplay is spot on! Everything works the way thier supposed to. A matter of fact, I can't recall ever having problems with control in Crash games. When jumping you always have to build up momentum, expecially when platforms are far away, plus you sometimes had to calculate how far something is to survive jumps which added to the challenge expecially on side-scrolling levels. The music is wonderful! Its not my favorite video game soundtrack but its decent and nice to listen to.
When it comes to choosing levels Wrath of Cortex can be compared to Warped in this regard. You go through 5 levels than face a boss. Every level is unique and in some you actually play as Crashes sister Cocoa. I don't mean riding that tiger, you actually platform as her. I found these levels very fun, but its much easier to get hit by enemies and die as her. Luckily these levels are very few. Theres also flying levels which I confess I don't really like that much. Im happy they didn't put many racing levels in this one like WarpedXD The race levels are a big improovement over the ones in Warped. Out of all the games I think this one has the most unique Boss battles. While in the other games you often took on the boss head on by avoiding attacks than getting close to attack, in this one you actually have to avoid touching most bosses period. For instance in one boss battle you have to run from the boss and jump in a suit that you use to spray water on him, while avoiding deadly lava rocks that he throws at you. You definately need Aku Aku for this battleXD The secret Gems, crystals, and Relics from Warped are also back as well. Collect all the relics and you unlock the secret levels. Harder than it sounds for those who never played Crash at all.
I have to admit though. None of the Crash games I've played so far can match the difficulty of the first game. I can't say anything about the second game (never owned it), but I can say that what makes Wrath of Cortex as well as Warped easier is how convenient extra lives are. Trust me. I can guarantee you that by world 2 you'll have almost over 50 lives. That doesn't keep the game from being hair pulling later on though. I was kind of disappointed with the death animations in this one. In Warped the death animations when hit by different obstacles and traps range from "wtf" to just plain hillarious. In this one thier pretty much "meh". That doesn't stop the game from having funny moments though, like how our enemies will talk to us in the level select area and before load screens. Speaking of Load screens this one has the longest I've ever experienced in the series. Still its nothing compared to loading screens I've faced in games outside the series (coughEnter TheDragonFlycough).
Crash Wrath of Cortex is a must have for fans of the series and of platformers. I know reviewers were mixed on this game due to how similar it is to its predesescors, but that doesn't stop WOC from being what the first 3 games are famous for. Just being plain old fashioned fun and entertaining, like video games are supposed to be. Don't hesitate to buy this. | 2 | positive | [
"This is the second Crash game I've ever owned and my second favorite in the series after Warped!",
"I absolutely love this game and how it stays true to the old classic Crash Bandicoot games.",
"As explained in my Warped review Crash Bandicoot is a platformer game series dating back to the PS1 days (definately a 90's mascot).",
"Its also got a place in my heart as one of the first PS1 games I ever played as well as one of the hardest game franchises I ever played.",
"I think it might have been one of the first games to come out on the PS1 period.",
"The first game involved you playing a mutated Bandicoot that escaped the lab of the evil genious Dr.",
"Neo Cortex.",
"Saddly his girlfriend Tawnya wasn't so lucky so you have to travel through many hard as hell levels to rescue her.",
"I never actually finished the first game, because theres one castle level near the end I just got stuck on (them damn bats!!",
"XD).",
"I want to play it again some day though and finally beat that level!",
"One thing I remember fondly is the game had great level designs and actually looked pretty good for its time.",
"It was fun, challenging, funny, and it never got old.",
"In Wrath of Cortex Uka Uka, the evil brother of the witch doctor mask Aku Aku, releases five elemental mask that set out to destroy the world with the help of Cortex's new super weapon Crunch Bandicoot who is powered by the mask during boss battles.",
"Crash has to find crystals and put the elementals as well as Crunch in thier place.",
"All Crash games up to Warped were developed by Naughty Dog, the first to be exact.",
"Wrath of Cortex has the same publishers, but is developed by Travellers Tales (pretty decent games) who I think did a really good job in making this game.",
"It really catches the fun of the early games.",
"For one the gameplay is spot on!",
"Everything works the way thier supposed to.",
"A matter of fact, I can't recall ever having problems with control in Crash games.",
"When jumping you always have to build up momentum, expecially when platforms are far away, plus you sometimes had to calculate how far something is to survive jumps which added to the challenge expecially on side-scrolling levels.",
"The music is wonderful!",
"Its not my favorite video game soundtrack but its decent and nice to listen to.",
"When it comes to choosing levels Wrath of Cortex can be compared to Warped in this regard.",
"You go through 5 levels than face a boss.",
"Every level is unique and in some you actually play as Crashes sister Cocoa.",
"I don't mean riding that tiger, you actually platform as her.",
"I found these levels very fun, but its much easier to get hit by enemies and die as her.",
"Luckily these levels are very few.",
"Theres also flying levels which I confess I don't really like that much.",
"Im happy they didn't put many racing levels in this one like WarpedXD The race levels are a big improovement over the ones in Warped.",
"Out of all the games I think this one has the most unique Boss battles.",
"While in the other games you often took on the boss head on by avoiding attacks than getting close to attack, in this one you actually have to avoid touching most bosses period.",
"For instance in one boss battle you have to run from the boss and jump in a suit that you use to spray water on him, while avoiding deadly lava rocks that he throws at you.",
"You definately need Aku Aku for this battleXD The secret Gems, crystals, and Relics from Warped are also back as well.",
"Collect all the relics and you unlock the secret levels.",
"Harder than it sounds for those who never played Crash at all.",
"I have to admit though.",
"None of the Crash games I've played so far can match the difficulty of the first game.",
"I can't say anything about the second game (never owned it), but I can say that what makes Wrath of Cortex as well as Warped easier is how convenient extra lives are.",
"Trust me.",
"I can guarantee you that by world 2 you'll have almost over 50 lives.",
"That doesn't keep the game from being hair pulling later on though.",
"I was kind of disappointed with the death animations in this one.",
"In Warped the death animations when hit by different obstacles and traps range from \"wtf\" to just plain hillarious.",
"In this one thier pretty much \"meh\".",
"That doesn't stop the game from having funny moments though, like how our enemies will talk to us in the level select area and before load screens.",
"Speaking of Load screens this one has the longest I've ever experienced in the series.",
"Still its nothing compared to loading screens I've faced in games outside the series (coughEnter TheDragonFlycough).",
"Crash Wrath of Cortex is a must have for fans of the series and of platformers.",
"I know reviewers were mixed on this game due to how similar it is to its predesescors, but that doesn't stop WOC from being what the first 3 games are famous for.",
"Just being plain old fashioned fun and entertaining, like video games are supposed to be.",
"Don't hesitate to buy this."
] |
Summary:
I give this game 5 stars all the way. My car game experience is strictly arcade style. I've been a huge fan of the Burnout series. My favorite before this is Revenge, and my least favorite is Dominator. It's difficult to compare Paradise to it's last-gen predecessors. The experience is completely different. In Paradise, you are in an open environment (Paradise City). In the "career mode" you pick and choose challenges at each traffic light. Whether it's "Marked Man," "Stunt Run," "Road Rage," or "Race," you're overall goal is to get your Elite license. There are a lot of hidden locations to uncover that make the game enjoyable. The online aspect is simple and efficient. You hit the direction pad, choose "freeburn" mode, and you instantly enter an online game. Or you have the option of choosing which one you want to join. There is little to no lag online. At least none that I experience (I still play this game). It has huge replay value.
Pros:
Graphics are great. The challenges range from easy to moderately difficult. There is no shortage of cars. You have about 40 cars to unlock (I'm estimating off the top of my head - don't remember exactly). Each car has a "pimped out" model available to win once you complete what is called a "Burning Route" which is essentially a timed race from point "A" to point "B." In total (between burning routes and license upgrades and sponsor codes) I believe there are around 83 cars (or close to that number) available. The free bike pack adds a new feel to the game and some added play time. It's great quality for a free add-on. The bikes ride very smoothly and will satisfy any speed junkie. Day and night-time racing (one of the free add-ons) is a refreshing change of pace. Weather is random - cloudy/foggy to sunny. This adds a new dynamic when racing. I find myself holding off on all races until the fog clears, otherwise I get extremely frustrated crashing into traffic and buildings.
The online experience is not troublesome and there is no lag. There are many challenges available online among friends. Some as simple as power parking, highest jump, biggest stunt score to full on races and road rage events. The marked man is a lot of fun online. It goes round-robin, where everyone gets a chance to be the marked man for a timed run - and everyone has boost except the marked man. The winner is whoever was not picked off by his/her peers.
The updates and add-ons have been free. The party mode multiplayer pack that is coming out this week will cost $$$. But all other addon packs that have been added to make this game more enjoyable until now are free. There is also more free content coming out this year.
Cons:
Only 1 - I did find it difficult to adjust to the map navigation. Using the compass in conjunction with the map on the bottom right corner of the screen can be rather confusing at first when trying to get to certain destinations. It took me a while to get used to, and sometimes I still take wrong turns. It gets frustrating at first when you are trying to follow the map in a race at the same time as keeping your eyes on the open road so that you don't crash into traffic. Just keep in mind that the game is a different experience and will take you some time to learn your way around the City. Start off with challenges you know you will enjoy and work your way up to the ones with a steeper learning curve. | 2 | positive | [
"Summary:\n\nI give this game 5 stars all the way.",
"My car game experience is strictly arcade style.",
"I've been a huge fan of the Burnout series.",
"My favorite before this is Revenge, and my least favorite is Dominator.",
"It's difficult to compare Paradise to it's last-gen predecessors.",
"The experience is completely different.",
"In Paradise, you are in an open environment (Paradise City).",
"In the \"career mode\" you pick and choose challenges at each traffic light.",
"Whether it's \"Marked Man,\" \"Stunt Run,\" \"Road Rage,\" or \"Race,\" you're overall goal is to get your Elite license.",
"There are a lot of hidden locations to uncover that make the game enjoyable.",
"The online aspect is simple and efficient.",
"You hit the direction pad, choose \"freeburn\" mode, and you instantly enter an online game.",
"Or you have the option of choosing which one you want to join.",
"There is little to no lag online.",
"At least none that I experience (I still play this game).",
"It has huge replay value.",
"Pros:\nGraphics are great.",
"The challenges range from easy to moderately difficult.",
"There is no shortage of cars.",
"You have about 40 cars to unlock (I'm estimating off the top of my head - don't remember exactly).",
"Each car has a \"pimped out\" model available to win once you complete what is called a \"Burning Route\" which is essentially a timed race from point \"A\" to point \"B.",
"\" In total (between burning routes and license upgrades and sponsor codes) I believe there are around 83 cars (or close to that number) available.",
"The free bike pack adds a new feel to the game and some added play time.",
"It's great quality for a free add-on.",
"The bikes ride very smoothly and will satisfy any speed junkie.",
"Day and night-time racing (one of the free add-ons) is a refreshing change of pace.",
"Weather is random - cloudy/foggy to sunny.",
"This adds a new dynamic when racing.",
"I find myself holding off on all races until the fog clears, otherwise I get extremely frustrated crashing into traffic and buildings.",
"The online experience is not troublesome and there is no lag.",
"There are many challenges available online among friends.",
"Some as simple as power parking, highest jump, biggest stunt score to full on races and road rage events.",
"The marked man is a lot of fun online.",
"It goes round-robin, where everyone gets a chance to be the marked man for a timed run - and everyone has boost except the marked man.",
"The winner is whoever was not picked off by his/her peers.",
"The updates and add-ons have been free.",
"The party mode multiplayer pack that is coming out this week will cost $$$.",
"But all other addon packs that have been added to make this game more enjoyable until now are free.",
"There is also more free content coming out this year.",
"Cons:\nOnly 1 - I did find it difficult to adjust to the map navigation.",
"Using the compass in conjunction with the map on the bottom right corner of the screen can be rather confusing at first when trying to get to certain destinations.",
"It took me a while to get used to, and sometimes I still take wrong turns.",
"It gets frustrating at first when you are trying to follow the map in a race at the same time as keeping your eyes on the open road so that you don't crash into traffic.",
"Just keep in mind that the game is a different experience and will take you some time to learn your way around the City.",
"Start off with challenges you know you will enjoy and work your way up to the ones with a steeper learning curve."
] |
I love a good wise cracking character. This book has two! The dialogue is rich with it. And since the book is written in first person, the entire story is full of it. There is rich character development, and a nice romance thrown into the action. The plot is fast paced. The main bad guy is cringe worthy. One bad guy, at the end, was a little predictable, but at least he gets his in the end. And one character turns out to be a big surprise. I enjoyed this story and was anxiously reading to the end to see that the it concluded to my satisfaction -- which it did. I highly recommend this book and will look forward to others by this author. | 2 | positive | [
"I love a good wise cracking character.",
"This book has two!",
"The dialogue is rich with it.",
"And since the book is written in first person, the entire story is full of it.",
"There is rich character development, and a nice romance thrown into the action.",
"The plot is fast paced.",
"The main bad guy is cringe worthy.",
"One bad guy, at the end, was a little predictable, but at least he gets his in the end.",
"And one character turns out to be a big surprise.",
"I enjoyed this story and was anxiously reading to the end to see that the it concluded to my satisfaction -- which it did.",
"I highly recommend this book and will look forward to others by this author."
] |
* * * THIS TOOTH PASTE CONTAINS FLUORIDE but is free of many other harsh chemicals * * *
Wow!! I have found my new favorite toothpaste! <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Jason-Healthy-Mouth-Plus-CoQ10-Fluoride-Gel-Toothpaste-Tea-Tree-Cinnamon-6-Ounce/dp/B001T8MTWO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Jason Healthy Mouth Plus CoQ10 Fluoride Gel Toothpaste, Tea Tree, Cinnamon, 6 Ounce</a> has a slight minty flavor, not overpowering at all. I am NOT into cinnamon candies as I do not like the taste - yet I love this toothpaste! (I really don't taste the cinnamon...) It is a CLEAR GEL - no artificial colors!!! THANK YOU JASON!!!!
Per the packaging:
No sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates
No preservatives
No artificial flavors
NO ARTIFICIAL COLORS!!! (So important to those of us who suffer extreme GI duress when FD&C Blue 1 is used.. read the info on FDA.GOV as well)
No artificial sweeteners
No saccharin
No propylene glycol
No gluten
I found a great mouthwash to pair with this toothpaste is <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Desert-Essence-Natural-Refreshing-Tea-Tree-Oil-Mouthwash-16-fl-oz/dp/B004GW0WJM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Desert Essence Natural Refreshing Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash -- 16 fl oz</a>. I put the mouthwash in a small sprayer pump to make it last a long long time. It also works great to spray on toothbrushes to refresh and clean the bristles.
BTW I found the best price was on the single tube with subscribe and save. Amazon also sells a 3-pack. Price compare and consider using Subscribe and Save to find the best price, don't forget to check into Amazon Mom, as well. Jason's customer service can be reached at 1-877-JASON-01 weekdays 7am-5pm MST.
I stoopidly tried <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/SmartMouth-Toothpaste-Mint-6-Ounce-Tubes-Pack-of-3/dp/B001ET7HQG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">SmartMouth Toothpaste, Mint, 6-Ounce Tubes (Pack of 3)</a> but as soon as I opened it and discovered the FD&C Blue 1 staring back at me I realized it was a huge mistake. I tried it anyway... it would be TMI to say what happened :-(
I have deducted ONE STAR for the FLUORIDE. If this toothpaste did NOT contain Fluoride it would be a full 5 Stars. | 2 | positive | [
"* * * THIS TOOTH PASTE CONTAINS FLUORIDE but is free of many other harsh chemicals * * *\n\nWow!!",
"I have found my new favorite toothpaste!",
" <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Jason-Healthy-Mouth-Plus-CoQ10-Fluoride-Gel-Toothpaste-Tea-Tree-Cinnamon-6-Ounce/dp/B001T8MTWO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Jason Healthy Mouth Plus CoQ10 Fluoride Gel Toothpaste, Tea Tree, Cinnamon, 6 Ounce</a> has a slight minty flavor, not overpowering at all.",
"I am NOT into cinnamon candies as I do not like the taste - yet I love this toothpaste!",
"(I really don't taste the cinnamon...",
") It is a CLEAR GEL - no artificial colors!!!",
"THANK YOU JASON!!!!",
"Per the packaging:\nNo sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates\nNo preservatives\nNo artificial flavors\nNO ARTIFICIAL COLORS!!!",
"(So important to those of us who suffer extreme GI duress when FD&C Blue 1 is used..",
"read the info on FDA.",
"GOV as well)\nNo artificial sweeteners\nNo saccharin\nNo propylene glycol\nNo gluten\n\nI found a great mouthwash to pair with this toothpaste is <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Desert-Essence-Natural-Refreshing-Tea-Tree-Oil-Mouthwash-16-fl-oz/dp/B004GW0WJM/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Desert Essence Natural Refreshing Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash -- 16 fl oz</a>.",
"I put the mouthwash in a small sprayer pump to make it last a long long time.",
"It also works great to spray on toothbrushes to refresh and clean the bristles.",
"BTW I found the best price was on the single tube with subscribe and save.",
"Amazon also sells a 3-pack.",
"Price compare and consider using Subscribe and Save to find the best price, don't forget to check into Amazon Mom, as well.",
"Jason's customer service can be reached at 1-877-JASON-01 weekdays 7am-5pm MST.",
"I stoopidly tried <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/SmartMouth-Toothpaste-Mint-6-Ounce-Tubes-Pack-of-3/dp/B001ET7HQG/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">SmartMouth Toothpaste, Mint, 6-Ounce Tubes (Pack of 3)</a> but as soon as I opened it and discovered the FD&C Blue 1 staring back at me I realized it was a huge mistake.",
"I tried it anyway...",
"it would be TMI to say what happened :-(\n\nI have deducted ONE STAR for the FLUORIDE.",
"If this toothpaste did NOT contain Fluoride it would be a full 5 Stars."
] |
No doubt Keith Murray is one of the best lyricists here in this hip hop game. Couple that with some excellent production by Erick Sermon, KP, Redman, and Busta Rhymes, and you have this album. After appearing on Erick Sermon's, "Hostile" from <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/No-Pressure/dp/B0000024J3/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">No Pressure</a>, a year later, he drops he debut album. Most of this album showcases Keith Murray as a hungry lyricist. Dope songs like "Sychosymatic", and the title track "The Most Beautifullest..." validates my reason (I perfer the remix on the latter song). "Straight Loonie" is a dope song (was Erick Sermon blowed when he spit his verse, trying to sound like Fredro Starr from Onyx?). The next excellent track is "Danger Zone" with a dope sample from Roger Troutman (another thing I realized is that Erick uses the same samples, because that sample was used on "Safe Sex" on his previous album). "Take It To The Streets" is a nice track that features Murray's crew L.O.D. "Bom Bom Zee" is dope short track with Hurricane G. (who doesn't sound bad here), and Paul Hightower's singing. The album ends with the remix of the title track, with better production than the origonal.
Although it's a great album, this album flaws. Outside of Murray's lyrics, he never seperates from the Def Squad pack, lacking variety in his rhymes (especially compared to Redman). I've heard him on later albums, and he sounds so much better than he did on here. Also, the track "Escapism" is the only forgettable song on the album, mainly because I don't like the sample being used (Pete Rock used the same sample on the introduction of "Lots Of Lovin").
Overall, his debut is great. Fans of EPMD and Def Squad will enjoy this album. Also fans of Erick Sermon's production will like the beats on here as well, which highly elevates the album, and near identical to Sermon's sophomore album <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Double-or-Nothing/dp/B0000024KT/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Double or Nothing</a>. Thankfully this album is not out of print, as with his other albums on Jive Records are. But this is one to add to the collection. Peace.
Lyrics: A-
Production: A
Guest Appearances: A
Musical Vibes: A-
Top 5 Tracks:
1. Danger Zone
2. The Most Beautifullest Thing In The World [Remix]
3. Sychomatic
4. How's That (featuring Redman and Erick Semon)
5. Straight Loonie (featuring Erick Semon and Jamal)
Honorable Mention:
1. Bom Bom Zee (featuring Hurricane G. and Paul Hightower) | 2 | positive | [
"No doubt Keith Murray is one of the best lyricists here in this hip hop game.",
"Couple that with some excellent production by Erick Sermon, KP, Redman, and Busta Rhymes, and you have this album.",
"After appearing on Erick Sermon's, \"Hostile\" from <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/No-Pressure/dp/B0000024J3/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">No Pressure</a>, a year later, he drops he debut album.",
"Most of this album showcases Keith Murray as a hungry lyricist.",
"Dope songs like \"Sychosymatic\", and the title track \"The Most Beautifullest...",
"\" validates my reason (I perfer the remix on the latter song).",
"\"Straight Loonie\" is a dope song (was Erick Sermon blowed when he spit his verse, trying to sound like Fredro Starr from Onyx?",
").",
"The next excellent track is \"Danger Zone\" with a dope sample from Roger Troutman (another thing I realized is that Erick uses the same samples, because that sample was used on \"Safe Sex\" on his previous album).",
"\"Take It To The Streets\" is a nice track that features Murray's crew L.",
"O.D. \"Bom Bom Zee\" is dope short track with Hurricane G.",
"(who doesn't sound bad here), and Paul Hightower's singing.",
"The album ends with the remix of the title track, with better production than the origonal.",
"Although it's a great album, this album flaws.",
"Outside of Murray's lyrics, he never seperates from the Def Squad pack, lacking variety in his rhymes (especially compared to Redman).",
"I've heard him on later albums, and he sounds so much better than he did on here.",
"Also, the track \"Escapism\" is the only forgettable song on the album, mainly because I don't like the sample being used (Pete Rock used the same sample on the introduction of \"Lots Of Lovin\").",
"Overall, his debut is great.",
"Fans of EPMD and Def Squad will enjoy this album.",
"Also fans of Erick Sermon's production will like the beats on here as well, which highly elevates the album, and near identical to Sermon's sophomore album <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Double-or-Nothing/dp/B0000024KT/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Double or Nothing</a>.",
"Thankfully this album is not out of print, as with his other albums on Jive Records are.",
"But this is one to add to the collection.",
"Peace.",
"Lyrics: A-\nProduction: A\nGuest Appearances: A\nMusical Vibes: A-\n\nTop 5 Tracks:\n1.",
"Danger Zone\n2.",
"The Most Beautifullest Thing In The World [Remix]\n3.",
"Sychomatic\n4.",
"How's That (featuring Redman and Erick Semon)\n5.",
"Straight Loonie (featuring Erick Semon and Jamal)\n\nHonorable Mention:\n1.",
"Bom Bom Zee (featuring Hurricane G.",
"and Paul Hightower)"
] |
It has a smaller diaphragm, which makes it good for acoustic guitar and light vocals. It doesn't come with a shock mount which is "shocking"...haha. However the clip that connects it to your mic stand is very versatile and don't panic when you think you have to buy an adapter to fit that weird European thread to your stand...just get a screwdriver or something hard and flat ( I actually used a butter knife) and unscrew the metal adapter inside the main connection. I went to screw it on to my stand and said, "Oh man, the darn thing needs an adapter"...when in fact the piece in there was an adapter. I would buy this mic again. Great mic for the price. But if you want something with a larger diaphragm for bigger sounding vocals you might want to try a Mxl V67I or something like it (that's if you have to stay in this price range). Otherwise get a Sony C800G. (yeah right...I can't even afford the connector for one of those).
Oh yeah, and one last thing...the free shipping does take a very long time to ship, so if you really want your product to come under a week and a half...spend the extra few bucks...the mic took a full week to arrive (not to bad). But, you know how it is...sometimes a week feels like an eternity when you all you own is a sure pg48. | 2 | positive | [
"It has a smaller diaphragm, which makes it good for acoustic guitar and light vocals.",
"It doesn't come with a shock mount which is \"shocking\"...",
"haha.",
"However the clip that connects it to your mic stand is very versatile and don't panic when you think you have to buy an adapter to fit that weird European thread to your stand...",
"just get a screwdriver or something hard and flat ( I actually used a butter knife) and unscrew the metal adapter inside the main connection.",
"I went to screw it on to my stand and said, \"Oh man, the darn thing needs an adapter\"...",
"when in fact the piece in there was an adapter.",
"I would buy this mic again.",
"Great mic for the price.",
"But if you want something with a larger diaphragm for bigger sounding vocals you might want to try a Mxl V67I or something like it (that's if you have to stay in this price range).",
"Otherwise get a Sony C800G.",
"(yeah right...",
"I can't even afford the connector for one of those).",
"Oh yeah, and one last thing...",
"the free shipping does take a very long time to ship, so if you really want your product to come under a week and a half...",
"spend the extra few bucks...",
"the mic took a full week to arrive (not to bad).",
"But, you know how it is...",
"sometimes a week feels like an eternity when you all you own is a sure pg48."
] |
This album comes at you from a totally different angle than Toto or 4. Much more heavily produced. As a more recent follower of the band I am not sure of all the member changes. From what I understand there have been many iterations.
For me this album has it all. Great songs, people can listen to this that do not even like rock music. Yes, its that well made and performed. For a 2nd album this thing rocks. Most bands tend to fall off rapidly in the instrumental department and focus on lyrics. Well not this band. Where
they find inspiration for Hydra and St. George leave me amazed.
The piano work is first rate, some of the more driving "Rock feel" songs like "Boys" and "White Sister" will leave your jaw hanging. Melodies like Lorraine tend to even the keel. So melodic. I cannot wait to delve deeper into their work. Amazing.
A great album. A bit too short. I recently "borrowed" the entire collection from a buddy, he is a real fan. He has every album by every band member. Needless to say I have lots of listening left to do. Buy this one. A real treat. | 2 | positive | [
"This album comes at you from a totally different angle than Toto or 4.",
"Much more heavily produced.",
"As a more recent follower of the band I am not sure of all the member changes.",
"From what I understand there have been many iterations.",
"For me this album has it all.",
"Great songs, people can listen to this that do not even like rock music.",
"Yes, its that well made and performed.",
"For a 2nd album this thing rocks.",
"Most bands tend to fall off rapidly in the instrumental department and focus on lyrics.",
"Well not this band.",
"Where\nthey find inspiration for Hydra and St.",
"George leave me amazed.",
"The piano work is first rate, some of the more driving \"Rock feel\" songs like \"Boys\" and \"White Sister\" will leave your jaw hanging.",
"Melodies like Lorraine tend to even the keel.",
"So melodic.",
"I cannot wait to delve deeper into their work.",
"Amazing.",
"A great album.",
"A bit too short.",
"I recently \"borrowed\" the entire collection from a buddy, he is a real fan.",
"He has every album by every band member.",
"Needless to say I have lots of listening left to do.",
"Buy this one.",
"A real treat."
] |
I don't know how I missed this one. I have a library of DVDs on WWII but this one really brings it home for me. The photography is fine, but the things
that stay with me are the letters and diaries of the participants. Some of them are nothing short of astonishing. Heartbreaking and shocking. I thought
I couldn't be shocked by WWII material anymore, but I was wrong. It's always been the cost of the war in human lives that I find so unforgettable. To me, the study on Gypsy children by the Nazi working on her doctorate was madness incarnate. I know you have to fight sometimes, but overall this war was insanity in action started by insane men. Who was it who asked, "Was there ever a good war or a bad peace"? I might add, "Was there ever a sane war or an insane peace"? | 2 | positive | [
"I don't know how I missed this one.",
"I have a library of DVDs on WWII but this one really brings it home for me.",
"The photography is fine, but the things\nthat stay with me are the letters and diaries of the participants.",
"Some of them are nothing short of astonishing.",
"Heartbreaking and shocking.",
"I thought\nI couldn't be shocked by WWII material anymore, but I was wrong.",
"It's always been the cost of the war in human lives that I find so unforgettable.",
"To me, the study on Gypsy children by the Nazi working on her doctorate was madness incarnate.",
"I know you have to fight sometimes, but overall this war was insanity in action started by insane men.",
"Who was it who asked, \"Was there ever a good war or a bad peace\"?",
"I might add, \"Was there ever a sane war or an insane peace\"?"
] |
We had previously been using Family Tree Maker Essentials. We just upgraded to Platinum and imported all of our files. We also imported databases from two different sides of our family (two uncles that had been working on the branches of their respective families). This process was fairly easy and now we have a fairly complete history of two branches.
The Platinum version is best if you'd like to do a lot of research about your extended family that you don't have database information for. The 6 month subscription for the online Ancestry.com service is great. However, be warned that you can only search and access information that others have made public. This seems obvious, but it's important to note that you still may need to do a great deal of offline research to fill in your tree, like adding other databases to your files. With that said, if you already have most of your family's information, and are really just looking for software to help you build your family tree chart, then you probably don't really need the Platinum version with Ancestry subscription.
Just one star off because we feel that the interface should be updated. Some areas are a little clunky and not quite intuitive. I'm hoping for a glossier product with the next release. But overall, this is a good solid product with a lot of value. | 2 | positive | [
"We had previously been using Family Tree Maker Essentials.",
"We just upgraded to Platinum and imported all of our files.",
"We also imported databases from two different sides of our family (two uncles that had been working on the branches of their respective families).",
"This process was fairly easy and now we have a fairly complete history of two branches.",
"The Platinum version is best if you'd like to do a lot of research about your extended family that you don't have database information for.",
"The 6 month subscription for the online Ancestry.",
"com service is great.",
"However, be warned that you can only search and access information that others have made public.",
"This seems obvious, but it's important to note that you still may need to do a great deal of offline research to fill in your tree, like adding other databases to your files.",
"With that said, if you already have most of your family's information, and are really just looking for software to help you build your family tree chart, then you probably don't really need the Platinum version with Ancestry subscription.",
"Just one star off because we feel that the interface should be updated.",
"Some areas are a little clunky and not quite intuitive.",
"I'm hoping for a glossier product with the next release.",
"But overall, this is a good solid product with a lot of value."
] |
This is one of the best watches that I have ever bought. Here are some of the reasons why I could give 100 stars to this watch:
1) Very durable and stylish looking
2) Got tons of complements from both girls and guys. Girls say they loved it.
3) I have a hairy arm, so I was very glad that it does not pull on my hair.
4) The blue plate inside the watch looks very shiny and new for a long time.
5) The glass does not scratch at all. I had this watch for over a year and it still seems to not have a single scratch on it
6)Very comfortable and light as a feather. I am a guy who hates big, clunky watches that seem to weight don on my wrist. Not going to happen with this watch.
7) The time hands, as well as intervals glow in dark.
8) It is very accurate. I never had any problems with it being late.
9) The metal mesh band is very subtle and good looking. After a year, the color (black) fades a bit, but not to the point where it is noticeable by people around you. If you look at it closely, you will see the difference.
10) It is affordable and I promise you that if you are giving it as a gift, the person will LOVE it and love you for getting it :)
I could go on forever, but I think that was enough reason that will prove to you that this is a watch worth getting. | 2 | positive | [
"This is one of the best watches that I have ever bought.",
"Here are some of the reasons why I could give 100 stars to this watch:\n\n1) Very durable and stylish looking\n2) Got tons of complements from both girls and guys.",
"Girls say they loved it.",
"3) I have a hairy arm, so I was very glad that it does not pull on my hair.",
"4) The blue plate inside the watch looks very shiny and new for a long time.",
"5) The glass does not scratch at all.",
"I had this watch for over a year and it still seems to not have a single scratch on it\n6)Very comfortable and light as a feather.",
"I am a guy who hates big, clunky watches that seem to weight don on my wrist.",
"Not going to happen with this watch.",
"7) The time hands, as well as intervals glow in dark.",
"8) It is very accurate.",
"I never had any problems with it being late.",
"9) The metal mesh band is very subtle and good looking.",
"After a year, the color (black) fades a bit, but not to the point where it is noticeable by people around you.",
"If you look at it closely, you will see the difference.",
"10) It is affordable and I promise you that if you are giving it as a gift, the person will LOVE it and love you for getting it :)\n\nI could go on forever, but I think that was enough reason that will prove to you that this is a watch worth getting."
] |
Autofocus works with all digital bodies except the baby Nikon SLRs (D40-60). This is a very sharp, fast lens yielding detailed, accurate colorful images. I use it to take candid shots in parties, weddings and similar occasions. It is unmerciful to the vain, because it brings everything out. I could not shell out the additional $1000 or so to acquire the more current <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Nikon-70-200mm-f-2-8G-ED-IF-AF-S-VR-Zoom-Nikkor-Lens-for-Nikon-Digital-SLR-Cameras/dp/B00009MDBQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras</a>. Rumors are that Nikon is going to discontinue this lens. I hope it is replaced with comparable product at a slightly lower price. It is a solid looking, impressive beauty of a professional lens. Many people find it to be heavy. Not me. Feels just right, but a solid tripod or monopod is necessary if shooting in low light or using the longer focal length. I just purchased this and then learned about the new D90. Should I have bought the <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Nikon-D90-DX-12-3MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Body-Only/dp/B001ET5U92/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)</a> or this lens? The <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Nikon-D300-DX-12-3MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Body-Only/dp/B000VJX7DW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)</a> is probably too much camera for me. The D90 appears to be a D300 slightly disabled in a D80 body, plenty good for me and this lens. | 2 | positive | [
"Autofocus works with all digital bodies except the baby Nikon SLRs (D40-60).",
"This is a very sharp, fast lens yielding detailed, accurate colorful images.",
"I use it to take candid shots in parties, weddings and similar occasions.",
"It is unmerciful to the vain, because it brings everything out.",
"I could not shell out the additional $1000 or so to acquire the more current <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Nikon-70-200mm-f-2-8G-ED-IF-AF-S-VR-Zoom-Nikkor-Lens-for-Nikon-Digital-SLR-Cameras/dp/B00009MDBQ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Nikon 70-200mm f/2.",
"8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras</a>.",
"Rumors are that Nikon is going to discontinue this lens.",
"I hope it is replaced with comparable product at a slightly lower price.",
"It is a solid looking, impressive beauty of a professional lens.",
"Many people find it to be heavy.",
"Not me.",
"Feels just right, but a solid tripod or monopod is necessary if shooting in low light or using the longer focal length.",
"I just purchased this and then learned about the new D90.",
"Should I have bought the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Nikon-D90-DX-12-3MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Body-Only/dp/B001ET5U92/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Nikon D90 DX 12.",
"3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)</a> or this lens?",
"The <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Nikon-D300-DX-12-3MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-Body-Only/dp/B000VJX7DW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Nikon D300 DX 12.",
"3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)</a> is probably too much camera for me.",
"The D90 appears to be a D300 slightly disabled in a D80 body, plenty good for me and this lens."
] |
I was looking at these for awhile. My old, heavy splitting maul's handle was about to go. We had a large tree taken down by a very experienced tree guy and I had it cut up into firewood lengths to split, which he also did. This was the axe both he and his assistant used. I asked him about it; he said it's the best he'd ever used. Some friends had gifted him with a custom forged maul and this Fiskars was better for the job. Mine arrived and it really is amazing. It's much lighter than what I'm used to, has a great edge and is easy to stroke through anything I used it on, both oak and some gnarly pine. It did get stuck a few times but no worse than my old maul and it wasn't that hard to pry it out. Nice protective cover to hang it out of the way when not in use. Might be the last axe/maul I'll ever need. | 2 | positive | [
"I was looking at these for awhile.",
"My old, heavy splitting maul's handle was about to go.",
"We had a large tree taken down by a very experienced tree guy and I had it cut up into firewood lengths to split, which he also did.",
"This was the axe both he and his assistant used.",
"I asked him about it; he said it's the best he'd ever used.",
"Some friends had gifted him with a custom forged maul and this Fiskars was better for the job.",
"Mine arrived and it really is amazing.",
"It's much lighter than what I'm used to, has a great edge and is easy to stroke through anything I used it on, both oak and some gnarly pine.",
"It did get stuck a few times but no worse than my old maul and it wasn't that hard to pry it out.",
"Nice protective cover to hang it out of the way when not in use.",
"Might be the last axe/maul I'll ever need."
] |
I've never had authentic Indian food before and I do not tolerate spicy foods very well but I was intrigued by all these Tasty Bite options here on Amazon and wanted to give a few of these a try. Who doesn't love a fast, easy to prepare dinner? This is one of the few options that do not list chilies in the ingredients.
I don't know what Channa Masala is supposed to taste like, but this quick-nuke version is very good. This isn't spicy (hot/fiery) at all but that doesn't make it any less flavorful. It has a really nice thick tomato/onion flavored sauce and the chickpeas have a semi-firm/semi-soft texture. I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty this was.
I have a tiny microwave but this package fit easily and didn't make a mess (I expected one but there was no splatter) and it was easy to handle the hot package after cooking. I've also cooked this in a glass bowl instead of it's packaging, that's actually easier.
This and the <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Tasty-Bite-Peas-Paneer-Entree-Heat-Eat-10-Ounce-Pouches-Pack-of-6/dp/B001KWVIIK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Tasty Bite Peas Paneer Entree, Heat & Eat, 10-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 6)</a> (which has a little spicy kick), over rice, made a super fast, filling and delicious meal in just minutes. Love that. My only wish was for a bigger package so there was more to enjoy. | 2 | positive | [
"I've never had authentic Indian food before and I do not tolerate spicy foods very well but I was intrigued by all these Tasty Bite options here on Amazon and wanted to give a few of these a try.",
"Who doesn't love a fast, easy to prepare dinner?",
"This is one of the few options that do not list chilies in the ingredients.",
"I don't know what Channa Masala is supposed to taste like, but this quick-nuke version is very good.",
"This isn't spicy (hot/fiery) at all but that doesn't make it any less flavorful.",
"It has a really nice thick tomato/onion flavored sauce and the chickpeas have a semi-firm/semi-soft texture.",
"I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty this was.",
"I have a tiny microwave but this package fit easily and didn't make a mess (I expected one but there was no splatter) and it was easy to handle the hot package after cooking.",
"I've also cooked this in a glass bowl instead of it's packaging, that's actually easier.",
"This and the <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Tasty-Bite-Peas-Paneer-Entree-Heat-Eat-10-Ounce-Pouches-Pack-of-6/dp/B001KWVIIK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Tasty Bite Peas Paneer Entree, Heat & Eat, 10-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 6)</a> (which has a little spicy kick), over rice, made a super fast, filling and delicious meal in just minutes.",
"Love that.",
"My only wish was for a bigger package so there was more to enjoy."
] |
This wooden shape sorter is very well made. It's sturdy, smooth, and the paint stays on well. This was a Christmas present for my 9 months old son who is teething. Its one of his favorit toys! His teeth has scraped one of the shapes but the paint did not chip or rub off easily like other toys he has that Ive had to take away until he's older. To scrap the paint off my son had to chew on it very hard, so since its our fault and not the products, I won't take a point away for that. Also, the shapes are big enough for my son to play with. They can fit in a toilet paper roll but with supervision I personally feel comfortable with my 9 month old playing with them. I have 5 toys by plan toys and they are all excellent quality. I plan on buying more toys from this company. I'd like to add that I'm glad that this shape sorter only has 3 shapes (2 of each) instead or ten like some others I've seen. For a child just learning how to use a toy like this, too many shapes may be confusing and stressful, and they child may not want to play with it out of frustration. 3 shapes is perfect. When the child masters the shape sorting and gets bored, the shapes can be added to a block collection, the box can be used as a house or barn in imaginative play, and the square and triangle and even make little houses in a village. You won't be sorry with this the purchase of this shape sorter! | 2 | positive | [
"This wooden shape sorter is very well made.",
"It's sturdy, smooth, and the paint stays on well.",
"This was a Christmas present for my 9 months old son who is teething.",
"Its one of his favorit toys!",
"His teeth has scraped one of the shapes but the paint did not chip or rub off easily like other toys he has that Ive had to take away until he's older.",
"To scrap the paint off my son had to chew on it very hard, so since its our fault and not the products, I won't take a point away for that.",
"Also, the shapes are big enough for my son to play with.",
"They can fit in a toilet paper roll but with supervision I personally feel comfortable with my 9 month old playing with them.",
"I have 5 toys by plan toys and they are all excellent quality.",
"I plan on buying more toys from this company.",
"I'd like to add that I'm glad that this shape sorter only has 3 shapes (2 of each) instead or ten like some others I've seen.",
"For a child just learning how to use a toy like this, too many shapes may be confusing and stressful, and they child may not want to play with it out of frustration.",
"3 shapes is perfect.",
"When the child masters the shape sorting and gets bored, the shapes can be added to a block collection, the box can be used as a house or barn in imaginative play, and the square and triangle and even make little houses in a village.",
"You won't be sorry with this the purchase of this shape sorter!"
] |
From the beginning it was groundbreaking and in your face at the same time. What?!? Instrumentalized ape vocalizations (some, when they first heard them, thought they might have been real) mixed with atonal symphony? Not many knew what to make of it at first, including me at the time, but it didn't take all that long for me to look past my initial reaction and begin to realize there's a lot more going on here than meets the eye...er, ear...or make that both! Living with this CD edition, (first-rate sonics BTW, taken from the original, 3-track masters) has given me a wealth of time to get to know this highly rewarding and truly classic work. You should give yourself the opportunity to get to know it well too.
I'm convinced that all the unusual instrumentation in and of itself might have only proven incidental were it not for Goldsmith's inspired use of it all with his interwoven, but identifiable, thematic threads that run throughout this monumental sonic masterpiece. His dramatic use of ambulatory rhythms in this work has long been noted. Some of them are recognizably human, others are better described as simian, or apelike...walking, trotting, scrambling, trundling, tip-toeing, all manner of such rhythms. It's interesting to note the visual scenes in the film in which the idea of the rhythms of walking, or at least some kind of variation of it, human or primate, seems to have offered up something indeed to Mr. Goldsmith's legendary sense of musical interpretation. As a long-time fan of his, I also found so much in evidence here of his well known ability to draw inspiration from deeply within the underlying elements of whatever film he was composing for - although I suspect being able to appreciate this recording may not even hinge on whether or not you've even seen the film.
Perhaps a few things other than the film itself went into the visual consideration of what to draw from. From movies that had gone before, certain ideas in the mind of audiences of the day had already caught their attention and had then grown to be cliche, like the chest-beating example from 1933's King Kong. Naturally, Goldsmith was likely looking to mine other, more contemporary, examples of simian behavior to (unconsciously or otherwise) engage his audiences. Sources that Goldsmith would know that the public had already been exposed to. At the time that would likely have meant such things as the 1965 film on studying Chimpanzees in the wild made with Jane Goodall for National Geographic. Ms. Goodall was one of the first in the public's eye to illustrate that when Chimpanzee troupes clashed (they usually did so in the trees, not on the ground) they frequently would shake, back and forth, as violently as possible the branches of foliage they were sitting or standing on in order to make themselves look "larger", stronger and more intimidating - a "threat display". Goldsmith, both musically apart from and in conjunction with his ambulatory rhythms, used rhythms scaled in pitch from low to high to low again - rhythmically continuing to alternate in ascending and then descending fashion over and over again...sometimes with a musically aggressive or vigorous brashness...recalling nothing so much as that very threat display. It wasn't so much that audiences would ever stop in the middle of the film and realize that this is what was happening, yet the connection was there to be made unconsciously with audiences and Goldsmith used it brilliantly to heighten and underscore simian/human, confrontational tension throughout the film. He also would echo the idea, in a more relaxed way, of the same ascending/descending rhythms in an ambulatory context...like near the beginning of the film where the three astronauts are walking through the desert terrain toward the unknown. A trek that takes them over one small rise, or small hill, after another...so the ambulatory rhythm follows suit - gently rising and then falling as they trek up one side of the rise and then down the other. By musically relating to each other the normal or flat-terrain ambulatory rhythms, the gently rising/falling ambulatory rhythms and the aggressive threat display rhythms, Goldsmith creates the opportunity to weave these musical ideas thematically throughout the film's length, giving the work a creative and aesthetic cohesiveness, the profound level of which that happens to continue to elude even the best efforts of those composing in the soundtrack industry today.
But, regardless, moments of calm, fantastic landscapes, nightmarish pursuits, unstoppable onslaughts - some of the very best examples of some of the best elements that Goldsmith was ever known for, not to mention the level of a brand of creative inventiveness and originality that no one else could match - this soundtrack absolutely has all that and so much more.
There is an inexhaustible supply of artistic and creative merit to be gleaned from and appreciated with this recording and, although I've been actively collecting soundtracks since before 1990, few if any have proven to be so truly richly rewarding for me to actively listen to, down through the years, as this one has. PLUS it also has a great suite from Escape From Planet of the Apes, too. An awesome, awesome disc!! My highest possible recommendation!! | 2 | positive | [
"From the beginning it was groundbreaking and in your face at the same time.",
"What?!",
"?",
"Instrumentalized ape vocalizations (some, when they first heard them, thought they might have been real) mixed with atonal symphony?",
"Not many knew what to make of it at first, including me at the time, but it didn't take all that long for me to look past my initial reaction and begin to realize there's a lot more going on here than meets the eye...",
"er, ear...",
"or make that both!",
"Living with this CD edition, (first-rate sonics BTW, taken from the original, 3-track masters) has given me a wealth of time to get to know this highly rewarding and truly classic work.",
"You should give yourself the opportunity to get to know it well too.",
"I'm convinced that all the unusual instrumentation in and of itself might have only proven incidental were it not for Goldsmith's inspired use of it all with his interwoven, but identifiable, thematic threads that run throughout this monumental sonic masterpiece.",
"His dramatic use of ambulatory rhythms in this work has long been noted.",
"Some of them are recognizably human, others are better described as simian, or apelike...",
"walking, trotting, scrambling, trundling, tip-toeing, all manner of such rhythms.",
"It's interesting to note the visual scenes in the film in which the idea of the rhythms of walking, or at least some kind of variation of it, human or primate, seems to have offered up something indeed to Mr.",
"Goldsmith's legendary sense of musical interpretation.",
"As a long-time fan of his, I also found so much in evidence here of his well known ability to draw inspiration from deeply within the underlying elements of whatever film he was composing for - although I suspect being able to appreciate this recording may not even hinge on whether or not you've even seen the film.",
"Perhaps a few things other than the film itself went into the visual consideration of what to draw from.",
"From movies that had gone before, certain ideas in the mind of audiences of the day had already caught their attention and had then grown to be cliche, like the chest-beating example from 1933's King Kong.",
"Naturally, Goldsmith was likely looking to mine other, more contemporary, examples of simian behavior to (unconsciously or otherwise) engage his audiences.",
"Sources that Goldsmith would know that the public had already been exposed to.",
"At the time that would likely have meant such things as the 1965 film on studying Chimpanzees in the wild made with Jane Goodall for National Geographic.",
"Ms.",
"Goodall was one of the first in the public's eye to illustrate that when Chimpanzee troupes clashed (they usually did so in the trees, not on the ground) they frequently would shake, back and forth, as violently as possible the branches of foliage they were sitting or standing on in order to make themselves look \"larger\", stronger and more intimidating - a \"threat display\".",
"Goldsmith, both musically apart from and in conjunction with his ambulatory rhythms, used rhythms scaled in pitch from low to high to low again - rhythmically continuing to alternate in ascending and then descending fashion over and over again...",
"sometimes with a musically aggressive or vigorous brashness...",
"recalling nothing so much as that very threat display.",
"It wasn't so much that audiences would ever stop in the middle of the film and realize that this is what was happening, yet the connection was there to be made unconsciously with audiences and Goldsmith used it brilliantly to heighten and underscore simian/human, confrontational tension throughout the film.",
"He also would echo the idea, in a more relaxed way, of the same ascending/descending rhythms in an ambulatory context...",
"like near the beginning of the film where the three astronauts are walking through the desert terrain toward the unknown.",
"A trek that takes them over one small rise, or small hill, after another...",
"so the ambulatory rhythm follows suit - gently rising and then falling as they trek up one side of the rise and then down the other.",
"By musically relating to each other the normal or flat-terrain ambulatory rhythms, the gently rising/falling ambulatory rhythms and the aggressive threat display rhythms, Goldsmith creates the opportunity to weave these musical ideas thematically throughout the film's length, giving the work a creative and aesthetic cohesiveness, the profound level of which that happens to continue to elude even the best efforts of those composing in the soundtrack industry today.",
"But, regardless, moments of calm, fantastic landscapes, nightmarish pursuits, unstoppable onslaughts - some of the very best examples of some of the best elements that Goldsmith was ever known for, not to mention the level of a brand of creative inventiveness and originality that no one else could match - this soundtrack absolutely has all that and so much more.",
"There is an inexhaustible supply of artistic and creative merit to be gleaned from and appreciated with this recording and, although I've been actively collecting soundtracks since before 1990, few if any have proven to be so truly richly rewarding for me to actively listen to, down through the years, as this one has.",
"PLUS it also has a great suite from Escape From Planet of the Apes, too.",
"An awesome, awesome disc!!",
"My highest possible recommendation!!"
] |
The Obagi Nu-Derm line is the one most recommended by dermatologists/plastic surgeons. I have gotten the whole set plus prescription retin-A, which is normally mixed with the Blend, and I can attest to the terrific results on my darker skin. Some people complain that using the line makes you too pale, but that has not been an issue for me.
This is a gentler product than your doctor's Blend, and I'm just as happy to avoid hydroquinone. I know hydroquinone has a respectable track record, but if I can fade darker spots and areas without it, I'd rather go that route.
A few people have commented on the fragrance. I love it myself. The product is not perfumed, but smells to me like potent chemicals, not horrible, not like hydrogen sulfide for example, but if you're not smelling anything, you may have a stale bottle.
I stopped using the line when I switched to laser treatments. I'm thinking it may be time to go back. It's hard to review this single product in isolation because it's designed to work with the set, including prescription retin-A, but Obagi remains the gold standard for facial skin care. | 2 | positive | [
"The Obagi Nu-Derm line is the one most recommended by dermatologists/plastic surgeons.",
"I have gotten the whole set plus prescription retin-A, which is normally mixed with the Blend, and I can attest to the terrific results on my darker skin.",
"Some people complain that using the line makes you too pale, but that has not been an issue for me.",
"This is a gentler product than your doctor's Blend, and I'm just as happy to avoid hydroquinone.",
"I know hydroquinone has a respectable track record, but if I can fade darker spots and areas without it, I'd rather go that route.",
"A few people have commented on the fragrance.",
"I love it myself.",
"The product is not perfumed, but smells to me like potent chemicals, not horrible, not like hydrogen sulfide for example, but if you're not smelling anything, you may have a stale bottle.",
"I stopped using the line when I switched to laser treatments.",
"I'm thinking it may be time to go back.",
"It's hard to review this single product in isolation because it's designed to work with the set, including prescription retin-A, but Obagi remains the gold standard for facial skin care."
] |
Praetorians is a real-time strategy game in which you command companies of troops (Romans, Gauls, Egyptians) rather than individual units and it concentrates on battle with almost no resource gathering (you must "recruit" troops from captured villages.)
There's plenty of cool stuff like legionaries that can form the Roman shield wall ("testudo"), birds that fly out of forests alerting you of approaching enemy troops, ambushes in grasslands, desert battlefields, elevation effects, 3D graphics (with a limited camera angle though), scouts with hawk/wolf spotters, catapults, ballista, axe-throwing Gaul infantry, Nubian archers, Balearic slingers, camel archers,etc.
However, as much as I'm enjoying both the campaign and skirmish mode, I have to point out this is not a wargame. There is little time (in the skirmish mode particularly) for thoughtful maneuvering: you must attack at once! It's fun, but I never feel as though I was really a general or consul or whatever the term is. It's still RTS and if you're enjoying watching your archers shoot down a Gaul warrior company from the safety of a hill, you're probably wasting valuable clicking time.
This is not Medieval: Total War in which you can maneuver companies like a general. It's a bit closer in spirit to Empire Earth or Age of Empires in combat terms - only here you fight with companies rather than mobs of men.
I'm really enjoying it for lighthearted quick gameplay, but I wish it were a little less frantic, a little less like Age of Empires and a little more like Medieval: Total War.
The skirmish mode is fun (unfortunately we get only about 20 different maps), multiplayer could be cool (haven't got my friend to buy it yet), and the campaign is decent (only played 5 missions so far). The AI appears to be strong and doesn't seem to cheat by unfairly building faster or by being able to see all your troop locations. It may appear that way but I've saved the games and watched the replays and it just seems to play better (than me anyway). It organized its units better, captured more villages, recruited more troops, scouted intensively (and didn't notice when I captured a village unless its scouts saw me - it's troops marched past out of sight).
(I think it's a bit harsh of one reviewer to say this game is only for kids or newcomers to RTS games. If you realize that Praetorians is not trying to be a realistic wargame but rather a light-hearted RTS then you're more likely to enjoy the game on its terms.) | 2 | positive | [
"Praetorians is a real-time strategy game in which you command companies of troops (Romans, Gauls, Egyptians) rather than individual units and it concentrates on battle with almost no resource gathering (you must \"recruit\" troops from captured villages.",
")\nThere's plenty of cool stuff like legionaries that can form the Roman shield wall (\"testudo\"), birds that fly out of forests alerting you of approaching enemy troops, ambushes in grasslands, desert battlefields, elevation effects, 3D graphics (with a limited camera angle though), scouts with hawk/wolf spotters, catapults, ballista, axe-throwing Gaul infantry, Nubian archers, Balearic slingers, camel archers,etc.",
"However, as much as I'm enjoying both the campaign and skirmish mode, I have to point out this is not a wargame.",
"There is little time (in the skirmish mode particularly) for thoughtful maneuvering: you must attack at once!",
"It's fun, but I never feel as though I was really a general or consul or whatever the term is.",
"It's still RTS and if you're enjoying watching your archers shoot down a Gaul warrior company from the safety of a hill, you're probably wasting valuable clicking time.",
"This is not Medieval: Total War in which you can maneuver companies like a general.",
"It's a bit closer in spirit to Empire Earth or Age of Empires in combat terms - only here you fight with companies rather than mobs of men.",
"I'm really enjoying it for lighthearted quick gameplay, but I wish it were a little less frantic, a little less like Age of Empires and a little more like Medieval: Total War.",
"The skirmish mode is fun (unfortunately we get only about 20 different maps), multiplayer could be cool (haven't got my friend to buy it yet), and the campaign is decent (only played 5 missions so far).",
"The AI appears to be strong and doesn't seem to cheat by unfairly building faster or by being able to see all your troop locations.",
"It may appear that way but I've saved the games and watched the replays and it just seems to play better (than me anyway).",
"It organized its units better, captured more villages, recruited more troops, scouted intensively (and didn't notice when I captured a village unless its scouts saw me - it's troops marched past out of sight).",
"(I think it's a bit harsh of one reviewer to say this game is only for kids or newcomers to RTS games.",
"If you realize that Praetorians is not trying to be a realistic wargame but rather a light-hearted RTS then you're more likely to enjoy the game on its terms.",
")"
] |
I'll be the first to admit, modern games tend to be far too frustrating for me. My reflexes probably aren't up to younger players of today, and I have far less patience for replaying a mission 20 times -- I tend to drop the ball.
To be perfectly fair to Mercenaries, I haven't been as glued to a single game since Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain, and Syphon Filter had a natural edge anyway because I'm a veteran of the first games in the series for the PlayStation. Mercenaries was impressive to me because it seduced me enough to make me learn a whole new control scheme, get acquainted with the background and routines, and get past that initial awkward stage when you're just feeling things out. This one definitely did the trick. There are times, though, when I still feel like the game is unnecessarily hard. Again, how many times are we supposed to play one mission until we get it? I always feel like designers create these enormously difficult missions just to make us into game zombies, and Mercenaries definitely gives me that feeling.
Good points:
- Great comedic detail. The sense of humour in this game, as well as the one-man-army setup, reminds me of the first Medal of Honor game (the orchestral score by Michael Giacchino, Medal of Honor's resident composer, doesn't hurt), which was a favourite of mine.
- Very smooth driving engine. I hate driving games, but this one was instantly accessible.
- The game's background immerses you. Driving through cities, with civilians and fighting personnel around you, it's a great simulation of what this kind of guerilla warfare is like. Almost makes me feel like I'm living the John Woo film Bullet in the Head.
- This game has the single most responsive camera control of any I've ever played. This is how you do it -- give the player complete control, and don't blast the angles around in response to onscreen action, because that simply disorients us. Somebody at Pandemic knows his game controls.
- By and large good voice work. Amy Lee (*not* Evanescence's singer, I presume) as your main communications person Fiona Taylor is the only dud, far too cutesy to be running a merc operation, but the underrated Bruce McGill (a regular of Michael Mann's) as CIA agent Buford is great, and the character Jennifer Mui is voiced by -- who else? -- Jennifer Hale, who has one of the sexiest English female voices in the biz and seems to have appeared in every single video game ever made. And who plays Allied Colonel Garrett but Apollo Creed himself, Carl Weathers?
- I'm very impressed by the diversity of the missions. There's the usual number of blow-'em-up missions, but some of them are not only creative, but true to the background. My favourite is the one where you have to deliver a journalist to certain key fighting areas just so he can get media footage of the war.
- Fighting mechanics are good. I had a hugely difficult time aiming with the right analog stick and moving with the left in Medal of Honor: Frontline, but Mercenaries felt instantly comfortable.
- For once, you have a game where your allies aren't complete idiots. I was pleased with the amount of control you have -- board a vehicle with a top-mounted weapon, and you can honk your horn and make an ally mount the gun to give you covering fire. You can also choose when an ally leaves your vehicle. Ahhh, control.
- Innovative system for shopping. You call in a chopper to do a supply drop for you, and you can order different packages (for example, the Chinese supply drop gives you a rocket launcher and an AK-model assault rifle, but the Russians give you an SMG and a shotgun). Feels very realistic and accessible.
Bad points:
- Limited number of weapons, only two or three of which are genuinely useful. Enemy infantry take about 10 hits from a light machine gun before they die, and even more if you're using an M4 carbine. What are they, Terminators?
- The Russian "faction" controls the store, the only reliable source of weapons and health, which means you're practically stuck with being unable to take jobs that can offend the Russians. The shop shouldn't be affected by what mission you take if you're really interested in giving players freedom to choose their allegiance.
- Exaggerated collision. Cars sometimes feel like tumbling dice. Hit a tiny little rock at the wrong angle and the whole vehicle rolls over. A mutha of a drag in what is otherwise a great driving engine.
- I have nothing but contempt for games that obsessively track how many times you've saved your game and retried missions, as if to penalize you. Game saves are an essential feature of any video game, and if you're going to punish the player for saving, you're just insulting the player populace. Ever heard of power outages? Game freezes? Glitches? And I can understand why you can't save your game during a major contract, but why is "Load Game" disabled as well? Why give the player so much crap about saving and loading data?
- There's a major imbalance in the game when it comes to explosive weapons. RPG-wielding enemies can score a direct hit on you -- not just catch you in the rocket's explosion, but hit your body -- from 200 feet away, while you're running at full speed! Each direct hit takes 80 per cent of your health, and if you're fighting multiple rocket-launching infantry, you can lose your entire health bar in a matter of three seconds. Whereas if you use the exact same weapon, get a lock on a static target like an artillery battery, your rocket could go flying off into space rather than hit your intended target. Not only is this unrealistic, it makes certain missions maddeningly infuriating. These are the only points where I throw down the controller and give up. I'm not about to jump through just any hoop the designers throw at me, if it's not reasonable. Nearly every mission beyond the first five or six can include up to a dozen RPG troops you have to fight, and at a certain point, it's just unfair.
- This game is extremely stingy with ammo. A helicopter you pay $100,000 for comes only with two missiles, and many vehicles and enemy artillery take two shots before they die. Same for an RPG if you find one -- you can only hold four shots, and tanks take at least two shots from you before dying. This essentially leaves you defenseless while the enemies pump you full of lead and rockets without ever having to replenish.
- The AI is sometimes so cheap that it messes up your mission through no fault of your own. In certain locations with heavily concentrated enemies, they will try to run you over with their cars. If you're caught by enough cars, you won't even get a chance to recover your control of your character before your health runs out. You're supposed to capture these enemy officers -- "Deck of 52" -- alive, but the enemy vehicles, tanks and RPG soldiers will gleefully kill these officers themselves when you try to approach, often forcing you to replay the mission, through no fault of your own. And one time, I called in a support chopper which then crashed itself -- costing me $25,000. The worst kinds of game features are the ones that force the player to replay a mission because of computer mistakes; at a certain point, I just spat at the game screen and used cheat codes to make up for whenever the computer costs me money for things I can't control.
- The game makes the whole screen red and puts you in slow-motion when you're near death, making aiming your weapon and dodging even more difficult. That's just moronic. So you're in trouble, and the game makes it even harder for you to survive? Who cares if it "looks cool"?
I'm frustrated by this game, but I also can't say I don't enjoy it. Too bad they had to make it so freakin' hard. | 2 | positive | [
"I'll be the first to admit, modern games tend to be far too frustrating for me.",
"My reflexes probably aren't up to younger players of today, and I have far less patience for replaying a mission 20 times -- I tend to drop the ball.",
"To be perfectly fair to Mercenaries, I haven't been as glued to a single game since Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain, and Syphon Filter had a natural edge anyway because I'm a veteran of the first games in the series for the PlayStation.",
"Mercenaries was impressive to me because it seduced me enough to make me learn a whole new control scheme, get acquainted with the background and routines, and get past that initial awkward stage when you're just feeling things out.",
"This one definitely did the trick.",
"There are times, though, when I still feel like the game is unnecessarily hard.",
"Again, how many times are we supposed to play one mission until we get it?",
"I always feel like designers create these enormously difficult missions just to make us into game zombies, and Mercenaries definitely gives me that feeling.",
"Good points:\n\n- Great comedic detail.",
"The sense of humour in this game, as well as the one-man-army setup, reminds me of the first Medal of Honor game (the orchestral score by Michael Giacchino, Medal of Honor's resident composer, doesn't hurt), which was a favourite of mine.",
"- Very smooth driving engine.",
"I hate driving games, but this one was instantly accessible.",
"- The game's background immerses you.",
"Driving through cities, with civilians and fighting personnel around you, it's a great simulation of what this kind of guerilla warfare is like.",
"Almost makes me feel like I'm living the John Woo film Bullet in the Head.",
"- This game has the single most responsive camera control of any I've ever played.",
"This is how you do it -- give the player complete control, and don't blast the angles around in response to onscreen action, because that simply disorients us.",
"Somebody at Pandemic knows his game controls.",
"- By and large good voice work.",
"Amy Lee (*not* Evanescence's singer, I presume) as your main communications person Fiona Taylor is the only dud, far too cutesy to be running a merc operation, but the underrated Bruce McGill (a regular of Michael Mann's) as CIA agent Buford is great, and the character Jennifer Mui is voiced by -- who else?",
"-- Jennifer Hale, who has one of the sexiest English female voices in the biz and seems to have appeared in every single video game ever made.",
"And who plays Allied Colonel Garrett but Apollo Creed himself, Carl Weathers?",
"- I'm very impressed by the diversity of the missions.",
"There's the usual number of blow-'em-up missions, but some of them are not only creative, but true to the background.",
"My favourite is the one where you have to deliver a journalist to certain key fighting areas just so he can get media footage of the war.",
"- Fighting mechanics are good.",
"I had a hugely difficult time aiming with the right analog stick and moving with the left in Medal of Honor: Frontline, but Mercenaries felt instantly comfortable.",
"- For once, you have a game where your allies aren't complete idiots.",
"I was pleased with the amount of control you have -- board a vehicle with a top-mounted weapon, and you can honk your horn and make an ally mount the gun to give you covering fire.",
"You can also choose when an ally leaves your vehicle.",
"Ahhh, control.",
"- Innovative system for shopping.",
"You call in a chopper to do a supply drop for you, and you can order different packages (for example, the Chinese supply drop gives you a rocket launcher and an AK-model assault rifle, but the Russians give you an SMG and a shotgun).",
"Feels very realistic and accessible.",
"Bad points:\n\n- Limited number of weapons, only two or three of which are genuinely useful.",
"Enemy infantry take about 10 hits from a light machine gun before they die, and even more if you're using an M4 carbine.",
"What are they, Terminators?",
"- The Russian \"faction\" controls the store, the only reliable source of weapons and health, which means you're practically stuck with being unable to take jobs that can offend the Russians.",
"The shop shouldn't be affected by what mission you take if you're really interested in giving players freedom to choose their allegiance.",
"- Exaggerated collision.",
"Cars sometimes feel like tumbling dice.",
"Hit a tiny little rock at the wrong angle and the whole vehicle rolls over.",
"A mutha of a drag in what is otherwise a great driving engine.",
"- I have nothing but contempt for games that obsessively track how many times you've saved your game and retried missions, as if to penalize you.",
"Game saves are an essential feature of any video game, and if you're going to punish the player for saving, you're just insulting the player populace.",
"Ever heard of power outages?",
"Game freezes?",
"Glitches?",
"And I can understand why you can't save your game during a major contract, but why is \"Load Game\" disabled as well?",
"Why give the player so much crap about saving and loading data?",
"- There's a major imbalance in the game when it comes to explosive weapons.",
"RPG-wielding enemies can score a direct hit on you -- not just catch you in the rocket's explosion, but hit your body -- from 200 feet away, while you're running at full speed!",
"Each direct hit takes 80 per cent of your health, and if you're fighting multiple rocket-launching infantry, you can lose your entire health bar in a matter of three seconds.",
"Whereas if you use the exact same weapon, get a lock on a static target like an artillery battery, your rocket could go flying off into space rather than hit your intended target.",
"Not only is this unrealistic, it makes certain missions maddeningly infuriating.",
"These are the only points where I throw down the controller and give up.",
"I'm not about to jump through just any hoop the designers throw at me, if it's not reasonable.",
"Nearly every mission beyond the first five or six can include up to a dozen RPG troops you have to fight, and at a certain point, it's just unfair.",
"- This game is extremely stingy with ammo.",
"A helicopter you pay $100,000 for comes only with two missiles, and many vehicles and enemy artillery take two shots before they die.",
"Same for an RPG if you find one -- you can only hold four shots, and tanks take at least two shots from you before dying.",
"This essentially leaves you defenseless while the enemies pump you full of lead and rockets without ever having to replenish.",
"- The AI is sometimes so cheap that it messes up your mission through no fault of your own.",
"In certain locations with heavily concentrated enemies, they will try to run you over with their cars.",
"If you're caught by enough cars, you won't even get a chance to recover your control of your character before your health runs out.",
"You're supposed to capture these enemy officers -- \"Deck of 52\" -- alive, but the enemy vehicles, tanks and RPG soldiers will gleefully kill these officers themselves when you try to approach, often forcing you to replay the mission, through no fault of your own.",
"And one time, I called in a support chopper which then crashed itself -- costing me $25,000.",
"The worst kinds of game features are the ones that force the player to replay a mission because of computer mistakes; at a certain point, I just spat at the game screen and used cheat codes to make up for whenever the computer costs me money for things I can't control.",
"- The game makes the whole screen red and puts you in slow-motion when you're near death, making aiming your weapon and dodging even more difficult.",
"That's just moronic.",
"So you're in trouble, and the game makes it even harder for you to survive?",
"Who cares if it \"looks cool\"?",
"I'm frustrated by this game, but I also can't say I don't enjoy it.",
"Too bad they had to make it so freakin' hard."
] |
Well Halo is a great game. But It's too short not too short in a bad way only because I wanted more and YES I played it on HEROIC level. The graphics are pretty good. I like the distant look of the planets and the whole feel of the game. The movie cutscenes are a little on the choppy side but still look nice and the sound and voice acting are solid. Some of the levels are inside ,not like like the first halo where mostly your outside. I love the sniper level with the water falls,it's pretty hard sometimes you get killed with one shot. The only way to play this game is on the HEROIC ,or LEGENDARY level. That really helped it last longer. The first encounter with the FLOOD enemies was intense ,seriously 10 times harder than on normal setting. The enemies do seem to get smarter on the harder levels. They seemed to hide better behind boxes and walls etc. The graphics aren't "splinter cell" quality,but still some good eye candy. I would like to see this game made into an epic movie. The sound is pretty good .If your not gonna go online or use the multiplayer from this game,you might wanna rent it,don't even buy it,unless your a collector or don't mind the price. Just rent it and beat it before your rental date is due ,believe me ,it's possible. I played it on Heroic level and it was a fun challenge very tough enemies sometimes I would lay like 300 SMG bullets and they were still standing there looking at me like what ? thats all you got? Then I'D empty all my doulbe fisted needler bullets into them ,that took care of em. I suggest you ONLY and I mean ONLY play this game on HEROIC or LEGENDARY if you think this game is easy and short. Try LEGENDARY mode ,then tell me its easy. Multiplayer levels,and online looks like what this game is a good buy for. But if your gonna just play single player campaign ,just rent it and beat it in a week,although Im still not done playing it on LEGENDARY mode and I got it the day it came out,it's now 11-20-04. All in all HALO2 is a great FPS game,that was just impossible to live up to all the hype. Much like FABLE was. But still a SOLID game ,but for the price of HALO2 why can't they make it last a little longer ? Like MORROWIND or KOTOR? For single player I'd rate it an 9 out of 10. Only because its nobody's perfect. And the special edition version THEY PUT BOTH DISKS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER? WHY? why couldn't they make an extra space like some dvd movies with two disks? You know one on the left ,one on the right? instead they stacked the bonus disk right underneath the game disk ,with no seperate holder. I had to be careful not to scratch my game disk. UGH...In conclusion HALO2 is a fun game. with nice graphics and very tough enemies,on the HEROIC and especially on the LEGENDARY setting. The enemies would actually change there strategies based on my actions on these difficulty settings. HALO2 IS THE BEST CONSOLE FPS AS OF NOV 20TH 2004. AT LEAST UNTIL DOOM3 COMES OUT.I totally agree with (A.SINGH) comments about this game. If you play it on NORMAL setting ,this game is easy and short. Try it on HEROIC or even harder LEGENDARY mode. This game lasts 10 times longer and you have more time to take in all the scenery .Not to mention tons and tons of more tough as nails enemies. I unloaded two complete SMG double fisted clips into this enemy and he was stilll standing. Can you handle it? This is a MATURE rated game for people over 17. EBAY ??why are kids rating this game? there saying its too short ,it's too easy,yeah if you play it on easy or normal setting. I think they shouldv'e made normal mode HEROIC mode and call it normal mode. Then there wouldnt be so many complants about it being too short.(NORMAL) setting and (HEROIC) setting are two different games PERIOD.aND LEGENDARY mode is frickin severly intense. I do agree the ending was a bit shabby,Where's the hero MASTER CHEIF?but you have too watch entire credits to see the little xtra ending. I wish also if you beat the game on HEROIC you get like bonus ammo or unlimited cammo,something man. Now Im on legendary mode and I'm constantly in need of ammo,in some areas.whereas the enemies have an unlimited supply. Im up agaist like 100 enemies at once.give me some more ammo. Also in the civil war type part of the game I felt more like a spectactor than the main character. If I wanted to watch a DVD I'd rent one. HALO2 STILL ROCKS WITH ALL IT'S very small flaws. | 2 | positive | [
"Well Halo is a great game.",
"But It's too short not too short in a bad way only because I wanted more and YES I played it on HEROIC level.",
"The graphics are pretty good.",
"I like the distant look of the planets and the whole feel of the game.",
"The movie cutscenes are a little on the choppy side but still look nice and the sound and voice acting are solid.",
"Some of the levels are inside ,not like like the first halo where mostly your outside.",
"I love the sniper level with the water falls,it's pretty hard sometimes you get killed with one shot.",
"The only way to play this game is on the HEROIC ,or LEGENDARY level.",
"That really helped it last longer.",
"The first encounter with the FLOOD enemies was intense ,seriously 10 times harder than on normal setting.",
"The enemies do seem to get smarter on the harder levels.",
"They seemed to hide better behind boxes and walls etc.",
"The graphics aren't \"splinter cell\" quality,but still some good eye candy.",
"I would like to see this game made into an epic movie.",
"The sound is pretty good.",
"If your not gonna go online or use the multiplayer from this game,you might wanna rent it,don't even buy it,unless your a collector or don't mind the price.",
"Just rent it and beat it before your rental date is due ,believe me ,it's possible.",
"I played it on Heroic level and it was a fun challenge very tough enemies sometimes I would lay like 300 SMG bullets and they were still standing there looking at me like what?",
"thats all you got?",
"Then I'D empty all my doulbe fisted needler bullets into them ,that took care of em.",
"I suggest you ONLY and I mean ONLY play this game on HEROIC or LEGENDARY if you think this game is easy and short.",
"Try LEGENDARY mode ,then tell me its easy.",
"Multiplayer levels,and online looks like what this game is a good buy for.",
"But if your gonna just play single player campaign ,just rent it and beat it in a week,although Im still not done playing it on LEGENDARY mode and I got it the day it came out,it's now 11-20-04.",
"All in all HALO2 is a great FPS game,that was just impossible to live up to all the hype.",
"Much like FABLE was.",
"But still a SOLID game ,but for the price of HALO2 why can't they make it last a little longer?",
"Like MORROWIND or KOTOR?",
"For single player I'd rate it an 9 out of 10.",
"Only because its nobody's perfect.",
"And the special edition version THEY PUT BOTH DISKS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER?",
"WHY?",
"why couldn't they make an extra space like some dvd movies with two disks?",
"You know one on the left ,one on the right?",
"instead they stacked the bonus disk right underneath the game disk ,with no seperate holder.",
"I had to be careful not to scratch my game disk.",
"UGH...",
"In conclusion HALO2 is a fun game.",
"with nice graphics and very tough enemies,on the HEROIC and especially on the LEGENDARY setting.",
"The enemies would actually change there strategies based on my actions on these difficulty settings.",
"HALO2 IS THE BEST CONSOLE FPS AS OF NOV 20TH 2004.",
"AT LEAST UNTIL DOOM3 COMES OUT.",
"I totally agree with (A.",
"SINGH) comments about this game.",
"If you play it on NORMAL setting ,this game is easy and short.",
"Try it on HEROIC or even harder LEGENDARY mode.",
"This game lasts 10 times longer and you have more time to take in all the scenery.",
"Not to mention tons and tons of more tough as nails enemies.",
"I unloaded two complete SMG double fisted clips into this enemy and he was stilll standing.",
"Can you handle it?",
"This is a MATURE rated game for people over 17.",
"EBAY??",
"why are kids rating this game?",
"there saying its too short ,it's too easy,yeah if you play it on easy or normal setting.",
"I think they shouldv'e made normal mode HEROIC mode and call it normal mode.",
"Then there wouldnt be so many complants about it being too short.",
"(NORMAL) setting and (HEROIC) setting are two different games PERIOD.",
"aND LEGENDARY mode is frickin severly intense.",
"I do agree the ending was a bit shabby,Where's the hero MASTER CHEIF?",
"but you have too watch entire credits to see the little xtra ending.",
"I wish also if you beat the game on HEROIC you get like bonus ammo or unlimited cammo,something man.",
"Now Im on legendary mode and I'm constantly in need of ammo,in some areas.",
"whereas the enemies have an unlimited supply.",
"Im up agaist like 100 enemies at once.",
"give me some more ammo.",
"Also in the civil war type part of the game I felt more like a spectactor than the main character.",
"If I wanted to watch a DVD I'd rent one.",
"HALO2 STILL ROCKS WITH ALL IT'S very small flaws."
] |
These are worth every penny; and man, do they look sharp in my new Chevy Spark. Fit like a glove! I saw the Chevy racing ones, but they were over double the price, and there is no difference in the quality of the material, etc. You will love these.... they will fit practically any backseat. Mine kind of fold up slightly at the edges where the seat rolls back and front, but they are very high quality and they look absolutely gorgeous. Now I kind of wish I didn't have the "no see in" tinted windows: so I could show off a bit. My mom did not notice that I even put them in there...............they will really make the back seat floor durable; and I won't have to worry about dirt, mud, rain puddles forming on the good carpet. I love these. I got the stickers, also..........trying to decide just where to put them. | 2 | positive | [
"These are worth every penny; and man, do they look sharp in my new Chevy Spark.",
"Fit like a glove!",
"I saw the Chevy racing ones, but they were over double the price, and there is no difference in the quality of the material, etc.",
"You will love these....",
"they will fit practically any backseat.",
"Mine kind of fold up slightly at the edges where the seat rolls back and front, but they are very high quality and they look absolutely gorgeous.",
"Now I kind of wish I didn't have the \"no see in\" tinted windows: so I could show off a bit.",
"My mom did not notice that I even put them in there....",
"....",
"....",
"...",
"they will really make the back seat floor durable; and I won't have to worry about dirt, mud, rain puddles forming on the good carpet.",
"I love these.",
"I got the stickers, also....",
"....",
"..",
"trying to decide just where to put them."
] |
I have used many different video editing programs over the years including APE and the previous version of this program and after trying this out for a few weeks, I declare this to be the best I have ever used!
Fast at rendering? you bet it is! and has a whole host of features that I love, yet some I do not use or maybe am not yet ready for (3D)
I installed it and right away assembled video I shot with two different cameras at a recent wedding. I used the easy editor to create my first clip, I chose a theme, added my clips and I was stunned to see the results....an impressive fast-rendered 20 minute movie with impressive special effects. (Friends congratulated me on my work lol)
I also used the same clips to make a straightforward movie with titles and transitions, it rendered very fast and the quality of the finished product was impressive.
My only issue initially was choosing the right file type to create but now I have the hang of it it is a breeze
Pros
Very easy to use
easy mode makes movie creating ridiculously easy!
Super fast rendering
Excellent quality of the final product
An insane amount of features.
Lots of tutorial videos on their web-site
Not one freeze or crash..yippee!
Cons
The only con was when I tried to initially choose an output file but I got the hang of it.
I have to say, I have used Adobe Premier Elements for many years and always considered that the best...but no longer, Power Director Ultra 10 has really impressed me and I will be uninstalling APE because I no longer see any need for it!
If you need video editing software and are new to video editing don't let the vast array of features scare you off, just use easy mode until you get the hang of it. Maybe they should call it "Super Easy Mode" because that is what it really is.
I am so impressed, really! An amazing piece of software! | 2 | positive | [
"I have used many different video editing programs over the years including APE and the previous version of this program and after trying this out for a few weeks, I declare this to be the best I have ever used!",
"Fast at rendering?",
"you bet it is!",
"and has a whole host of features that I love, yet some I do not use or maybe am not yet ready for (3D)\n\nI installed it and right away assembled video I shot with two different cameras at a recent wedding.",
"I used the easy editor to create my first clip, I chose a theme, added my clips and I was stunned to see the results....",
"an impressive fast-rendered 20 minute movie with impressive special effects.",
"(Friends congratulated me on my work lol)\nI also used the same clips to make a straightforward movie with titles and transitions, it rendered very fast and the quality of the finished product was impressive.",
"My only issue initially was choosing the right file type to create but now I have the hang of it it is a breeze\n\nPros\nVery easy to use\neasy mode makes movie creating ridiculously easy!",
"Super fast rendering\nExcellent quality of the final product\nAn insane amount of features.",
"Lots of tutorial videos on their web-site\nNot one freeze or crash..",
"yippee!",
"Cons\nThe only con was when I tried to initially choose an output file but I got the hang of it.",
"I have to say, I have used Adobe Premier Elements for many years and always considered that the best...",
"but no longer, Power Director Ultra 10 has really impressed me and I will be uninstalling APE because I no longer see any need for it!",
"If you need video editing software and are new to video editing don't let the vast array of features scare you off, just use easy mode until you get the hang of it.",
"Maybe they should call it \"Super Easy Mode\" because that is what it really is.",
"I am so impressed, really!",
"An amazing piece of software!"
] |
LOVE these. I got them for me, after trying numerous styles of Keen. Looking for something to take on a trip in which I'll be in and beside water a lot, also for walking around outside. The keens all seemed to fit wrong, hitting my arch in an uncomfortable place. I am size 8.5, wear 9 in some styles/ if I want to wear socks. I read reviews that these run big, so I got them in size 6 kids (which is supposedly an 8 in women). They are perfect. If anything, a little on the big side, but only a tiny smidgeon. Very comfortable. And very inexpensive, especially compared to Keen. Very happy with them. | 2 | positive | [
"LOVE these.",
"I got them for me, after trying numerous styles of Keen.",
"Looking for something to take on a trip in which I'll be in and beside water a lot, also for walking around outside.",
"The keens all seemed to fit wrong, hitting my arch in an uncomfortable place.",
"I am size 8.",
"5, wear 9 in some styles/ if I want to wear socks.",
"I read reviews that these run big, so I got them in size 6 kids (which is supposedly an 8 in women).",
"They are perfect.",
"If anything, a little on the big side, but only a tiny smidgeon.",
"Very comfortable.",
"And very inexpensive, especially compared to Keen.",
"Very happy with them."
] |
This album and the self-titled album with BIKO and I DON'T REMEMBER are monumental achievements, not only in the work of Peter Gabriel, but in populuar music in general.
The album contains his most memorable "hit" SHOCK THE MONKEY, and after all these years, it's still a great song: disturbing, funny and a blast to sing along with!
My personal favorite is the I HAVE THE TOUCH. Its narrator craves physical contact. "Any social occasion, it's 'hello, how do you do?' / All those introductions / I never miss my cue / So before a question / so before a doubt / my hand moves out and / I have the touch." The music is upbeat and bouncy, almost danceable at times. Yet the lyrics, as are typical of so many great Gabriel songs, reveal a slightly psychotic main character. Again, the song is disturbing, funny and a blast to sing with.
RHYTHM OF THE HEAT is a powerful song, conjuring images of burning hot deserts, mysterious rituals, dancing around a campfire ... It has a VERY slow build, the tension building to a breaking point. It's partially joyous, partially mysterious, partially disturbing. The finale is all drums and it really pulls you into the feverish, dream-state Gabriel has been singing about. And Gabriel's vocals have never been better.
All the the songs on the album are really great. THE FAMILY AND THE FISHING NET is a haunting, lyrically dense song. SAN JACINTO features an unforgettable lead character. And so forth.
I highly recommend this album for anyone willing to give a serious listen. It's not background music...it demands (and deserves) your undivided attention. | 2 | positive | [
"This album and the self-titled album with BIKO and I DON'T REMEMBER are monumental achievements, not only in the work of Peter Gabriel, but in populuar music in general.",
"The album contains his most memorable \"hit\" SHOCK THE MONKEY, and after all these years, it's still a great song: disturbing, funny and a blast to sing along with!",
"My personal favorite is the I HAVE THE TOUCH.",
"Its narrator craves physical contact.",
"\"Any social occasion, it's 'hello, how do you do?",
"' / All those introductions / I never miss my cue / So before a question / so before a doubt / my hand moves out and / I have the touch.",
"\" The music is upbeat and bouncy, almost danceable at times.",
"Yet the lyrics, as are typical of so many great Gabriel songs, reveal a slightly psychotic main character.",
"Again, the song is disturbing, funny and a blast to sing with.",
"RHYTHM OF THE HEAT is a powerful song, conjuring images of burning hot deserts, mysterious rituals, dancing around a campfire...",
"It has a VERY slow build, the tension building to a breaking point.",
"It's partially joyous, partially mysterious, partially disturbing.",
"The finale is all drums and it really pulls you into the feverish, dream-state Gabriel has been singing about.",
"And Gabriel's vocals have never been better.",
"All the the songs on the album are really great.",
"THE FAMILY AND THE FISHING NET is a haunting, lyrically dense song.",
"SAN JACINTO features an unforgettable lead character.",
"And so forth.",
"I highly recommend this album for anyone willing to give a serious listen.",
"It's not background music...",
"it demands (and deserves) your undivided attention."
] |
The Ice Princess was an exceptional read. Elizabeth Hoyt wrote a tender love story. I wondered who the madam was in Aphrodite's Grotto and was glad to read her story. Coral Smith runs the establishment and wears a mask to keep her identity a secret. One night while working, she notices the staid Captain Isaac Wargate. He wins seven nights with the madam and wants to know what makes her tick.
Isaac wants to make love to Coral without her mask. He sees a beautiful woman who makes his heart yearn for more. Can Coral give herself to this man who expects more from her than any other? You will have to read to find out if two lonely people can forget their past and find love. | 2 | positive | [
"The Ice Princess was an exceptional read.",
"Elizabeth Hoyt wrote a tender love story.",
"I wondered who the madam was in Aphrodite's Grotto and was glad to read her story.",
"Coral Smith runs the establishment and wears a mask to keep her identity a secret.",
"One night while working, she notices the staid Captain Isaac Wargate.",
"He wins seven nights with the madam and wants to know what makes her tick.",
"Isaac wants to make love to Coral without her mask.",
"He sees a beautiful woman who makes his heart yearn for more.",
"Can Coral give herself to this man who expects more from her than any other?",
"You will have to read to find out if two lonely people can forget their past and find love."
] |
This product is very easy to use and it works in a most excellent way! I used this around our bird feeder where squirrels were eating all our bird food. After spraying the Deer Off on the bird feeder pole and around the base, the squirrels stopped coming near it, and it did not bother the birds at all.
Deer Off comes in a container all ready to use - no mixing or putting anything together. The spray attachment is a very lightweight squeeze-type gun with an adjustable twist nozzle to change the spray from narrow to broad. The power that runs this spray is battery, and the battery is included. So everything is ready for you to use right out of the box.
The instructions are simple, always shake before use, and try it on a small patch of plants before wide use to be sure it won't hurt the plants. Keep it away from children, and be careful of using on a windy day because you don't want to get this on your or on your face. The main ingredients are rotten eggs solids (sulfur smell), capsaicin (hot pepper oil),and garlic. The product says it is a taste and smell deterrent - and with those ingredients, you can believe that.
The product covers 1,000 square feet, it is weather resistant, and promises to protect flowers and shrubs, and you only need to reapply every 2-3 months. It is not suggested for use on food items, but you can spray it on the outside perimeter around the garden to keep animals out of your garden. If you do get exposed, all you need to do is wash hands, face, eyes etc. with water. | 2 | positive | [
"This product is very easy to use and it works in a most excellent way!",
"I used this around our bird feeder where squirrels were eating all our bird food.",
"After spraying the Deer Off on the bird feeder pole and around the base, the squirrels stopped coming near it, and it did not bother the birds at all.",
"Deer Off comes in a container all ready to use - no mixing or putting anything together.",
"The spray attachment is a very lightweight squeeze-type gun with an adjustable twist nozzle to change the spray from narrow to broad.",
"The power that runs this spray is battery, and the battery is included.",
"So everything is ready for you to use right out of the box.",
"The instructions are simple, always shake before use, and try it on a small patch of plants before wide use to be sure it won't hurt the plants.",
"Keep it away from children, and be careful of using on a windy day because you don't want to get this on your or on your face.",
"The main ingredients are rotten eggs solids (sulfur smell), capsaicin (hot pepper oil),and garlic.",
"The product says it is a taste and smell deterrent - and with those ingredients, you can believe that.",
"The product covers 1,000 square feet, it is weather resistant, and promises to protect flowers and shrubs, and you only need to reapply every 2-3 months.",
"It is not suggested for use on food items, but you can spray it on the outside perimeter around the garden to keep animals out of your garden.",
"If you do get exposed, all you need to do is wash hands, face, eyes etc.",
"with water."
] |
I really adore Bohm as a great conductor of Mozart, but I was somewhat suspect of his Beethoven. In my opinion, Beethoven works best at fast tempos, and Bohm is notorious for his rather moderate to slow tempos. I picked up this CD from amazon just a few months ago based on the reviews that it had gotten. Other Bohm/Beethoven CDs that I owned were somewhat of a debacle, with some outrageously slow tempos during moments that should have been played quickly. Still, I bought this 2-CD set, and when it arrived I put on the ninth first. I was rather surprised at the marvelous job Bohm did with this symphony. His moderate tempo and expressive performance is somewhat reminiscent of Furtwangler's great performance. It turned out that it was one of the better ninths in my collection(I still prefer Karajan's recording from his first Beethoven cycle). Next I put on the Third and the overtures, and found that these were even better. Bohm brings out many of the great romantic aspects of this revolutionary and heroic symphony. He also does a great job with the overtures. However, there are some flaws which prevent me from giving this CD 5 stars. First of all, I've heard better singers in the final movement of the Ninth. Second, despite the fact that the more moderate tempos work very well, I still believe the faster tempos work the best, and though this performance is thoroughly enjoyable, I must still choose Karajan's versions as my personal references for beethoven's ninth and third. Lastly, the sound quality isn't too great. I've heard older recordings than this one with clearer and louder sound. Deutsche Grammophon could have done a better job with remastering these discs to improve the sound quality. Overall though, the performances are solid and very enjoyable. This 2-cd set should be a welcome addition to anybody's classical collection. | 2 | positive | [
"I really adore Bohm as a great conductor of Mozart, but I was somewhat suspect of his Beethoven.",
"In my opinion, Beethoven works best at fast tempos, and Bohm is notorious for his rather moderate to slow tempos.",
"I picked up this CD from amazon just a few months ago based on the reviews that it had gotten.",
"Other Bohm/Beethoven CDs that I owned were somewhat of a debacle, with some outrageously slow tempos during moments that should have been played quickly.",
"Still, I bought this 2-CD set, and when it arrived I put on the ninth first.",
"I was rather surprised at the marvelous job Bohm did with this symphony.",
"His moderate tempo and expressive performance is somewhat reminiscent of Furtwangler's great performance.",
"It turned out that it was one of the better ninths in my collection(I still prefer Karajan's recording from his first Beethoven cycle).",
"Next I put on the Third and the overtures, and found that these were even better.",
"Bohm brings out many of the great romantic aspects of this revolutionary and heroic symphony.",
"He also does a great job with the overtures.",
"However, there are some flaws which prevent me from giving this CD 5 stars.",
"First of all, I've heard better singers in the final movement of the Ninth.",
"Second, despite the fact that the more moderate tempos work very well, I still believe the faster tempos work the best, and though this performance is thoroughly enjoyable, I must still choose Karajan's versions as my personal references for beethoven's ninth and third.",
"Lastly, the sound quality isn't too great.",
"I've heard older recordings than this one with clearer and louder sound.",
"Deutsche Grammophon could have done a better job with remastering these discs to improve the sound quality.",
"Overall though, the performances are solid and very enjoyable.",
"This 2-cd set should be a welcome addition to anybody's classical collection."
] |
Let me tell you... Ive bought plenty of knife sharpeners lately (those shark as seen on tv ones, whetstones, and even diamond files), I honestly was getting frustrated that I couldn't find one that worked for ME! When I saw this on amazon it looked intimidating but I ordered anyway then went on YouTube for a quick tutorial. Forward to today, I received the Lansky Turn Box and found an old kitchen knife to test, and guess what?!?!? It worked and w/ no effort! So, I immediately gathered up all my kitchen knives and EDC/ camping knives and went to town! So awesome .
Im just an average Joe that wanted an easy effective knife sharpening system and I found it! Thanks guys for the reviews and questions which helped me decide to go for it. Cheers!! | 2 | positive | [
"Let me tell you...",
"Ive bought plenty of knife sharpeners lately (those shark as seen on tv ones, whetstones, and even diamond files), I honestly was getting frustrated that I couldn't find one that worked for ME!",
"When I saw this on amazon it looked intimidating but I ordered anyway then went on YouTube for a quick tutorial.",
"Forward to today, I received the Lansky Turn Box and found an old kitchen knife to test, and guess what?!",
"?!",
"?",
"It worked and w/ no effort!",
"So, I immediately gathered up all my kitchen knives and EDC/ camping knives and went to town!",
"So awesome.",
"Im just an average Joe that wanted an easy effective knife sharpening system and I found it!",
"Thanks guys for the reviews and questions which helped me decide to go for it.",
"Cheers!!"
] |
TaxCut offers individuals a powerful option for preparing an income tax return that is relatively easy to use. TaxCut assumes that you know little or nothing about income tax law. The software will ask a number of questions and will prompt you for information based on your answers. It will help tremendously if you gather as many of your tax documents as possible before starting. This software is significantly cheaper than paying a service to prepare it and much easier than doing in manually.
The e-file option has been around for some years and is a great time saver for those due a refund. If you owe money, you might want to save a few dollars and just file manually. The program will print all the forms you need so it's easy to do and there's no real advantage to electronically filing if you're writing a check.
Please note that this version covers both Federal and State returns. Most people will need both, but if you live in a state with no income tax then you'll want to look at <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/H-R-Block-TaxCut-2007-Premium-Federal-Win-Mac/dp/B000WPWYJS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">H&R Block TaxCut 2007 Premium Federal (Win/Mac)</a> for considerably less money.
If you don't itemize your deductions and have a very simple return, you might be better off preparing the forms manually on your own. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you have a return with major league complications, you might be better off going to a good CPA. For everyone else, this is really a no-brainer. It's inexpensive, easy to use, and accurate. I've been using TaxCut for quite a few years and would not even consider giving it up. | 2 | positive | [
"TaxCut offers individuals a powerful option for preparing an income tax return that is relatively easy to use.",
"TaxCut assumes that you know little or nothing about income tax law.",
"The software will ask a number of questions and will prompt you for information based on your answers.",
"It will help tremendously if you gather as many of your tax documents as possible before starting.",
"This software is significantly cheaper than paying a service to prepare it and much easier than doing in manually.",
"The e-file option has been around for some years and is a great time saver for those due a refund.",
"If you owe money, you might want to save a few dollars and just file manually.",
"The program will print all the forms you need so it's easy to do and there's no real advantage to electronically filing if you're writing a check.",
"Please note that this version covers both Federal and State returns.",
"Most people will need both, but if you live in a state with no income tax then you'll want to look at <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/H-R-Block-TaxCut-2007-Premium-Federal-Win-Mac/dp/B000WPWYJS/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">H&R Block TaxCut 2007 Premium Federal (Win/Mac)</a> for considerably less money.",
"If you don't itemize your deductions and have a very simple return, you might be better off preparing the forms manually on your own.",
"On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you have a return with major league complications, you might be better off going to a good CPA.",
"For everyone else, this is really a no-brainer.",
"It's inexpensive, easy to use, and accurate.",
"I've been using TaxCut for quite a few years and would not even consider giving it up."
] |
I don't think any nail polish manufacturer creates as many different colors of nail polish as Essie, and I like almost all of them! This one is a lovely slightly violet polish in the red range. It's perfect for people like me who wear a lot of cool colors and have blue based coloring. The color in the bottle looks exactly like one in the photo on my screen, and slightly more red when it dried on my nails. I like it a lot. This color glides on very easily and almost covers in one coat. I did have to use a second coat to completely cover all the little spots that I missed the first time around. The polish looks good on its own, but the gel topcoat really sets it off. It gives my nails a hard, very shiny finish and helps to protect the manicure. It also smoothes out any imperfections that may have occurred when applying the first two coats. Don't skip it! The topcoat can also be worn on its own over bare nails for a nice shiny, finished look. But with so many beautiful Essie colors, why would you want to?
This polish was still going strong with only a hint of wear on the tip of one nail after 7 days. The top coat was still extremely shiny. My nails show growth at the base of the nail, so I usually change polish after 7 days. But if not for that, I probably could have gotten another couple days out of this polish. Great product! | 2 | positive | [
"I don't think any nail polish manufacturer creates as many different colors of nail polish as Essie, and I like almost all of them!",
"This one is a lovely slightly violet polish in the red range.",
"It's perfect for people like me who wear a lot of cool colors and have blue based coloring.",
"The color in the bottle looks exactly like one in the photo on my screen, and slightly more red when it dried on my nails.",
"I like it a lot.",
"This color glides on very easily and almost covers in one coat.",
"I did have to use a second coat to completely cover all the little spots that I missed the first time around.",
"The polish looks good on its own, but the gel topcoat really sets it off.",
"It gives my nails a hard, very shiny finish and helps to protect the manicure.",
"It also smoothes out any imperfections that may have occurred when applying the first two coats.",
"Don't skip it!",
"The topcoat can also be worn on its own over bare nails for a nice shiny, finished look.",
"But with so many beautiful Essie colors, why would you want to?",
"This polish was still going strong with only a hint of wear on the tip of one nail after 7 days.",
"The top coat was still extremely shiny.",
"My nails show growth at the base of the nail, so I usually change polish after 7 days.",
"But if not for that, I probably could have gotten another couple days out of this polish.",
"Great product!"
] |
** I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest book review **
SYNOPSIS (GOODREADS):
In this creepy horror novel, Neal Becker is convinced that his 5 month old baby daughter can talk. But that's impossible...isn't it? Except that Neal didn't really want to get married in the first place and pushed his wife for an abortion. And now, Baby Natasha knows it. She's out to get Neal, or so he believes. Join the two in a terrifying battle for survival that will make your blood run cold!
THE REVIEW:
I have done several books reviews of Mike Wells' works, and I have greatly enjoyed everything I have read of his. I was definitely looking forward to reading this, and was instantly drawn in by the cover. The idea of an evil, talking baby certainly seemed horrifying. I'd also read the event that inspired Wells to write this novella, so I was harboring even more curiosity when I dove in and started reading.
The overall plot was thrilling and different from other horror stories I have read. I love horror just as much as I love romance - we all know that is a lot - and this book did not disappoint. The narrative was extremely well-written, and I loved the shift of perspective between the two main characters. It lent truth to the saying of there being two sides to every story, since they saw the situation with entirely different perspectives. The prologue worked well, too, at drawing in the reader. I wanted to know what lead up to that, and was certainly not disappointed.
The characterization was interesting. I'm not sure how I would have handled the situation, but I like to think that I would have handled things better than Neal did. I understand that he did not want the baby but, considering the fact the mother did, there are legal ways to deal with that. Instead, he entered into what sounded like a loveless marriage, and acted like an jerk most of the time. I understand being scared of your baby - Okay, I do not entirely understand, I suppose - but you certainly should not treat her the way he did at times. Of course, I've never had a baby try to kill me.
Oh, and his foot wound? *SHUDDER*
The only issue I really had was the background of Snell, Neal's employer. He was supposed to have been college-educated, yet he talked like he lacked all sense of intelligence. It wasn't just his racist, ignorant remarks, either. It was the way he talked and his thought processes. He was just plain dumb. How did he attend the same college as Neal?
THE VERDICT:
I would give this a 4 out of 5 star rating. I definitely enjoyed it, and Natasha scared the crap out of me. However, the character backgrounds were pretty essential to the story, and Snell's just didn't fit. I also feel that this was one time in which his pattern of separating the books into parts ruined the intensity for me. If I hadn't received the second book for free, I would have been very annoyed. Still, I highly recommend you read this, and other works by Mike Wells.
For more reviews by A. P. Bullard, please visit: http://www.triskelereviews.com/ | 2 | positive | [
"** I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest book review **\n\nSYNOPSIS (GOODREADS):\n\nIn this creepy horror novel, Neal Becker is convinced that his 5 month old baby daughter can talk.",
"But that's impossible...",
"isn't it?",
"Except that Neal didn't really want to get married in the first place and pushed his wife for an abortion.",
"And now, Baby Natasha knows it.",
"She's out to get Neal, or so he believes.",
"Join the two in a terrifying battle for survival that will make your blood run cold!",
"THE REVIEW:\n\nI have done several books reviews of Mike Wells' works, and I have greatly enjoyed everything I have read of his.",
"I was definitely looking forward to reading this, and was instantly drawn in by the cover.",
"The idea of an evil, talking baby certainly seemed horrifying.",
"I'd also read the event that inspired Wells to write this novella, so I was harboring even more curiosity when I dove in and started reading.",
"The overall plot was thrilling and different from other horror stories I have read.",
"I love horror just as much as I love romance - we all know that is a lot - and this book did not disappoint.",
"The narrative was extremely well-written, and I loved the shift of perspective between the two main characters.",
"It lent truth to the saying of there being two sides to every story, since they saw the situation with entirely different perspectives.",
"The prologue worked well, too, at drawing in the reader.",
"I wanted to know what lead up to that, and was certainly not disappointed.",
"The characterization was interesting.",
"I'm not sure how I would have handled the situation, but I like to think that I would have handled things better than Neal did.",
"I understand that he did not want the baby but, considering the fact the mother did, there are legal ways to deal with that.",
"Instead, he entered into what sounded like a loveless marriage, and acted like an jerk most of the time.",
"I understand being scared of your baby - Okay, I do not entirely understand, I suppose - but you certainly should not treat her the way he did at times.",
"Of course, I've never had a baby try to kill me.",
"Oh, and his foot wound?",
"*SHUDDER*\n\nThe only issue I really had was the background of Snell, Neal's employer.",
"He was supposed to have been college-educated, yet he talked like he lacked all sense of intelligence.",
"It wasn't just his racist, ignorant remarks, either.",
"It was the way he talked and his thought processes.",
"He was just plain dumb.",
"How did he attend the same college as Neal?",
"THE VERDICT:\n\nI would give this a 4 out of 5 star rating.",
"I definitely enjoyed it, and Natasha scared the crap out of me.",
"However, the character backgrounds were pretty essential to the story, and Snell's just didn't fit.",
"I also feel that this was one time in which his pattern of separating the books into parts ruined the intensity for me.",
"If I hadn't received the second book for free, I would have been very annoyed.",
"Still, I highly recommend you read this, and other works by Mike Wells.",
"For more reviews by A.",
"P.",
"Bullard, please visit: http://www.",
"triskelereviews.",
"com/"
] |
This product review is for Old El Paso Soft Taco Bake Dinner Kit, 8.4 Ounce
I used steak instead of ground beef and it turned out amazing.
This was easy to make and it turned out great. My family really enjoyed this product and we will be using it again in the future.
This was the first time I had ever considered using online shopping for any of my food. Amazon Grocery had a pretty good selection of dry supply items. Everything that I ordered came nicely packed and wasn't damaged at all. These items where very easy to make and they all tasted great. When I made this purchase I had a coupon for $25 of on an order of $75 or more. It was really nice that Amazon kept track of how many items you had in your box and how much space was left. Each item also showed how much space it would take up in the box, so you had an idea of what else might fit in the box. After I had the box completely filled I simply checked out as usual and a few days later it showed up at my house
Overall these items where great and I will be ordering again in the future. What a great way to get your shopping done with out leaving the comfort of your own home. | 2 | positive | [
"This product review is for Old El Paso Soft Taco Bake Dinner Kit, 8.",
"4 Ounce\n\nI used steak instead of ground beef and it turned out amazing.",
"This was easy to make and it turned out great.",
"My family really enjoyed this product and we will be using it again in the future.",
"This was the first time I had ever considered using online shopping for any of my food.",
"Amazon Grocery had a pretty good selection of dry supply items.",
"Everything that I ordered came nicely packed and wasn't damaged at all.",
"These items where very easy to make and they all tasted great.",
"When I made this purchase I had a coupon for $25 of on an order of $75 or more.",
"It was really nice that Amazon kept track of how many items you had in your box and how much space was left.",
"Each item also showed how much space it would take up in the box, so you had an idea of what else might fit in the box.",
"After I had the box completely filled I simply checked out as usual and a few days later it showed up at my house\n\nOverall these items where great and I will be ordering again in the future.",
"What a great way to get your shopping done with out leaving the comfort of your own home."
] |
As I have already stated I have volumes 1-4 on DVD. The reason I started getting Are You Being Served on DVD is because my PBS station was sold, and they hadn't bought the rights to the British sitcoms. I was so upset, but when I found that Amazon and this seller had them in stock, I was so happy! I have to admit Mr. Humphries is my favorite character! Boy he does make me laugh! From Mrs. Slocum to Mr. Lucas "Are You Being Served" is my favorite British sitcom! Thank you very much Amazon! | 2 | positive | [
"As I have already stated I have volumes 1-4 on DVD.",
"The reason I started getting Are You Being Served on DVD is because my PBS station was sold, and they hadn't bought the rights to the British sitcoms.",
"I was so upset, but when I found that Amazon and this seller had them in stock, I was so happy!",
"I have to admit Mr.",
"Humphries is my favorite character!",
"Boy he does make me laugh!",
"From Mrs.",
"Slocum to Mr.",
"Lucas \"Are You Being Served\" is my favorite British sitcom!",
"Thank you very much Amazon!"
] |
This is one of the best films ever made in the horror genre. I rate it in my top ten films of all time. The film is like a horror film with an opulent base. The colors are beautiful, unlike any other Italian or any countries horror film in history. Argento has a lot of great giallo and horror films, but this to me is his masterpiece. The film is about a young American female that travels to Germany to study at the famous Tanz Academy. She quickly finds out after a slew of brutal murders that the school is a front for a coven of witches. If you are a horror film fan or just like any genre film this one is a viewing necessity. If you enjoy it the film is a first in a trilogy about the three mothers. The second part is titled Inferno and the third is The Mother Of Tears. Happy chills and thrills | 2 | positive | [
"This is one of the best films ever made in the horror genre.",
"I rate it in my top ten films of all time.",
"The film is like a horror film with an opulent base.",
"The colors are beautiful, unlike any other Italian or any countries horror film in history.",
"Argento has a lot of great giallo and horror films, but this to me is his masterpiece.",
"The film is about a young American female that travels to Germany to study at the famous Tanz Academy.",
"She quickly finds out after a slew of brutal murders that the school is a front for a coven of witches.",
"If you are a horror film fan or just like any genre film this one is a viewing necessity.",
"If you enjoy it the film is a first in a trilogy about the three mothers.",
"The second part is titled Inferno and the third is The Mother Of Tears.",
"Happy chills and thrills"
] |
I had an old Sears(intermatic) mechanical timer connected to my Hot Water Heater. It finally burnt up, primarily due to a connection failure of L2 (I was never happy with the fit of the connections). I decided to spend a little more for an electronic timer rather than a mechanical timer, due to flexibility of programming. It was a good call! This timer is great! Easy to program, more program possibilities, and precise time selections have been wonderful! It was very simple to install...the connection terminals were a perfect fit for my solid #10 romex cable. The screw connections would possibly accommodate #8, but I didn't verify this as #10 is more than adequate for my HWH. I've had the timer in operation for about a month now, and there have been no problems with function. The clock is accurate and the on/off override button is extremely convenient. The timer has a bright red LED to let you know when power to the HWH is on. I wired the timer to a spot in the washroom for convenience...the HWH is in the attic. I would highly recommend this timer! | 2 | positive | [
"I had an old Sears(intermatic) mechanical timer connected to my Hot Water Heater.",
"It finally burnt up, primarily due to a connection failure of L2 (I was never happy with the fit of the connections).",
"I decided to spend a little more for an electronic timer rather than a mechanical timer, due to flexibility of programming.",
"It was a good call!",
"This timer is great!",
"Easy to program, more program possibilities, and precise time selections have been wonderful!",
"It was very simple to install...",
"the connection terminals were a perfect fit for my solid #10 romex cable.",
"The screw connections would possibly accommodate #8, but I didn't verify this as #10 is more than adequate for my HWH.",
"I've had the timer in operation for about a month now, and there have been no problems with function.",
"The clock is accurate and the on/off override button is extremely convenient.",
"The timer has a bright red LED to let you know when power to the HWH is on.",
"I wired the timer to a spot in the washroom for convenience...",
"the HWH is in the attic.",
"I would highly recommend this timer!"
] |
Alexa Jones gives her all in her professional life as well as her personal life. Unfortunately she's learned the hard way that the wild guys she prefers don't provide the stability she desires in a relationship - and she's positive that there isn't a single man out there who has a combination of dependability and wildness that will set her girly parts on fire.
Alexa's indulgence in a little high-speed joyriding results in a race with a gorgeous man riding a Harley and a sexual romp she won't soon forget. Only once she realizes what she's done she's embarrassed by her own actions and leaves the scene of the indiscretion without disclosing her name. All she knows about him is that his name is Justin, he rides a Harley and his lovemaking is exactly what she craves.
Having engaged in such a naughty act, Alexa is understandably distracted but with a major contract depending on her presentation she does her best to pull it together. The last thing she expects is to see Justin enters the boardroom and introduce himself as J. Winston. He's dressed impeccably in business attire and acting like he's never seen her before. Alexa's furious that he would deceive her in such a manner and once the business meeting is over she unleashes her rage on him. She even goes so far as to turn down his offer of the job. What Alexa doesn't realize is that J. Winston and Justin are not the same person but they do know each other - and because Justin has been searching for her since their dalliance letting her get away now simply isn't going to happen.
The chase is on and fortunately J. (Jay) Winston and Justin arrive just in time to save Alexa from an attacker in her parking garage. Alexa is stunned when she realizes that J. and Justin aren't the same person but what's more disturbing is the attraction she feels for both men. Add the reason for Jay's silence about the details of his project and it's exactly the sort of situation an adrenalin junkie craves. Dare she hope for a happily ever after with two men or is she just courting heartache once again?
Jayne Rylon's NICE AND NAUGHTY captured my attention from the moment I opened this book. It's so easy to imagine yourself in Alexa's place as her need to protect herself wars with her desire to throw caution to the wind. Jay and Justin are simply irresistible. They're very different and yet similar in so many ways that I envy Alexa - she gets the best of both worlds - NICE AND NAUGHTY - in her
special men.
NICE AND NAUGHTY is a definite must read for those of you who enjoy menage-a-trois romances. Also don't forget to pick up copies of the other books in the MENAGE & MORE anthology.
WICKED GARDEN by Lorelei James
and
A QUESTION OF TRUST by Jess Dee
Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies) | 2 | positive | [
"Alexa Jones gives her all in her professional life as well as her personal life.",
"Unfortunately she's learned the hard way that the wild guys she prefers don't provide the stability she desires in a relationship - and she's positive that there isn't a single man out there who has a combination of dependability and wildness that will set her girly parts on fire.",
"Alexa's indulgence in a little high-speed joyriding results in a race with a gorgeous man riding a Harley and a sexual romp she won't soon forget.",
"Only once she realizes what she's done she's embarrassed by her own actions and leaves the scene of the indiscretion without disclosing her name.",
"All she knows about him is that his name is Justin, he rides a Harley and his lovemaking is exactly what she craves.",
"Having engaged in such a naughty act, Alexa is understandably distracted but with a major contract depending on her presentation she does her best to pull it together.",
"The last thing she expects is to see Justin enters the boardroom and introduce himself as J.",
"Winston.",
"He's dressed impeccably in business attire and acting like he's never seen her before.",
"Alexa's furious that he would deceive her in such a manner and once the business meeting is over she unleashes her rage on him.",
"She even goes so far as to turn down his offer of the job.",
"What Alexa doesn't realize is that J.",
"Winston and Justin are not the same person but they do know each other - and because Justin has been searching for her since their dalliance letting her get away now simply isn't going to happen.",
"The chase is on and fortunately J.",
"(Jay) Winston and Justin arrive just in time to save Alexa from an attacker in her parking garage.",
"Alexa is stunned when she realizes that J.",
"and Justin aren't the same person but what's more disturbing is the attraction she feels for both men.",
"Add the reason for Jay's silence about the details of his project and it's exactly the sort of situation an adrenalin junkie craves.",
"Dare she hope for a happily ever after with two men or is she just courting heartache once again?",
"Jayne Rylon's NICE AND NAUGHTY captured my attention from the moment I opened this book.",
"It's so easy to imagine yourself in Alexa's place as her need to protect herself wars with her desire to throw caution to the wind.",
"Jay and Justin are simply irresistible.",
"They're very different and yet similar in so many ways that I envy Alexa - she gets the best of both worlds - NICE AND NAUGHTY - in her\nspecial men.",
"NICE AND NAUGHTY is a definite must read for those of you who enjoy menage-a-trois romances.",
"Also don't forget to pick up copies of the other books in the MENAGE & MORE anthology.",
"WICKED GARDEN by Lorelei James\nand\nA QUESTION OF TRUST by Jess Dee\n\nChrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)"
] |
Square has done it again! They never cease to amaze me. I have been a huge fan of the Final Fantasy series, and it keeps getting better. In this, the "final" installment on the playstation console, Square has gone out with a bang! The graphics are the best I have seen on the playstation...proving that the developers and game designers are still pushing the envelope and trying to deliver a quality product. The game-play and depth of the game are awesome and engrossing. From the first opening scenes you are pulled in and carried along on one fantastic ride! Fans of the Final Fantasy series will love the "old school" elements, as well as some brought over from FF7 and FF8. Those not familiar with the genre or series will have no difficulty jumping on and learning from scratch...everything from the online stratgey guide to the in-game help will allow players of any ability to enjoy the game and its many surprises. This game is great and belongs in the game library of EVERY playstation and PS2 owner out there. Buy this game and prepare for many sleepless nights trying to save the world. | 2 | positive | [
"Square has done it again!",
"They never cease to amaze me.",
"I have been a huge fan of the Final Fantasy series, and it keeps getting better.",
"In this, the \"final\" installment on the playstation console, Square has gone out with a bang!",
"The graphics are the best I have seen on the playstation...",
"proving that the developers and game designers are still pushing the envelope and trying to deliver a quality product.",
"The game-play and depth of the game are awesome and engrossing.",
"From the first opening scenes you are pulled in and carried along on one fantastic ride!",
"Fans of the Final Fantasy series will love the \"old school\" elements, as well as some brought over from FF7 and FF8.",
"Those not familiar with the genre or series will have no difficulty jumping on and learning from scratch...",
"everything from the online stratgey guide to the in-game help will allow players of any ability to enjoy the game and its many surprises.",
"This game is great and belongs in the game library of EVERY playstation and PS2 owner out there.",
"Buy this game and prepare for many sleepless nights trying to save the world."
] |
I wondered if JBT was on something when he wrote this then after reading his other stuff, realized he wasn't. He's simply a bit nuts. An exceptional writer, one who probably would not have been revealed to me and you if it were not for Amazon and co. He is a out there but to be honest there isn't a lack of common sense. He hates orgazined religion just as much as I do. The universe blows his mind as it has fused mine each time I try to contemplate it. JBT's meanderings as he zipped through its infinite well of disinterest in us was stirring and thought provoking. The short peice at once caused me to drop my gyoza and soy sauce into my lap, but after I read on that didn't seem significant anymore as I got lost in my less than singular existance amidst the other customers in the sushi bar.
JBT's other books so far have not lacked depth and humour, characters you grow to care about. This short read made me think about me, for a change right?
Worth a read.
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Seconds-To-Disaster-US-Edition/dp/1481026437/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Seconds To Disaster: US Edition</a> | 2 | positive | [
"I wondered if JBT was on something when he wrote this then after reading his other stuff, realized he wasn't.",
"He's simply a bit nuts.",
"An exceptional writer, one who probably would not have been revealed to me and you if it were not for Amazon and co.",
"He is a out there but to be honest there isn't a lack of common sense.",
"He hates orgazined religion just as much as I do.",
"The universe blows his mind as it has fused mine each time I try to contemplate it.",
"JBT's meanderings as he zipped through its infinite well of disinterest in us was stirring and thought provoking.",
"The short peice at once caused me to drop my gyoza and soy sauce into my lap, but after I read on that didn't seem significant anymore as I got lost in my less than singular existance amidst the other customers in the sushi bar.",
"JBT's other books so far have not lacked depth and humour, characters you grow to care about.",
"This short read made me think about me, for a change right?",
"Worth a read.",
"<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Seconds-To-Disaster-US-Edition/dp/1481026437/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Seconds To Disaster: US Edition</a>"
] |
Dungeon Siege 1 was the game that got me started with RPGs, and I have been a fan of DS ever since. As such, I enjoyed DS2 as well. However, there are some aspects of this game that I didn't like too much. The save game system is odd. You can save everywhere, but it only saves what you have and what you have accomplished, not where you are. So when you re-load, you are always back to one of the 3 towns. This actually works better than one would think as it moves the game away from constant quick-saves and quick-loads. However, it does NOT work well whenever you die near a boss-battle, since you basically have to run back naked to get your gear. Not fun at all.
Another aspect I didn't like is the map. DS1 had a great map, while in DS2, I constantly was lost. Back-tracking to complete secondary quests is a major PITA for that reason. Makes me wonder what they were thinking.
Similarly, I didn't like the quest-log interface. I do not like seeing ahead of time how many quests there are. Neither do I appreciate the whole setup of the non-resizable log-screen that is just plain hard to read.
One of the oddest things is the difficulty level. You can only play at lowest difficulty until you played through the whole game. Once you are all the way through, you can re-play the game at a higher difficulty level and with more party members. Hu?!? WTF?
Oh, and btw: Your party now has a maximum of 3 members plus a pet that acts as a limited additional member. I liked the larger parties from DS1 MUCH better. Also, it was much easier to manage your party. I really do not appreciate this kind of dumbed-down gameplay.
Nevertheless, I had fun with this game. If you liked DS1 a lot, then you will still have fun with DS2. | 2 | positive | [
"Dungeon Siege 1 was the game that got me started with RPGs, and I have been a fan of DS ever since.",
"As such, I enjoyed DS2 as well.",
"However, there are some aspects of this game that I didn't like too much.",
"The save game system is odd.",
"You can save everywhere, but it only saves what you have and what you have accomplished, not where you are.",
"So when you re-load, you are always back to one of the 3 towns.",
"This actually works better than one would think as it moves the game away from constant quick-saves and quick-loads.",
"However, it does NOT work well whenever you die near a boss-battle, since you basically have to run back naked to get your gear.",
"Not fun at all.",
"Another aspect I didn't like is the map.",
"DS1 had a great map, while in DS2, I constantly was lost.",
"Back-tracking to complete secondary quests is a major PITA for that reason.",
"Makes me wonder what they were thinking.",
"Similarly, I didn't like the quest-log interface.",
"I do not like seeing ahead of time how many quests there are.",
"Neither do I appreciate the whole setup of the non-resizable log-screen that is just plain hard to read.",
"One of the oddest things is the difficulty level.",
"You can only play at lowest difficulty until you played through the whole game.",
"Once you are all the way through, you can re-play the game at a higher difficulty level and with more party members.",
"Hu?!",
"?",
"WTF?",
"Oh, and btw: Your party now has a maximum of 3 members plus a pet that acts as a limited additional member.",
"I liked the larger parties from DS1 MUCH better.",
"Also, it was much easier to manage your party.",
"I really do not appreciate this kind of dumbed-down gameplay.",
"Nevertheless, I had fun with this game.",
"If you liked DS1 a lot, then you will still have fun with DS2."
] |
During his long and illustrious career, Burt Reynolds made a number of action-driven movies usually from a comical point of view. This however is an action-movie straight up, and one of my personal favorites among his body of work. Strange though, since it's not a particularly good movie. I guess it's all down to the old Burt-charm.
The movie is about a disillusioned operative, who jumps ship and starts looking for a hideaway out of reach of his former employers. When his car breaks down, he pushes it for miles until he finally comes across a garage off the beaten track. As it turns out, the garage-owner and his daughter are in a spot of trouble with the resident major land-owner, who is trying to take over the whole valley. Malone chooses to assist the garage-owner and use his considerable persuasive talents to force the valley brute to back off. At the same time Malones former employers have sent another operative in search of him. Explosive Finale. | 2 | positive | [
"During his long and illustrious career, Burt Reynolds made a number of action-driven movies usually from a comical point of view.",
"This however is an action-movie straight up, and one of my personal favorites among his body of work.",
"Strange though, since it's not a particularly good movie.",
"I guess it's all down to the old Burt-charm.",
"The movie is about a disillusioned operative, who jumps ship and starts looking for a hideaway out of reach of his former employers.",
"When his car breaks down, he pushes it for miles until he finally comes across a garage off the beaten track.",
"As it turns out, the garage-owner and his daughter are in a spot of trouble with the resident major land-owner, who is trying to take over the whole valley.",
"Malone chooses to assist the garage-owner and use his considerable persuasive talents to force the valley brute to back off.",
"At the same time Malones former employers have sent another operative in search of him.",
"Explosive Finale."
] |
This worked quite nicely on my drop-bar road bike by attaching the mirror directly to the mirror base and tossing the mirror arm. In giving that a try there was some concern about side to side adjustment in that there isn't any. I discovered that rotating the mirror base in the bar end allowed an adequate amount of left/right adjustment. Set so that my left knee was just visible, the view covers the road behind shoulder to shoulder. On my bike the mirror base's arm needed to be set about 10 degrees above horizontal. The mirror is convex and gives a wide angle view which makes the adjustment less critical. It also makes approaching traffic more difficult to see at a distance. I've been using, and like, the Bike Peddler eyeglass mount mirror which is flat and gives a better distance view and also lets you pan around by moving your head. However, it doesn't work well on some glasses frames and not at all with fit-over sunglasses. Not an issue with the bar mount mirror.
It's sturdy, rigid and doesn't shake nearly as bad as the helmet mount mirrors I've tried which are especially bad on the so-called "chip Seal" (or what I like to call "tar & boulder") road surfacing used on a lot of Oregon secondary roads.
A worthwhile product at a good price. | 2 | positive | [
"This worked quite nicely on my drop-bar road bike by attaching the mirror directly to the mirror base and tossing the mirror arm.",
"In giving that a try there was some concern about side to side adjustment in that there isn't any.",
"I discovered that rotating the mirror base in the bar end allowed an adequate amount of left/right adjustment.",
"Set so that my left knee was just visible, the view covers the road behind shoulder to shoulder.",
"On my bike the mirror base's arm needed to be set about 10 degrees above horizontal.",
"The mirror is convex and gives a wide angle view which makes the adjustment less critical.",
"It also makes approaching traffic more difficult to see at a distance.",
"I've been using, and like, the Bike Peddler eyeglass mount mirror which is flat and gives a better distance view and also lets you pan around by moving your head.",
"However, it doesn't work well on some glasses frames and not at all with fit-over sunglasses.",
"Not an issue with the bar mount mirror.",
"It's sturdy, rigid and doesn't shake nearly as bad as the helmet mount mirrors I've tried which are especially bad on the so-called \"chip Seal\" (or what I like to call \"tar & boulder\") road surfacing used on a lot of Oregon secondary roads.",
"A worthwhile product at a good price."
] |
The varying sizes were extremely useful for mending a variety of leads. It's a smashing and useful kit at a sensible price and worth keeping for the special jobs or repairs. The transparent sleeve makes it easy to see if you have good overlap between the wires and, after heating, to see that the solder has flowed to encase both wires. After shrinking the ends over the wire insulation they appear to be watertight and to provide strain relief. No more soldering or crimping wires together only to realize I left off the shrink tubing. Not only does it make good contact, but also has a waterproof seal. Very very handy! First time I did this, I heated the plastic too long and it started to bubble. 2nd try I got it done fairly easily. So it's a learning experience. | 2 | positive | [
"The varying sizes were extremely useful for mending a variety of leads.",
"It's a smashing and useful kit at a sensible price and worth keeping for the special jobs or repairs.",
"The transparent sleeve makes it easy to see if you have good overlap between the wires and, after heating, to see that the solder has flowed to encase both wires.",
"After shrinking the ends over the wire insulation they appear to be watertight and to provide strain relief.",
"No more soldering or crimping wires together only to realize I left off the shrink tubing.",
"Not only does it make good contact, but also has a waterproof seal.",
"Very very handy!",
"First time I did this, I heated the plastic too long and it started to bubble.",
"2nd try I got it done fairly easily.",
"So it's a learning experience."
] |
Diner is essentially a movie about nothing. It is a plotless, hardly structured film that has no specific intention. It also just so happens to be one of the greatest coming of age films ever made. Director Barry Levinson romanticized his adolescence and growing up in Baltimore in the late 1950's (59 in the movie) to create this love letter to his home city.
The cast of this movie is just perfect. A group of young actor's who hadn't all quite made a name for themselves yet (some of them well on their way). Just getting together, bonding in a very natural way you would expect a bunch of young guys to do so. Each of these actors went on to do at least 1 memorable movie in their careers not long after, Kevin Bacon (Footloose), Mickey Rourke (Pope of Greenwich Village), Steve Guttenberg (Short Circuit), Paul Reiser (Aliens) and Daniel Stern (Home Alone).
For me this is the kind of movie that I could pretty much just put on anytime (particularly on a sleepless night). The comradery of the characters in this film makes you feel like these are people you may have once known or at least wanted to know at one point in your own life. That the whole movie revolves around the 'Diner' is a testament to the fact that, everyone had "that" hangout spot growing up. For Barry Levinson living in Baltimore it was the diner.
This movie made such an impact on me as a teenager that I actually made my wife take a pop culture test before I would marry her (true story). Because the movie doesn't have the standard "Setup, Conflict, Resolution", there is nothing to rush. The movie plays at it's own pace and when it ends you want to play it again. | 2 | positive | [
"Diner is essentially a movie about nothing.",
"It is a plotless, hardly structured film that has no specific intention.",
"It also just so happens to be one of the greatest coming of age films ever made.",
"Director Barry Levinson romanticized his adolescence and growing up in Baltimore in the late 1950's (59 in the movie) to create this love letter to his home city.",
"The cast of this movie is just perfect.",
"A group of young actor's who hadn't all quite made a name for themselves yet (some of them well on their way).",
"Just getting together, bonding in a very natural way you would expect a bunch of young guys to do so.",
"Each of these actors went on to do at least 1 memorable movie in their careers not long after, Kevin Bacon (Footloose), Mickey Rourke (Pope of Greenwich Village), Steve Guttenberg (Short Circuit), Paul Reiser (Aliens) and Daniel Stern (Home Alone).",
"For me this is the kind of movie that I could pretty much just put on anytime (particularly on a sleepless night).",
"The comradery of the characters in this film makes you feel like these are people you may have once known or at least wanted to know at one point in your own life.",
"That the whole movie revolves around the 'Diner' is a testament to the fact that, everyone had \"that\" hangout spot growing up.",
"For Barry Levinson living in Baltimore it was the diner.",
"This movie made such an impact on me as a teenager that I actually made my wife take a pop culture test before I would marry her (true story).",
"Because the movie doesn't have the standard \"Setup, Conflict, Resolution\", there is nothing to rush.",
"The movie plays at it's own pace and when it ends you want to play it again."
] |
This case is a great value. It is built solidly, it protects the horn well, and it accommodates my big bell horn easily (6 "). The optional <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Protec-Padded-Backpack-Strap/dp/B0002KX5E6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Protec Padded Backpack Strap</a> works well too, which will be important to some buyers.
OTOH I do not find the upper and lower outside pockets very convenient, and I wish there were a larger, single internal storage compartment - even if it meant adding some weight and cost, as in the much more expensive <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Bam-Tenor-Sax-Trekking-Cases-Black/dp/B000Y0252W/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Bam Tenor Sax Trekking Cases Black</a>. Put too much stuff in the Protec case lower pocket and the case won't lay flat; too much in the upper pocket, and the open case will tilt when the horn is removed - spilling the contents if you haven't zipped the pocket closed. The small, separate inside compartments for a mouthpiece and the neck may work well for you, but I keep my neck inside the bell, and I'd rather have more inside space for reeds, neck strap, a pencil, glasses, etc. ...
But all-in-all, this is a fine, functional case, and it beat any similarly priced case I saw. | 2 | positive | [
"This case is a great value.",
"It is built solidly, it protects the horn well, and it accommodates my big bell horn easily (6 \").",
"The optional <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Protec-Padded-Backpack-Strap/dp/B0002KX5E6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Protec Padded Backpack Strap</a> works well too, which will be important to some buyers.",
"OTOH I do not find the upper and lower outside pockets very convenient, and I wish there were a larger, single internal storage compartment - even if it meant adding some weight and cost, as in the much more expensive <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Bam-Tenor-Sax-Trekking-Cases-Black/dp/B000Y0252W/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Bam Tenor Sax Trekking Cases Black</a>.",
"Put too much stuff in the Protec case lower pocket and the case won't lay flat; too much in the upper pocket, and the open case will tilt when the horn is removed - spilling the contents if you haven't zipped the pocket closed.",
"The small, separate inside compartments for a mouthpiece and the neck may work well for you, but I keep my neck inside the bell, and I'd rather have more inside space for reeds, neck strap, a pencil, glasses, etc.",
"...",
"But all-in-all, this is a fine, functional case, and it beat any similarly priced case I saw."
] |
Now that I have a real front porch, I wanted a place where I could not only sit, but provide a place for package deliveries where they would be out of sight since thefts have been on the rise.
This bench fit the bill almost perfectly.
The bench itself is nice and sturdy. I've stood on the seat and haven't noticed any flexing. Granted, I'm not a big guy, but it seems like it would hold someone heavier than me with no issue.
The storage area is plenty large for what I planned for it: a place to put packages that arrive when I'm not home. Other than a few excessively large items, everything fits in it with room to spare.
So, what's not to like?
For one, I really wish there was a white option. It would match the trim colors of my house a bit better, especially the railings around the porch. Plus, the style of it would better reflect that cape cod style that it's try to emulate in white. I didn't subtract a star for that, though.
What I did subtract a star for is the lack of provisions to secure it to a porch or other surface. I ended up screwing it to the floor of the porch because the high winds we get on our hill makes it wander all around the porch when the storage compartment is empty. The light weight coupled with the large size makes it slide around the porch in the wind. At the very least, some dedicated grommet spots for running screws through that would be stronger than the bottom panel overall would be welcome.
Overall, I'm happy. It accomplishes the things I needed it to and it's easy to clean (especially after stepping on the seat with my dirty work boots). | 2 | positive | [
"Now that I have a real front porch, I wanted a place where I could not only sit, but provide a place for package deliveries where they would be out of sight since thefts have been on the rise.",
"This bench fit the bill almost perfectly.",
"The bench itself is nice and sturdy.",
"I've stood on the seat and haven't noticed any flexing.",
"Granted, I'm not a big guy, but it seems like it would hold someone heavier than me with no issue.",
"The storage area is plenty large for what I planned for it: a place to put packages that arrive when I'm not home.",
"Other than a few excessively large items, everything fits in it with room to spare.",
"So, what's not to like?",
"For one, I really wish there was a white option.",
"It would match the trim colors of my house a bit better, especially the railings around the porch.",
"Plus, the style of it would better reflect that cape cod style that it's try to emulate in white.",
"I didn't subtract a star for that, though.",
"What I did subtract a star for is the lack of provisions to secure it to a porch or other surface.",
"I ended up screwing it to the floor of the porch because the high winds we get on our hill makes it wander all around the porch when the storage compartment is empty.",
"The light weight coupled with the large size makes it slide around the porch in the wind.",
"At the very least, some dedicated grommet spots for running screws through that would be stronger than the bottom panel overall would be welcome.",
"Overall, I'm happy.",
"It accomplishes the things I needed it to and it's easy to clean (especially after stepping on the seat with my dirty work boots)."
] |
Somehow or another Wang Chung always seemed to be remembered for their place in the culture of a decade as opposed to it's musical value and frankly,it's largely been a place at their expense. The name alone seems to be a punchline in many a year that has had a lot of disrespect for 80's pop culture. What is often forgotton is,in the huge glut of new wave oriented acts that were around and often still emmerging in the 80's bands like Wang Chung tended to get a lot of flack because of how contemporary their production values were to the period in which they were recording. Jack Hues and Nick Feldman,the two multi instrumentalists who make up the band are an inventive and talented duo who stand on the most melodically songcraft oriented of the new wave crew,as well as being (along with Spandau Ballet) some of the most likely to incorperate horns and soul/funk turns into their sound. This eight track soundtrack to the film of the same title,which is available on DVD still is split between vocal pop songs by the band for the first half and instrumental musical scoring on the second,also performed by the band. Not to make this sound by any means like an 80's version of David Bowie's <a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Low/dp/B00001OH7W/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Low</a>: the sound and intent of this album couldn't be more radically different if it tried. The title song,"Wake Up,Stop Dreaming" and "Wait" all bring the bands soulful new wave/funk sound home in a big way and as much as people will complain about 80's music concentrating more on layers of synthesizers and electronics over quality songwriting this music has Wang Chung's important flavor of adding spare bass lines,horn charts and more arranged keyboards to extremely well crafted music. The more subtle,midtempo "Lullaby" even further adds to that effect. For a band without any previous experience in film scoring tracks such as the elongated "City Of Angels" especially really do create a strong tension and release vibe. "The Red Stare" and "Every Big City" produce similar results that take cues from some of the sounds on the vocal numbers whereas "Black-Blue-White" does produce somewhat of a forboding,embient romantic flavor to it and is the quietest,if perhaps one of the most tense pieces here. Being a soundtrack this album might not have the more in your face appeal,mainly because this was marketing as a regular Wang Chung release rather than a soundtrack and because of the singer-oriented music world of this era the side of instrumentals make it one of the bands less recognized releases in the longrun. But it's a very good album and important to the duo's musical development in general. | 2 | positive | [
"Somehow or another Wang Chung always seemed to be remembered for their place in the culture of a decade as opposed to it's musical value and frankly,it's largely been a place at their expense.",
"The name alone seems to be a punchline in many a year that has had a lot of disrespect for 80's pop culture.",
"What is often forgotton is,in the huge glut of new wave oriented acts that were around and often still emmerging in the 80's bands like Wang Chung tended to get a lot of flack because of how contemporary their production values were to the period in which they were recording.",
"Jack Hues and Nick Feldman,the two multi instrumentalists who make up the band are an inventive and talented duo who stand on the most melodically songcraft oriented of the new wave crew,as well as being (along with Spandau Ballet) some of the most likely to incorperate horns and soul/funk turns into their sound.",
"This eight track soundtrack to the film of the same title,which is available on DVD still is split between vocal pop songs by the band for the first half and instrumental musical scoring on the second,also performed by the band.",
"Not to make this sound by any means like an 80's version of David Bowie's <a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Low/dp/B00001OH7W/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Low</a>: the sound and intent of this album couldn't be more radically different if it tried.",
"The title song,\"Wake Up,Stop Dreaming\" and \"Wait\" all bring the bands soulful new wave/funk sound home in a big way and as much as people will complain about 80's music concentrating more on layers of synthesizers and electronics over quality songwriting this music has Wang Chung's important flavor of adding spare bass lines,horn charts and more arranged keyboards to extremely well crafted music.",
"The more subtle,midtempo \"Lullaby\" even further adds to that effect.",
"For a band without any previous experience in film scoring tracks such as the elongated \"City Of Angels\" especially really do create a strong tension and release vibe.",
"\"The Red Stare\" and \"Every Big City\" produce similar results that take cues from some of the sounds on the vocal numbers whereas \"Black-Blue-White\" does produce somewhat of a forboding,embient romantic flavor to it and is the quietest,if perhaps one of the most tense pieces here.",
"Being a soundtrack this album might not have the more in your face appeal,mainly because this was marketing as a regular Wang Chung release rather than a soundtrack and because of the singer-oriented music world of this era the side of instrumentals make it one of the bands less recognized releases in the longrun.",
"But it's a very good album and important to the duo's musical development in general."
] |
This holder is very practical and works great for mops, brooms and brushes. It's also easy to install (10-15 minutes; the hardware required is provided) and it has the right amount of slots.
I would prefer a wider unit because that would allow more room between the slots and, therefore, more room to hang wider objects side by side. On the other hand, the compact size allowed me to hang it inside a closet, which was great.
I really like how easily it adjusts for each handle's thickness. As long as you hang them carefully, to find the right spot where the balls lock them in place, the items will be secured and won't fall. I've been using it for about six months and I haven't experienced any functional problems with this device. Other reviewers mentioned that the balls can get stuck, but that hasn't happened to me.
As for the aesthetic, it does not look nice so you have to consider that depending on where you're planning to hang it. Since I bought it for the inside of a closet, that wasn't an issue. | 2 | positive | [
"This holder is very practical and works great for mops, brooms and brushes.",
"It's also easy to install (10-15 minutes; the hardware required is provided) and it has the right amount of slots.",
"I would prefer a wider unit because that would allow more room between the slots and, therefore, more room to hang wider objects side by side.",
"On the other hand, the compact size allowed me to hang it inside a closet, which was great.",
"I really like how easily it adjusts for each handle's thickness.",
"As long as you hang them carefully, to find the right spot where the balls lock them in place, the items will be secured and won't fall.",
"I've been using it for about six months and I haven't experienced any functional problems with this device.",
"Other reviewers mentioned that the balls can get stuck, but that hasn't happened to me.",
"As for the aesthetic, it does not look nice so you have to consider that depending on where you're planning to hang it.",
"Since I bought it for the inside of a closet, that wasn't an issue."
] |
The filter itself works great, I much prefer using an SM57 with this windscreen for vocals vs. an SM58. It rejects pops and sibilance WAY better than the SM58 grille; almost like a mini SM7B in that regards.
The only problem I have is the price (as of 2016-04-07). This thing is literally some foam with plastic base to screw onto the mic, there's nothing else to it. The foam is squishy; it's not like an SM58 windscreen that has the metal grille to keep some structural integrity. I don't understand how this thing is twice the price of a replacement SM58 grille. Also, it holds moisture like a towel. Keep that in mind for live use and mic sharing.
If the price comes down to the RK143G price then it is definitely a five star item. | 2 | positive | [
"The filter itself works great, I much prefer using an SM57 with this windscreen for vocals vs.",
"an SM58.",
"It rejects pops and sibilance WAY better than the SM58 grille; almost like a mini SM7B in that regards.",
"The only problem I have is the price (as of 2016-04-07).",
"This thing is literally some foam with plastic base to screw onto the mic, there's nothing else to it.",
"The foam is squishy; it's not like an SM58 windscreen that has the metal grille to keep some structural integrity.",
"I don't understand how this thing is twice the price of a replacement SM58 grille.",
"Also, it holds moisture like a towel.",
"Keep that in mind for live use and mic sharing.",
"If the price comes down to the RK143G price then it is definitely a five star item."
] |
and while i may not say he's the best rapper alive. I'm sure there are a few others out there right now just as good if not better than Wayne. But not that many that bring the energy, lyrics and the flow that he does to each and every track. Whether he's tearing up a track like "A Milli" or rapping about the virtues of a "Lollipop" or trading bars with Jay-Z on "Mr. Carter".
Wayne almost always brings you songs that are a both easily accessible, fun to listen and sometimes thought provoking like "DontGetIt" which is worthy of a few listen if only to hear him talk about various issues in the world and a certain person. I also enjoyed "Dr. Carter" where he plays a doctor that specializes in resurrecting the lost skills of down and out rappers. Whether he's rapping on his own with "3Peat" or with another artist "Shot Me Down" w/D. Smith which is easily one of my favorites on the cd. It's a slower, ballad style song with the vocals "please don't shot me down" being sung in the background to great effect.
I'm glad Lil Wayne took his time with this cd before bringing it out despite the pressures of dropping the cd early. It gave him the time to come up with another great cd that should net him even more attention and respect throughout the music business. You would think that with the number of songs on the cd that it wouldnt be that cohesive or together. But it is that way minus a song or two and thankfully no interludes/intros which i've never been a fan of at all. | 2 | positive | [
"and while i may not say he's the best rapper alive.",
"I'm sure there are a few others out there right now just as good if not better than Wayne.",
"But not that many that bring the energy, lyrics and the flow that he does to each and every track.",
"Whether he's tearing up a track like \"A Milli\" or rapping about the virtues of a \"Lollipop\" or trading bars with Jay-Z on \"Mr.",
"Carter\".",
"Wayne almost always brings you songs that are a both easily accessible, fun to listen and sometimes thought provoking like \"DontGetIt\" which is worthy of a few listen if only to hear him talk about various issues in the world and a certain person.",
"I also enjoyed \"Dr.",
"Carter\" where he plays a doctor that specializes in resurrecting the lost skills of down and out rappers.",
"Whether he's rapping on his own with \"3Peat\" or with another artist \"Shot Me Down\" w/D.",
"Smith which is easily one of my favorites on the cd.",
"It's a slower, ballad style song with the vocals \"please don't shot me down\" being sung in the background to great effect.",
"I'm glad Lil Wayne took his time with this cd before bringing it out despite the pressures of dropping the cd early.",
"It gave him the time to come up with another great cd that should net him even more attention and respect throughout the music business.",
"You would think that with the number of songs on the cd that it wouldnt be that cohesive or together.",
"But it is that way minus a song or two and thankfully no interludes/intros which i've never been a fan of at all."
] |
Bought this primarily for automotive work; inspection of things you can't easily see including brake pads without removing the wheels, water pump weep holes, timing belts and clutch plates (through the inspection port), inside doors and body panels for early signs of rust. Tried it out and am delighted. This is so convenient and effective. It takes pics and video. You have to supply your own AA batteries (4) and a micro SD card. The screen image is clear and adequate, though it doesn't match the resolution of a smart phone. The closest focus is maybe 2", anything closer starts to blur. The camera tube and cable is 8.1 mm so will fit about anywhere there's a 5/16" opening.
The cable is goose-neck, so you can form it to whatever shape you need, on the other hand it isn't floppy flexible.
Seems well made; I'm expecting to find a lot of unexpected uses for this. | 2 | positive | [
"Bought this primarily for automotive work; inspection of things you can't easily see including brake pads without removing the wheels, water pump weep holes, timing belts and clutch plates (through the inspection port), inside doors and body panels for early signs of rust.",
"Tried it out and am delighted.",
"This is so convenient and effective.",
"It takes pics and video.",
"You have to supply your own AA batteries (4) and a micro SD card.",
"The screen image is clear and adequate, though it doesn't match the resolution of a smart phone.",
"The closest focus is maybe 2\", anything closer starts to blur.",
"The camera tube and cable is 8.",
"1 mm so will fit about anywhere there's a 5/16\" opening.",
"The cable is goose-neck, so you can form it to whatever shape you need, on the other hand it isn't floppy flexible.",
"Seems well made; I'm expecting to find a lot of unexpected uses for this."
] |
I played a demo of Portal Runner in a video game magazine and I plan to buy it. The graphics are ok,sound is ok,controls are ok but gameplay is suprisingly good. You can use your bow like a scope and zoom in for targeting. Jumping is ok but sometimes awkward. Moving around is good. Music is decent but will get on your nerves. Graphics are ok but I have seen better on the PS1. Some platforms and areas just suddenly appear out of thin air. This is my favorite army men game ever made. The story,videos and some other things are ok but great gameplay make up for it. This game deserves to be mentioned as one of the top PS2 games. | 2 | positive | [
"I played a demo of Portal Runner in a video game magazine and I plan to buy it.",
"The graphics are ok,sound is ok,controls are ok but gameplay is suprisingly good.",
"You can use your bow like a scope and zoom in for targeting.",
"Jumping is ok but sometimes awkward.",
"Moving around is good.",
"Music is decent but will get on your nerves.",
"Graphics are ok but I have seen better on the PS1.",
"Some platforms and areas just suddenly appear out of thin air.",
"This is my favorite army men game ever made.",
"The story,videos and some other things are ok but great gameplay make up for it.",
"This game deserves to be mentioned as one of the top PS2 games."
] |
I've had my PS3 from the 1st day of its launch. NO REGRETS. Its awesome and it was worth every penny. Sure there aren't many games to mention... "RIGHT NOW". I currently have.. and love playing.. Resistance, Madden, Fight Night, Formula 1 .. downloadable games such as Flow, Sudoku, Blast Factor... but there are so many more games to mention that will be release this year. TOO MANY TO LIST!!!!!!! BUT HERE'S A FEW ANYWAYS...
releases from now till APRIL:
MOTORSTORM, VIRTUA TENNIS, SPLINTER CELL, RAINBOW SIX, MEDAL OF HONOR, HEAVENLY SWORD, FEAR, ARMY OF TWO, ASSASSIN
Blu-Ray works like a charm! However, not all Blu-ray movies are as dope as they should be... but most of them are. And the extra cash for the Blu-ray is worth it too! Currently... and i know its too early to say... but Blu-Ray has been dominating over HD DVD with sales and more titles.
Sure, i'll admit... i'm a die hard playstation fanatic... my opinion may be bias...
but i will also admit..
The Wii and the 360 is on my "TO BUY" list... but Zelda is the only title worth my attention. Gears of Wars... and the HALO series... Grade A games for the 360... but that is where it ends. I'll buy those consoles when they get games "I AM" interested in.
People are saying the the PS3 is defective??? uh... my PS3 is on almost ALL DAY long... watching blu-ray movies, playing the games, and playing MP3's while the slideshow is running... surfing the net.. and it works GREAT! not perfect... There was 1 night where i experienced some really bad lag while i was playing Madden. After awhile... the PS3 does get tired and hot... awhile as in 10-12 hours or so.. But just like anything else... it needs rest from time to time. No major problems have been reported like the 360's "red ring of fire".
People are saying that the Playstation will fall off of the planet...truth is... all next gen- consoles [wii, 360 and the PS3] are still being outsold by the Playstation 2. Playstation roots are still dominating... it's just a matter of time till the PS3 takes over!
peace out haters! | 2 | positive | [
"I've had my PS3 from the 1st day of its launch.",
"NO REGRETS.",
"Its awesome and it was worth every penny.",
"Sure there aren't many games to mention...",
"\"RIGHT NOW\".",
"I currently have..",
"and love playing..",
"Resistance, Madden, Fight Night, Formula 1..",
"downloadable games such as Flow, Sudoku, Blast Factor...",
"but there are so many more games to mention that will be release this year.",
"TOO MANY TO LIST!!!!",
"!!!",
"BUT HERE'S A FEW ANYWAYS...",
"releases from now till APRIL:\n\nMOTORSTORM, VIRTUA TENNIS, SPLINTER CELL, RAINBOW SIX, MEDAL OF HONOR, HEAVENLY SWORD, FEAR, ARMY OF TWO, ASSASSIN\n\nBlu-Ray works like a charm!",
"However, not all Blu-ray movies are as dope as they should be...",
"but most of them are.",
"And the extra cash for the Blu-ray is worth it too!",
"Currently...",
"and i know its too early to say...",
"but Blu-Ray has been dominating over HD DVD with sales and more titles.",
"Sure, i'll admit...",
"i'm a die hard playstation fanatic...",
"my opinion may be bias...",
"but i will also admit..",
"The Wii and the 360 is on my \"TO BUY\" list...",
"but Zelda is the only title worth my attention.",
"Gears of Wars...",
"and the HALO series...",
"Grade A games for the 360...",
"but that is where it ends.",
"I'll buy those consoles when they get games \"I AM\" interested in.",
"People are saying the the PS3 is defective???",
"uh...",
"my PS3 is on almost ALL DAY long...",
"watching blu-ray movies, playing the games, and playing MP3's while the slideshow is running...",
"surfing the net..",
"and it works GREAT!",
"not perfect...",
"There was 1 night where i experienced some really bad lag while i was playing Madden.",
"After awhile...",
"the PS3 does get tired and hot...",
"awhile as in 10-12 hours or so..",
"But just like anything else...",
"it needs rest from time to time.",
"No major problems have been reported like the 360's \"red ring of fire\".",
"People are saying that the Playstation will fall off of the planet...",
"truth is...",
"all next gen- consoles [wii, 360 and the PS3] are still being outsold by the Playstation 2.",
"Playstation roots are still dominating...",
"it's just a matter of time till the PS3 takes over!",
"peace out haters!"
] |
I admit when I first noticed Streets & Trips I thought, "What can this offer me that Mapquest or Google maps can't, for free?" The answer to that comes rather quickly. And that is, a trip planner without requiring the internet. For those that don't have a GPS (or do have a GPS but have one that is so outdated it's not even updated anymore, like mine) this is a really useful tool to have along on your trip. Sure, those super expensive GPS will do everything this does and more, but hey, they are also hundreds of dollars more! If you have a laptop, netbook, anything that can run this program, you have an instant GPS without any need of paying subscription fees, paying for updates, etc. It can't track where you are all call out directions, but once upon a time all we had was a thing called "maps" and we did just fine. Streets & Trips is a huge step up from your map and almost as good as a GPS without the hefty price tag. Plus, it's just really fun to use if you're a planner like me. If you love planning every single little detail of your trip, want to know exactly how much you are going to spend and where, you will have a lot of fun with this. It has a lot of bells and whistles that the free mappers can't provide. If you're not into GPS or just don't want to shell out the dough to get a nice one, Streets & Trips may be just what you are looking for. | 2 | positive | [
"I admit when I first noticed Streets & Trips I thought, \"What can this offer me that Mapquest or Google maps can't, for free?",
"\" The answer to that comes rather quickly.",
"And that is, a trip planner without requiring the internet.",
"For those that don't have a GPS (or do have a GPS but have one that is so outdated it's not even updated anymore, like mine) this is a really useful tool to have along on your trip.",
"Sure, those super expensive GPS will do everything this does and more, but hey, they are also hundreds of dollars more!",
"If you have a laptop, netbook, anything that can run this program, you have an instant GPS without any need of paying subscription fees, paying for updates, etc.",
"It can't track where you are all call out directions, but once upon a time all we had was a thing called \"maps\" and we did just fine.",
"Streets & Trips is a huge step up from your map and almost as good as a GPS without the hefty price tag.",
"Plus, it's just really fun to use if you're a planner like me.",
"If you love planning every single little detail of your trip, want to know exactly how much you are going to spend and where, you will have a lot of fun with this.",
"It has a lot of bells and whistles that the free mappers can't provide.",
"If you're not into GPS or just don't want to shell out the dough to get a nice one, Streets & Trips may be just what you are looking for."
] |
I have to admit that I had more and more trepidation as we got closer to trying this on me. And then even more as I could see the flashes through my hands over closed eyes. But there was no burning or noticeable reaction of any kind.
For me, I am targeting some rather thick back hair that my partner would also like to see gone, or at least controlled. This gives one small problem because I cannot reach the area by myself. So it has been a team effort. She aka been wearing the protective goggles and patiently applying the device.
As for results, it is mixed, for one I needed to shave the hair off per instructions so it is hard to truly tell how much thinner it is, but there does seem to be less after three weeks. So we have quite a ways to go. At this point I am happy that no damage appears to be done.
The device seems very solid, but the instructions are not always that clear. Will update as results come in. | 2 | positive | [
"I have to admit that I had more and more trepidation as we got closer to trying this on me.",
"And then even more as I could see the flashes through my hands over closed eyes.",
"But there was no burning or noticeable reaction of any kind.",
"For me, I am targeting some rather thick back hair that my partner would also like to see gone, or at least controlled.",
"This gives one small problem because I cannot reach the area by myself.",
"So it has been a team effort.",
"She aka been wearing the protective goggles and patiently applying the device.",
"As for results, it is mixed, for one I needed to shave the hair off per instructions so it is hard to truly tell how much thinner it is, but there does seem to be less after three weeks.",
"So we have quite a ways to go.",
"At this point I am happy that no damage appears to be done.",
"The device seems very solid, but the instructions are not always that clear.",
"Will update as results come in."
] |
Anyone who says that video games are just games, have to be out of their minds. Welcome to Nightopia, the land where your dreams are a reality. Whenever I play NiGHTS, I'm reminded why I grew up loving video games, because the world I was taken into seemed so real, it reflects the world I've always wanted to live in. This review will be in a dreamer's perspective.
Game-play: The object of each stage is simple, collect 20 blue chips, defeat the Ideya Captures, and return to the Ideya Palace. There are four parts of each stage, and destroying all four Ideya Captures ends the stage and sends you to the boss room. Each part of the stage is played like a lap around the course, each is different than the other, and has the chips and Ideya Captures in different areas. NiGHTS can attack enemies by using the drill attack, or by doing a paraloop around them. You start the stage as one of the dreamers (Elliot or Claris) and walk your way to NiGHTS to officially start the stage. NiGHTS is entirely controlled in the air, he flies through each part of the stage, doing all kinds of loops and acrobatic techniques all the way. Anyway, it's a little hard at first, but the more you play, the better you get at it, NiGHTS moves so fluid in the air, he/she never feels stiff or robotic. *10/10*
Graphics: One of the few 3-D games in the era that felt alive. Flying in dreams is a fantastic idea, and couldn't be pulled off any better. NiGHTS, Claris and Elliot, are fully 3-D along with the bosses, Ideya Captures and environments. NiGHTS leaves sparkles wherever he/she flies, and when making a paraloop, fills his loop with sparkles and firework effects. The enemies,items and menus are 2-D but are never out of place and blend perfectly. The environments and scenery are great, very dream-like, and are very pretty as you circle around them. Also, you'll be given fantastic CG cut-scenes during the opening and endings, an excellent feat for back then. *10/10*
Sound: Each track is excellent (though I didn't like the credits song "Dreams Dreams, but that's just me) and fits with each area of the game, "Gate of your Dreams" is one of the coolest tracks ever, it plays during the stage selection. Child-hood dreams and voices echo through the purple clouds, and a very high-pitched melody plays. All the stage tracks fit with the themes of the dreams perfectly. The cut-scenes have no voices to fit the dream perspective, which is good. And the more I play it, it seems that the stage music changes a bit, and even changes into a different song, I think it's part of that "A-Life" feature. Good thing the disc doubles as a soundtrack. *10/10*
Story: The story is simple, but extremely effective, Elliot and Claris are having trouble in their daily lives, and it gives them nightmares as they go to sleep at night. But trouble brews not just in their lives, but in Nightopia too. The evil Wizeman plans on taking over Nightopia, and turning all dreams into nightmares. All but one of his minions are loyal, NiGHTS discovers Claris' and Elliot's power of courage and show up in their dreams to help conquer their fears and save Nightopia. The story is a great match, and can't be rivaled for a game such as this. *10/10*
NiGHTS is an excellent "game" and needs to be in everyone's collection. Though a little rare, it's worth every penny, I advise buying the 3D Control Pad, it makes the entire experience all the more fun. The game has plenty of re-play value. It's all based on getting better scores, but you'll never get bored. Whenever I feel like not getting into a game that's heavy on game-play, I pull out NiGHTS, and have the time of my life. Final Review: *10/10*
Sweet Dreams | 2 | positive | [
"Anyone who says that video games are just games, have to be out of their minds.",
"Welcome to Nightopia, the land where your dreams are a reality.",
"Whenever I play NiGHTS, I'm reminded why I grew up loving video games, because the world I was taken into seemed so real, it reflects the world I've always wanted to live in.",
"This review will be in a dreamer's perspective.",
"Game-play: The object of each stage is simple, collect 20 blue chips, defeat the Ideya Captures, and return to the Ideya Palace.",
"There are four parts of each stage, and destroying all four Ideya Captures ends the stage and sends you to the boss room.",
"Each part of the stage is played like a lap around the course, each is different than the other, and has the chips and Ideya Captures in different areas.",
"NiGHTS can attack enemies by using the drill attack, or by doing a paraloop around them.",
"You start the stage as one of the dreamers (Elliot or Claris) and walk your way to NiGHTS to officially start the stage.",
"NiGHTS is entirely controlled in the air, he flies through each part of the stage, doing all kinds of loops and acrobatic techniques all the way.",
"Anyway, it's a little hard at first, but the more you play, the better you get at it, NiGHTS moves so fluid in the air, he/she never feels stiff or robotic.",
"*10/10*\n\nGraphics: One of the few 3-D games in the era that felt alive.",
"Flying in dreams is a fantastic idea, and couldn't be pulled off any better.",
"NiGHTS, Claris and Elliot, are fully 3-D along with the bosses, Ideya Captures and environments.",
"NiGHTS leaves sparkles wherever he/she flies, and when making a paraloop, fills his loop with sparkles and firework effects.",
"The enemies,items and menus are 2-D but are never out of place and blend perfectly.",
"The environments and scenery are great, very dream-like, and are very pretty as you circle around them.",
"Also, you'll be given fantastic CG cut-scenes during the opening and endings, an excellent feat for back then.",
"*10/10*\n\nSound: Each track is excellent (though I didn't like the credits song \"Dreams Dreams, but that's just me) and fits with each area of the game, \"Gate of your Dreams\" is one of the coolest tracks ever, it plays during the stage selection.",
"Child-hood dreams and voices echo through the purple clouds, and a very high-pitched melody plays.",
"All the stage tracks fit with the themes of the dreams perfectly.",
"The cut-scenes have no voices to fit the dream perspective, which is good.",
"And the more I play it, it seems that the stage music changes a bit, and even changes into a different song, I think it's part of that \"A-Life\" feature.",
"Good thing the disc doubles as a soundtrack.",
"*10/10*\n\nStory: The story is simple, but extremely effective, Elliot and Claris are having trouble in their daily lives, and it gives them nightmares as they go to sleep at night.",
"But trouble brews not just in their lives, but in Nightopia too.",
"The evil Wizeman plans on taking over Nightopia, and turning all dreams into nightmares.",
"All but one of his minions are loyal, NiGHTS discovers Claris' and Elliot's power of courage and show up in their dreams to help conquer their fears and save Nightopia.",
"The story is a great match, and can't be rivaled for a game such as this.",
"*10/10*\n\nNiGHTS is an excellent \"game\" and needs to be in everyone's collection.",
"Though a little rare, it's worth every penny, I advise buying the 3D Control Pad, it makes the entire experience all the more fun.",
"The game has plenty of re-play value.",
"It's all based on getting better scores, but you'll never get bored.",
"Whenever I feel like not getting into a game that's heavy on game-play, I pull out NiGHTS, and have the time of my life.",
"Final Review: *10/10*\n\nSweet Dreams"
] |
Polygamy is a topic you don't see much in teen fiction, even though it is just as important as suicide, teen pregnancy, school shootings, and other topics included in YA contemporary fiction.
While I do like a little romance in my books, this book was virtually flawless. I kept waiting for Justin to kiss Rachel or Janie, but it never happened. The action was fast-paced and kept me on the edge of my seat.
I would recommend this book to anyone from ages eleven to about fourteen or fifteen, although I'm sure people older than that would enjoy it as well. However, I don't recommend that children under ten read this because although there's no sex or cursing, the whole book contains a bunch of pedophiles doing sick things (nothing is described in great detail, with the exception of one scene where a guy tries to molest someone).
Again, this book addresses polygamy and its affect on all people. Go buy the book. Now. I command you.
~Kelly | 2 | positive | [
"Polygamy is a topic you don't see much in teen fiction, even though it is just as important as suicide, teen pregnancy, school shootings, and other topics included in YA contemporary fiction.",
"While I do like a little romance in my books, this book was virtually flawless.",
"I kept waiting for Justin to kiss Rachel or Janie, but it never happened.",
"The action was fast-paced and kept me on the edge of my seat.",
"I would recommend this book to anyone from ages eleven to about fourteen or fifteen, although I'm sure people older than that would enjoy it as well.",
"However, I don't recommend that children under ten read this because although there's no sex or cursing, the whole book contains a bunch of pedophiles doing sick things (nothing is described in great detail, with the exception of one scene where a guy tries to molest someone).",
"Again, this book addresses polygamy and its affect on all people.",
"Go buy the book.",
"Now.",
"I command you.",
"~Kelly"
] |
if you're one of the people who bought an original xbox, you all remember the "duke" controller that it launched with. the size and discomfort of this huge controller led to so much negative feedback that microsoft was forced to redesign it. in light of doing so, microsoft designed one of the best controllers on the market, known as the controller S. not wanting to repeat history, its obvious that microsoft carefully designed the new controller for their latest console, the xbox 360. to say that the wireless xbox 360 controller is the best i've used is an understatement.
the first thing many gamers will notice is how incredibly light the controller is. in fact, the wireless is LIGHTER than the controller S for the original xbox, even with the battery pack on. the controller is also very comfortable to hold. with the combination of the above, gamers will be able to keep their eyes on the game, and not constantly have to look down at the controller to locate buttons. after some gaming, you almost forget you're even using a controller.
if you've used a controller S before, you'll feel right at home with the xbox 360 wireless. this is essentially the same controller. there are still the 2 analog sticks, the d-pad, the 2 triggers, and of course, the A-X-Y-B buttons. the black and white buttons have both been removed, being replaced by the shoulder bumper buttons, which are on top of the controller. the back and start button are now beside the brand new "guide" button. the guide button is easily the coolest innnovation on the new controller. players can turn on the console with a single push of the button, among many other features. all of the buttons and both analog sticks feel much more responsive and workable (for lack of a better term) vs. the controller S.
the ring of light around the controller is also very cool, because while you're playing, one of the 4 segments lights up to designate players 1-4. before launch, i was confused as to how the wireless controllers would work with no adapters, this is where the console comes in. with one press of a button on the xbox 360, the console automatically designates which controller will be players 1-4.
performance wise, this controller is flawless. while microsoft says that the controller's range is 30 feet, i tested at >40ft and the controller still worked flawlessly. while i really don't think anyone will be playing any games from 30 feet away, its nice to know that the signal is so strong. the vibration is excellent on the controller, its strength is also adjustable.
another nice thing for the controller is that the headset port is now on the bottom of the controller, so the wire for it can remain out of your way. if you've played on xbox live with the headset, you know how this could become frustrating.
the battery life is supposebly 40 hours, but depending on how strong you have the vibration set and how far away you are playing, chances are you won't get nearly as many hours between charging.
my only gripes are that the placement of the shoulder buttons can occasionally be mistaken for the triggers, and vice versa. this can be annoying in games like PGR3, where the trigger is brake, and the shoulder button is used to change the view, and the wrong press of one can lead to frustration. however, once you use the controller more, you get used to them and they shouldn't be a problem.
all in all, this the best controller to launch with a console ever. i strongly recommend picking up some of these, along with some extra battery packs, or the play and charge kits, which allow you to continue using the controller while the console charges it.
9.5/10 | 2 | positive | [
"if you're one of the people who bought an original xbox, you all remember the \"duke\" controller that it launched with.",
"the size and discomfort of this huge controller led to so much negative feedback that microsoft was forced to redesign it.",
"in light of doing so, microsoft designed one of the best controllers on the market, known as the controller S.",
"not wanting to repeat history, its obvious that microsoft carefully designed the new controller for their latest console, the xbox 360.",
"to say that the wireless xbox 360 controller is the best i've used is an understatement.",
"the first thing many gamers will notice is how incredibly light the controller is.",
"in fact, the wireless is LIGHTER than the controller S for the original xbox, even with the battery pack on.",
"the controller is also very comfortable to hold.",
"with the combination of the above, gamers will be able to keep their eyes on the game, and not constantly have to look down at the controller to locate buttons.",
"after some gaming, you almost forget you're even using a controller.",
"if you've used a controller S before, you'll feel right at home with the xbox 360 wireless.",
"this is essentially the same controller.",
"there are still the 2 analog sticks, the d-pad, the 2 triggers, and of course, the A-X-Y-B buttons.",
"the black and white buttons have both been removed, being replaced by the shoulder bumper buttons, which are on top of the controller.",
"the back and start button are now beside the brand new \"guide\" button.",
"the guide button is easily the coolest innnovation on the new controller.",
"players can turn on the console with a single push of the button, among many other features.",
"all of the buttons and both analog sticks feel much more responsive and workable (for lack of a better term) vs.",
"the controller S.",
"the ring of light around the controller is also very cool, because while you're playing, one of the 4 segments lights up to designate players 1-4.",
"before launch, i was confused as to how the wireless controllers would work with no adapters, this is where the console comes in.",
"with one press of a button on the xbox 360, the console automatically designates which controller will be players 1-4.",
"performance wise, this controller is flawless.",
"while microsoft says that the controller's range is 30 feet, i tested at >40ft and the controller still worked flawlessly.",
"while i really don't think anyone will be playing any games from 30 feet away, its nice to know that the signal is so strong.",
"the vibration is excellent on the controller, its strength is also adjustable.",
"another nice thing for the controller is that the headset port is now on the bottom of the controller, so the wire for it can remain out of your way.",
"if you've played on xbox live with the headset, you know how this could become frustrating.",
"the battery life is supposebly 40 hours, but depending on how strong you have the vibration set and how far away you are playing, chances are you won't get nearly as many hours between charging.",
"my only gripes are that the placement of the shoulder buttons can occasionally be mistaken for the triggers, and vice versa.",
"this can be annoying in games like PGR3, where the trigger is brake, and the shoulder button is used to change the view, and the wrong press of one can lead to frustration.",
"however, once you use the controller more, you get used to them and they shouldn't be a problem.",
"all in all, this the best controller to launch with a console ever.",
"i strongly recommend picking up some of these, along with some extra battery packs, or the play and charge kits, which allow you to continue using the controller while the console charges it.",
"9.",
"5/10"
] |
"A Hint of Murder" by talented Author Lia Fairchild is sure to delight readers who enjoy "whodunit" type mysteries. There are three well-written short stories in this mystery/thriller.
The first one in this trio is THE WRITER...about award winning author, Alicia Fairfield and the mysterious deaths that seem to co-incide with the main plots and characters in her lastest novels. Detective John Lewis from the local Sheriff's Department is searching for clues to connect the murders. Despite all the information gathered, there is an unexpected twist at the end which adds to the intrigue.
The second story is titled THE DOCTOR...which takes place predominately in a hospital setting. With his somewhat arrogant persona, Doctor Russell Morgan appears to be one of the main suspects in a series of mysterious deaths taking place in the hospital where he works. Detective John Lewis is once again on the scene and leading the investigation with his sidekick, Frank. I enjoyed the rapport they shared and the discussions they had dealing with the case as well as the method used to solve this crime.
The last story in this trio is THE BOUNCER...with aspiring singer/bouncer Bobby Crane becoming the first suspect in the murder of Allan Schaffer. He is observed at the crime scene on the day of the murder. Needless to say, other suspects ensue and Bobby is eventually cleared. I enjoyed the introduction of Detective Lewis' new sidekick, rookie April Barnes...with her preference to be called Barnes, and how they worked the case.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this trio of mysteries. All three of them captured my interest right from the first page to the last. I certainly look forward to reading more by mystery Author Lia Fairchild.
Inspirational Author & Book Reviewer ~ Dolores Ayotte
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Growing-Up-Liking-It/dp/1617398039/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Growing Up & Liking It</a> | 2 | positive | [
"\"A Hint of Murder\" by talented Author Lia Fairchild is sure to delight readers who enjoy \"whodunit\" type mysteries.",
"There are three well-written short stories in this mystery/thriller.",
"The first one in this trio is THE WRITER...",
"about award winning author, Alicia Fairfield and the mysterious deaths that seem to co-incide with the main plots and characters in her lastest novels.",
"Detective John Lewis from the local Sheriff's Department is searching for clues to connect the murders.",
"Despite all the information gathered, there is an unexpected twist at the end which adds to the intrigue.",
"The second story is titled THE DOCTOR...",
"which takes place predominately in a hospital setting.",
"With his somewhat arrogant persona, Doctor Russell Morgan appears to be one of the main suspects in a series of mysterious deaths taking place in the hospital where he works.",
"Detective John Lewis is once again on the scene and leading the investigation with his sidekick, Frank.",
"I enjoyed the rapport they shared and the discussions they had dealing with the case as well as the method used to solve this crime.",
"The last story in this trio is THE BOUNCER...",
"with aspiring singer/bouncer Bobby Crane becoming the first suspect in the murder of Allan Schaffer.",
"He is observed at the crime scene on the day of the murder.",
"Needless to say, other suspects ensue and Bobby is eventually cleared.",
"I enjoyed the introduction of Detective Lewis' new sidekick, rookie April Barnes...",
"with her preference to be called Barnes, and how they worked the case.",
"All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this trio of mysteries.",
"All three of them captured my interest right from the first page to the last.",
"I certainly look forward to reading more by mystery Author Lia Fairchild.",
"Inspirational Author & Book Reviewer ~ Dolores Ayotte\n<a data-hook=\"product-link-linked\" class=\"a-link-normal\" href=\"/Growing-Up-Liking-It/dp/1617398039/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?",
"ie=UTF8\">Growing Up & Liking It</a>"
] |
There is a BIG difference between someone writing a review extolling the virtues of a film and that same person determining if someone else's review of that same film was helpful to him/her in deciding whether or not to buy the film. You do not have to disagree with the reviewers assessment of a film to determine whether the review was helpful or not.
I saw the Have Gun Will Travel episodes on tv many moons ago so I would have to say that at least 90% of the reviews here are unhelpful to me in deciding whether or not I want to purchase the referenced DVDs. I already know the series was great, so what's new here? For viewers who never saw the series, maybe it's the other way around and 90% of those would think the reviews are helpful to them.
As for me, along with the glowing praises, I'd like to know about DVD picture and sound quality along with any special features or interviews with actors or writers included. Is the original music score included? Those are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Writers who would address those (and other) issues would likely get a "helpful" vote from me. As for the others...? | 2 | positive | [
"There is a BIG difference between someone writing a review extolling the virtues of a film and that same person determining if someone else's review of that same film was helpful to him/her in deciding whether or not to buy the film.",
"You do not have to disagree with the reviewers assessment of a film to determine whether the review was helpful or not.",
"I saw the Have Gun Will Travel episodes on tv many moons ago so I would have to say that at least 90% of the reviews here are unhelpful to me in deciding whether or not I want to purchase the referenced DVDs.",
"I already know the series was great, so what's new here?",
"For viewers who never saw the series, maybe it's the other way around and 90% of those would think the reviews are helpful to them.",
"As for me, along with the glowing praises, I'd like to know about DVD picture and sound quality along with any special features or interviews with actors or writers included.",
"Is the original music score included?",
"Those are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.",
"Writers who would address those (and other) issues would likely get a \"helpful\" vote from me.",
"As for the others...",
"?"
] |
Justice Department FBI resist lawmaker demands for 'Trump dossier' files: officials
The U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee issued subpoenas in August seeking âany and all documentsâ about both agenciesâ dealings with former MI6 officer Christopher Steele according to a letter seen by Reuters from committee chairman Devin Nunes a Trump supporter.
Two officials said Nunes met with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein behind closed doors on Thursday to discuss the subpoenas.
âThe Deputy Attorney General is meeting with Nunes as part of an ongoing negotiation over what information DOJ will provide or how it will be provided â a Justice Department official said.
The FBI declined to comment on anything to do with Nunesâ request. A spokesman for Nunes declined to comment.
According to a Sept. 1 letter Nunes sent to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions the subpoenas demand that the department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation produce all documents related to their ârelationshipâ with Steele and the âso-called âTrump Dossierâ.
Sessions recused himself earlier this year from the Russia investigation. Nunes publicly recused himself from leading the Russia probe in April following a secret visit he paid to White House officials. | 2 | positive | [
"Justice Department FBI resist lawmaker demands for 'Trump dossier' files: officials\nThe U.",
"S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee issued subpoenas in August seeking âany and all documentsâ about both agenciesâ dealings with former MI6 officer Christopher Steele according to a letter seen by Reuters from committee chairman Devin Nunes a Trump supporter.",
"Two officials said Nunes met with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein behind closed doors on Thursday to discuss the subpoenas.",
"âThe Deputy Attorney General is meeting with Nunes as part of an ongoing negotiation over what information DOJ will provide or how it will be provided â a Justice Department official said.",
"The FBI declined to comment on anything to do with Nunesâ request.",
"A spokesman for Nunes declined to comment.",
"According to a Sept.",
"1 letter Nunes sent to U.",
"S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions the subpoenas demand that the department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation produce all documents related to their ârelationshipâ with Steele and the âso-called âTrump Dossierâ.",
"Sessions recused himself earlier this year from the Russia investigation.",
"Nunes publicly recused himself from leading the Russia probe in April following a secret visit he paid to White House officials."
] |
My Review:
I have been anticipating this book throughout both of the other two books in this trilogy. Ian and Blue Eyes have had a flirtatious relationship throughout this entire series. If anyone deserves a good romance, it is Ian. He works so hard at the family coffee-house and he needs a good reason to take a break.
It broke my heart in the last book, when Ian found out that Blue Eyes was going through a divorce and rejected his attentions because of it. You could tell at the time that both men were devastated. Ian's last relationship went wrong when his love interest was sexually conflicted. Ian doesn't want to go through that pain again. When he hears that Blue Eyes has been married to a woman, he immediately thinks that Blue Eyes is simply playing a game and experimenting with his sexual orientation, but there is more to the story than that.
And so the book starts with a midnight visit from Blue Eyes where he finally reveals his name, Jeff. OMG, I love the way that Christine laid this book out. The opening scene between these two men was so perfect with the build-up that we have had with their relationship in the last two books. There is no denying that they are both incredibly drawn to each other, but Ian is leery and Jeff is unwilling to go halfway with their relationship. It makes for some explosive, emotional situations between the two of them that kept this book sizzling from page one.
These two are great characters together. Both of these guys own their own business so they are both really intelligent, confident people, but Ian seems more vulnerable in this book. He doesn't want to get hurt again. Jeff is definitely the more aggressive of the two. He knows what he wants and he is okay with pushing to get it. There is an exhibitionist aspect to this novel (this is erotica) that makes this book so incredibly hot, but at the base of it all is romance and love and it is gorgeous!
This has been a fabulous series. I am a huge coffee lover so the setting completely worked for me. I enjoyed the push and pull of the relationship between the three siblings...it was written to be so true to how things really can be between siblings. Having the influence of the sex club, Mavericks, across the street provided some really hot scenes. If you like erotica, I HIGHLY recommend this wonderful series by Christine d'Abo! | 2 | positive | [
"My Review:\nI have been anticipating this book throughout both of the other two books in this trilogy.",
"Ian and Blue Eyes have had a flirtatious relationship throughout this entire series.",
"If anyone deserves a good romance, it is Ian.",
"He works so hard at the family coffee-house and he needs a good reason to take a break.",
"It broke my heart in the last book, when Ian found out that Blue Eyes was going through a divorce and rejected his attentions because of it.",
"You could tell at the time that both men were devastated.",
"Ian's last relationship went wrong when his love interest was sexually conflicted.",
"Ian doesn't want to go through that pain again.",
"When he hears that Blue Eyes has been married to a woman, he immediately thinks that Blue Eyes is simply playing a game and experimenting with his sexual orientation, but there is more to the story than that.",
"And so the book starts with a midnight visit from Blue Eyes where he finally reveals his name, Jeff.",
"OMG, I love the way that Christine laid this book out.",
"The opening scene between these two men was so perfect with the build-up that we have had with their relationship in the last two books.",
"There is no denying that they are both incredibly drawn to each other, but Ian is leery and Jeff is unwilling to go halfway with their relationship.",
"It makes for some explosive, emotional situations between the two of them that kept this book sizzling from page one.",
"These two are great characters together.",
"Both of these guys own their own business so they are both really intelligent, confident people, but Ian seems more vulnerable in this book.",
"He doesn't want to get hurt again.",
"Jeff is definitely the more aggressive of the two.",
"He knows what he wants and he is okay with pushing to get it.",
"There is an exhibitionist aspect to this novel (this is erotica) that makes this book so incredibly hot, but at the base of it all is romance and love and it is gorgeous!",
"This has been a fabulous series.",
"I am a huge coffee lover so the setting completely worked for me.",
"I enjoyed the push and pull of the relationship between the three siblings...",
"it was written to be so true to how things really can be between siblings.",
"Having the influence of the sex club, Mavericks, across the street provided some really hot scenes.",
"If you like erotica, I HIGHLY recommend this wonderful series by Christine d'Abo!"
] |
So I bought this great little retro 70s TV at the thrift store, thinking I'd do some DIY Pinterest-type stuff to it or something. But it's a portable TV which seems pretty convenient and we only watch broadcast TV in our house (Me-TV ftw!) so I was all, let's take this outside and watch some TV! But we only have digital signal here. And said TV is so old that there is no coax input. So I purchased this to hook to the TV so I could convert the signal that is coming from the box that converts the digital signal. This was a totally dumb idea. I still haven't put the stupid thing together to say whether or not it works. BUT I used this along with a coffee can to make a cantenna, which improves reception on our living room TV, though not enough to prevent us from having the change positions multiple times between chairs or wave our hands in the air if it gets cloudy outside and I Dream of Jeannie is only halfway finished.
All of this sounds really silly and I am so glad that companies still make this old stuff so we can tinker around with thrift store televisions. | 2 | positive | [
"So I bought this great little retro 70s TV at the thrift store, thinking I'd do some DIY Pinterest-type stuff to it or something.",
"But it's a portable TV which seems pretty convenient and we only watch broadcast TV in our house (Me-TV ftw!",
") so I was all, let's take this outside and watch some TV!",
"But we only have digital signal here.",
"And said TV is so old that there is no coax input.",
"So I purchased this to hook to the TV so I could convert the signal that is coming from the box that converts the digital signal.",
"This was a totally dumb idea.",
"I still haven't put the stupid thing together to say whether or not it works.",
"BUT I used this along with a coffee can to make a cantenna, which improves reception on our living room TV, though not enough to prevent us from having the change positions multiple times between chairs or wave our hands in the air if it gets cloudy outside and I Dream of Jeannie is only halfway finished.",
"All of this sounds really silly and I am so glad that companies still make this old stuff so we can tinker around with thrift store televisions."
] |
I remember playing civilization for the first time. I started playing friday evening, and only stopped when I could hear the birds outside on saturday morning.
RTW is the same deal. You get drawn in totally to the world of strategy and compelling gameplay. There are differences of course. The main one is the added realism... better graphics, and it doesn't look like RTW cheats (Civilization did). In fact, the graphics engine was used in a recent TV program on BBC3 (a BBC channel, aired in the UK), where a team of tv personalities re-enacted famous historical battles in real time via a virtual simulation that was provided by a networked version of this game!
I have all the graphic settings up to max and it works a treat on my Radeon 9800 pro, 1 gig or RAM and an XP2800. In fact, the final game works better than the demo (in terms of performance and less bugs), although, admittedly I still see crashes to desktop once every 10 or so hours of play. In most games, this would be unforgivable, but I haven't docked any points because it always seems to crash immediately after auto saving, so just re-loading the game and hitting the Continue Campaign option seems to put me back where I was.
One of the defining factors of a good strategy game is that it gets more difficult the more successful you become - not because you get to harder levels, but simply because being successful means you have to work harder to keep your conquests, and this game gets this perfectly. You start off with a few cities, but as your empire grows, you not only have to deal with enemy armies, but also keeeping your own people loyal (through either loyalty by keepin them happy, or by fear via large garrisons in every town). You also start to find your armies stretched, and cities well away from your capital become particulalry prone to attack from rebels. Being a good general on the battlefield is only part of winning this game.
The game also has a twist about half way through, where something unexpected happens within the Roman Empire (well, it was for me, perhaps I just didn't pay enough attention in history class!), and its something that totally turns the game.
You also get non-roman civilizations unlocked if you complete the Roman campaign, something that adds to the longevity.
A (very) minor niggle is some of the voice acting and scripting, which seems to be produced by the same casting people that produced some of the over-the-top Hollywood dialogue from the 1950/1960 era... the ham-it-up spirit of Tony Curtis lives on!
If you are a fan of the previous total war games, you really need to play on hard - medium is just too easy, particulalry because on that level, the enemy doesnt seem to mind getting too close to your castle walls and just sits there and gets decimated by arrows. Previous fans of TW will also really appreciate the better modelling of castles, which are now more realistic. The battlements now work (you can place soldiers on them), and to storm an enemy stronghold, you have to either scale the walls, batter the gate down, or simply demolish the walls. Sea battles are still not modelled in real time, although the reasoning for this is probably so they have something for the next game (or expansion) because everything else is modelled perfectly, and in detail.
Overall though, its a must have for any strategy fan. There's simply nothing out there to compete in either scope, depth or realism, so I must give it full marks. Oh, and also because its just an addictive, thoughtful, thinking-persons strategy game, with enough graphics and fun-factor to wow the video console kids into playing the game!
S | 2 | positive | [
"I remember playing civilization for the first time.",
"I started playing friday evening, and only stopped when I could hear the birds outside on saturday morning.",
"RTW is the same deal.",
"You get drawn in totally to the world of strategy and compelling gameplay.",
"There are differences of course.",
"The main one is the added realism...",
"better graphics, and it doesn't look like RTW cheats (Civilization did).",
"In fact, the graphics engine was used in a recent TV program on BBC3 (a BBC channel, aired in the UK), where a team of tv personalities re-enacted famous historical battles in real time via a virtual simulation that was provided by a networked version of this game!",
"I have all the graphic settings up to max and it works a treat on my Radeon 9800 pro, 1 gig or RAM and an XP2800.",
"In fact, the final game works better than the demo (in terms of performance and less bugs), although, admittedly I still see crashes to desktop once every 10 or so hours of play.",
"In most games, this would be unforgivable, but I haven't docked any points because it always seems to crash immediately after auto saving, so just re-loading the game and hitting the Continue Campaign option seems to put me back where I was.",
"One of the defining factors of a good strategy game is that it gets more difficult the more successful you become - not because you get to harder levels, but simply because being successful means you have to work harder to keep your conquests, and this game gets this perfectly.",
"You start off with a few cities, but as your empire grows, you not only have to deal with enemy armies, but also keeeping your own people loyal (through either loyalty by keepin them happy, or by fear via large garrisons in every town).",
"You also start to find your armies stretched, and cities well away from your capital become particulalry prone to attack from rebels.",
"Being a good general on the battlefield is only part of winning this game.",
"The game also has a twist about half way through, where something unexpected happens within the Roman Empire (well, it was for me, perhaps I just didn't pay enough attention in history class!",
"), and its something that totally turns the game.",
"You also get non-roman civilizations unlocked if you complete the Roman campaign, something that adds to the longevity.",
"A (very) minor niggle is some of the voice acting and scripting, which seems to be produced by the same casting people that produced some of the over-the-top Hollywood dialogue from the 1950/1960 era...",
"the ham-it-up spirit of Tony Curtis lives on!",
"If you are a fan of the previous total war games, you really need to play on hard - medium is just too easy, particulalry because on that level, the enemy doesnt seem to mind getting too close to your castle walls and just sits there and gets decimated by arrows.",
"Previous fans of TW will also really appreciate the better modelling of castles, which are now more realistic.",
"The battlements now work (you can place soldiers on them), and to storm an enemy stronghold, you have to either scale the walls, batter the gate down, or simply demolish the walls.",
"Sea battles are still not modelled in real time, although the reasoning for this is probably so they have something for the next game (or expansion) because everything else is modelled perfectly, and in detail.",
"Overall though, its a must have for any strategy fan.",
"There's simply nothing out there to compete in either scope, depth or realism, so I must give it full marks.",
"Oh, and also because its just an addictive, thoughtful, thinking-persons strategy game, with enough graphics and fun-factor to wow the video console kids into playing the game!",
"S"
] |
Being a person who never really played the first Resident Evil, I found the original comming to Gamecube a welcome relief to the other offerings out there. But my story aside, let me just say that I was a person who was waiting for this to come out not only because it looked beautiful but because it was a chance for me to actually play the original. However, there are so many changes to the game, that many state that it doesn't even feel like the original.
The best aspect of the game is the graphics. You know that, you've seen the screen shots, I need to say no more. But something that fits right up next to that quality is the atmosphere. Some games are totally devoid of any atmosphere while some pack it in. This one, I would honestly say, has the best I've ever experienced. The animated backgrounds with dark atmosphere just makes your skin crawl. There are times when you will feel just utterly horrified to even continue the game because it scares you. But then again, I play ALONE with the lights OFF! If you do that, prepare to be terrified.
Everything about this game is so fine tuned that it is hard to find fault. But the quote "Fault is thick where love is thin" fits perfectly into this complaint. The controls are just absolutly mindboggling. I just never understood why Capcom took so much time to totally revamp the game from ground up yet still maintain the control style! Personally, the best control scheme to use is the Type-C style. Why? Because instead of the tedious turning offered with the first two schemes, the third one actually comes the closest to Third-Person point of view scheme, thus easier to control. But this is actually a minor complaint. It's just something that takes a little extra to get used to. Other than that, it has truly earned it's place among the greatest games ever created. (Or recreated for that matter). | 2 | positive | [
"Being a person who never really played the first Resident Evil, I found the original comming to Gamecube a welcome relief to the other offerings out there.",
"But my story aside, let me just say that I was a person who was waiting for this to come out not only because it looked beautiful but because it was a chance for me to actually play the original.",
"However, there are so many changes to the game, that many state that it doesn't even feel like the original.",
"The best aspect of the game is the graphics.",
"You know that, you've seen the screen shots, I need to say no more.",
"But something that fits right up next to that quality is the atmosphere.",
"Some games are totally devoid of any atmosphere while some pack it in.",
"This one, I would honestly say, has the best I've ever experienced.",
"The animated backgrounds with dark atmosphere just makes your skin crawl.",
"There are times when you will feel just utterly horrified to even continue the game because it scares you.",
"But then again, I play ALONE with the lights OFF!",
"If you do that, prepare to be terrified.",
"Everything about this game is so fine tuned that it is hard to find fault.",
"But the quote \"Fault is thick where love is thin\" fits perfectly into this complaint.",
"The controls are just absolutly mindboggling.",
"I just never understood why Capcom took so much time to totally revamp the game from ground up yet still maintain the control style!",
"Personally, the best control scheme to use is the Type-C style.",
"Why?",
"Because instead of the tedious turning offered with the first two schemes, the third one actually comes the closest to Third-Person point of view scheme, thus easier to control.",
"But this is actually a minor complaint.",
"It's just something that takes a little extra to get used to.",
"Other than that, it has truly earned it's place among the greatest games ever created.",
"(Or recreated for that matter)."
] |
.. you do ask yourself: is almost one fifty for a set of strings reasonable? And I'm tempted to say no. But I had these same thomastik strings on my 4 string short scale fretless. I also had them on my violin bass. And I had them on my 1965 Precision. And I loved them. Supple, rich, low tension, sound great for years. And then I sold my momma's tail at the county fair, and got enough moolah together to buy a 6 string set for my big green fretless. And I lost them. In the house somewhere. "Misplaced" is what they call it. Meanwhile I was playing Chromes on the big 6 string. And then I broke the high C string, but since I had misplaced the "weight in gold" Thomastiks, I crimped and soldered the Chromes C string back together between the nut and the tuner. And kept playing.
Then one day I said to Jules, the studio rat, "Jules, do you think the Precision sounds too much like the BeatlesBass?" and he lifted his snout and nodded. So I went fishing in the Strings Box, and dug out a new $17.99 set of Dunlop Nickel Roundwounds, and put the Thomastiks in a plastic string case (I label them carefully), and the Dunlops sounded pumpin' on the Precision. So then all was groovey, and one day I was playing the 4 string shortscale flatwound and I looked up at Jules, the Studio rat, and he looked back at me and nodded. Jules and I understand each other. So I went fishing in the Strings Box and dug out a set of Ken Smith Half-Rounds, ground-rounds I think he calls them, to give the short fretless more bite. They had never sounded great on anything, and they always played like a cross between sandpaper and a rat tail file, but now they sounded intriguing on the little fretless, enough to keep them there. The big Placid Blue Rondo SX $99 Jazz 5 string was cruisin' on stainless steel Rostosounds, the ones that outlast empires and dynasties, and as it's absurd to pay more for strings than for the instrument, I won't ever put Thomastiks on THAT one. So only the violin bass had Thomastiks on it. It's probably not the most flattering combination, when you have a choice. By then my wife found the 6 string set (that I had sold my momma's tail for), and I think I'll put them on the big greenie, but I'm not even sure.
So the moral of the story is this: Thomastik flatwound bass strings are amazing. They sound great and last forever. They are low tension yet never feel floppy. They feel ALIVE, and sound great. BUT if you buy Thomastiks when the Dollar is low, and all your basses are outfitted with Thomastik flatwounds, you WILL end up selling yo' momma to buy more, and by then you might tire of them, and then what? So start with just one bass set up with Thomastik JF's, and let the mirabilous wondrus sound and feel sink in, and if you dig it, like it should be dug, then wait for a dip in the Euro and buy a 6 string set that you can use on a 6, 5, or 4 string bass. If you put it on a 4 string, have some luthier build an instrument around the leftover 2 strings. See what I mean? At THAT price, your head starts playin' tricks on you. It would be easier if they weren't so good.
[edit later] The absurd price on these really is absurd. They are GREAT strings, so much so you may be tempted to overdo it. The point of the story above is that there are lots of interesting sounds, and I got tired of having Thomastiks on most of my basses, it made my instruments sound too much alike. Some sound more interesting with Chromes, for instance. Get one set, like on a 4 string, and give yourself enough time to really know how DEEPLY you like them. [end edit]
If you play guitar and want a low tension "steel string acoustic" set, try Thomastik plectrum AC110, they include flatwound bronze on silk/steel strings?!. And for a classical guitar, try their low tension S Series KR116, that includes nylon and silvered copper flatwound on steel rope core. Expensive, but musically, you will be stoked. | 2 | positive | [
"..",
"you do ask yourself: is almost one fifty for a set of strings reasonable?",
"And I'm tempted to say no.",
"But I had these same thomastik strings on my 4 string short scale fretless.",
"I also had them on my violin bass.",
"And I had them on my 1965 Precision.",
"And I loved them.",
"Supple, rich, low tension, sound great for years.",
"And then I sold my momma's tail at the county fair, and got enough moolah together to buy a 6 string set for my big green fretless.",
"And I lost them.",
"In the house somewhere.",
"\"Misplaced\" is what they call it.",
"Meanwhile I was playing Chromes on the big 6 string.",
"And then I broke the high C string, but since I had misplaced the \"weight in gold\" Thomastiks, I crimped and soldered the Chromes C string back together between the nut and the tuner.",
"And kept playing.",
"Then one day I said to Jules, the studio rat, \"Jules, do you think the Precision sounds too much like the BeatlesBass?",
"\" and he lifted his snout and nodded.",
"So I went fishing in the Strings Box, and dug out a new $17.",
"99 set of Dunlop Nickel Roundwounds, and put the Thomastiks in a plastic string case (I label them carefully), and the Dunlops sounded pumpin' on the Precision.",
"So then all was groovey, and one day I was playing the 4 string shortscale flatwound and I looked up at Jules, the Studio rat, and he looked back at me and nodded.",
"Jules and I understand each other.",
"So I went fishing in the Strings Box and dug out a set of Ken Smith Half-Rounds, ground-rounds I think he calls them, to give the short fretless more bite.",
"They had never sounded great on anything, and they always played like a cross between sandpaper and a rat tail file, but now they sounded intriguing on the little fretless, enough to keep them there.",
"The big Placid Blue Rondo SX $99 Jazz 5 string was cruisin' on stainless steel Rostosounds, the ones that outlast empires and dynasties, and as it's absurd to pay more for strings than for the instrument, I won't ever put Thomastiks on THAT one.",
"So only the violin bass had Thomastiks on it.",
"It's probably not the most flattering combination, when you have a choice.",
"By then my wife found the 6 string set (that I had sold my momma's tail for), and I think I'll put them on the big greenie, but I'm not even sure.",
"So the moral of the story is this: Thomastik flatwound bass strings are amazing.",
"They sound great and last forever.",
"They are low tension yet never feel floppy.",
"They feel ALIVE, and sound great.",
"BUT if you buy Thomastiks when the Dollar is low, and all your basses are outfitted with Thomastik flatwounds, you WILL end up selling yo' momma to buy more, and by then you might tire of them, and then what?",
"So start with just one bass set up with Thomastik JF's, and let the mirabilous wondrus sound and feel sink in, and if you dig it, like it should be dug, then wait for a dip in the Euro and buy a 6 string set that you can use on a 6, 5, or 4 string bass.",
"If you put it on a 4 string, have some luthier build an instrument around the leftover 2 strings.",
"See what I mean?",
"At THAT price, your head starts playin' tricks on you.",
"It would be easier if they weren't so good.",
"[edit later] The absurd price on these really is absurd.",
"They are GREAT strings, so much so you may be tempted to overdo it.",
"The point of the story above is that there are lots of interesting sounds, and I got tired of having Thomastiks on most of my basses, it made my instruments sound too much alike.",
"Some sound more interesting with Chromes, for instance.",
"Get one set, like on a 4 string, and give yourself enough time to really know how DEEPLY you like them.",
"[end edit]\n\nIf you play guitar and want a low tension \"steel string acoustic\" set, try Thomastik plectrum AC110, they include flatwound bronze on silk/steel strings?!",
".",
"And for a classical guitar, try their low tension S Series KR116, that includes nylon and silvered copper flatwound on steel rope core.",
"Expensive, but musically, you will be stoked."
] |
This product covers imperfections well, and it applies easily. It is a thicker liquid, so it stays in place well. I use it to cover my red cheeks. I apply it, allow it to dry for a couple minutes, apply powder, and then apply foundation. Powder allows the liquid to set, so that my foundation doesn't smear it.
You turn the base until the product appears, and then you apply it. The application tip is a brush, but I still find it easier to use a makeup brush to spread the makeup.
The plastic wrap on the package took me 5 minutes to get off. A better wrapping solution would be good. It was very hard to get off.
I really like this concealer. It works well, is high quality, isn't greasy, and stays in place all day. | 2 | positive | [
"This product covers imperfections well, and it applies easily.",
"It is a thicker liquid, so it stays in place well.",
"I use it to cover my red cheeks.",
"I apply it, allow it to dry for a couple minutes, apply powder, and then apply foundation.",
"Powder allows the liquid to set, so that my foundation doesn't smear it.",
"You turn the base until the product appears, and then you apply it.",
"The application tip is a brush, but I still find it easier to use a makeup brush to spread the makeup.",
"The plastic wrap on the package took me 5 minutes to get off.",
"A better wrapping solution would be good.",
"It was very hard to get off.",
"I really like this concealer.",
"It works well, is high quality, isn't greasy, and stays in place all day."
] |
Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, was harshly chastised for signing Rare Earth as the first white recording artists for Motown. Barry, naturally, had the last laugh.
Track Listing 1. Get Ready 2. Generation (Light Up The Sky) 3. I Know I'm Losing You 4. When Joanie Smiles 5. Born To Wander 6. Here Comes The Night 7. I Just Want To Celebrate 8. Love Shines Down 9. Good Time Sally 10. Hey Big Brother 11. We're Gonna Have A Good Time 12. Big John Is My Name 13. Chained 14. Warm Ride 15. I Can Feel My Love Rising 16. Keepin' Me Out Of The Storm 17. It Makes You Happy (But It Ain't Gonna Last) 18. Midnight Lady 19. Hum Along And Dance 20. Fresh From The Can | 2 | positive | [
"Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, was harshly chastised for signing Rare Earth as the first white recording artists for Motown.",
"Barry, naturally, had the last laugh.",
"Track Listing 1.",
"Get Ready 2.",
"Generation (Light Up The Sky) 3.",
"I Know I'm Losing You 4.",
"When Joanie Smiles 5.",
"Born To Wander 6.",
"Here Comes The Night 7.",
"I Just Want To Celebrate 8.",
"Love Shines Down 9.",
"Good Time Sally 10.",
"Hey Big Brother 11.",
"We're Gonna Have A Good Time 12.",
"Big John Is My Name 13.",
"Chained 14.",
"Warm Ride 15.",
"I Can Feel My Love Rising 16.",
"Keepin' Me Out Of The Storm 17.",
"It Makes You Happy (But It Ain't Gonna Last) 18.",
"Midnight Lady 19.",
"Hum Along And Dance 20.",
"Fresh From The Can"
] |
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